by Ross Homer
The car began rolling silently down the street.
Despite what Elsa and others may say about me, I don’t think I’m the brightest star in the galaxy but I’m damn sure not completely stupid. I usually have my .357 Derringer strapped to the inside of my upper left thigh. I did tonight, too. I rested my right hand on the hem of my skirt as if I were pulling it down. It had actually slipped up higher than I wanted.
He began, “Ms. Palmer, I will get straight to the point. Someone has my daughter. While I am certain that it is one particular business competitor, I am unfortunately not completely sure. I would hate to go after the wrong person. I have not been to the police or the feds. This is between me and my adversary.”
After adjusting his dark blue sports coat under his seatbelt, he continued, “Before you ask, I’ll tell you why I chose you. Word on the street is that you are some kind of a magician when it comes to finding people. You have a somewhat amazing reputation for it. I want you to find my daughter and bring her home. Alive and unharmed, of course. For this, I will pay you the sum of one million dollars and all expenses. I will tell you that this is not some shady deal. The money is clean and comes from my other business interests. Do not give me an instant answer. You have eight minutes to think about it.”
Sweet Mary! A million bucks! What I could do with that. Why...I could finally remodel my house and not have to use magic. Trust me, it needs work. Hell, I could even pay off my college loans, too.
But my mother and grandmother taught me to pay attention as I grew up under their tutelage. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Gramma also added, watch for the teeth in a gift horse’s mouth.
I asked, “What’s the catch, Mr. Sato? There must be one.”
He was silent as the car rolled along several more blocks. I looked out the windows as we passed other cars and buildings, glistening in the night lights with the latest rain. Men and women in raincoats and using umbrellas as they went about their business. I saw a couple of hookers looking like drowned rats. A street dealer was trying to hustle a guy who I knew was a cop. The kid was going to spend the night in jail as soon as money changed hands.
The car splashed silently on.
Mr. Sato said, “There are no catches in this, Ms. Palmer. None. My daughter is my shining light. I love her more than life itself. Find my daughter, bring her to me alive and well, and I will give you this briefcase with the money. It contains a million plus a little. As I said, I will pay for your time now, win or lose.”
I shook my head. “And if I fail?”
“Then I will pay you premium rates for your time. Nothing more will be said about this.”
“What if I turn you down?”
“I will pay you one thousand dollars for your twenty minutes just now and drop you back at Dewey’s. I have but one request should you refuse this contract: do not mention this to anyone else. I shall then move on to the next company on my list. I will be completely honest with you. It is said that you are the best person in town and likely the West Coast for a job like this.”
He fell silent for a moment while the car circled a block and started back the way we came. I had a thought. “Mr. Sato, if I accept this contract, I want this perfectly clear: I will not become one of your lackeys when it’s over.” I was making a deal with the devil that could cost my soul. I just hoped he honored his end of it.
He nodded slowly. “I guessed as much and yes, Ms. Palmer, I completely understand. You will remain independent and go on about your daily life. I will not be a part of it. That is my word and that is all you need.”
Something else occurred to me. “Hold on a sec, before I say yes or no. Is this person truly your daughter or is she someone else’s and you are going to use her as bait? Or for ransom?”
I hit a nerve with that question. He pulled the dark metal briefcase that was at his feet onto his lap and angrily snapped the latches. It was full of banded bills and a file folder. He took the file folder and almost threw it at me.
I caught it before its contents scattered all over the back of the car. I patted them back in place while he scowled at me.
“You have angered me, Ms. Palmer. That was your one and only time. Do it again and my men will rearrange your quite lovely limbs. Is that understood?”
Shit. I happened to like the way my ‘lovely limbs’ were arranged at present. “I am sorry, but I have to know.”
“As long as we are on the same page, as you Westerners say. Look at the top photo. She is my daughter. Her mother is the only non-Japanese woman I’ve ever been with. That will explain her lack of Asian features.”
He turned on an inside light as I took out an eight by ten color photo of a stunning young woman. She was at some kind of swanky-looking party with a number of other people. He was wrong about how she looked. I could instantly see the Asian influence in her large, almond-shaped eyes.
Sometimes I’m more curious than cautious. I was going to take the contract. “Do you have anything of hers with you?”
“Yes. I heard you need something of the person you are seeking. I do not understand this, but I came prepared with several articles. How intimate to you need?”
I wondered what he had but decided I didn’t need to embarrass him. “A brush would be good. A favorite article of clothing?”
He handed me a plastic bag containing a blouse. In the dim light of the car I could see that this one was emerald green. I opened the bag a little and looked at the tag. It told me this blouse was well outside of my price range. I also got an instant connection with her when I touched it. The woman had a strong aura and I was surprised to find it was a kind one. It was odd considering who her father is.
I said nothing to him. I was sure that when I got home, I would be able to pinpoint where she was within several feet. If I was right, I should be able to have her home with him by tomorrow afternoon.
If my grandmother warned me once, she warned me a thousand times about using that word, ‘should.’
I closed the bag and said, “Mr. Sato, I will accept this contract.”
