Pulling the Trooth

by Robert P. Wills

  Maxine put her hands on Stephan’s chest. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry!”

  “I’m fine.” Stephan rubbed his face again. “Just take it easy with that broom.” He looked down at Maxine and smiled.

  Maxine smiled back up at him, her hands moving up to his shoulders. She stretched up, standing on her toes. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “With you guarding my back, I think I am.” He bent his head down toward hers.

  The lights went off around them.

  “Just a sec.” Stephan said huskily. He waved a hand over his head. Dutifully, the lights flickered on again.

  Maxine was still on her toes. Now however, her eyes were closed and her lips were puckered.

  Stephan laughed again. “You trying to get us killed?”

  Maxine opened her eyes and took her hands off his shoulders. “Oh!” She said embarrassed. Then it was more angry than embarrassed: “Oh!”

  Stephan smiled at her. “Afraid of the dark, are we?”

  Maxine snatched the broom off the floor. “Let’s try that way. Mister...” She realized she did not know his last name. “Stephan.” She pointed the broom down the corridor to the right. The lights flickered on in that direction.

  “Yes, Ma’am.” Stephan said. He started down the hallway but after just a few steps he skidded to a stop.

  Maxine bumped into his back, hitting him in the head with the broom because she was looking the other direction to make sure other lights didn’t come on behind them.

  “I’m going to take that thing away from you.”

  “Sorry! Why did you stop?”

  “There’s the knife.” Stephan gestured at a large bloody knife. “That’s a chef’s knife. A ceramic, as seen on TV chef’s knife, in fact.”

  Maxine peered around the large man. “Do you know if it’s from here?”

  “It shouldn’t be.”

  “But there are restaurants in the convention center.”

  “We do have a couple of pretty exclusive restaurants in here, but good chefs always carry their own knives to and from work. The ones in the sports bar aren’t anywhere this fancy.” He waved his hand to keep the light on and keyed his mike with the other. “I hope he remembered to switch to channel ten. Q, this is Rover Six.”

  After Quincy responded, he continued: “We found the murder weapon. Go down the main corridor to the first intersection, then to the right about fifteen, twenty feet.” He paused again. “Not yet; we’ll keep looking.” He nodded after Quincy spoke. “No trouble at all.”

  “Oh!” Maxine said. She pulled out her camera and took several pictures of the knife.

  “What was that for?” He waved his hand again.

  “You never know.” Maxine pointed. “Let’s go that way; there’s no way Summer didn’t see that thing.”

  “I agree.” He stepped in front of Maxine and continued down the hallway. After another two dozen paces of trying doors, Stephan found a door that was slightly ajar- as if it had been opened then closed gently so that it didn’t latch. “Here we go. They had to have gone this way.” He looked at Maxine. “Stay close. If we surprise anyone, you get back in here and run all the way back to the bathroom where the paramedics and police are.”

  “But.”

  “No discussions. Back to the bathroom. Got it?”

  “Fine.”

  Stephan pushed down on the latch and eased the door open. He peeked in. “Conference room two.” He said as he stepped in.

  “Where?” Maxine looked into the room. They were in the back room of where the extraction competition was. “That’s weird.” She let go of the door as she stepped in.

  “Don’t let that...”

  The door latched shut behind Maxine. “Uh oh.” She tried the door but it was now locked. “Uh oh.”

  “Close behind you.” He finished. “There’s no way Summer came this way or she’d have circled back around to us.”

  “Let’s go back to the bathroom and take a different hallway.” Maxine said.

  Stephan shook his head. “No way. If the police are there now, they will never let us just go wandering around their crime scene.” He tapped his silver security badge. “I’m just a pathetic Class-D agent to them.”

  “But.” Maxine looked at the door. “We need to find Summer.” She turned to look at Stephan. “What if because of me...” Tears welled up in her eyes. “My stupidity...”

  Stephan moved to Maxine and put his arms on her shoulders. “Don’t say that. She can take care of herself.” He wiped a tear from her cheek. “Let’s go find another way in.” He looked around. “Now that I know about these service corridors, I can get us in.”

