Mystery: Family Ties: Mystery and Suspense

by James Kipling

  The man only smiled at her words and escorted her to the door of his office. Asa smiled back at him and walked out. She still wasn’t sure how she should feel about the events of that day, but decided that the next day would show.

  Chapter 10

  The next morning, Asa opened her eyes to a white ceiling that produced an intense feeling of both relief and resignation. The familiar noises of the city around her and the warmth of the bed made her feel secure. She shifted, just enough to turn her head, and the warmth moved with her.

  “Oh,” Asa said. The letter rasped in his throat and she swallowed, watching as the sun painted the room in beautiful shadows. Her body ached from the long hours spent in the same position and the woman quickly stood up. It took her almost half an hour to get ready for the day and sit down for a cup of coffee in the long stay hotel room kitchen. The place was a long way from home, but agent Clark was used to living like that and wasn’t complaining.

  The ringing of the phone almost made her drop the coffee cup and Asa quickly took the offending object out of her pocket and looked to see who was calling. The caller ID said that it was the Deputy Director Shepherd on the phone. “Shit!” she exclaimed and put down the cup, preparing for the hard conversation with her boss.

  “Agent Clark,” she answered the phone, grateful that her voice sounded normal again.

  “Agent Clark,” the woman on the other side of the line repeated. “You were supposed to call me yesterday.”

  “Yes,” Asa agreed. “I have little to report. The car of the two agents was found, but so far it gives us no clue about what had happened. I visited the site, where the car was dumped, but was able to retrieve only the print of a horse hoof, which could be completely unrelated to the case.”

  Agent Clark was speaking fast and straight to the point, not leaving the Deputy Director the time to add something or ask questions. She described the situation in the Montana field office, leaving behind only the problems she was having with Gibson. It was of no use to tell her, as Shepherd believed that personal problems on the job weren’t to be discussed.

  “Okay, thank you for the briefing, but the next time make sure to be the one calling,” the director instructed. “How is Gibson treating you?”

  Clark wasn’t expecting the question, and it surprised her a little, but it was normal for Shepherd to notice things like that. “He is okay,” she said carefully. “Not a big fan of women, but not making problems either. The biggest problem here is the lack of digital footprints. The place has no cameras, no phones to trace. It is frustrating like hell to deal only with the words of the possible witnesses.”

  “Any sign of the agents or of their bodies?”

  “No, we have found no evidence that they have been killed yet,” Asa answered. “But, any hopes of finding them alive that I might have are starting to disappear.”

  “My suggestion is to try and blend in more with the locals, so that you can use them as a resource.” Asa’s boss suggested. “Now that you have seen the reports, examined the car and processed the site, you should start sniffing the trail.”

  Asa agreed with her and listened to her instructions for another ten minutes. The Deputy Director was very much interested in the outcome of the case and insisted that Clark call every day with an update. When the call was over, Asa ate some toast and headed out. There were many things to be done. First she went to the FBI office and checked if the results of the hoof print and the pedals were ready. Ann assured her that she would call when they came in and Asa walked back out, ready for the next step of her plan.

  Deputy Director Jennifer Shepherd in her overly professional and commanding tone had given her the confidence she needed to approach the local people and drill them for information. At the age of 52, Jennifer Shepherd was the embodiment of what a female FBI agent could do, when she put her mind on it.

  The post of the Deputy Director of the FBI task force was the fulfilment of a dream for the outspoken and candid woman. She was a success because she always gave everything to the case she was dealing with. Today, her dream was to crack the big case of domestic terrorism, by keeping Asa Clark focused on the mission. Shepherd hadn’t hesitated to say just that and Clark had promised to do her best.

  That was who Jennifer Shepherd was – the Deputy Director of the counter-terrorism division of the FBI headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was a powerful woman who had reached the top through excellence, tireless ambition and diehard tactics. She saw a lot of herself in Asa Clark and wanted her to succeed as a fellow female agent for the bureau.

  Chapter 11

  Later in the evening, Asa headed down to one of the pool halls in the town. She had left her FBI badge behind and dressed in a comfortable pair of jeans, a silk top and an elegant jacket that made her look sophisticated, but not easy. For the first time since she was in the town, Asa left her hair loose and put on some make up.

  The receptionist had given her directions to the pool hall, assuring her that the place was the best to meet the locals. So, Asa decided to do just that. She was going to be posing as a local girl in search for some good time. She had made sure to inform Ann of her intentions, leaving her directions, but asking to be left alone to do her job.

  The pool hall was what she expected and Asa quickly found her way to the bar and ordered a beer. The place was filled with people, who were either playing or just drinking and talking. She approached two of the groups and tried to start a conversation, but it quickly became obvious that the people here were pretty tight-lipped and unwilling to talk to strangers.

  Thankfully, Asa didn’t lose her courage and did the next logical thing – started playing pool. She easily found a smaller group that accepted her offer to join them and in no time was beating them. Asa had learned how to play pool from an old friend in college and still remembered a few tricks. As if by magic, the locals started to warm up to her and soon Asa had made a few friends.

