by Tim Myers
“And so you’re trying to bring her back to her family? Wouldn’t you call that noble?”
“I guess. I try not to think about what I do. When somebody comes to me with a problem, I try to fix it, if I think it’s something worthwhile.”
“And you actually make a living doing it?”
I shrugged. “Some months I eat better than others, but at least I don’t have any trouble sleeping at night.”
She stared at her hands, then said, “I wonder if my brother can say the same thing.”
“Why don’t you ask him?”
She laughed again, but this one was genuine and full of spirit. “No, I think we’ll leave that question unspoken between us.” Jasmine stood, and I followed suit.
Instead of showing me to the door, though, she asked, “Are you hungry? I haven’t had time to eat, and now that Mr. Valentine is sleeping, I find that I’m famished.”
“Me, too,” I said as my stomach rumbled in support of my claim. “Now, if only we knew a place that had food supplies and the equipment to prepare them.”
“Follow me,” she said as she led me back into her kitchen.
“I’ve got an idea,” I said. “I’m a pretty decent cook. Why don’t I wait on you tonight? It would have to be a good change of pace.”
She shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, really I do, but nobody’s going to cook in my kitchen but me. You can keep me company, though.”
She pointed to a chair in one corner, and I took it. As she studied the open refrigerator, she asked, “Is there anything in particular you feel like eating?”
“I’ll take the Chef’s Choice,” I said. Suddenly, I was hungry enough to eat the countertop. It had to be Bailey’s super vitamins. I’d been torn up before and forced to mend, but I’d never been this famished.
There must have been something in the way I spoke. Jasmine hurried toward me. “Are you all right?”
“I’m suddenly starving,” I admitted.
She nodded, and took an apple pie from under a glass dome. After grabbing a fork, she said, “Eat this. It will tide you over until I can make you something more substantial.”
“I’m not going to eat an entire pie by myself,” I said as I started in on it. Three minutes later, the whole thing, crumbs and all, was gone.
I wiped my mouth, then said, “I don’t know what came over me. I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t apologize. It has to have something to do with Bailey’s magic vitamins. There’s always a side effect to anything you add to your body. You’re burning so many calories healing, I can’t believe you lasted as long as you did. Let me guess, you’re still hungry, aren’t you?”
“I could eat a bite or two,” I admitted. I was going to have to have a talk with Bailey. It was true he’d warned me I’d be hungry after taking the vitamins, but the man needed to work on his language skills. At the moment, I could eat an old bull, hoofs and horns to boot.
Jasmine said, “Let’s keep this simple. Hamburgers, fries, onion rings, and Cokes. How many burgers can you eat? Should I make you three, or four?”
“Two should be plenty,” I said.
“Three it is,” she said as she slapped four large patties on the griddle, adding one for herself.
In no time at all our meal was ready, and we took a seat at one of the booths in front. She had blinds pulled down in the restaurant windows, so we could eat in peace without all of Dogtown watching us.
I had no trouble eating all three of my burgers, most of the onion rings and nearly all of the French fries as well.
When I looked up from my plate, Jasmine was smiling at me. “I like a man with an appetite.”
“Trust me, I don’t always eat like this.”
“I know that.” She studied me a second, then said, “After this, I can’t keep calling you Trask, but that’s the only way Bowen has ever referred to you. What’s your first name?”
“It’s Jacob,” I said.
She nodded. “And never ‘Jake’, I’m willing to bet. So, Jacob, what happens now?”
I was a little confused by the question. “I don’t know. What did you have in mind?”
“I don’t mean doing something with me,” she said, but I did catch the hint of a smile at my suggestion. “I’m talking about your case.”
“I need to find Harkins, and it needs to be soon. There’s a danger to nearly everything I do on this case, but I can’t let that stop me.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll find your missing girl,” Jasmine said.
“I wish I had as much faith in me as you seem to,” I answered.
She reached out and touched my hand, and I wondered what Bowen would think if he’d seen it. Jasmine was an attractive woman-not beautiful, but pretty-and I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to be with her, a woman with a great many more layers than the dates I usually had. Something passed between our eyes, something unspoken but powerful enough to shake me. There was an invitation there, but it came with a warning. Go down this path, it said, and your life might never be the same again.
I wasn’t ready to make that kind of decision, especially not when it involved Bowen’s sister.
I pulled my hand away and said, “I’d better get going. Thanks for everything. I’ll check in on you tomorrow. Both of you.”
She nodded, the acceptance clearly showing in her eyes. ‘Maybe someday, but not here, not tonight’, it said.
For now, it was enough.
I was still thinking about Jasmine when I got back to my apartment. I’d stayed with her much longer than I’d planned, and I was still playing with the possibilities in my mind when I noticed that my apartment door was partially open.
Without realizing it, I instantly went into full survival mode. I drew my pistol, then stepped through the doorway, wondering if I was walking into another one of Harkins’ traps.
