by Maria Pease
“Did you miss me?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. Look, I know you’re really great at your job, but I still worry a little.”
Jake picked up the wine. He glanced at the stairs and then looked at me with that sexy smile, raising his eyebrow ever so slightly.
I smiled back and we walked upstairs.
Jake put on music and lowered the lights. He opened the window, letting the sound of rain in.
As we undressed each other slowly in the dim of the light, I watched his shadow and emotion took over.
He moved his hands down my back as he pulled me in close to him. His touch was gentle, yet passionate. His body was hot, and he smelled so good. I couldn’t help but just let go and take him in.
The rain came down harder as we relaxed in bed. We listened awhile, finished the bottle of wine, and decided we should probably get some dinner. I put on Jake’s white button-down dress shirt as he threw on his shorts. We went down to my kitchen to see what we could find. Admittedly, there wasn’t much to choose from, but I’d tried to make a point of always having some pasta and sauce in the cabinet for emergencies. We threw a small salad together as the pasta cooked and Jake whipped up some of his special garlic bread. I set the table while Jake opened another bottle of wine and lit the candles. We opened the back door so we could enjoy the rain as we ate in the candlelight.
We spent a leisurely dinner, talking and laughing, half-naked in my kitchen. It was the perfect night, and although I didn’t want to think about the undercover case Jake was on, I couldn’t help but wonder about it. Since it was a secret, I was more curious than ever. I also knew that Jake couldn’t tell me anything for his own safety. Still, I wanted to know more.
Chapter 7
Nothing is better for a good night’s sleep than sex and rain. Together, it’s the perfect combination. I felt blissful before I even opened my eyes, and slowly leaned over to rest my head on Jake’s chest. All at once, my heart sank. He was gone. I opened my eyes to see a note and a small daisy on the pillow.
I glanced over at the clock. It was too early to get out of bed. It was cloudy and dark, perfect weather for sleeping in. I listened to raindrops hit the window wondering when I’d see Jake again. I must’ve dozed off because when I woke again, an hour had passed. I loved this weather and wished I could stay in bed all day.
I dragged myself down to the kitchen and I stared at the empty coffee pot. I hadn’t set the timer. I thought about what an amazing night it had been as I took the dark Colombian roast from the fridge. Once brewed, I poured a big cup and went up to get myself ready for the day. The weather was perfect for jeans, sneakers, and a big sweatshirt. I grabbed an umbrella from the closet on the way out.
The rain was coming down steadily. I ran from the Jeep and up the stairs to find the door locked. I located my key in the bottom of my purse and let myself in. I turned on the lights, powered up my computer, and went to the balcony to watch the rain. Temecula doesn’t see much rain, and it amazed me how different the vibe felt. It was, dare I say, cozy. The ringing of the phone drew me back inside and as I hung up, the bells on the door rang and Frank came in holding a steaming cup of coffee. He nodded at me and took off his jacket, hanging it on the coat rack.
“Alana is running late,” I said, hanging up.
“Good. We need to talk.”
His tone was serious, and I was beginning to feel uneasy. “Okay. What’s up?”
“How’s your progress on finding the Carson kid?”
“We’re setting up the social media accounts now, so hopefully we’ll get some information on where Michael is, but I also have another idea.”
“I’m listening.”
“Since it’s Halloween, I thought I’d dress up and try to track Wally Mason. He won’t recognize me in costume, so I might be able to get pretty close to him.”
“Are you kidding?”
“No.”
“Okay, Sam. We need to find this kid, so do whatever you have to do.”
“I know.” I looked at him, “Are you all right, Frank? You seem a little distracted.”
“That’s because there are some pretty fucked up things going on.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Yes, let’s do that. First, I’m dealing with a lot of shit in my relationship; I think Monique is interested in some other guy. Second, my business partner is lying to me, and third, you’re lying to me. How’s that for being distracted?”
“Me? What am I lying to you about?” I looked at him, shocked.
“You? You’re lying about the same thing Chuck is lying about.”
“What is he lying to you about?”
“I know he got back early and brought some girl here and boned her over our conference table. I also know you saw it and didn’t tell me.”
“How do you know that?”
“We’re an investigative agency, Sam. I have cameras all over this place. The fact that Chuck didn’t remember is alarming, but he was pretty hammered. You not saying anything is surprising. You can’t stand Chuck.”
“I didn’t want you to think I was starting something. Believe me, the visual made me sick.”
“Look, you need to be straight with me. I won’t work with anyone I don’t trust.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I should’ve told you. So, what’s the deal with Chuck?”
“I don’t know. I showed him the video and he didn’t deny it. How could he? I have his big white ass on camera.”
“Is that why he called, accusing me of telling you?”
“Probably. When I confronted him, he mumbled something about not believing that bitch told on him. I figured he was referring to you.”
“But you have the video.”
“I don’t know what to tell you. He wants to blame you.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Frank. It won’t happen again.”
“It had better not. If you find something out, I need to know about it.”
“I know. The thing is, you’re always on me for not getting along with Chuck. I knew if I told you, you might think I was trying to get something on him. I just didn’t think you’d believe me.”