“Good. I hoped you would. Here,” he reached into the briefcase again and this time handed me two bundled stacks of bills. “This is for your trouble tonight. It should also be enough to get you started on our hunt. Ahh…Dewey's is coming up.”
We rolled to the curb across the street. He asked, “Do you have any idea of the time frame for accomplishing your task?”
“Not yet, of course. There are some things I need to do at my office first. I will contact you with more information.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that. You will find her and return her to me as soon as you can.”
“Then I hope that I live up to your expectations, Mr. Sato.”
“I have no doubt that you will. Attached to that money is my personal card. Call the number on it anytime and you shall connect with me. Also, I am not all that old and I can guarantee you that I would have broken your wrist before you could have pulled your little peashooter on me. Good night, Ms. Palmer. I hope that you quickly resolve my situation and our business will be concluded. And one more thing...watch for traffic before crossing the street here.”
I stuffed the money in my bag as Goon One opened my door. I swiveled on the seat to step out and showed him a lot more leg than I had intended. He looked, too, but the look on his face was anything but lascivious. I was sure that had he decided to take me, the results, for me, would be far less than spectacular and very painful. It was something to consider.
Chapter 2
I watched Goon One watching me in the reflection in Dewey’s window as I crossed the street. I couldn’t help the way I walked because it was trained into me from about the time I was seven or eight. Because of my height and long legs, I have a sexy walk and his eyes were glued to my ass. Well, buddy, I thought, if you have any thoughts about taking me by force, and that would be the only way you’d get me, you’ll discover that while you are a big goon, I am a big girl. Trust me; I know my way a
round a street fight and I’m a witch. You might win but would it be worth the cost? Doubtful, although I’ve been told I’m very memorable in bed. He’d never find out if there was anything, I could do about it.
I walked in and waved at Dewey and Marcella to show them I was okay. Then I turned and left. Walking to my house, several blocks off the main street, I thought I saw a creepy bad guy in every dark spot. I stopped and took out my Derringer. I felt better but then I almost shot Ms. Carey’s big gray cat. Chuckling at my almost caticide, I walked up on my veranda. My wards were in place, untouched, so it was safe to go in. I’d set them up so Elsa could come and go as she pleased. I saw the flicker of the big screen in the living room, so she was watching that French series.
I abruptly sagged against the door and let out an explosive breath. Goddess what a day and evening! What I needed right damn now more than anything else in the world was to be in the arms of my lover. I needed her to hold me and tell me everything was going to be alright.
I went in and dropped my big shoulder bag on the ancient pine table in the foyer. Elsa heard me and came out of the living room. She looked extremely sexy in loose blue shorts and a Mariner’s t-shirt. I almost ran across the room to her and as I hoped, she sensed my distress and took me into her arms.
“Jocelyn,” she whispered as she stroked my back. “I’m here and you are freaked out. You’re safe, Jo. Safe as you can be. Can you tell me about it?” She leaned back a little, stood on her toes and kissed me.
During the delicious kiss I wondered how on Earth people could live alone because so many did. If I didn’t have Elsa, especially at a time like this, I think I’d have exploded messily all over the front porch a moment ago.
I said, “Let’s get a bottle of wine and go in the living room. We can talk there.”
By the time I made it to the kitchen, I was going to get a lot more comfortable. I unbuttoned my blouse and unhooked my bra. I tossed it on a kitchen chair as I pulled my blouse back over my shoulders. My little Derringer and holster ended up on the table with my bra. And finally, I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Home. Safe. Comfortable. And yes, I scratched under my breasts. I think the girls were happy to be uncaged.
I took a bottle of chardonnay out of the refrigerator and joined Elsa in the living room where we sipped wine and discussed the day. She nodded from time to time, easing my depression like she did so well. I wondered how she always seemed to know about it because I tried to hide it with my sparkling personality. It didn’t work but she always made me feel so much better when we talked.
“Elsa, let’s just go upstairs. I need a shower, the rest of this wine and you. We’ll talk in the morning.”
When she smiled, she lit up the universe and set me on fire. It never failed.
Refilling our glasses, we killed the lights and went upstairs to our bedroom.
I was relaxing now. I had my lover and the house was silent and safe.
After a long sip of the wine, I stripped and hit the shower. When I got out and dried, I sat on the side of the bed and swallowed the last of the wine. I made the decision then to seek Sato’s daughter in the morning. I had kind of planned to do it tonight but just wasn’t up to it. Two parts of what I needed had been fulfilled. I was home and had some wine. Number three was sitting on the other side of the bed, waiting for me.
Elsa, naked in the dim light from outside, was a goddess with her delectable curves highlighted. Tonight, we took our time making love, more so than normal. Neither of us were in any hurry and when we finally cuddled together to sleep, I felt far better than I had when I got home.
The next morning, I passed on a bike ride. Despite passing on it, I was my usual grouchy morning self and knew that my muscles needed rest. Not waking Elsa, I quietly slipped out of bed and went into the bathroom.
