by Matt Lincoln
“Ah!” I cried out in shock at suddenly seeing her in front of me. “What are you doing? You scared me half to death.”
“Sorry, Fi,” she said, although she was smiling and didn’t seem sorry at all. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was actually just coming to check on you. You looked ready to kill someone when you were walking through the bullpen earlier.”
I blinked in surprise. I really hadn’t realized my distress had been that obvious. I hated that she’d noticed and felt ashamed that I had let my feelings get the best of me at work.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said, giving her a weak smile. “I was just feeling a little anxious… and someone stole my chocolates.” I added the last part half-jokingly, hoping it would lighten the situation.
“It was probably Naomi,” Miranda said without pause. “She acts all prim and proper, but she could go through an entire chocolate cake by herself if we let her. I speak from experience.” She whispered conspiratorially at me, and I smiled at her obvious attempt to make me feel better by poking fun at our fellow agent. Miranda could come across as abrasive and definitely took some getting used to, but everything she did and said came from a place of kindness. “And it happens to all of us. Getting stressed out, I mean. Earlier this week, Naomi and I were both at the end of our ropes trying to juggle everything by ourselves. It really is good the two new guys started yesterday.”
“Yeah, it is,” I said, thinking back to the past few months. Naomi and Miranda really had worked their butts off, handing all the fieldwork with just the two of them. I was glad they could take it a little easier now.
“Anyway, I really need to get this info to Wallace,” I said, suddenly remembering why I’d come out into the hallway in the first place.
“Okay, but we need to get with Naomi later and figure out what she did with your chocolate!” Miranda called after me.
“Alright, will do!” I called back, laughing as I hurried off toward Wallace’s office.
15
Charlie
After we finished our interrogation with Andy, Junior went to update Gardner with the new information we’d gotten regarding Xander’s identity while I headed to Wallace’s office to do the same. Afterward, we were told to stand by while Gardner ran an in-depth search, and Nelson finished collaborating with the local police. It was unlikely that any of the evidence they’d collected would include anything we didn’t already know, but we still needed to have it transferred over and checked thoroughly just in case. I didn’t envy Nelson’s job, which seemed to involve a lot of bureaucracy and jumping through political hoops. I’d always preferred being in the center of the action, which is why I felt more and more frustrated the longer I spent sitting at my desk in the bullpen.
Junior was dutifully filling out the day’s paperwork, and I knew that probably was what I should have spent my downtime doing as well, but I just couldn’t concentrate. I hated sitting still and felt like every moment that passed was just increasing the chance that Xander would figure out we were on to him and slip out of our grasp. I occupied my mind by doodling on a spare sheet of paper on my desk, glancing up at the clock on the bottom corner of my laptop screen again and again as if repeatedly checking it would make it move faster.
“Will you relax? I feel anxious just looking at you.” I looked up to find the source of the voice and found that Castillo was smirking at me from the desk situated diagonally across from mine.
“You should just enjoy the downtime while it lasts, believe me,” she said, fidgeting with some kind of interlocking puzzle. “It hasn’t been this quiet in weeks.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not a ‘quiet’ kind of guy,” I said. I looked down at my paper to inspect the cat I’d drawn there and decided it needed bigger fangs.
“You two need to stop saying that word, or you’ll jinx us,” Patel said from her own desk across from Castillo’s. She, like Junior, appeared to be working and filling out some kind of report.
“What word, ‘quiet’?” asked Castillo, who appeared to have given up on the puzzle and was now leaning back in her chair so far that it was teetering precariously on its back two legs. “I’m pretty sure that’s only for hospitals.”
“It’s for anyone who appreciates having a moment of peace to fill out mundane office reports,” Patel answered back, pointing her pen at Castillo in mock threat. “Now stop saying that word before you jinx us all with a truckload of work right when we’ve hit a lull.”
As if on cue, Gardner marched out of the break room at that very moment, face stern and looking like she was on a mission as she walked quickly across the floor and back into her office.
