Once Upon a Life - Short Listed on ONC2023

Chapter 4

I frowned, reading over the phone records while I waited to hear back from the US Marshal's office. There was no record of the call at all. I checked the dates, the times Kristen had given me, and nothing. I asked the phone company if that was possible, only to be told if it wasn't recorded anywhere it didn't happen. Thanks.

The phone rang, and I spoke with one of the staff in the Marshal's office. The request had been sent up the line and back down again. They admitted they knew of the case, but had nothing further to add. So much for inter department, law enforcement co-operation. But they knew of the case - why? Did that mean it was a WITSEC operation? I needed to get this reopened, then I could assert a little more pressure.

I doodled on my pad, bad drawings of a phone and a question mark and a frowning Marshal. Frustration brought Kristen to mind, and I pressed my hands against my temples. My sexist comment had initiated, not the rebuke I expected, but instead, a sudden passionate embrace that left us both weak-kneed as we stumbled down the hall.

I don't know if it was her concern about the phone call, the fact that things seemed to point to a bigger crime, or the Chinese food, but Miss Howard demonstrated a definite penchant for marketing.

"I see that basket is still full, Detective Standing."

The voice intruded like a rock slide. Real life whacked me in the head, and I blurted out all the steps recently taken on my delinquent cases, to the stormy grimace of my superior.

"It's all progressing, Cap. I just need information from those other departments and I can start filling in the gaps."

"Maybe you could fill in the gap between your ears and go and get the information instead of waiting for it."

"Yes, sir."

******

Kristen listened on the phone, rolling her eyes and waiting for a break to jump in on her client's protestations. He was too eager to jump start a bad idea, and she found her patience ebbing.

"John, listen to me. This is why you hired me. I know you want to expand, but I'm telling you my research says the numbers are wrong for what you think you'll achieve."

She listened a moment more and then jumped in again with actual figures.

"You will not only fail to break even the first year, you'll drop nine percent in the first . . . John, can you hold on just a minute. Yes, just give me a minute."

She got up and went to the side of the window and looked out at the SUV parked across the road. It had been there earlier, and she thought nothing of it, but now it was back - just parked there.

"Hello, John? Listen let me email you my figures and you can have your accounting people go over them. Just remember, I'm working for you, I'm not trying to sell you anything except my professional advice. Yes, okay. Talk soon. Bye."

Back at the window she tried for a phone photo of the licence, But when the curtains were moved aside, the vehicle drove off.

******

"Who were the idiots in that van?" The irate man slammed a fist on the table and shot daggers at his assistant.

"I know, I know. They blew it, but she works at home, Phil, there isn't much of an opportunity to get closer."

"We're the Secret Service for Christ's sake, or don't they get that?"

"I've already torn a strip off them, and gone over what they did find out. She went to the local cops, and one detective seems to have taken an interest in more than what she might have told him."

"You mean he's poking around?"

There was a short, barking laugh from the assistant. "Yes, but not in the case - if you catch my meaning."

The glare turned to disgust and then suspicion. "That happened rather quickly didn't it? Are we certain he isn't looking into the case - as well?"

"What could he be looking at? What could she have told him anyway? She got a phone call with a strange message?"

"I want her phone tossed and her computer hacked. I want everything she's done since that damn call - and that cop as well. We cannot allow this to surface, particularly since we don't know where that damn family went."

******

I left the station with a handful of folders and a determination to thin out my in basket. The flower shop break-in had stalled because the eyewitness had gone in for cataract surgery and it hadn't been a total success. Myriad eye drops and check-ups had delayed getting any co-operation. The owner agreed to show an assortment of photos I left with her, on her next visit to the witness - an old friend.

Next on my list was the service station. I drove onto the lot and pumped several city dollars worth of gas into my car, and then went inside the garage.

"Is he around?" I asked the mechanic in the grease pit.

"Out back, burnin' tires."

"Marvellous." I headed out behind the station and called to the owner. The stink of burning rubber was enough to gag on.

"I told you, I ain't pressing charges."

"And I told you, you don't have to. It was a felony and therefore the police can make the charge."

Off came a dirty pair of work gloves, and a jaw thrust in my direction. "I caught him stealing and I beat the crap out of him. He learned his lesson. End of story."

"What he learned, Mr. Badali, was that he could charge you with assault - and he did."

"That little--!"

"I'll expect you down at the station - today. Don't make me come back for an arrest."

I never got to the third case, my phone rang and it was Kristen.

"Miss Howard, what's up?"

I listened to her explanation for the call, and had her forward the picture she managed to snap of the van.

"Are you okay? Can I do anything?" We both seemed to have forgotten, or at least ignored, what had transpired the previous night, in light of this new mystery - actually I hadn't done either.

"I'm fine. Just a little curious now, after that phone call."

"I'll get onto this picture right away and get back to you. You're sure you're okay?"

"Yes."

"Right. Good. Be careful then." She had hung up.

Word count to this point - 4251