by Leonie Gant
My eyes narrowed suspiciously. My meeting with Travis yesterday had in no way prepared me for the possibility that he was being helpful. Miss Six Pack was obviously getting a little tired of not being the center of attention and chose that moment to interrupt while breathing in deeply. This served the dual purpose of stopping our conversation and also bringing attention to herself, her impressive abs and her gravity defying breasts.
“As I was saying” she said, amazing me with the way she could talk without letting out the breath she had taken in. “Eric didn’t really seem to have any friends who worked here, most of his clientele were women.”
“Of course they were” muttered Crystal.
“Then one day he came in and quit. He said he’d hit the jackpot and he’d never have to work again. I never saw him after that day.”
Travis looked at me knowingly. Of course Eric hitting the jackpot would have to be his marriage to Adele. Score one for the romantic cynics of the world.
“Did anyone come looking for him here after he left?” asked Travis.
“No, I mean other than the female clients acting like their lives were over, until they found the next trainer willing to give them that bit of extra encouragement.”
Travis smiled and I could see Miss Six Pack falling deeper under his spell. “Any chance of me having a look at his personnel file.”
“I don’t know” she said looking around nervously.
“Eric has died.” I tried to look as sympathetic as possible. “We’re trying to find out whether he has any family to notify.”
She still hesitated.
“His funeral is tomorrow” I said. “I would hate it if his family couldn’t be there. They deserve a chance to say goodbye.”
I could see her relenting. “I’ll be right back” she said turning to go to the back room.
Travis looked at me expectantly.
“So” I said, “what’s the real reason that you are here?”
“Can’t I just be trying to help out” he asked his hands stretched out wide trying to look innocent.
“I’ve known you for less than twenty four hours and so far I kind of get the idea that you don’t just try to help out for anything. There has to be another angle here.”
“Fine then” Travis said dropping his arms. “There was always something about this guy that bothered me from the start. When Adele married him I dropped it because she told me to, and frankly, I’m a bit too busy to worry about starry eyed romantics with less sense than a sheep.” He looked at me meaningfully and I rolled my eyes. “When you came to see me yesterday, I started to get a little concerned that you might walk into whatever situation that was bothering me back then. I had a free couple of hours, so I thought that I would put a few niggling issues to bed before you stepped into it up to your neck.”
“You know for a second there I thought you were doing something to be nice” I said, “then I remembered who I was speaking to.”
Travis grinned just as Miss Six Pack came back with the file and handed it to him.
“Thanks Sharli” he said.
Of course her name was Sharli. He quickly looked through the file and then just as I went to lean over and have a look myself he slammed it shut and passed it back to Sharli.
“Thanks for all your help” he said as he grabbed both my and Crystal’s elbow and started herding us towards the door.
“Wait a second.” Sharli tucked a card in Travis’s front pocket. “In case you decide to join I’d be happy to help you out.”
“First person I’ll call” he said as he almost dragged the two of us out.
Once we were outside and near his car I wrenched my arm away from him and glared.
“What was that about?”
“I got the information I needed. There was no reason to stick around and you may have the entire day to waste on this but I don’t” Travis said patiently as if talking to a child.
“I wasn’t asking you to waste any time on this” I said getting angrier by the second. “Finding Eric’s family is my job, not yours. I don’t recall at any time asking for your help.”
Travis looked over at Crystal. “She’s pretty cute when she’s angry isn’t she?”
“I wouldn’t know” said Crystal. “I’ve never seen her mad before.”
“That makes me special” he said continuing the conversation as if I wasn’t even there.
“That makes you annoying” I said interrupting him. “Just give me the information you got from the file and you can go about your day and make the world a better place in your own special way.”
“That doesn’t work for me” said Travis.
“Why doesn’t that work for you?” I asked impatiently.
“The address I got off his file is in a part of town that is not the best and I’d feel a little uncomfortable with you going there without me.”
“Why do you care?” I snapped, exasperated.
“Got a thing for lost causes and deluded romantics” he said, that innocent smile on his face getting to the point I wanted to slap it off.
With Travis and I glaring at each other Crystal’s phone rang.
“Excuse me” she said as she stepped away to answer it.
Travis and I continued our staring contest.
Travis sighed. “Look, I always felt this job was unfinished.”
“Adele pulled you from the job, there was nothing else for you to do” I said.
“Yeah, but I always had this niggling feeling that this situation wasn’t going to end well. Never expected it to end in Eric’s murder, but it always bothered me. I can’t help but think that if I had dug a bit deeper at the time, things might not have spiraled out of control like this.”
“Adele married Eric with less thought than she takes to decide what to eat each day” I said. “The woman married him after getting you to check on him but before you had a chance to get any results, then she refused to hear anything you had to say. None of this is your fault. It’s all on Adele, and she has to deal with the situation she created.”
“She isn’t dealing with it though is she?” Travis said shrewdly. “She’s leaving you to deal with it.”
