by Jack Gibby
“Did you see where he went?” Dunn asked as soon as he caught up with Missy.
“Not exactly,” she replied. “I thought a saw a darkish blob move this way when I got back here.”
“What do you expect to do if we catch him?” Dunn said. “Tell him he’s a really bad man?”
Missy glanced over at Dunn and gave him a look. But she didn’t respond.
“Well?”
“I don’t know,” said Missy finally. “I don’t know what I’m going to do if we catch him.”
“He might pull a gun on you,” said Dunn.
“Then I’ll pull a gun on him.”
“You have a gun?” Dunn said in surprise.
“Yeah, of course,” said Missy. “Don’t tell me you didn’t bring your gun.” Dunn’s silence was answer enough. Missy stopped walking, and Dunn stopped as well.
“I mean, no,” he said after a moment.
“Dunn,” Missy said calmly. “I’m going to need you to start bringing your gun when we go on missions.”
“I’m going to need you to repeat that to yourself so you can understand how absurd it sounds,” said Dunn.
“You’re absurd,” said Missy. She began walking again, and Dunn followed.
They came around a corner, and all there was was more hallway. Missy’s expression turned sour. They had been hot on this guy’s trail, but now she couldn’t be sure where he was. It was disappointing. Dunn could tell that Missy wasn’t too happy about it.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Let’s just go back. If someone finds us back here, it’s not going to be pretty.”
“I’m not really concerned about that,” said Missy. “I’m concerned about this guy. The shooter. The murderer.”
“I know you are,” he said. “But I think we’re already in a bit too deep. If we get found back here, I don’t think your father will be too happy about hiring you for a relationship building job.”
“Oh, fuck it,” said Missy. “My father hates this place. It’s all just a ruse. I told you that.”
“Well, then you’re going to mess up his ruse,” said Dunn. “C’mon. Let’s just get out while we’re still undiscovered.”
About half way down the hall, a door opened up and the flushing of a toilet could be heard. Dunn and Missy froze, looking down toward the door, neither sure what would come next. Then he stepped out. It was the guy. He looked down at them, and they looked at him.
“Hey,” he said. “You two lost?”
Dunn and Missy looked at one another.
“Yeah,” said Dunn after a moment. “We were looking for the bathroom and I think we went in the wrong door.”
“Well, this is an employee bathroom,” he said, thumbing back at the door he just came from. The man walked closer to them. “But since you’re already back here, you could use that one. You might just want to wait a minute or two.”
Missy really looked the guy over, trying to make sure it was actually the shooter. She stared at his face, cocked her head to one side, analyzing it and comparing it against what she remembered from the security footage. The man had a quizzical look on his face as he stared back at her. It obviously made him uncomfortable.
“She okay?” he asked of Dunn.
“Her?” said Dunn, looking to Missy. “Oh. Yeah, she’s okay. She’s a little…” he said, and then touched his own head. The man immediately understood and nodded.
“I gotcha,” he said. “She looks very put together for that.”
“She likes to dress up,” said Dunn.
“What’s your name?” Missy said suddenly.
“Huh?” said the man, taken aback by Missy’s question. “My name?”
“She likes names,” Dunn corroborated.
“Um, all right,” said the man. “Sam Crumb.”
“With a silent ‘b?’” Missy asked. Sam was getting even more confused. He looked to Dunn. Dunn smiled and shrugged.
“Yeah,” Sam said after a moment. “A silent ‘b.’”
“A silent ‘b’ on Sam or on Crumb?” Missy went on. It was obvious to Dunn that Missy was now screwing with the guy.
“A silent ‘b’ on Sam?” asked Sam. “Samb?” he said, over-pronouncing the ‘b.’ “Are you kidding?”
“We should probably be going now,” said Dunn, putting an arm around Missy. “We’ll just use the bathroom for guests.”
“Back down the hall,” said Sam, pointing. “Go out the door you came through. It’s on the other side of the tasting room.”
“Got it,” said Dunn. He directed Missy to turn around. “Thank you, Sam.”