When I was done, I crept back into the bedroom and looked at her, still sleeping. There was a soft smile on her lips, and she was mostly uncovered. How on Earth did I get so lucky six years ago? I was young and carefree and enjoying life about as much as one person could. I had relationships with men and women, mostly satisfying, but not a one worth considering for the rest of my life. Then I met Elsa and that was most wonderfully, that. I was hers as long as she wanted.
She didn’t know that part about me, how deeply I loved her. If something happened to her, I’d need to go to Florida and move in with my mommy and daddy. See if I could find my old baby blankie. I smiled at my Sleeping Beauty. Nothing was going to happen to her if I had any say in the matter.
Still moving quietly, I put on some cutoff sweats and a many time washed, extra-large yellow t-shirt. No restrictive underwear at home for me this morning. My ex loved to see me this way and I accommodated him because other than completely naked, I liked this too. I have to wear a bra during the day at work because I’m not one of those cute girls with smaller perky breasts. I’m, let’s see; Elsa says I’m delightfully curvy. I like deliciously or sensually curvy better, but then that’s me. I have an excellent figure that I’m proud of, but I have to work at it, too. My breasts are too large to be considered ‘perky’, but a touch of magic keeps ’em nicely full and firm and in place. But…too much pasta and it’s an extra ten miles on my normally daily ride.
With another look at the love of my life, it was time for some witchcraft.
Yes, I am a witch. The real deal, not some woman playing at it. I come from a very long line of witches. Mr. Sato joked about it, but he was right. I use my craft to find people who skip court dates and jail sentences and in other aspects of my so-called career. I am not technically a bounty hunter, but I am paid well enough to support me and my lifestyle.
My ability and craft are what I will use to find this girl.
I also know Sato was lying through his teeth. I used my craft for that, too. Usually I have to be touching the person I’m trying to check, but in this case, he reeked of lies. I didn’t need magic to tell me that. I had ten years of experience that told me he was lying. I was going to find this girl and find out what she was to him. Her being his daughter was not high on my list. But the way he talked about her, maybe she was. I’d find out one way or the other. And like California Skye Paulson, she’d have the choice to stay gone or come home.
Down in the kitchen, I started the coffee and took the girl’s blouse and the folder out of my bag. Those were followed by the two bundles of bills. I was expecting twenties or maybe fifties. What I had were two bundles of hundreds. Ten grand! Holy shit! I’m not too awfully mercenary but this would allow me to do some things…like a long vacation for us somewhere out of Seattle or maybe spend some time with the folks down in sunny Florida. It was a thought.
I set the money down and took the blouse and the folder into the living room. The dark leather recliner belonged to my grandmother and it was still comfortable and cozy. I stretched out and opened the folder.
Now…Reiko Sato. Now I had plenty of light to see the pictures in the folder and read the accompanying document. The first thing that came to my mind was, what a stunning beauty. Reiko definitely had the best of East and West genes going for her. According to the notes attached, she was five feet, seven inches tall and weighed what I could see was a shapely hundred and thirty-five pounds. She wore a well-filled bikini in another picture and appeared to be very fit, almost muscular. Like female gymnasts I’d seen. Another photo had her in an off-the-shoulder, somewhat daring, I thought, silver evening dress at some function or other. The glittery material was translucent and damn sure daring. It was one of those materials that turn invisible with a flash hits it. In the photo I was looking at there was nothing to the imagination.
And finally, here was another photo of her in casual jeans and the emerald green blouse her father gave me. She was outstandingly beautiful in everything I could see here.
Reiko was twenty-nine which surprised me because she didn’t look that old. I thought it was because her jet-black hair was youthfully cut in a medium shag that framed her fac
e perfectly. These pictures were dated late last year…only a few months ago.
Now the question was, why was she snatched? Or was she. If Sato didn’t have her, who did? I know he was not lying about that. Once I found where she was, I was going to find out why she was so important. And then I was going to take care of Mr. Sato one way or another. He was a mobster who needed to go down and I was going to use my craft and abilities to make it happen.
The coffee maker beeped so I got up and returned to the kitchen where I fixed myself a large mug.
Making sure everything was still properly warded and secure, I went upstairs to my home office. I peeked into our bedroom and saw that Elsa was still in snooze mode and just as sexy as ever. I almost put my coffee down and got back into bed with her, but I needed to find Reiko Sato first.
My home office is the middle bedroom of three bedrooms on the second floor. I had two more rooms on the third floor that I never used. Our bedroom was on the street end of the house. The office was in the middle and the guest bedroom was at the opposite end of the hall.
I can do my witch stuff anywhere, but my office is where I like to be when I do my so-called real magic. The space is comfortable for me and I have any number of herbs and spices in there for spells although most of what I do is simple chants. I flicked a finger at the five large pillar candles placed equidistant apart in the room and they lit, casting soft shadows around. Yes, to answer your question, the candles are aligned to the ley lines of the Earth in a pentagram. After all, I am a witch. Remember?
Crossing the office, I set my cup on my desk and picked up a bundle of blended sage and cedar. After I lit it, I smudged the area with relaxing smoke. Did it really work? I didn’t know but I liked it and the idea. Of course, it’s also been used since antiquity for cleansing the area of noxious spirts and other creatures so there must be something to it.