Chapter 5
My place was trashed, cushions shredded and furniture broken up, but on the plus side, I was alone. Had an intruder broken in looking for something, or was this tied in with my search for Harkins and Jennifer Granger? Was it another warning, or had Harkins come by to finish what his underlings had started?
Anywhere else but Dogtown, my first move would have been to call the police and report the vandalism. But I knew Dalton would just laugh at me if I called this in. I started sorting through my things, searching for anything worth salvaging, and making a pile out in the hallway for everything else.
There wasn’t much I had to discard, but then again, I wasn’t used to living at the Ritz.
It wasn’t until I moved into the bedroom that I found the note. BUTT OUT. LAST WARNING. At least I knew this was tied into the case I was working on. For some reason, it made me feel a little better.
Maybe I was making more progress than I thought.
At least he hadn’t trashed the bedroom, so I had a place to sleep. I did call Sue Ellen’s number before I nodded off, but there was no answer. Either Harkins had gotten to her, or she’d taken off. Either way, I was on my own.
But I was too tired to look for anybody tonight.
It was time to get some rest so I’d be able to do my job come morning.
The telephone woke me the next morning, and I grunted out a greeting as I tried to come awake. With all I’d eaten the night before, I was shocked to hear my stomach grumbling. I didn’t know what was in Bailey’s vitamin mix, but whatever it was, it had an appetite I could barely keep up with.
Stephanie Granger was on the line, and she didn’t sound all that pleased to be talking to me. She was yammering on and on about something, but I couldn’t make it out through the fog in my head.
“Call me back in fifteen minutes,” I snapped as I hung up on her. Some clients were like that, breathing down my neck every second, expecting me to report in at every opportunity. I didn’t work like that, it was time the Grangers learned that.
Twelve minutes later, after I’d had a chance to get a cup of coffee, wolf down an en
tire loaf of cinnamon bread and six scrambled eggs-even running my head under the shower while the eggs were cooking-the phone rang again. I thought about ignoring it until the full fifteen minutes had elapsed, but then again, I had taken the Granger money, and so far, I hadn’t had much luck tracking their daughter down.
“Hello,” I said as cordially as I could manage.
“Mr. Trask, I expect to be treated with at least the barest level of respect whenever I telephone.”
I tried to keep my voice even as I said, “Sorry, I was out late last night looking for your daughter. I figured that was more important than being nice and rested in the morning so I could be more courteous to you just in case you called unexpectedly.”
She hesitated, then said, “Or course. You’re right, I’m sorry for my tone. I’m just sick with worry. Have you found her yet?”
“No, but I’m making some progress.” Was I? Even I wasn’t sure. My results so far hadn’t led to any actual knowledge of where the woman’s daughter was, but I was close enough to make Harkins nervous if the break in and the set up were any indication, so that was a point in my favor.
She said impatiently, “I’m waiting. What exactly have you discovered?”
I took a deep breath, counted to seven until I could answer without snapping at her, then said, “There are a few things you should know about how I work. I don’t file reports, and I don’t give daily briefings. I’m looking for Jennifer with every resource I have, and time I spend on the phone with you is time I’m not looking for your daughter.”
“But you were asleep when I called,” she said petulantly.
“Yeah, and I eat every now and then, too. You want me to cut that out? Listen Mrs. Granger, I’m not trying to pick a fight with you, but I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve found her. That’s all I can promise.”
“It’s not much, is it?”
“Some folks think it is. Whether it’s enough or not is entirely up to you. Good bye, Mrs. Granger.”
I didn’t even wait for her to reply. What did she think she was getting for her money, a trained lap dog? I was looking for her daughter the best way I knew how, and if it wasn’t good enough for the Granger family, then they could fire me. But until they did, I was going to go out into the world and start looking for their daughter again.
But not before I stopped in at Jasmine’s to see how Jim Valentine was doing, and maybe have a word or two with Bowen’s little sister while I was at it.
I was surprised the diner was open, since Jasmine was taking care of Jim, but what did I expect? She was doing this as a favor to me and Bowen, and I couldn’t expect her world to stop just for us.
Jasmine smiled when she saw me, a level of warmth there that hadn’t been present before. “He’s better this morning.”
“Can I see him?” I asked.
“Why don’t you ask me yourself?” Jim responded from a booth.
I slid in across from him. “Should you be up?”
“I don’t know what Bailey gave me, but I want to order more of it right now. The only problem is, I’ve been eating since I woke up.”
Jasmine grinned. “He’s been hungrier than you were last night.”
One of the waitresses called out, “I’ve got an order waiting.”
“I’m coming,” she said. As she passed by, she patted my hand, something that Jim didn’t miss.
“What happened last night?” he asked as he took another bite of pancake.
“I came by to give you Bailey’s vitamin potion and we chatted for a few minutes. That’s it.”
He shook his head. “I saw the way she was looking at you. Come on, spill it.”
“Well, you must honestly be feeling better if you’re this nosy already. I’m not about to do anything with Bowen’s sister, okay?”
Jim shrugged. “Why not? I thought you two were friends. Are you sure he’d mind if you were interested in his sister?”