“Yeah, no problem,” said Sam. He was still confused, and a bit perturbed.
Dunn guided Missy back the way they came, looking behind himself occasionally to make sure that Sam wasn’t following them. He hadn’t really expected Missy to act like she had in front of him. His experience with her so far had been that she was outspoken, risky, ready for a fight. But it was almost as though she had frozen in front of the guy.
Once they were out of earshot, Dunn spoke up.
“You all right?”
“Yeah,” said Missy as they approached the door.
“You think that was him?”
“I think so.”
Dunn opened the door and let Missy walk through it first.
“So I guess you can just leave an anonymous tip for the cops,” said Dunn. “A package with the video and the guy’s name. Mystery solved.”
“I don’t know,” said Missy. “That doesn’t explain the why.”
“What?”
“The why,” she reiterated. “Okay, we know the guy. But why did he do it?”
“That’s not our job, Missy,” said Dunn. The two walked back into the main area of the tasting room, which was peppered throughout with people congregating, drinking, socializing. “That’s the job of the police.”
“No, I think we should figure it out.”
And then, appearing before them as though she came from nowhere, Maria materialized. She looked to Dunn and Missy with a raised brow.
“Did I just see the two of you come from the back room?” Maria asked in a half-accusatory tone.
“Uh, yes,” said Missy, getting her bearings once again and speaking bureaucratically. “We were actually looking for the restroom and we accidentally went through that door.”
“I see,” said Maria skeptically. “Our guest restrooms are over here,” she said, motioning with her hand.
“Thank you,” said Missy. “We did find one back there, and we’re all set.”
“All right,” said Maria.
“And we were just about to go,” said Missy. “We had the reisling. It was very good.”
“Thank you,” said Maria. “Take care, you two.”
“We will,” said Missy. She smiled. After a pause, Maria walked off from the two of them.
Missy looked to Dunn and her smile morphed into a grin. Dunn shook his head.
Dunn sat slumped on his couch, tossing a baseball up in the air and catching it, while Missy was sitting crosslegged in a cushy chair opposite him with her laptop perched in her lap. It was the next day, and they had gotten together to brainstorm about the case. Dunn was focused on his game of catch, and Missy was focused on typing into her computer.
“If this Barnaby guy helped broker the deal,” mused Missy. “I don’t understand why they’d have him killed. It seems like he’d be part of the whole thing, you know? Like, an important player. Why kill him?”
“Maybe he knew too much,” Dunn offered.
“But what’s to know?” said Missy. “What’s the scam?”
“I don’t know how we could ever know that,” said Dunn, catching his baseball and placing it down next to him on the couch. He sat up straight. “That’s way beyond what we could ever find out.”
“I’m sick of your can’t-do attitude, Dunn,” said Missy. “I’m going to just straight up ask my father if he has any idea. I’m sure he would have bought that land had Laurent not
gotten there first. I bet he’s sore about it. And I bet he’s got some insight into what went down.”
“Missy, I think we should just wrap this thing up,” said Dunn. “We’ve got the video of the shooting, we’ve got the guy’s name. Let’s just turn him in and move on with our lives. I didn’t move up here to be roped into a bunch of local intrigue. I was just hoping to learn to sail, drink some wine, and relax.”
“Need I remind you that this Crumb guy shot at us,” boomed Missy. “He, or someone, also broke into your house, they stalked me at work, and that other guy threatened us outside of the shooting range. We have a vested interest in this now, Dunn, and I’m not stopping until I get it all figured out.”
Dunn sighed, and he chewed on Missy’s words for a moment. This wasn’t how he envisioned his retirement going, but he had to admit that it was pretty entertaining. Missy’s enthusiasm, too, was rather inspiring. She had a vim that Dunn himself hadn’t personally felt in a long time, and it was slowly rubbing off on him.
“My problem,” said Dunn after a moment. “Is that I don’t want to be shot at again. I don’t want to be put in any danger. I’m just trying to live a calm life. I’m not trying to be some detective. I’m not trying to supersede the cops.”