  “Come on, Asa,” Lilly Huston was shouting at her. “You have to tell us, how you do it? I have never seen a woman beat my Rich at pool.”

  Asa laughed at her enthusiasm and leaned over the pool table to give her final shot. Rich was completely and definitely defeated. “Oh, sorry Lilly, but my secrets are my own. If I tell you, I will lose half of my advantage.”

  The rest of the people around the table laughed and Asa could feel that she was doing good. “I am going to take another beer,” she told them after a while and headed over to the bar. That was when she met him.

  The man was standing alone at the bar, drinking beer and looking lost in thoughts. The man was maybe six feet tall, with dark blond hair and deep gray eyes. Asa’s professional eye placed his age somewhere between 30 and 35, while his clothes immediately spoke of a rancher or a farmer.

  The woman made sure to lean against the bar, just beside him and the young man turned to look at her with a friendly smile on his lips. The moment their eyes met, there was an instant attraction between them and Asa could tell that they both felt it.

  “Gabriel Kimble,” the man offered a hand to her, never breaking eye contact.

  “Asa Clark,” she answered, accepting the hand.

  “I saw you bringing Rich Hall under the table,” he continued, letting her hand go slowly.

  “Yeah, that was something to be seen,” Asa agreed seriously and ordered a beer at the bartender. “Can I buy you another one?”

  “Isn’t it my job to offer you a drink?”

  “Are you so close minded that you have to always be the bread bringer?” She threw right back at him.

  “God, you are something,” the man laughed and then took the offered beer, making a show of drinking from it. “Thank you, man, I really needed that.”

  “Are you from around here?” Asa asked easily, already feeling comfortable around the man.

  “Yes and no,” Gabriel answered. “I live on a ranch a few miles from the city, but for tonight I am staying at a hotel.”

  “That sounds intere
sting,” the woman commented. “Is it a cattle ranch? I always wanted to see one.”

  “You are always invited to the Kimble Ranch,” the man said gallantly. “Just be open minded and don’t expect too much.”

  “Have you always lived there? I am not sure that I will be able to live my whole life in one place.”

  “Me too,” Gabriel Kimble agreed. “I have always dreamed to see the world, find love, have a greater destiny than a cattle ranch…”

  “Oh, such big dreams. It will take you time to fulfil them all. You should start immediately.”

  “If only that was so easy,” the man shook his head. “But, maybe if I find the right woman, I will be able to man up and go against my older brother's will.”

  “You have one of those, ah? I know the feeling.”

  After that, things went down quickly. Gabriel invited her to his motel room and Asa was unable to say no.The room was the typical, shabby and smelling of smoke motel room, but it was tidy and Asa could say that the man hasn’t spent too much time in here. With a dull, heavy thud Gabriel shoved her against the door, leaning against her and claiming her lips in a passionate kiss.

  At first Asa thought that she should protest, but the words caught in her throat when their lips locked together and the man pushed her jacket off her shoulders. The door had clicked shut behind them, and their ragged panting was loud in the silence of the room. Outside cars were honking and tires were screeching, but neither of them really cared by that point.

  Asa had her eyes shut and didn’t seem to be noticing anything at all. Instead, she held Gabriel’s head, her hand curled tightly in his hair, as he kissed her. Gabriel’s hands were half vanished under her top, caressing her naked skin. Asa made an impatient sound, really enjoying his hands on her body and wanting more. The man ran his hands over her body, caressing her belly, squeezing her bottom and slowly raising the top up to her armpits. He was trying to undress her without putting any distance between their bodies and that made Asa smile against his lips.

  “Let me help you,” she muttered softly, when his lips descended to her neck. She pushed him gently away and slowly raised her arms up, so that the man could remove the top. Gabriel smiled at her and used the position to remove his jacket and shirt, showing his muscular chest and shoulders. “You are beautiful,” she muttered and the man laughed, stepping back and tugging her with him.

  “Never tell a man, he is beautiful,” he said playfully, while removing her jeans and doing the same with his own. “We are either ruggedly handsome or hot, but never beautiful.”

  “You continue to tell yourself that, if it makes you feel better,” Asa answered him and let him lay her on the bed.

  Chapter 12

  The next day, Asa woke up late in the morning, feeling happy and content. The night with Gabriel had gone better than she had expected and she had come back to her hotel in the early hours of the day.

  They were both breathing heavily and Asa felt as if she was going to explode with all the adrenaline running through her blood. The kiss started slowly, with the man nipping at her lips and tracing them with his own. Gabriel used his tongue to open them, silently asking to be let in. Asa opened her lips and Gabriel dove in, devouring her mouth and examining every single part of it. They both moaned at the wonderful sensation and Asa felt his body heat all over her own body.

  Gabriel had undressed them both, allowing Asa to get under the covers before removing the last piece of cloth from her body. Asa avoided looking at him, while he was undressing and when his hot body slipped beside her in the bed, she weaved her limbs around him. The man turned them around so that he could be the one on top and carefully opened her legs, situating himself between them.

  That time the sensation for both of them was different and Asa thought that she could call it love making and not just sex, as so many times before. Gabriel was showing her respect and affection, and although neither of them were saying the words, there were feelings, hidden behind every caress and kiss they shared.

