“Jackie has a son?”
“Well, that’s debatable. When he was two, someone took him right out of his bed. Jackie and her husband did everything they knew how to do, but they couldn’t find him. Naturally, the police suspected one of them killed Brian, but there was no proof. I think that haunts Jackie as much as not being able to find her son.”
“How awful. What happened to her husband?”
“She says he drank himself to death. That was before she hired me, but her and Carl go way back. Carl got her to help him trick his ex-wife into taking a worthless drug company in their divorce settlement, and let him have the air crane.”
“That was smart.”
“Smarter than you think. Carl gave Jackie a reason to go on. Now she helps other people find their missing loved ones. We retired for several years, but all of us missed the intrigue, so we’ve been back at it for five or six months now.”
“I take it she hasn’t stopped looking for her son?”
“Nope, and every time we get a lead, we drop everything and follow it. That’s why her DNA is registered in every lab in the country. Someday, they might just get a match.”
“Yes, but only if he turns out to be a criminal or he is dead.”
“That’s the truth. Still, she needs to know one way or the other so she can stop looking.”
“Well then, maybe a ball is just what she needs right now.”
“Good idea.” Michael stood up. “She won’t marry again. Some people just can’t take the chance.”
“What about you?”
“Oh, I’m content enough the way things are, but if you tell them that, I’ll hunt you down.”
Austin chuckled, grabbed the invitations off his desk and handed them to Michael. “See you Saturday, if not sooner.”
*
Doctors’ appointments bored her, but Laura’s doctor insisted she come in once a week to make sure her blood pressure medicine was working properly. She could have cared less. At least there was a bar downstairs, and that’s exactly where she headed when she left his office.
Even now, Laura Connelly had the kind of beauty that turned the head of every man when she walked into a room. She chose to sit at the bar, and the way she sat with her back perfectly straight and her legs properly crossed, gave her an air of class. On most Tuesday afternoons, the place was nearly deserted. She paid for a straight shot, and when a man chose the barstool next to her, she at first ignored him.
Michael placed his order and then asked, “Can I buy you a shot?”
“Why not?”
“Why not indeed.” Michael signaled the bartender to pour her another.
“What do you do?” she asked.
“I fly around a lot.”
“Oh, you’re a pilot.”
“No, not a pilot. Mostly, I’m a flunky.”
“I know how that feels. That’s what I am too, just a flunky.”
“I’m Michael, and you are?”
“Laura.” She watched the bartender pour her next drink, and didn’t notice that Michael hadn’t touched his.
“Nice to meet you, Laura.”
When he didn’t appear to recognize her, she suspiciously sized him up. “You’re not from around here?”
“Just got into town yesterday. I was looking for a place to eat when I found this one.”
Laura leaned closer. “The food is not that great here. That’s why the place is practically empty. I like it empty.”
“So do I. It is very peaceful.” He watched her reach for her glass. “You shouldn’t be out alone, you know.”
“Don’t worry, my chauffer is right outside. I am safe.”
“That’s good to know.”
“What do you do, again?”
“I work for a woman who has me fly all over the world doing favors for her.”
“I wish you could do one for me.”
“What favor would you like; I am good at all sorts of things?”
“Can you bring my father back from the dead?”
Michael cast his eyes downward. “No, I can’t do that kind of favor.”
“I didn’t think so.” She sighed and took another sip of her drink. “I just want to tell him something.”
“Something important?”
“Very important, and I would have told him, but he died before I could.”
“Sometimes that happens. People die when we least expect it.”
“Oh, I expected it. I expected it a long time ago.” Laura emptied her glass and stood up. “I have to go home now.” Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she swayed as she walked, but for a drunk, she managed to walk a straight line.
When the bartender wasn’t looking, Michael grabbed a napkin and carefully took hold of the bottom of Laura’s shot glass. He slipped it inside the small paper sack he had in his jacket pocket, and then followed Laura to the end of the bar. He watched through a window as she got in a limo, punched a speed dial number on his phone, walked out the door, and headed to his rented car.
“Michael, did you get it?” Jackie asked.
“I have a better question – how did Nick die?”
“In a plane crash over the gulf of Mexico. Why?”
“Laura expected him to die much sooner.”
Jackie rubbed her brow. “You think he was murdered?”
“Could be Mathew got tired of waiting.”
“I’ll ask Austin if he has any information on the plane crash.”
In the parking lot, Michael pressed the button on the rented car key that unlocked the door. “I got her DNA. I’ll drop it at the lab and then I’ll be on my way back.”
“Tell them they owe me a favor and money is no object.”
“I know the drill.”
“Of course you do. The Connellys were in Brisbane when Nick died. I’ll see if they bought airline tickets home before they knew he was dead.”
“Good idea. Ask Austin if they were at the funeral.”
“Got it. See you soon.” Jackie hung up and called Austin.
*
Austin was already there by the time Michael parked in the hotel’s basement garage, and took the elevator up to the suite. This time, Jackie was dressed more casually, although Austin wore his suit and tie. Both sat in the same chairs facing each other in the living room, as they had the first time they met.