  “Really?” Maxine smiled.

  Stephan nodded. “Really.” He put both hands on her cheeks, cupping her face.

  “Really.” Maxine repeated softly. She stood on her tip toes again.

  Stephan bent down slightly. When his face was close to hers he whispered: “Yup.” He then took her by the hand and started out of the room, pulling Maxine with him. He didn’t look back because he didn’t want her to see his big grin.

  “Oh, you’re playing with fire, mister.” Maxine said. “Mister...”

  “Rains,” Stephan said. “Stephan Rains.”

  “Wait, your last name is Rains? Like water falling from the sky?”

  “Like that old monster movie actor, Claude Rains.” He looked back at her. “No relation.”

  Maxine laughed at the irony. “Wow.”

  The pair ran down the stairs of the stage. There were several people sitting in the room chatting. “Has anyone come in here, in the past twenty, thirty minutes?” Stephan asked.

  “I just came in,” a man said.

  Stephan shook his head. “No, sorry. I mean has anyone come from back stage?” He jerked a thumb behind himself. “From back there.”

  “I was the first one here,” Stephanie Dixon said. “No one has come that way.”

  “Are you... okay?” Maxine asked.

  Stephanie waved a hand dismissively. “I’m fine. Brian and I talked. It was... a silly misunderstanding is all.” She smiled. “Everything is fine now.”

  “Do you know about...”

  Stephan grabbed Maxine’s arm. When she looked at him, he shook his head.

  “So what are you sitting here for?”

  “There’s a roundtable discussion about franchise ownership starting up soon.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Stephan started walking away.

  A thought occurred to Maxine. She planted her feet so Stephan couldn’t pull her out. “Franchise dentist offices?”

  “Yes.” The man said.

  “Who was leading the discussion?” Stephan asked, picking up on Maxine’s train of thought.

  “It was Doctors Brushwood and Anderson.” Stephanie said. “They should be getting here soon, I think.”

  “Really? Both of them?” Maxine asked. “Both of them are on their way?”

  The man nodded. “Yeah, I think the roundtable was an excuse to recruit for their networks.” He smiled. “Or at least I hope it will be, anyway.”

  The others nodded in agreement.

  “That’s why we’re waiting,” Stephanie snapped. “Unless you know something I don’t.” A smile played on her face. “Do you?”

  “Nope. Not at all.” Stephan took Maxine by the hand and pulled her away.

  “So Terrance and Brian were going to give their business pitches together.” Maxine whispered. “Interesting.”

  “Outside,” Stephan whispered back as he picked up his pace.

  Maxine snapped a photo of the people before she was dragged off. “Is this going to become a habit for you?”

  “Just want to keep an eye on you is all.” Stephan said. When they got to the door, he stopped, pulling Maxine alongside him. He brought his arm up over her shoulder, resting his forearm on it.

  She looked up at him, shoulder nestled against his chest near his armpit. “What’d we stop for?” She smirked. “Not that
I’m complaining.”

  “Shhh. Look.” He pointed with the hand that was on her shoulder as he brought his head lower, near hers. “Look; the police are here. They’re going to tape the whole area off, talk to all the witnesses for as long as that takes, and basically bring our search to a standstill because their priority is finding the killer.”

  “Were you a cop?”

  “I was an MP in the Army.” He looked down at her. “We’re going to go out this door and into the next conference room on the right. And we’re not going to draw any attention to ourselves.”

  “How are we going to do that?”

  He pulled Maxine closer to him and slid his arm down to her waist. “We’re just going to amble over there like a nice couple out for a walk. Don’t even look in that direction.” He started out the door. “Just act like you’re paying attention to me.”

  “If you insist.” Maxine purred. She moved her hand around his waist as she fell in step with him.

  The pair exited the room and turned toward the other door.

  Maxine stole a glance toward the bathroom. There was a group of people there, many of them looking around, but no one seemed to notice them.

  “Stop looking that way.”