“That’s my job” I said wryly. “I get paid to take care of the parts of life that these people are not interested in taking care of themselves.”
“Seems like we have something in common” Travis said. “I look into those areas that people don’t have the guts or expertise to look into.”
I sighed with exasperation. “Just give me the information. You are not obligated to look into this and I sure as hell aren’t going to start paying you. It’s my job and I don’t need your help to do it.”
“Actually you are going to need his help” said Crystal returning to the group. “I need to get back to the office so you are going to need a ride home and I nominate him” she said pointing at Travis who was now smiling broadly.
“I thought you were supposed to have some time off, you know, because of your lack of tact when dealing with some clients.”
“Yes, I thought so too” said Crystal with a big smile on her face, “but it seems one of my other clients, who is so much more important to the agency than Mia, decided to stand up for me and my artistic integrity when dealing with the acting craft.”
“What happened?” I asked.
“The producers now want Bella Hudson instead of Mia and she refused to deal with anyone at the agency but me. She also called Mia a talentless hack online.” Crystal was trying her hardest to appear shocked at the turn of events, but I could see the grin that was just dying to break free.
“It’s okay, I’ll grab a cab” I said.
“Not happening” said Crystal. “I don’t want to risk you getting hurt again. Either you go with tall, dark and packing heat or your day ends now.”
I knew that look in Crystal’s eyes. There was no way she was going to take no for an answer. She was a small thing but she fought dirty. Regardless of the fact I was quite a bit taller tha
n her I had no doubt at all that she could take me down if she felt it was for my own good. Looking at Travis I could see that he wasn’t going to be any help at all.
“I’ll stay with him.” I knew a no compromise negotiation when I saw it.
“Good” she turned to Travis. “You’ll take care of her?” she said.
“Won’t let her out of my sight” he murmured.
I wished it sounded less like a threat.
Chapter Fifteen
With Crystal gone I looked up and saw a satisfied smile cross Travis’s face.
“I don’t know why you are so happy” I said. “You’ve just written off a large part of your day being unpaid.”
“I’ll live” said Travis as he ushered me over to another nondescript car.
“Really not one of those guys who telegraphs his insecurities with a fancy car” I said as he held the door open for me.
Travis gave a bark of laughter. “You don’t believe in holding back do you?” he said.
“Usually I do” I replied. “You’re just special I guess.”
There was that smile again as he closed my door and went around to the driver’s side of the car.
“So where exactly are we headed to?” I asked.
“We are on our way to see Eric’s mother” Travis replied.
“Would she have been told about his death yet?” I asked. The thought of being the one to tell this woman that her son had been murdered was not something that I was looking forward to.
“Probably not” Travis said.
My heart sank, I was definitely not the person who should be doing things like this. All of a sudden I was glad that Travis was with me.
“From what I heard Eric had broken all contact with his mother years ago. The only place her name came up was in that file under next of kin. I was never able to see the file before because Adele pulled the plug and I had other cases to deal with. What I heard about his mother from a couple of the people who knew him, made me feel sorry for the guy though.”
“That bad?”
“Worse.”
“Wonderful” I said slouching in my seat.
Travis reached over and patted my knee. “Don’t worry, I will be right there with you. We’ll be a team.”
“Great” I grumbled, “that makes me feel so much better.”
Pulling up to a house I looked over at Travis. “Are you sure somebody lives here?” I asked surprised. The yard was overgrown with car parts littered around the front garden. The house looked like it was close to being condemned. Paint was peeling off the walls and there were pieces of siding that were broken and hanging precariously.
“Yep, this is where Annie Davis lives. She was eighteen when she had Eric and from what I’ve been told he had a miserable childhood. Keep close to me at all times. Do not go anywhere on your own.”
“Do you think she’s dangerous?” I asked.
“I don’t know. What I do know is that this area is rife with drugs. There is no pride shown in this house which tells me she is either into drugs, crazy or given up. Or she could be all three.”
As we headed up to the front door I could see Travis scanning the area, his body felt tense beside me. I really felt like running, but stiffened my shoulders and followed Travis to the front door. After trying the bell and finding it didn’t work Travis knocked on the door. Hearing no movement inside, he knocked again much harder. I stumbled back as the door was ripped open violently and Travis seemed to automatically step in front of me.
“What the hell do you want?” snarled the woman who had answered the door.
“We are looking for Annie Davis” Travis said smoothly.
“You found her, now I’m asking once again, what the hell do you want?”
“Ms Davis” I said peeking around Travis’s shoulder. “My name is Trudie Eyre, I knew your son.”
“What’s that worthless piece of garbage done this time?” she snarled.
My hopes that she had been told about her son’s death plummeted. Trying desperately to find the right words I took in a deep breath to deliver the news but was interrupted by Travis.
“I’m sorry to have to inform you that your son has died.”