“I’m starved,” Michael announced as soon as he walked in the door.
“You’re always starved,” Jackie said.
As soon as he noticed Austin he asked, “Didn’t I just see you across the street?”
“About an hour ago,” Austin answered. “What have you been up to?”
Michael glanced at Jackie, got her nod, and then answered, “I got Laura’s DNA and took it to the lab. Now all we need is someone to match it to.” He went to the sofa, sat down, and grabbed a handful of peanuts out of a bowl. “What have you done with Carl?”
Jackie glanced around. “Is he missing? I hadn’t noticed.”
“That’ll be the day,” Michael muttered.
Jackie giggled. “I sent him to get printer ink. He needed a break anyway.”
Austin leaned forward and helped himself to the peanuts. “You wanted to know about Nick’s death?”
“Yes,” Jackie said. “Did they recover the flight recorder?”
“Yes, but there wasn’t anything on it that indicated Nick was having a problem. The recording just suddenly stopped.”
“Like the plane blew up?” Jackie asked.
“No, except for some wing damage, it is still in one piece. Divers went down, recovered the flight recorder and his body, but we saw no reason to bring the plane up. You think it would help?”
Michael’s eyes widened. “Yes, it would help. I am determined to pin something on Mathew Connelly.”
“Michael and Carl have become obsessed with that idea,” Jackie explained.
Austin relaxed in the chair a little more. “Did you learn anything at the country club?”
; “Nothing worth noting,” Jackie answered.
“Could Nick have run out of fuel?” Michael asked.
“The recorder doesn’t indicate that the fuel was low. It’s more likely he misjudged how high he was off the water.”
“A faulty gauge?” Jackie asked.
“Possibly.”
“A faulty gauge someone could have tampered with?” Michael asked.
“That’s possible too,” Austin answered.
“Did the FAA investigate?” Michael asked.
“I hope so. I haven’t heard anything from them since the initial report. They called for all the information on the plane, serial numbers, licenses; that sort of thing, but if they suspect anything, they haven’t gotten back to me.”
Jackie got up and walked to the window. “Do you think Mathew had something to do with the crash?”
Austin considered that for a moment. “I wouldn’t put it past him, but I don’t know if he has those kinds of connections. I doubt he would have done it himself – I doubt he does anything himself.”
“If Mathew wanted Nick dead, why wait twenty-five years to do it?” Michael asked.
“Nick’s security guards liked him and they were very good at their jobs. He also paid them very well, so he expected them to keep him alive.”
“Still, if you want a guy dead, there are ways to do it,” said Michael.
“Was he alone in the plane?” Jackie asked.
“Yes.”
“Did the Connellys show up at the funeral?”
“Laura came. Mathew didn’t bother. She was very upset and needed help getting in and out of the car.”
“Drunk?” Michael asked.
Austin shook his head. “I don’t know. I didn’t talk to her.”
“Who notified them? They were in Brisbane at the time, I believe,” said Jackie.
Austin shifted positions. “I called Laura. I don’t remember how I knew where she was, I was upset myself at the time. Nick might have told me.”
Michael reached for another handful of peanuts. “Why was Nick flying over the gulf?”
“Real estate was his passion and there was a large house he wanted to see from the air. He called me just before he took off and asked me to look into buying it. It was just the kind of house he loved to buy, and resell for a profit, if he could.”
“Do you know if the Connellys already had airline tickets home before his accident?” Jackie asked.
“I don’t,” Austin answered. “It might be worth looking into someday.”
“You’re right; we need to find Georgia first. By the way,” said Jackie, “had Laura been drinking before the reading of the will?”
“That, I do not know either. She is very well composed, drunk or sober.”
“I noticed that too,” said Michael.
Carl opened the door, went to the dining room table, and started to take several items out of a plastic shopping bag. “Two new novels, which we never have time to read, but I got them anyway.”
“Carl, say hello to Austin…our client, remember?”
He left the table and extended his hand to Austin. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have…”
“Of course you should have,” said Austin. “I would love to get back to reading myself.”
“What kind of books do you like?” Carl asked, taking a seat on the sofa.
“Political thrillers mostly,” Austin answered.
“Carl likes vampires,” Michael scoffed.
Austin chuckled. “Well, someone must. Vampire books sell very well. Any more questions I can answer?”
“I have one,” said Jackie. “It appears Mathew makes a trip to the pharmacy near his house once a month. Do you know what kind of prescription he gets?”
“I always assumed it was Laura’s blood pressure medicine.”
“He does that himself?” Carl asked. “Why not send his driver to pick it up?”
Austin wrinkled his brow. “That is odd. I have no idea why.”
Michael didn’t like what he was thinking. “That’s why Laura goes to the doctor once a week – high blood pressure?”
“As far as I know.” Austin stood up. “Anything else?”
Jackie stood up as well and walked him to the door. “We’ll call if we have any more questions.”
Austin frowned. “I’m a little panicked. We’re running out of time.”
“I know, but at least we know where she isn’t.”
