Return To LA

Chapter 2

       

James listened for a minute, Nodding. "Be right over."

James said bye to Brenda. Kissed her on the check and headed out to his car.

With a full stomach and some rest, he was starting to feel a little better.

Bob calling to say that they had figured out who the woman he shot last night was, gave him his second wind. Hopefully now he would be able to get some answers.

Arriving back at the police station he headed straight to the second floor, and Robert's office. There sitting in the chair he had sat in earlier that morning was another gentleman, besides Robert.

"Jim, this is Steve Clark, FBI"

"Steve, this is James St.James. the PI I told you about." They shook hands.

They exchanged pleasantries. Each commenting on the unusual cold and rainy weather they have been having. James took an instant dislike to the FBI agent. While he sat and played nice, made small talk, and the like he carefully watched the man. Observing his dress, and shoes. While the suit he was wearing looked right, the shoes were on the expensive side, The watch he was wearing was definitely not something the average FBI agent could readily afford. His manner was friendly, it seemed to James too friendly. After a few more minutes of general chat, Robert brought the topic around to the woman James had shot the night before.

"So Steve, You said you have a ID on the prints and picture we sent you."

"Yes, Bob, " He pulled a file out from his briefcase. He handed the file to Robert, The cop sat at his desk leafing through the pages of the files. "Yep that's her alright," He handed James the folder, While he started reading it, Robert started talking about her.

"Her name is Wanda Reed,, She was a hired assassin for the mob back east. She's believed to be responsible for at least a half a dozen hits on the east coast. She was good. Local police suspected her, but could never get enough evidence on her to bring a case. That's what was her mistake was last night. Being too confident,cocky, thought she could get away with a easy hit on an unsuspecting victim. She almost got away with it too. If Jim hadn't be as fast as he was last night, he'd be downstairs right now. At that range she couldn't miss. Even that little .25 automatic at close range just as deadly. "

While Robert gave a very brief overview of Wanda Reed, James read the more detailed report that the FBI had provided. For the next hour or so the three of them discussed various ways in which she could have been employed to make a hit on James. None of them seem plausible. He had only been back from the Marines for about six months after being released from them. It had taken most of the six months for him to get his PI License and gun permits reinstated. due to corruption and incompetence at the LA County level. Forcing him to go the the governor and getting him to force them to act. He had only had the new license about a month, and no cases as of yet. So there didn't seem to be a connection with anything recent.

After Steve left, James and Robert continued to talk over various scenarios in which James may be targeted. Over more coffee James enlightened Robert on his instinct about Steve. How he seemed to eager to help, and too friendly, and how his watch was way too fancy and expensive for a FBI agent salary . Robert nodded in agreement, he hadn't noticed the watch, but agreed that Steve seemed too good to be true. Robert told James a background check on Steve Clark was in order.

James and Robert said their goodbyes for the second time that morning. . James took copies of the Wanda Reed file with him and headed back to his office. The rain had finally let up. The sun was finally showing its face, thus drying things up and warming the temperature back to where it should be. Upon reaching his car, James took off his trench coat, and threw it on the back seat, as he got in. All the while keeping a sharp look out at his surroundings in the police parking lot.