  Asa suddenly realized she was day dreaming again and cursed under her breath. She really needed to get ready and go to work. She was already late, as it was. Getting up quickly, she washed and dressed in a gray suit and black shirt, pulling her hair back in a severe bun. She was almost ready to leave the hotel room, when her phone rang and she hurried to answer it.

  “Agent Clark,” she said into the phone.

  “This is agent Gibson,” Todd spoke from the other side of the phone. “The results from the horseshoe are here. You have to come to the office immediately.”

  “I am on my way,” Asa said to him and closed the phone. So, she was back in the game. Sparing one last glance at the room, Asa once again went back to Gabriel’s motel room.

  There was something magical in the way his lips covered hers and possessed her whole being. She thought that it would be easy to resist him, but Asa would be lying to herself if she said that it would be easy. His hands held her close and Asa could feel her own hands rising up and embracing the man. The whole time her mind was screaming for her to slow things down, but her body had other ideas.

  When he lifted his head to look into her eyes, Asa let go of him and took a few steps back. Gabriel followed her, trying to claim her lips again.

  “Stop this now… we should talk…” she pleaded with him, but the man cornered her against the wall and kissed her again.

  This time the kiss went deeper, as his tongue entered her mouth and started to explore it. Asa felt his hands wander over her back, her buttocks, her thighs… It was as if he was trying to learn every curve of her body.

  Asa arrived at the FBI field office half an hour later and headed directly for Gibson’s office. Ann had greeted her with a smile and a few of the others agent did the same, but Asa had no time to lose at the moment and almost ran to Gibson’s office. Agent Gibson was waiting for her and even stood up from his seat to welcome her.

  “We have the results from the horseshoe analysis,” he said urgently. “It's consistent with a single shoemaker from Polson, Montana near the Flathead Indian Reservation.”

  “That is a good news,” Asa answered. “Finally, we have some leads.”

  “We should go immediately and check on it,” Gibson said to her, giving her the report to go through.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Asa muttered, too taken with the report to pay any attention to the man in the room. She was glad to have a reason to take her mind off the previous night and the man, who seemed to be constantly in her thoughts.

  Gibson watched her read the report, open the door without lifting her gaze from the paper and disappear down the hall, probably going to her car. The man felt once again left behind and not taken into consideration. Shepherd, Clark and all the other young and successful women, seemed to think that men like him were to be used, but not taken seriously, and that made him angry.

  “Shit!” He shouted at the closed door and turned around to sit back down on his chair. She wanted to go alone, okay, he was going to let her go alone, but that surely didn’t mean that he was going to help her take all the glory.

  Chapter 13

  Agent Clark arrived in Polson, a small town near the Flathead Lake, before lunch time and decided to have lunch before meeting with the horseshoe maker. She went into the first dinner she saw on the way and ordered a chicken salad and an ice tea. Asa ate fast and avoided conversations with the local people.

  When her lunch was over, Asa drove to the shoemaker’s barn and looked around. The man was a stout-bellied Ferrier, who also ran a barn and a feed store. Agent Clark quickly realized that she shouldn't have dressed in her suit, which screamed from miles away, FBI, but it was too late right now.

  She walked to the barn and quickly found the man, bent over a table and cleaning a horse shoe with some sharp instrument. “Mr. Thomson?” she asked politely and waited for the man to turn around. He was around fifty years old, with pepper and salt hair and a large moustache that made him look older.

 
; “Yeah, that is me,” he said and started cleaning his hands with a rag. “How can I help you?”

  “I am FBI agent Asa Clark,” she showed him her badge and walked closer. “I need you to look at some prints left by a horse you have treated.”

  The man looked at the pictures and compared them to the horseshoe in his hands. “You are right, this is my work, but I cannot distinctively say, who it belongs to. All the horses that come to my barn get the same make, and I cannot tell one from the other.”

  “Could you give me a list of the people, whose horses you work with?” Agent Clark asked, hoping to some other lead.

  “Yes, I probably can do that, but I shoe everyone’s horses in the area. It will be impossible to interrogate them all.” The man commented.

  Asa thought about what he had said and saw the truth behind his words. “Thank you, anyway, Mr. Thomson. If you remember something, please do not hesitate to contact me.” She added and gave him a card with her phone number on it.

  Mr. Thomson accepted the card and promised to call if something came to his mind, but he doubted that he would be able to be of any help. Asa thought that the man was hiding something or at least wasn’t saying everything, but there was no way for her to know what or to make him speak. With another glance in his direction, she walked out of the barn and prepared to leave the town, when a familiar face caught her attention.

  At the feed store, which was situated just in front of the barn, she recognized Gabriel Kimble, talking to two other men. She debated if it was wise to speak to him, although her mind was urging her to go, her heart wanted other things. Making it look like an accidental meeting, Asa walked towards Gabriel and his friends.

  “Asa,” he exclaimed with a happy smile on his lips and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. The woman felt as if last night was replaying in front of her eyes and smiled back at him. “I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon. And here of all places?”