“I see your point, but you still should’ve told me.”
I nodded. As an afterthought, I said, “What were you saying about Monique?”
The bells on the door rang, and we both turned to see who had come in. As we caught sight of Alana, Frank looked at me.
“We’ll talk about it later.”
“Sure.”
Alana and I headed out, and I filled her in on my plan. She was excited about getting out and doing something, as she put it, fun. What she likely didn’t know was that most PI work was pretty darn boring. We drove over to Party City to look at the costumes. It was slim pickings, but I knew our best bet was to find masks of some sort. We searched for ones that would be easy to put on. I chose a Captain America beanie mask, Alana went with the Hulk.
It was still early, but I wanted to be sure that we could locate Wally, just in case he planned to head out for trick or treating. We drove by his house and spotted the maroon SUV parked in front.
“Holy crap!”
“What?”
“That’s the SUV Frank and I saw Wally jump into at the casino. Write down that plate number, will you?” I slowed to allow her a good look.
“What now?”
“We wait. I need to see who owns that SUV. Grab the camera and be sure it’s ready to go. If anyone comes out, we’ll start snapping.”
Alana handed me the camera and I showed her how to use it, just in case I needed to drive. We sat quietly, staring intently at the front door. After fifteen minutes, she sat back and looked at me.
“How long does this take?”
“What do you mean?”
“How long do we just sit here?”
“As long as we need to. Why? Are you bored?”
“A little.”
“Well, if you want to be a PI, you should get used t
o it. This is a big part of the job.”
“Can we at least talk?”
“Sure. What do you want to talk about?”
“Do you like this job?”
“Yes. Actually, I love it.”
“Have you seen any real action?”
I thought about the time Tabby Watkins threw glassware at me across the room because she thought I was one of her young hubby’s girlfriends. Then, I had visions of taking down a guy in the parking lot after he kicked a cop in the nuts trying to get away. “Not really.”
“Oh.” She was clearly disappointed.
I couldn’t help but smile. Then, the front door opened, Wally stepped out with a guy on his heels. I snapped several photos then tossed the camera to Alana when they got into the SUV.
“Time to go. Snap some pictures. More is better.”
We started out of the neighborhood and followed the maroon SUV as it took a right onto Pechanga Parkway. Once we hit Temecula Parkway, the SUV turned left. We found ourselves heading into Old Town. Driving down Front Street, the SUV turned right on Sixth Street then into a large parking lot. I followed and took a space at the other end of the lot.
“When I give you the word, put on your mask. Okay?”
“Okay.” She peered out the window. “What are they doing?”
“I’m not sure. We’ll have to wait and see.”
The red trolley pulled up and stopped. Wally and the other guy got out as several teenagers emerged from the trolley. They greeted each other awkwardly and got into the SUV.
“What the fuck?”
“Why are they getting in with those guys”?
“I don’t know.” I reached for my phone.
“Hey, Frank. We’re across the street at the trolley stop. Wally and some guy just picked up seven teenagers. I’m following, but I wanted you to know. So far there’s no sign of Michael Carson, but we’ll keep you posted.”
I put the phone down and followed the SUV as it turned into Denny’s parking lot and parked. I watched as the teens followed Wally into the restaurant.
“Get your mask. We’re going in.”
The mask made me feel like a robber; I decided I didn’t like the feeling. I looked over at Alana and had to smile. She looked cool in her Hulk mask, and I hoped I looked as cool as Captain America. It was Halloween, after all.
We weren’t the only ones in costumes, although most were under the age of six. I decided to relax and enjoy the adventure.
Inside, we spotted the teens at a large table, while Wally and his pal sat in a booth nearby. We took the booth behind Wally so I could partake in my favorite hobby, eavesdropping. I wrote a quick note to Alana, telling her I needed to listen to the conversation and asking her to focus on the teens to see if anything seemed out of sorts.
As I strained to listen to the conversation, Alana’s expression changed. Before I could turn around, I heard crying. One of the girls in the group looked distraught, while the other kids attempted to comfort her.
Wally moved from the booth and sat down next to her, talking quietly in her ear. We couldn’t hear what he said, but her sobs racked her body as she tried to catch her breath. Wally put his arm around her and talked with the group.
I had a strange sensation that something wasn’t right. I carefully snapped a few photos of the young girl with Wally and the other kids.
As soon as she calmed down, Wally went back and sat in the booth. Something was definitely odd. They didn’t seem like they were friends. There was a little conversation among a few of them, but no laughing and joking like you’d see with a group of buddies.
I watched and wondered what their connection could be.
Chapter 8
As they walked back through the parking lot, I noticed the girl who’d been crying looked hesitant. She moved slowly and nervously glanced around.
I heard Wally calling to her; his voice was stern.
She was the last to get in and once she did, the doors closed and they were on the move.
“Let’s go!” Alana could barely contain her excitement.
“It’s still early, Alana. Don’t get too excited yet.”
