CHAPTER 11
After a 16 hour flight from Bangkok, Rick sat puffy faced in his office staring at his monitor. He didn't know why, but he couldn't press Send.
Tapping his fingers on his desk, he picked up his pen and chewed on it. What am I missing here? This doesn't add up.
Rubbing his eye with the back of his hand, he saved the e-mail to Mrs. H, spit out his pen in the trash can and headed home. On the way he stopped at the police station.
"Hey, Dale. Sam around?"
"Yeah, he's in the back. Hey, you playing basketball this week?"
"I think so," Rick said, walking away.
On the phone when Rick walked into his office, Sam motioned him to sit on the chair with the least folders on it. Moving them on top of another stack, Rick sat, his fingers holding up the weight of his head.
"You look like shit!" Sam bellowed, face to face with Rick.
"Fat fuck, I need some 411," Rick answered as he took Sam's hand, pushing himself up for their usual pats on the back.
"Whatever I can do, man, just spill it," Sam said, leaning on his desk.
One hand on his other elbow, Rick said, "I just got a hunch, you know? Nothing specific."
That was the signal for them to take their seats. Waiting on Sam to give his okay, Rick bit his lip, wiondering not for the first time if he was overreacting.
Seeing Sam nod, Rick continued, "Okay, this woman comes to me some months ago wanting to know everything about this man and his family, no specifics. I figure he was an ex or something. But it was 10K plus expenses, so I wasn't too interested, okay?"
Sam leaned back in his chair, his expression opaque. Shifting uncomfortably, Rick took a breath.
"Okay, so," Rick continued, "Last week she tells me she wants more information on the guy's sister. So I'm thinking, what the fuck, right? Only I'm more curious about this woman, but, see: I don't know her last name, she's always paid cash and the cell phone she calls me on is registered in another name."
Looking at Sam, his facial contraction could've been mistaken for a sneer. Rick knew better; it showed him Sam had already considered several angles but was waiting to see what matched before voicing his opinions.
"But I already knew from the first investigation that he was associated with a car accident that killed this woman's family. Shit, though, if I don't find out that his sister took a leave of absence from her university studies because his girlfriend died. Also, I found the woman had a name change and owns a film company in Seattle. I can't shake the feeling this woman's involved."
"What can I do you with?" Sam asked, his notepad open and his pen ready.
"I'm going to find out more about Fly Rize. There's got to be some connection there. But I think something needs to be done to protect this man's family."
"I hear you, but I can't help you out without some evidence that this woman's involved. Get me that, and I'll pull all the resources I can to help you."
"I'll hold you to that," Sam said, shaking hands with Rick and leaving.
The next morning Mrs. H checked her e-mail. Opening the one from Rick, she read the contents.
To: "Mrs. H" (mrs.h@gmail.com)
From: "Rick James" (rjames@eyesonyou.com)
Date: March 12
Subject: Update on Case 1234
Mrs. H:
From my information Lina took a leave of absence from her university studies for personal reasons. She is currently living with her brother.
For travel expenses, remit $5,000. Thank you.
Rick
Mrs. H frowned, printed a copy and re-read it. There was nothing about Jana's murder. Googling for information she found several old news reports, but nothing that would've, in her estiimation, attracted Rick's attention. Satisfied that he didn't appear to be hiding anything, she placed the printout in her file.
Turning on the monitors she watched Lina playing with a puzzle in the living room and her brother in his office focused on a translation project. Then she went to work.
Laura walked out of his bedroom, smiled at Lina who hesitantly returned it, and went upstairs to remind him of their date. He felt her the moment she entered, smiling out of the corner of his mouth. When she put her arms around him, he kissed her hand.
"I'm working," he said.
With one hand she tilted his chin up, kissed him on the lips, and said, "It can wait. I want a little something before we go."
Already hard, he stood up, twisted around to face her and pushed her against the bookcase. His jeans undone he moved her skirt up and slid inside her.
When they were done they went downstairs, their hands around each other's waists, to talk with Lina, who had already left. For whatever reason, he felt shaken, as if he might not see Lina again.
Catching his unease, Laura pressed her body against his. They kissed softly, their tongues rolling around inside their mouths.
Breaking their kiss, Laura said, "This has to be hard on her. I'm another woman in your life, and you just lost someone very important to you. She'll come around, you'll see."
Kissing her on the forehead, they went out for lunch. At the restaurant, he listened to Laura talk about herself. When she told him about her role as a seductress for Fly Rize, he smiled, moving his tongue around.
Laughing, she flung rice at him. Picking it off of his face, he really looked at Laura for the first time.
"Marry me," he said.
"Sure," she said, thinking he was teasing her.
When he brought Laura to the airport, she felt fluttery. Squeezing her hand, he smiled at her, not once thinking of Lina. Had he checked the closet before they left, he would've seen his sister, her mouth covered by a man wearing black gloves and a ski mask.
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