“Eric’s dead?” She appeared stunned but then I could see a cunning look in her eyes replacing the surprise. “So what did he leave me?” she asked. “I mean he was married to that rich bitch which means he has heaps of money. I’m his only family so everything he has comes to me. I know my rights. I gave that boy a home and what did he give me, nothing. He owes me and I’m going to make sure I get everything that I’m owed.”
By this time her eyes were becoming unfocused and I could see that she was going into crazy land. I noticed Travis’s hand on my forearm warning me not to provoke the woman. I realized that she was coming unhinged but the stupid part of me was not going to be silenced.
“Ms Davis, Eric’s funeral is going to be tomorrow. Would you like a chance to say goodbye to him?” I asked trying to ignore the incredulous look I was getting from Travis.
I know, it was a stupid question, but there was a part of me that kept thinking this was Eric’s mother. Surely there had to be some small part of the maternal instinct in her. I couldn’t imagine anyone who had given birth and raised a child not wanting to have that final chance to say goodbye.
“If he hasn’t left me anything I hope he burns in hell where he belongs” she spat out and slammed the door.
I stared at the scarred door stunned by the turn of events.
“Well you have your answer” said Travis cheerfully as he started making his way down the steps off the front porch. “Looks like our work here is done.”
I followed him numbly. I never thought that I would get to a point in my life when I would feel the need to give Eric Wesson a hug, but I had to say I had reached that point. I shuddered to think what Eric’s childhood had been like. Tears pricked the back of my eyelids when I realized that the poor kid had never stood a chance.
“You okay?” Travis asked, compassion in his voice.
“Just making sure I call my mom tonight. I’m suddenly feeling the need to thank her for actually being my mom. Right at this moment I’m kind of feeling like I won the lottery when it comes to her.”
“Yeah, it’s times like these that you wish some people had to take a test or something before they breed.”
“Scary thing is that I am kind of agreeing with you” I said smiling up at him.
“Can’t have that happening” said Travis smiling back.
Suddenly I heard a crash behind us and Annie Davis came charging out of the house with a baseball bat waving around above her head.
“You’re keeping his money aren’t you” she screamed. “It belongs to me, you have to give it to me. I won’t let you take what is mine.” As she came towards us with the bat weaving drunkenly in our direction Travis grabbed me and pushed me hurriedly towards the car. At the last moment he pulled me away as she swung the bat and it connected with the passenger door. The second hit smashed the windscreen. She was screaming obscenities at us as Travis calmly watched her destroying his car while he pulled out his cell phone, all the time keeping a close eye on the woman who was completely redecorating his ride.
“What are you doing?” I asked perplexed at his casual stance.
“Calling the cops” he said calmly.
I looked at him incredulously. “Why don’t you stop her?” I said as we both winced as the windscreen finally gave way under the relentless onslaught and caved inwards.
“I’m not taking care of it because the only weapon I’m carrying is a gun. Police have all these non-lethal toys and negotiators who can deal with nutjobs like this, but if you’re keen for me to shoot her, I can do that if it would make you happier.”
I looked at him sourly. “You know, I’m glad it’s your car she’s doing that to because I kind of think that you have done many things to deserve this kind of karma. You seem to be taking it a lot better than I would have thou
ght you would.”
“It’s just a clunker I use for work. This kind of thing happens to my cars, so I only use those for work that it doesn’t hurt me to see destroyed.”
“This kind of thing happens to you a lot?” I asked deciding that maybe he had the right idea and I should just sit back and watch Annie destroy the car. Now that I had realized she wasn’t going to attack us and was content to take her frustration out on the car, I was able to relax and enjoy the show.
“Relatively regularly” he said pulling out some gum and offering me a stick. I refused and he shrugged and popped one into his mouth. “Most times when you catch people cheating they have a tendency to take that personally. With the clientele I work for, we are talking massive amounts of money. That tends to bring out the inner caveman in many people. Wish I could say this is the first time someone’s taken to my car with a baseball bat. In fact it’s probably about the sixth or seventh time.”
“You live a very strange life” I said.
“Maybe, but I get paid very well for it. Ahh, here come our heroes to save the day” Travis said sarcastically.
Sure enough a squad car came screeching around the corner and a couple of uniformed officers jumped out screaming at Annie to drop the baseball bat. She froze in midswing, spun around and fixed Travis with a glare.
“You called the cops” she accused.
I was kind of glad that she was placing the blame firmly where she should have, right up until the point she started advancing towards us, still swinging that bat above her head. I was beginning to be impressed by her stamina. The woman had been swinging that thing for a good ten minutes and she didn’t even seem to be particularly winded. Travis pulled me backwards as Annie was coming towards us. The police were yelling at her to put down the bat. We seemed to be in some weird dance where for every step Annie took forward, Travis and I moved backwards. Luckily one of the cops finally realized that the woman was not going to give up until she started using Travis, and unfortunately by default me, as the man would not let go of my arm, as a piñata. He also decided for whatever reason that she didn’t deserve lethal force and so unloaded a stun gun into her. Down she went to the ground with a slightly surprised look on her face as if she never imagined this was going to happen to her.