“Look what you did now,” Patel said with an exaggerated sigh.
“What? I didn’t do anything!” Castillo exclaimed, pretending to be offended.
“You’ve jinxed us,” Patel pointed out. “Fiona probably found some huge lead, and we’re all going to be working this case like fiends for the next week. Well done.”
Castillo just rolled her eyes and began filling out her own paperwork.
I knew that Patel was mostly kidding, but I hoped she was right. I loved the adrenaline rush that came with being in the thick of the action. It was one of the reasons I’d given up my cushy life as a small-town cop. The chase from yesterday had given me the thrill I’d craved, and I found that I really wanted to experience more of the same. Sitting in a quiet office with only the sound of scratching pens and rustling papers felt so stifling I wanted to scream.
I was about halfway through my own report, having finally been convinced to do it by Junior, when Castillo came bounding toward the bullpen from the direction of Gardner’s office and leaned down between Junior and me, propping her hands against our adjoined desks.
“Agent Gardner found something!” she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement as she looked between Junior and me. “She thinks she’s figured out Xander’s real name and even has an address on file. She’s talking to Wallace and Nelson about it now. I’m so ready to get out of this office! Her excitement was contagious, and I found myself getting just as pumped as I turned the information over in my head. If Gardner was right and we really did have the suspect’s real name and address, then we’d be a huge step closer to finding the source of the trade route and cutting it off for good.
“I wonder what our next move will be,” Junior said as Castillo moved back toward her own desk. “Castillo and Patel have seniority, so it would make sense for them to be the ones to follow up on the address. They probably don’t need four agents just for that.”
As she said those words, the excitement I was feeling began to wane. He was right, but I still hoped that wouldn’t mean he and I would have to continue waiting here on standby for further leads. Before I could get ahead of myself, however, Nelson appeared in the bullpen.
“Agent Chapman, Agent Hills, Director Wallace needs to see you in his office,” he said, his tone serious.
I couldn’t help but feel like a child being scolded by their parent as we made the walk to Wallace’s office, despite knowing that I hadn’t done anything wrong. Once inside, Junior and I each sat in one of the overstuffed chairs placed across from his desk, and I tried not to bounce my leg in anxiety. I was excited about the new lead and the prospect of being able to go back in the field, but also a little nervous about being summoned to my boss’s office.
“We’ve uncovered multiple pieces of evidence that indicate that the cat discovered in Last Vegas two days ago, as well as multiple other animals, are being shipped here from Greece,” Wallace said, getting straight to the point. “Agent Gardner has discovered that our primary suspect’s real name is Alexander Michaels. ‘Xander Mikos’ is an alias he uses on online animal trafficking forums. Family records indicate that his parents are originally from Greece and immigrated here in the late eighties. Travel records indicate that he frequently makes trips to and from Greece, both via flight and boat. This, coupled with the shipping information that you found on the cargo con
tainer they transported the cougar in, is more than sufficient evidence to conclude that cooperation with the Greek government is necessary.”
He looked between the two of us and paused for a moment before continuing. “Therefore, two days from now, the two of you will fly to Greece to work directly with Greek officials in order to ascertain where exactly the animals are being shipped from, as it is in Greece’s best interests to stop these crimes, as well. In the meantime, Agent Patel and Agent Castillo will follow up on the address that Agent Gardner came up with. Do you have any questions?”
“Why two days from now?” I asked, knowing I was rude by snapping at the director like that but unable to contain my outburst. “Why not tomorrow or even today? Aren’t we losing time by waiting so long?”
Wallace seemed to have been expecting my protest because he didn’t look surprised and answered my questions calmly. “We still need to wait to see what Agent Patel and Agent Castillo are able to find out about the address we have for Michaels. Jumping in head first before we have all the facts could very well lead us to disaster. Furthermore, I require my agents to be in peak condition both mentally and physically when they are in the field. Rushing in without taking the time to make sure you’re well-rested and fully prepared could result in someone getting hurt or worse. You two take tomorrow off and do whatever you need to to get ready for your mission. The flight leaves at five in the morning, and I need you both well-rested and ready to go an hour before then. Do I make myself clear?”
