“No,” he said instantly. “I can look it up but if he was just minor staff then there is a good chance, I never even met him. Where does he live?”
I looked at the file. “In St. Paul Minnesota and from the looks of it on Google Maps, it’s some rundown neighborhood out there. Thing is, until today, he hasn’t been home. His voicemail is a woman, older, probably mother, and the one time I got her on the phone she said he would be back today. I talked to him once on his cell but that ended with a lot of mumbling, some cussing, and a hang up. Figured I might make it a little more real for him if I took it to his doorstep.”
There was silence for a moment and then he cleared his throat. “St. Paul. Alright, I’ll get the jet gassed up. I’ll send someone to pick you up in an hour.”
I smiled having seen that coming. “Cool. Send them to my place so I can pack a bag. I’ll see you then.”
Hanging up I found Kitt standing behind my desk, tapping her foot, with her hands around her waist. She shook her head and walked back to her space. “Don’t even try. I can’t hear anything you or Mr. Vanishing Cabinet has to say. One day, I will get my nut punch.”
I chuckled and grabbed my stuff, kissing Kitt on the cheek before hurrying out. I packed a bag quickly and the car was there before I knew it. I remembered the process pretty well. We met at the private airport on the outskirts of Boston, loaded up and were in the air within minutes. Graham looked exhausted sitting his chair, his polished expensive shoes shimmering on his feet propped up on the ottoman with a hat pulled down over his eyes.
He had apologized ahead of time, explaining that at ten thousand feet he would feel she was safe so he would probably pass out during the flight. I thought it was cute, but not cute enough for me to focus in on. Instead, I turned my mind to Gabe’s file, combing over every detail of this douche canoe. He was a real winner, and his antics seemed to not stop there.
When they finally landed, I was a bit tired, but had wasted my sleep time on studying. Graham had rented a car but all they had were economy vehicles, specifically a purple Chevy Spark. His legs didn’t fit in he driver’s seat so I had to drive. “Great, going on the hunt with the Jolly Green Giant.”
“Ha-ha,” he groaned, his shoulders stuffed in and his head almost grazing the ceiling. “Like I haven’t heard that one about a million times.”
I smirked, heading out and following the GPS. It was a long drive through St. Paul, a home not located in the city. When we pulled up, I saw no sign of the guy, so I went up and knocked on the door. After a few moments an elderly woman opened it up, smiling at me. I smiled back, knowing I didn’t want to alarm her. “Hi. Are you Mrs. Rareheart?”
“I am!” she said happily.
“Nice to meet you,” I replied, shaking her tiny wrinkled hand. “I was hoping to see Gabe. I’ve been trying to ahold of him for a while but he’s been so busy.”
“Oh,” she said delighted. “A friend of Gabe’s. Well, he doesn’t live here but he just got home from a lovely trip and he has a mobile home in the park about ten minutes up the road.”
She waved her finger, thinking hard. “Uh, his house number is 145. It’s green and beige.”
I shook her hand again, thanking her profusely and watching as she slowly went back in. I hurried to the car and jumped in, hoping I could get there before she called him. “That woman was old,” I said. “But I don’t trust it.”
“You have gotten cynical in your old age,” he joked.
I slowly turned my head toward him and stared as I drove. His smile faded and he lowered his head, turning and looking out the window. A couple of minutes later we found a run down mobile home park on the left. There were trailers everywhere, the one in the front burnt to a crisp. I carefully and slowly drove through until finding the green and beige one, apparently green only because the mold that grew up from the bottom of it.
We parked and got out, hoping Gabe was home. When we got to the top of the steps, I pushed him out of the view of the door and let down my hair, swishing it back and forth. He narrowed his eyes at me and I ignored him. At least I might give this guy a good enough pause.
When I was ready, I knocked on the door, waiting as he stumbled loudly and threw it open. “WHAT DO YOU…well hello.”
I smiled sweetly and walked up close to him. “Hey there Gabe, long time no see.”
He watched me as I walked by, standing in the middle of the room. It smelled like booze and body odor, and there were at least seven cats eating off of moldy dishes in the sink. He chuckled, running his hand over his thinning hair. “If I would have known I would have company, I would have cleaned up.”
“Let’s be real here Gabe,” Graham said stepping over in the doorway. “Cleaning up would have been storing dirty dishes in the cupboard.”
Gabe looked at me, back to Graham and then back at me. I could see the anger in his face so I walked over and put my hand on his shoulder. “My name’s Lindsey. I was hoping we could talk. He stared at me and my tits for a couple of seconds and then shrugged.
“Fuck it,” he mumbled, walking over and collapsing down on the couch. “Why not? And to have the infamous Mr. Graham here is even better.”
“You know me?” Graham asked.
The guy laughed, swigging a beer and lighting a cigarette. He blew the smoke out and nodded. “I do. I only worked for you for two years then had HR change their policies and fire me right then and there. Like I never did nothing for the company. It was a shame considering I was the one paying my father’s medical bills.”
Graham glanced around. “I’m sorry. I guess I need to pay better attention to those areas.”