  “Oh.” Maxine rested her head against his shoulder as they continued to walk along. It felt very comfortable. And natural. “Yes, dear.” She said as her hip bumped against his thigh.

  “Yeah, that works for me.” Stephan confessed.

  “We’re in,” Stephan said when they turned the corner into the room.

  “Like Flynn.” Maxine coo’ed as she swiveled in front of him, their bodies were practically touching.

  “We need to find Summer.” Stephan said.

  “Summer who?” Maxine smiled hungrily.

  “Maxine!”

  “I’m kidding,” Maxine said as she let go of him. “Okay, how do we get back into the secret corridors of the Tucson Convention Center?” She smirked. “That sounds like a Nancy Drew game.”

  Stephan reached behind his back and switched the channel on his radio. “If they are used by housekeeping, then housekeeping can let us in.”

  “Will they?”

  “Sure, to them I’m an all-powerful Class-D agent.” Now he smirked. “My level of power all depends on the audience.” He keyed his mike. “Housekeeping office, this is security Rover Three. I need a key assist, please.” He let go of the button. “Politeness is absolutely free.”

  Maxine smiled at the man.

  Stephan nodded. “I am in conference room one, main floor. I need into the access corridors. We have a... Signal Forty that found their way in from the main floor men’s room.” He cringed as he waited for a reply. His grimace turned to a smile. “Appreciate that. We’ll be standing by the door.” He let go of the button. “Let’s go.” Once again he took her hand and led her to the back of the room.

  When they got there, someone was pounding on the door from the inside.

  “What the?” Stephan said. “Who is in there?” He said into the crack along the doorjamb. He put his ear to it. His eyes got wide. “Stay put, we have a key coming!”

  “What’s a signal forty? And who is in there?”

  “A signal forty is a lost child.” He pointed at the door. “That’s Summer.”

  “Summer!” Maxine moved to the door. “We’ll get you out, just stay put!” She pressed her ear to the door. She looked toward the entrance. “Where is housekeeping?”

  Stephan put his ear to the door. His eyes got large.

  “What is it?” Maxine said.

  “She said someone’s coming.”

  Maxine’s hands went to her mouth. “Oh no!”

  Stephan cupped his hands and shouted into the crack of the door. “Run, Summer, just run and make all left hand turns so we can follow you!”

  The banging continued on the door only twice more then stopped.

  Both Stephan and Maxine put their ears to the door.

  It was quiet in the hallway.

  “Summer!” Maxine pounded on the door.

  It was a long ten minutes before an elderly man walked in. He was holding a key with a long yellow ribbon tied to the ring. As he walked, he twirled the ribbon around. “Lots of places to hide in there, Mon,” he said in a heavy Jamaican accent. “Hope da kid don’ run off too much.”

  “Open the door, please.” Maxine said.

  “Yeah, Mon,” the man said. “I jus doin’ in.” He smiled at the pair. “You two must be having good looking kids, no?”

  Stephan pointed at his badge. “I’m the one that called it in,” he said with a smile. “I’m helping the lady out.”

  “Oh.” The man laughed as he finally opened the door. “No offense, meant by it.” He gave a short bow. “Dere ya go.”

  Maxine pulled open the door. The hallway was dark and empty. “No! Summer!”

  “Dat me sister’s name.” The man said. “Need any-ting else?”

  “Can I keep the key so we can get back out?”

  “Sure ting.” He handed over the key. “Jus get it back to the housekeepin’ office, Mon.”

  “You got it, Sir; thanks. I’ll let you know when we find her,” Stephan said. “Let’s go, Maxine. To the left.” As he entered, he kicked something with her foot. Thanks to the lights coming on, he was able to see what he had kicked to the far wall - It was Summer’s digital recorder. Stephan bent to pick it up. “Let’s keep moving and I’ll see if she recorded anything that can help us.”

  ELEVEN

  Summer craned her neck, listening for the bathroom door to open. As soon as Stephan pushed on the door, Summer bolted into the dark hallway even before the door shut.