“We won’t be in any danger,” Missy retorted. “Nothing bad is going to happen. We’ll investigate from the shadows.”
“Just yesterday you chastised me for not bringing my gun to Laurent,” said Dunn. “And now you’re telling me we’re not going to be in any danger.”
“Well, you always have to bring your gun,” said Missy in a tone like her statement was obvious fact.
“We’re not cops,” Dunn reminded her. But Missy just let it roll over her.
“Just trust me on this,” said Missy. “On all this. I think my father might have some insight we’re missing. And maybe you’re right. Maybe this Barnaby guy knew too much. Whatever that means.”
The doorbell rang and Dunn sprung up from the couch.
“Yeah, and sooner or later somebody is going to think we know too much,” he said, walking toward the front door. Missy rolled her eyes.
Dunn pulled open his door and standing behind it in the bright sun of the early afternoon was Brooke. She smiled happily, her blonde hair back in a ponytail, dressed in her work scrubs. Dunn was stunned to see her. First he was glad, but then the notion hit him that he had Missy sitting in the living room.
“Hey,” said Dunn cautiously, wearing a half-smile. “What are you doing here?”
“That’s some welcome,” teased Brooke. “Not happy to see me?”
“Well, of course I am,” he replied, smiling bigger to try to convince her. “I just wasn’t expecting you.”
“I’m sorry,” said Brooke. “I should have called. I left a few things over here yesterday, and I thought I’d swing by on my lunch break to grab them.”
“Oh,” said Dunn. “Oh yeah. Toiletry things, right?”
“Right,” said Brooke, still smiling. “So are you going to invite me in or are we just going to stand here?”
Dunn looked back into the living room and caught a glimpse of Missy. She was working on her laptop. Then he looked back at Brooke.
“I can just run upstairs and get them for you,” said Dunn. “It’s no problem.”
“Gannon,” said Brooke. “Just let me come inside.”
“Yeah,” said Dunn. “Okay.” He stepped out of the doorway and Brooke walked inside. She looked around and immediately she saw Missy.
Missy looked up and spotted Brooke. She smiled. She waved.
Brooke looked back to Dunn with a look of confused accusation. Then she moved past Dunn and made her way into the living room and toward Missy.
“Hi,” said Brooke, sticking out her hand down toward where Missy sat. “I’m Brooke Green.”
“Missy Marlowe,” said Missy with a smile. The women shook. Dunn returned to the living room, trying to keep a wide berth.
“You’re the young woman who was with Gannon during the shooting,” said Brooke.
“I am,” said Missy. “And you’re—” she said, but stopped herself. She smiled knowingly. “You’re Dunn’s lady friend.”
“Right,” said Brooke. “Gannon didn’t tell me I was interrupting something here.”
“Well, I—” said Dunn.
“I know what you might be thinking,” said Missy. “But don’t worry. Dunn and I are just business partners.”
“Business partners?” repeated Brooke.
“Yeah,” said Dunn, stepping in. “I’m sort of taking Missy under my wing. Teaching her about business.”
“Is that right?” Brooke said, drenched in skepticism. Dunn looked to Missy and widened his eyes, trying to communicate his intensions with her.
“I like to think it’s the other way around,” said Missy. Brooke gave a muted scoffing laugh.
“Well, I was just stopping by to pick up a few things,” said Brooke. She slinked over to Dunn and slipped her arm around his back, as though she were claiming her property. “But maybe I should just leave them here. What do you think, Gannon?” Brooke craned up and kissed him on the cheek.
“You can leave it here, sure,” said Dunn. He caught Missy rolling her eyes.
“Ah,” said Brooke. “Another step in our relationship. I guess I didn’t need to stop by at all. But it was a good thing I did. I got to meet your friend.”
“Yeah,” said Dunn. “Right.”
“While I’m here, Gannon,” Brooke continued. “Mind stepping back outside with me to chat about something?”
“Sure.”
“Missy, it was lovely to meet you,” said Brooke.
“Likewise,” said Missy. She smiled big.