He huffed, not showing dismay, but not showing happiness either. Stephanie sat down across from and began to ask questions. Everything from his last time in Boston to where he grew up and who he knew. He kept getting confused with Graham and some other guy that he apparently knew in high school. “Just remember, Graham grew up in Boston. Not here like you did.”
He eyed Graham and then nodded. “Right, right. So, yeah, I don’t know what you’re looking for but I promise it ain’t got nothing to do with me.”
When the talk was over Lindsey handed Gabe a hundred bucks and they left. As they drove along, Lindsey couldn’t help but be disappointed. “I don’t see it being feasible for him.”
Graham shook his head. “Me either. But I guess we will see what happens. I never rule out someone like that. Not completely.”
Lindsey put her arm out the window. “Back to Boston.”
Chapter Fifteen
Graham
Weeks went by, the chilling feeling in my bone every time Lindsey called, lightening up a bit. There had been plenty to be freaked out about, but only one of them was directed toward her. He had managed to intercept it by sheer luck one day, going by to check on them. A note left outside urging her to reconsider. By urging I was referring to threatening.
It had been a bit of different story for me though. I found myself in a couple of pretty bad situations over those few weeks. The first left me stranded in a parking lot after a car ran me off the road purposefully like a race car driver ramming the leader into the side wall. They drove off with no tags and no view of their faces. For all we could tell, the car had been stolen and the tags removed. All background went to a 20 something sorority sister.
The letters seemed to never stop. So much so that I had to take time each evening to read and respond before I could go to bed. Anything to make a dent in them. Lindsey had been helpful but with the conference right around the corner, I had put her onto some less exciting tasks, bringing it all together with both content and security. From what I had seen, she had done an amazing job on it.
The threats and fear all seemed to be nothing more than a drop in the bucket for me, not until the conference did, I even start to feel nervous about it. But then the day came, the conference had arrived and the idea of a threat there was more than nerve racking. I walked through the large doors of the convention center a
nd had to admit, I was in awe. The place was technologically a wonder world, all programs, services, and future updates displayed like monsters looming over you. Holograms were stationed all around as kiosks for information.
Back through the double doors there were a sea of tables. Vendors were setting up their products, their service information, and their materials. To the right was a networking café, every table having a seat for two strangers to get acquainted and share their information. It was an interesting concept, all and all, but what I really wanted to know was where Lindsey was.
“She should be around soon,” the waitress replied, straightening his collar.
“I am always around,” Lindsey replied, coming around the corner with a clipboard in her hand. “I was a bit put off for being put on…ha…this when this is clearly not my job, but they had to cancel things, etc. And I could tell security was not nearly where it needed to be. Walk with me?”
“Of course,” I replied, really wanting to say, anywhere you want to take me. That again, though, would have been probably out of line, and I needed to keep myself from reaching that point.
Lindsey wove her arm through mine and held it as we walked through the conference. “I set up something for you to see. Now I know this conference is not just about you, but you are the star brain in it all. So, just stand right here and watch.”
She smiled and backed up, looking up at the control panel that over looked the conference hall. The lights dimmed and my concept came to life. Suddenly there were holographic people everywhere. Some looked like normal patrons while others worked behind counters as AI’s processing the speech of the customer, sending the order through, and producing the item through computational algorithms.
“Wow,” I said with a grin. “This is fantastic.”
Lindsey smiled. “It is. Great job brain. Now, the people will be here soon so you need to get to the back. You are the Master of Ceremonies to open this thing.”
I chuckled, seeing her act completely normal for the first time since I had seen her in the recent change of events. “You will stay close to me?”
“If it will make you feel more secure and allow you to focus on the convention, sure,” she replied. “This should be a good weekend for you. Something that gives you a break from the craziness.”
“I agree,” I said with a grin. “And you should feel that way too. Do you have much scheduled?”
She shook her head. “No, they are aware that my services end tonight. I can enjoy it!”
And so, the day went on.
Like she promised, Lindsey stayed close, something I didn’t realize would become so pertinent in our lives. We were stuck together like glue. It may have been cracked and slightly breaking, but the match up was perfect. It was like old times, and even standing up on that stage, thanking everyone from coming, I felt confident watching her watching me.
“The most important thing to remember,” I said to the crowd. “Have fun, learn something, and make sure to visit our tent for exciting upcoming releases, new technologies in the research stages, and ways you can get involved in the technological world.”
I put my arms up in celebration and then cut the ribbon into the large partially automated show room floor. When I got to the bottom of the steps, Lindsey immediately reached out and touched me, giving me a warm comforting glow. We headed out to the floor to mingle, meet people and check out the booths.
“I remember when we did this but we went to that weird convention in Denver,” Lindsey said, giggling. “There was that guy dressed as a robot out front doing cartwheels. We lost all hope at that point.”
I laughed, remembering just that. “But then we went in and that’s where I met Will. Yeah, I remember that. It went from a disappointing day to a hell of ride that changed a lot about my life. It was a good day.”