  She was relieved that the lights seemed to turn on as she went. Unfortunately, she was able to run faster than them flickering on so she had to slow to a walk.

  As she often did, she took out her digital recorder to gather her thoughts: “So... something is going on between Doctor Stephanie and Brian. Or was going on. And Scott is involved somehow. Then Brian gets a black eye and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Stephanie because she’s not left handed.” She considered that. “Unless something was in her dominant hand. Like Brian’s shirt!” She pantomimed holding someone’s shirt with her right hand and punching with her left.

  Summer tried doors as she went- none were open. “She grabbed his shirt then punched him. Did she rip it? But there’s no way Brian went from that waiting room with all those other dentists all the way back to his hotel without his shirt. So why was his...” She came to the intersection and looked in all directions- there were no lights on. However, with the lights turning off so quickly, the odds of actually seeing where someone ran was nonexistent. “Unless Brian’s shirt was covered with Scott’s blood instead of coffee!” As she stood, the lights around her went off. She stood in the darkness gathering her thoughts. “No, that’s not possible because they were all alive when we saw them, then later we saw Brian in his room, then Scott later on. There’s no way he could have gotten back before us, found Scott and killed him.” She frowned as she tried to figure out what happened. A thought from her own past popped into her head. “Coffee! She tossed her drink on him and because the cup was in her hand, she punched him left handed. He didn’t duck because he was dealing with coffee in his face! Hah!” She turned off the recorder then started down the hallway to the right.

  After several steps, she saw the knife. “So there you are.” She bent down and looked at the knife. “How did you get here? And why?” She turned on her recorder. “So the knife was tossed in the secret hallways.” She looked at the blood on the knife. “Huh.” The blood seemed to lead back to her as if the knife had slid on the floor leaving a trail of blood.

  “Tricky, tricky.” She stood and looked over her shoulder. “So you tossed the knife this way and ran.” She turned off her recorder and started down the left hallway, trying doors as she went. After about a hundred yards, she reached the end of the hallway- none of the doors were open. She turned an
d looked the way she had come. The hallway was completely dark. “Oh man; this is like a horror movie.” A terrible thought occurred to her. “And I’m in a dead end!” Panicked, she started walking towards the intersection she knew was ahead of her. “Stay off lights, stay off,” she said to the lights at the far end of the hallway.

  With great relief, she reached the intersection. Summer leaned against the wall and turned her recorder on again. “So Stephanie and Brian have a falling out. Probably over sex.” The lights went off around her. “And the triangle includes... correction, included Scott somehow. Stephanie and Scott and Brian? Or just Brian and Scott?” The intersection got a little less dark. “Huh?” The lights at the far end of the hallway ahead of her turned on as someone ostensibly entered it. “No.” She whispered. “No, no, no.” The next set of lights turned on as whoever it was approached slowly. She cringed as she tried to slip into the hallway where the knife was without the light turning on.

  The lights seemed to blast on around her. She looked at whoever was approaching. She couldn’t make out who it was more than it looked like a tall man walking slowly toward her. It was definitely not Stephan. Or Maxine.

  Summer started down the hallway, trying doors as she went- they all seemed locked. “Come on!” Thirty yards ahead, in the still dark hallway, she saw lights shining under a doorway. “Please, please, please!” She sprinted to the door and tried it.

  It was also locked.

  Summer pounded on the door. “Hello? Help! Someone open the door!” She looked toward the intersection- it was a good sixty or seventy yards away- as she banged on the door. The lights there were now off but a brightening in the hallway let her know whoever it was, was still moving her way. “Help!” She shouted at the door again.

  She looked toward the intersection- it was definitely brighter.

  “Who is in there?” She heard a voice say on the other side of the door.

  “It’s Summer Schauers; I’m a reporter from the Tucson Herald Opinion! I’m stuck in here!” She put her ear to the door to listen. She could hear a man and a woman speaking to each other but couldn’t make out what they were saying. “Someone’s coming!” Summer shouted. She looked at the intersection. It wasn’t lit up yet, but the lights were definitely coming closer.