I stole a piece of bacon from his place. With all I’d eaten, I was still feeling more than a little peckish. “Do you want to be the one to ask him for his blessing?”
“No thanks, I’m just healing up from the last time I got into an argument that wasn’t any of my business.” His expression grew serious. “Jacob, I never had the chance to thank you for bringing me here.”
He rarely called me by my first name, and it was a sure indication that he was still shaken up by what had happened at the house the night before. “I’m the one who got you hurt in the first place. I never should have asked you to back me up in there.”
“Why, because I got a little scratched up?” he asked. “If you need me, I’ll be there. You’d do it for me. That’s what friendship means.”
“You’re nuts, you know that?”
He smiled. “I’ve been called worse. Have you had any luck tracking Harkins down this morning?”
“I’ve been too busy worrying about you,” I said.
“Then stop it right now. I could leave this minute if I wanted to, but Jasmine’s promised me a big lunch if I take a nap, so I’m going to take advantage of the situation and catch up on some sleep. If you need me, though, I’m good to go right now.”
“Take it easy, pal. The only thing I need from you is for you to get better.”
“Like I said, I’m practically there.”
Jasmine brought me a plate of pancakes that matched Jim’s. “Here. Eat this.”
“I already ate a big breakfast,” I said. “Besides, I don’t have time.”
She stared down at me and said, “ “Make time. You’re not going anywhere until you’ve eaten these.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said as I took a bite. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it, but I was still hungry, whether it was a hangover from Bailey’s dose of vitamins or from the energy the healing process was robbing from me.
I tore into the meal, and by the time I was finished, I was feeling like my old self again. I slipped a hundred under my plate as I stood.
Jim said, “Wow, that’s some kind of tip.”
“It’s for more than just our meals,” I said. “She’ll understand.”
He shook his head. “She might, and then again, it might just piss her off. Either way, I’m not going to be the one who explains it to her.”
He stood beside me, and I asked, “Where do you think you are going?”
“Like I said, I’ve got a date with a cot. If you need me, you know where to find me. See you.”
Jasmine approached before I could get out myself. She spied the hundred as I was edging for the door. “Jacob Trask, get back here this instant.”
I grinned at her. “Sorry, I’ve got to go. There’s work to be done.”
“What’s the meaning of this?” she asked as she shook the hundred in the air at me.
I lowered my voice and waited for her to approach. The last thing I wanted was word to get around Dogtown that I’d been seen with Bowen’s sister. “It’s for dinner last night, two breakfasts this morning, and his lunch,” I said. “If you need more, let me know. I’ve got a paying client, so I’m flush right now. You’d better take advantage of it while you can.”
“It’s still too much.”
“Then run me a tab if there’s anything left,” I said. “I’ll be back.”
She didn’t look all that happy about it, but she slid the bill into her apron.
I took off while I had the chance. It was time to stir up some more trouble and see if I could track Harkins and the teenaged runaway down before something even worse happened to her.
If she was even still alive, which I was beginning to doubt.
There was one person in Dogtown who might have the connections to find out where Harkins was hiding, but I’d been hesitating to tap the source. The question alone would buy me buckets of grief that I didn’t want to take, but I didn’t have anywhere else to go. It was time to go see Melody Rage, attorney to most of the lowlifes in our section of the city, and the only woman on earth who also happened to be my ex wife.
“Hi, may I help you?”
Melody had a new receptionist, a blonde barely out of her teens who hadn’t learned appropriate office attire yet, which was at least one plus for having to come there. Her skirt was six inches too short, and her blouse was a full size too small, not that I was complaining about either of her errors.
“I need to see your boss.”
The blonde frowned at me as she stared at a sheet in front of her. “Do you have an appointment? I’m sorry, but I don’t see your name.”
“How can you tell if it’s there or not? I didn’t give you one.”
She smiled at me, and I could see a little warmth come through. “Fair enough, but nobody’s down for now, so I still don’t have you on my list.”
“Tell your boss that Trask is here to see her. I’m pretty sure she’ll agree, out of curiosity, if nothing else.” I wasn’t sure at all, given our rocky relationship, both in and out of matrimony, but she was just about my last hope, and I couldn’t afford to be too choosy.
“I’ll check with her,” the girl said. Instead of using the phone, she got up from behind her desk, and I enjoyed watching her long legs barely covered by that short skirt as she went to tell my ex that I was there.
She popped out ten seconds after she went in with a startled look on her face. “She’ll see you now.”
“Thanks,” I said as I slipped past her.
I didn’t realize I’d looked back at the girl as she retreated, but Melody must have caught some of my glance. “Still up to your old tricks, Trask? Shelly’s young enough to be your daughter.”
“I doubt that. I’m not that old.”
Melody frowned. “You’re not getting any younger though, are you?”
“None of us are,” I said with a smile she didn’t return.
Melody’s eyes rolled skyward for just a second. “What do you want, Trask?”
“Can’t I drop in on my ex wife for no reason, just to say hello?”