Heading through Old Town, they took a quick left into the Rodeway Inn. We pulled into Dan’s Feed & Seed next door and watched as Wally emerged from the hotel office, holding several keys. He corralled the teens and led them upstairs, opening the doors to two rooms that sat side by side. The four girls went into one room, while the three boys took the room next door. Then he went back to the SUV, grabbed a small black bag, and let himself into a room next to the teens. The SUV moved back out onto the street then disappeared.
I wasn’t sure whether to stay and keep watch or follow the SUV; I chose the SUV. They should be holed up at the hotel for a while, and I wanted to see who owned the vehicle. We followed it into an upscale neighborhood and I was curious where we would end up.
The SUV stopped in front of the gated driveway of a beautiful two-story home. It was light yellow and stone with black shutters and red French doors. The home was engulfed in a beautiful rose garden.
I pulled up on the opposite side of the road and parked. “Grab the camera and binoculars,” I said. “On the back seat.”
As Alana handed them to me, I set my sights on the front door. A well-dressed, attractive woman greeted our mystery man, and after a brief moment, both retreated behind the large red doors. I snapped several photos and hoped that I had something clear enough to help me identify them. At this point, I didn’t know who they were or how they were involved in my case, if they were, in fact, involved. Without much to go on, my gut was running the show. I had no choice but to listen.
“Now what are we supposed to do?” Alana asked.
“We’re going to sit tight for a while and see if he comes back out.”
“More waiting?”
“Yes, more waiting. Pretty exciting stuff, huh?”
She glanced at me then looked at the house. “That sure is a nice house.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
Although the house was rather large, it had a quaint feel to it. It looked like an oversized cottage one might find in Tuscany. It had ivy growing strategically on the front and sides of the house. The light yellow color, along with the beautiful stonework, looked quaint, especially with the contrast of the ivy and black shutters. The large, red French doors stood out against the front of the home. They seemed like a bold statement and I found that odd, not that I had any expertise in decorating. Still, I couldn’t help but think about the choice.
The guesthouse to the side of the main house was an exact replica, red door and all. Although it was smaller, the guesthouse was still much larger than my house, and I couldn’t help wondering what type of career they’d chosen to allow this kind of luxury. My thoughts were still pondering that question when my cell rang.
“What’s up, Frank? Uh, huh. Okay. We’ll see you soon.”
I hated to leave without knowing more, but Frank had insisted we had an urgent situation to tend to. Back at the office, Frank told Alana to take the rest of the day off and although she seemed hesitant, I was relieved. Being responsible for someone else’s safety wasn’t easy in our business. In reality, I could barely keep myself out of trouble.
“I need you to check something out,” Frank said, once we were alone.
“What have you got?”
“I just talked to the captain and he said there’s a woman who’s getting strange text messages. He asked if we could follow up to see what’s going on.”
“What kind of messages? Is someone sending her full frontals?”
“You wish, Sam. No, I’m afraid it may be something more serious.”
Frank handed me the file, and I went to my desk to take a look. The woman said she’d received several text messages that conveyed malicious intent. After I’d reviewed the file, I moved toward the door. “Frank, I’m going to head over to talk with her.”
“Let me know what’s going on. I need to get back to t
he captain.”
Flying solo, I turned on the radio and drove to Mrs. Shelby Sterling’s Redhawk neighborhood. As I pulled up to the house, the garage door opened and a woman walked down the driveway to greet me.
“Are you the investigator?”
“Yes. I’m Sam Parker. Want to fill me in?”
“Of course. I’m Shelby Sterling. Please, come in.”
She led me to her kitchen and grabbed her cell phone off the counter. Retrieving the messages, she handed me the phone. The first message read, Hey, Darren. It’s done. What do you want me to do with her? Then six minutes after the first message, You there? I need to know where you want me to dump her. She’s going to start smelling up my trunk. And then seven minutes later, I gotta get her out of my car. It’s freaking me out. I’m heading to the lake. Meet me there! The last message came three minutes after that. I can’t believe you’re not answering me, you asshole!
“I didn’t know what to do, so I called 911.”
“Can I take the phone? I’ll have it back to you as soon as possible.”
She was hesitant, and I instinctively knew the thought of being without her phone made her uncomfortable.
“I really need to take it so we can try to locate where these messages are coming from.”
Reluctantly, she loosened her grip.
As I drove back to the office, thoughts of someone driving around with a dead body in their car weighed heavily on my mind. Having lived in Temecula for some time, I ticked off the nearby lakes. Five were close enough to be considered. The question was, which one would they choose?
“Frank, we’ve got a problem,” I said, as I opened the door.
He held up a hand and I noticed his cell to his ear.
I took a deep breath and waited, tapping my foot on the floor.
He eyed me, went into the conference room, and slammed the door shut.
“Oh, Crap.”
When Frank emerged, I was at my computer looking up the various lakes in the area to be sure I hadn’t missed any. The one I knew best was Lake Skinner; I’d worked a case there where we’d pulled out several bodies. Bodies aren’t pretty when they’ve been in the water for some time. The thought of having to do it again was already making my stomach turn. The lakes were all different sizes and far enough from each other that I knew this was going to be a difficult job.