She smiled. “It was. And you know what? I think today is too.”
“So far I couldn’t imagine a better one,” I replied, looking deep into her eyes.
We held the stare for a moment and the released, both of us taking a deep breath. There was a steam building between us, something that had always been there but recently had been squashed in an avoidance to get too close. I wouldn’t push her though, everything would be her decision, and if I ended up with a second chance, fantastic. If I didn’t well there was always another day, another week, and another year to hope for it.
At dinner time I took her up to the booth and cleared it out, having the catering company bring sandwiches, pastas, and wine upstairs. We ate there watching the crowds below, talking about everything from her business, to how mine skyrocketed so fast. “If you had a business like mine, I would say, that my technique just might work for you. But your niche is completely different.”
She shrugged. “Sometimes slow and steady wins, sometimes it just becomes another dud. I guess I will see what happens. I like my pace right now though. I can take my time on figuring these people out. Finding the hidden clues, pushing through piles of paperwork, and anchoring our company into something long-term, something that expands.”
“That’s a great way to look at it,” I replied. “With tech it moves so fast everything else has to as well. For investigative work its different. There should always be a need and the only thing that changes is the small skill detective deal. It can go from small to bigger, or just stay where you’re comfortable.”
We continued talking until our dinner was done. As we walked out of the door to the room upstairs, Stephanie slid her hand down my arm and entwined her fingers in mine. I gripped them tightly, too afraid she would change her mind and try to withdraw. We walked like that for the rest of the event that day, the conference going on for two more days.
As the evening went through, we got closer and closer, until the tension between us was so strong I had to get us out of there. As we watched the customers heading out, the AI’s waving goodbye, I turned her, putting my lips right by her ear as my right hand rubbed across her waist. “Why don’t you come to my room? We can have a drink and relax.”
She smirked and nodded. “Sounds like a plan to me…Mulder.”
With that she winked and started to walk toward the doors. My mouth dropped open in disbelief. She actually remembered that. And not only did she remember but she was making sure I knew she was thinking about it too. Just seeing her laugh, walking away from me made me hot. I was going to have to slow way down if I wanted the evening to last more than three seconds.
We took the elevator up to the fourth floor where the suites were. Her room was four doors down from mine and we walked right past it, not even thinking about it. As soon as we stood in front of my room, before the key was even swiped, I grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into me, not able to read or deal with any other sources of distraction. I wanted her, and damn if she didn’t want me back. There was no hiding it any longer. No more wanting to see her, no more her holding back. It was an amazing day and I was ready to make it an amazing night too.
Our mouths touched and heat tingled all throughout me. As my tongue gently caressed hers, she moaned softly setting off a reaction that nearly popped a button from my trousers. I pushed her against the doorframe and ran my hand down her leg, over and back up again, this time stopping between her legs and cupping her pussy. Her pants were tight and her temperature high.
Leaning her head back she moaned and put her leg to the side. My mouth ran all over her neck as I massaged her nub with the tips of my fingers. Our breathing was almost in sync and I stood up, leaning toward her and grinding hard against her. She breathed heavily and passionately her hands exploring my body as well, pulling on my ass as I her hips moved in waves against my cock pulsating in my pants. When she got there with her hands, she popped the button opened and looked at me mischievously.
Glancing down the hall she reached down into my pants, pulling my boxers out and sliding her hand over my shaft. A groan caught in my throat and all I wanted was to give it to her good. She was feisty like befor
e, only this time I asserted myself, pushing her back and heading in for more. I took a page out of her playbook and slipped my hand into her pants, feeling the warm wetness of her mound inside. She hissed and moaned, her hips gyrating slighting against my hand.
Lifting a finger, I slid it inside of her and put my hand above her on the wall. For a moment it was nothing but passion, the want and need ripping through us. Our lust was fighting the need for time, and the fact that I couldn’t wait to watch her erupt had completely taken over my mind.
I fingered her right there in the hall, bringing her so close I could feel her clit stiffen in anticipation. Suddenly she reached down and grabbed my hand. Pulling back, she gave me the hottest little smile and turned to open the door. She was ready and I was beyond ready, maybe even a little too ready. However, as she paused, I could see the look quickly wear off and worry covered it.
I grabbed her arm and pulled her back, looking at the broken handle on the door. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head and pushed the door hard, letting it swing wide on the hinges. “I don’t think we’re the first people to come back here. And it looks like they were looking for something.”
Chapter Sixteen
Lindsey
Every ounce of heat that had been flowing through me just seconds before dried up in the blink of an eye. The door handle was cracked from the door and the lock hanging off. I immediately turned to my right and looked up at the camera, which was swinging by its cord. Whoever it was, they had thought of everything. I reached to push the door open again and walked inside, but Graham stopped me, pulling me back behind him.
He carefully pushed the door open and we went in, immediately having to step over a small door side table that had been knocked over. I looked down at it as I passed over, the sight of smashed furniture chilling to me. Such a silly little thing yet it send such a strong message. Unfortunately, that was just the beginning of it all.
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