“Follow me,” Brooke said to Dunn, pulling him along with her. Missy watched the two of them exit the living room with a bemused expression. Brooke’s obvious jealousy gave Missy immense pleasure.
Back out on the porch, Brooke closed the door behind them and her countenance changed from blithe calm to annoyance.
“What is going on here, Gannon?” she asked. “Are you two-timing me with this chick?”
“What? No,” said Dunn. “No. There’s nothing going on with me and Missy.”
“I told you before how I felt about this,” said Brooke. “This hurts my feelings, you know. I stop by my boyfriend’s house to pick up some things, and I find him hanging out with a girl half his age. You don’t think that’s a little suspect?”
“First, she’s not half my age,” countered Dunn. “She’s thirteen years younger. If she was half my age, I’d be sixty.”
“Whatever, Gannon,” Brooke said. “That’s not the point. My point is that you’re palling around with a younger woman, who—I can admit—is very pretty and that makes me feel like shit. You must be able to see this from my perspective.”
“I can,” said Dunn. “Yeah.”
“You’re the first man I’ve really started opening up to since Jake and I’m pretty vulnerable right now,” she went on. “I hope you don’t take that lightly.”
“I don’t,” Dunn said. “No, I appreciate that.”
“So tell me, honestly, what is going on here,” Brooke said. “I can handle it. I’m a big girl.”
Dunn paused, and he looked away. He battled with himself whether or not he should really tell Brooke the truth, or if he should come up with another story. The problem was, if he did tell her the truth, it would make him sound dangerous and crazy. There was no way Brooke would want to be involved with him if she knew that he somehow got roped into investigating a murder. But if he lied, and she eventually found out, that would do him in as well. Dunn didn’t really know what to do.
“What Missy said is true,” he said after his moment of reflection. “It’s just a business thing. She’s interested in technology—that’s why she had her laptop with her—and I’m trying to guide her in the right direction.”
Brooke narrowed her eyes and looked at Dunn, trying to read him, trying to
suss out if he was being honest. Dunn looked back at her, he smiled sheepishly, he attempted the best look of innocence he could muster. Brooke softened and she sighed.
“I’m sorry,” she said with a hint of sadness. “I can get a little jealous. Truthfully, I’ve been burned before. I never told you, but Jake cheated on me. That’s why our marriage ended. I try to keep positive about it all for Logan’s sake, but I’m still affected by it. I don’t mean to be a bitch, Gannon.” Brooke looked like she could cry. Stepping closer to her, Dunn embraced her.
“It’s all right,” he said. “I understand.” Brooke wrapped her arms around him and squeezed.
“Just don’t cheat on me, okay?” said Brooke.
“I won’t,” said Dunn.
Brooke pulled back slightly and then she leaned up and kissed him. She smiled.
“I’m sorry for getting accusatory,” said Brooke. “I should trust you. You’re a good man, Gannon. I know that. I know that you and Missy shared a traumatizing experience. I should give you your space to understand that together.”
“Missy and I are just friends,” Dunn reassured her. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“Thank you,” said Brooke. She kissed him again. “I should get going back to work. Can I still leave my bathroom stuff here?”
“Sure,” said Dunn. He smiled, and so did Brooke.
“Thank you,” she said again. She sighed. “Okay,” Brooke said with a revitalized calm as she took a step back from him. “I’ll see you soon, Gannon.” She was trying to keep a strong, smiling face on.
“Very soon,” said Dunn.
Brooke nodded. After a pause, she turned and made her way down his front steps. As she left, she turned and gave Dunn another look. She blew a kiss at him. And then, Brooke walked to the curb, she got into her car, and she drove off. Dunn exhaled, he felt a little bit like an asshole, and then he reentered his home.
As Dunn came back inside, Missy looked up at him, still sitting crosslegged on the chair, and she grinned.
“I bet you wish you had your gun on you out there,” Missy quipped.
At first Dunn’s face molded into offense. But then he smiled. And then he laughed. Dunn walked back over to the couch, he plopped down, and he picked up his baseball once again.