“I suppose that helps.” Austin gently touched her arm. “No matter how this turns out, I appreciate what you’re doing.” He nodded, opened the door and walked out.
Jackie quickly closed the door and went to face Michael. “I know that look, what are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking capsules,” Michael admitted.
Carl grabbed a handful of peanuts and headed back to the dining room table. “So am I. If they win the inheritance, Laura is as good as dead.”
“We don’t know that. Let’s just find Georgia and then we’ll worry about the rest of this mess later.”
*
Finally home after work again, Maggie opened the attachment and looked at Bronco’s picture again. The temptation to let him take her to dinner was becoming overwhelming, yet she certainly didn’t want him to know where she lived. It was too embarrassing. She sighed and decided she would just have to settle for talking to him online.
Sissy3211: You’re not home yet?
She was disappointed when he didn’t answer right away, but she could wait. She liked looking at apartment listings, and at the expensive houses up for sale, especially the ones that had videos of the inside. She found one with a swimming pool she liked very much and dreamed of living there. Two hours had passed when words finally scrolled across the screen in the chat room.
Bronco8881: You like football?
She closed the other window and gave him her full attention.
Sissy3211: I do.
Bronco8881: I’ve got tickets to a game if you’re interested.
Sissy3211: Which game?
Bronco8881: Any one you want to see.
Maggie giggled.
Sissy3211: Ha, you don’t really have tickets.
Bronco8881: True, but I know where to get them. So how was your day?
Sissy3211: Have I ever told you about Roxie the Robot?
Bronco8881: You may have mentioned her name.
Sissy3211: She just got the job Jim turned down, and she is thrilled beyond compare.
Bronco8881: I take it you are not.
Sissy3211: At least they didn’t offer it to me.
Bronco8881: I am intrigued. What is Roxie the Robot like?
Sissy3211: She is all about sticking to the rules, no matter how ridiculous they are, which is why we call her a robot.
Bronco8881: I know the type.
Sissy3211: Today was her first day as our manager and she now sits in an office directly across the hall from me. Every time I say something, she leans forward to see what I’m doing. I feel like an animal in the zoo.
Bronco8881: What does she do?
Sissy3211: Nothing, but she makes me uncomfortable. I don’t like being under someone’s watchful eye that way.
Bronco8881: Can you say something to her?
Sissy3211: Like what?
Bronco8881: I don’t know. Maybe ask her how her neck is. It must hurt from watching you all day.
Maggie giggled.
Sissy3211: Good one, I’ll try that if I ever get brave enough.
Bronco8881: Can you move your desk so she can’t see you?
Sissy3211: I wish I could. It’s a cubical, one of those plastic ones with the desk built into the wall. She has a foul mouth too, which is something I find disgusting.
Bronco8881: So do I.
Sissy3211: Why don’t we ever talk about your job?
Bronco8881: Because mine is boring compared to yours.
Sissy3211: Well, how about friends? You must have one or two friends.
Bronco8881: I have lots
of friends.
Sissy3211: Lady friends?
Bronco8881: Some, but they only love me for my money.
Sissy3211: You have lots of money?
Bronco8881: Enough for a cruise to Alaska, and a football game in the city of your choice.
Sissy3211: What? No dinner first?
Bronco8881: Okay, I think I can scrape up enough for dinner too.
Sissy3211: Tell me about these ladies.
Austin drew in a deep breath and let it out. She wanted personal information finally, and it looked like she wanted to know if he was involved with anyone.
Bronco8881: Well, Carol is my favorite. She is always happy and fun to joke around with.
Sissy3211: Do you fancy her?
Bronco8881: I would if she were forty years younger. She plans to retire next year.
Sissy3211: You’re funny. You must have a girlfriend.
Bronco8881: Just you.
She didn’t reply for a long time after he said that, and he was afraid he’d scared her away. At length, he decided to see if she was still there, or if something interrupted their service.
Bronco8881: Sissy?
Sissy3211: I like you too, but talking like this, I mean, it’s just words.
Bronco8881: You could let me call you.
Maggie closed her eyes. She would give anything to hear his voice again, but if she gave him a phone number, he could probably figure out who she was. Hers was a landline and it wasn’t that hard to do a reverse lookup on the internet. Maybe someday she could afford a cellphone.
Sissy3211: Nope, can’t do that.
Bronco8881: Why? You’re married?
Sissy3211: No, silly. It’s not that.
Bronco8881: Then what is it?
Sissy3211: I’m not ready yet. There is something important I have to take care of, and then I’ll tell you who I am.
Bronco8881: Promise?
Sissy3211: I promise.
Bronco8881: How long must I wait?
Sissy3211: Not long, maybe a week or two.
Bronco8881: I can live with a week or two. My workload should be lighter by then and I can get away. Where would you like to go?
Sissy3211: Can I get back to you on that?
Bronco8881: Just name the place and I’ll meet you there.
Sissy3211: Even if I am miles away from you?
Bronco8881: I have some time off coming. Just say when and where.
Missing Heiress (A Jackie Harlan Mystery Book 2) Page 12