Vic Cross, PI

Chapter 5

Logan's eyes narrowed when he saw Vic. She quickly swallowed an impressive string of swears and focused on Mr. Quinn.

"I have everything I need here Mr. Quinn," she said loudly, "thank you so much," she clutched her notebook protectively and smiled, "Anna was just going to show me out."

The haughty man barely acknowledged her words. He waved a hand and nodded dismissively but Logan blocked her way out. She tried to silently will the dunce to move but he stubbornly refused to look at her.

"You shouldn't allow people in here," Logan was looking at Anthony Quinn suspiciously. Vic threw on a look of vague curiosity and hoped the politician wouldn't like making the help curious.

"Oh don't mind him, Ms. Maple. He's just here to do some plumbing repairs." Vic had to fight down a laugh. "I will of course let my wife know you stopped by and I'm sure she will be in touch very soon." With a stern look at Logan, he escorted Vic and Anna out of the room. Before they got far down the hall she could hear their heated exchange continue.

Outside Vic took off at a brisk walk as soon as Anna was out of sight. She had planned to take a cab home again once she was done but she couldn't risk waiting near the Quinn's and running into Logan. Hopefully whatever he was there for would keep him occupied until she had a few blocks between them. Her hopes were quickly dashed when Logan's black sedan pulled beside her just a few minutes later. He must have left on her heels. He rolled down the window and followed her slowly for half a block. She tried to ignore him but eventually gave it up as pointless.

"You know you look a bit of a creep right?" she asked.

"Get in the car Victoria." He did not sound inviting.

"I'm just trying to do my job here Logan..."

"Get in the car."

"Are you planning on arresting me?"

"You planning on making me?"

Vic sighed. He could if he wanted. She doubted he actually would but there was no point pushing her luck. She dropped into the passenger seat unhappily.

"You want to explain what you were doing there?"

"Taking measurements for new wallpaper," she smirked at him.

"I'm going back to the station now. What happens to you when we get there depends entirely on this conversation."

"Oh come on Logan. You know exactly what I was doing there; working a fucking job."

"Wanna explain to me why you think nosing in on my case and contaminating my crime scene are a part of your fucking job then."

"Bullshit. That 'crime scene' was contaminated before I ever got there. The whole thing was staged."

Logan ignored her. "Not to mention if Tony Quinn had seen through your ridiculous cover he would have buried you under the floorboards without a second thought."

"Hey, my cover was gold. It worked didn't it?"

"Not the point Victoria," he objected.

"Yeah, yeah I know. I wasn't trying to step on your toes Logan but we both know what the answer would've been if I'd asked first. If I wanted to ask permission every time I need to do shit I would have become a cop like my old man wanted."

"Victoria..."

"Who's Nadia?"

He hesitated, "why?" He turned to look at her suspiciously, "what did you find out?"

"Oh, I don't know if I should share that information detective. Seeing how I got it in an unauthorized search and all."

"You think this is funny?"

"No. You going to arrest me?"

"No."

"Alright then. I found this." She pulled Nicole Quinn's journal from her bag.

"You stole that?"

"Well I was going to put it back but I was suddenly in a hurry to leave," she flipped the book open and showed him the inscription. "So, who is she?"

"What makes you think I know?"

"Because you're a better detective than you are a plumber?"

"Don't try to butter me up..."

"Damnit, Logan. Quit being difficult. Just tell me," she sighed and rubbed her head, "please."

"Nadia Meriaz was Nicole Quinn's assistant," he answered, "sort of."

"Sort of?"

"According to the staff she was more of a personal maid. Helped with shopping, dressing, light cleaning, that sort of thing." He shook his head, "but she was promoted I guess. Started handling more of Mrs. Quinn's business along with everything else. But she was fired a couple of weeks before Nicole went missing."

"Fired? Why?"

He shrugged, "no idea. Tony Quinn said his wife did it and didn't give him any particular reason. No problems up until then according to him. He said they were fairly friendly. Staff corroborated"

"And have you tracked her down?"

He gave her an exasperated look but answered, "no. Seems she moved out of her apartment shortly after getting the pink slip and left no forwarding address. No other ties in the city I can find."

"So worker gets the ax without notice, drops off the grid, and employer goes missing shortly after."

Logan laughed, "that about sums it up." He shook his head, "I know what you're thinking but I don't think she was involved. At least not enough to put any more effort in finding her just yet."

"I don't know if I think that yet but you have to admit it is suspicious," she absently flipped through the pages of the blank journal, "Too much doesn't add up around her. There is no way I'd count her out without some serious concrete to back it up."

"She hasn't been seen in the city since she was fired," he began, holding up fingers as he went, "she has no family or close friends here, and according to Tony Quinn, she received a nice severance when she left. At Nicole Quinn's request by the way. Doesn't sound like someone about to take on the biggest name in Arch City now does it?'

"Alright, I get your point. It doesn't. But I still wouldn't count her out. Something feels off about the whole thing."

"Well I know your hunches well enough to take that seriously. I'll see if I can't dig a little deeper there if nothing eles turns up." He grinned and finally looked at her, "nice outfit by the way."

"Much appreciated Detective Ward." She suddenly found herself missing him intensely. "Logan..."

His grin faded, "No."

"I'm just..."

"No," he bit.

"Right," she sighed and they spent the rest of the ride in stony silence.