“Of course, sir,” I said, feeling a little ashamed of my reaction but still annoyed at having to take the following day off. I understood the logic behind the decision, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
After we left Wallace’s office, Junior piped up beside me.
“So, Greece sounds pretty fun,” he offered as we headed toward the bullpen. “Maybe we’ll get to do some sightseeing while we’re there.”
“It’s not a vacation, Chapman,” I snapped back at him and instantly felt bad about it. I wasn’t upset at Junior or even the director, really. I was just upset at feeling stagnant like I wasn’t doing enough.
“I know it’s not, Agent Hills, but there’s nothing wrong with trying to enjoy aspects of your work,” Junior said, and instead of sounding sad like I thought he would, he sounded angry. “I’ll see you Thursday morning.” Then he briskly walked through the bullpen and out the main doors of the office.
I slowly gathered my laptop and the few other things I had brought to work with me from my desk and made my way down to the parking garage below the building. By now, it was late afternoon, and the sun was casting an orange glow over everything in the building. I climbed into my truck and slammed the driver’s side door behind me, feeling like a jerk for the way I’d taken my anger out on my partner, who was only trying to cheer me up. I wondered what I should do tomorrow. Wallace had told us to prepare for our mission, but aside from packing a bag with some clothes and toiletries and going to sleep early to be up and ready at the airport by four in the morning, I couldn’t imagine how else I could spend the day preparing.
I pulled out of the parking garage and onto the streets of the city which was just beginning to come alive. It wasn’t yet dark enough for its full splendor to be out on display, but several restaurants, casinos, and show buildings were already turning on their neon signs and brightly colored lights, bathing the streets in a soft, multicolored glow. I was reminded again of why I’d made the decision to move to such an opulent town and made up my mind to spend the next day visiting Harry.
Once I was back in my apartment, I called Harry.
“Hello, Charlie,” Harry answered. “It’s about time you called me!”
“Hey Harry,” I said, smiling sheepishly even though I knew he couldn’t see me. He sounded clearly annoyed that I hadn’t called him yet like I said I would. “Sorry. I got so busy with the new job that I lost track of time.”
“Too busy to call and let me know that you got there, okay?” Harry admonished. “I know you’re an adult now, Charlie, but you gotta understand that I still worry about you.”
“I know, Harry. I’m sorry,” I apologized again. “I just got caught up in the move and with everything going on with my first day on the new job. It won’t happen again.”
“It better not,” Harry said, and it relieved me to hear that he didn’t sound as upset anymore. “Well, enough of that, then. Tell me about the job!”
“It was really… exciting,” I said after taking some to think of the best word to describe how the day had gone.
“That bad, huh?” Harry said with a laugh.
“No, it hasn’t been bad,” I said. “Just a lot that’s happened already, even though it’s only been a few days. It’s been fun, though. Way more exciting than being back in Elko. That’s actually what I called you for. I’m being sent on an overseas mission starting the day after tomorrow. The director told my partner and me to take tomorrow off so we could get ready since we might be away for a while. I was thinking about coming up to Mt. Charleston. If that’s okay.”
“Of course, it’s okay!” Harry exclaimed without hesitation. “You’re always welcome here, Charlie. You don’t need to ask me for permission to drop by.”
“Thanks, Harry,” I said. Deep down, I knew that Harry’s door was always open to me. He’d spent the last eight years making sure that, but after years of drifting from place to place and being made to feel like I didn’t belong anywhere, it was hard to shake the habit. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Harry said. He sounded considerably happier than he had at the beginning of the call. “Make sure you get here bright and early. You can tell me all about the details of your trip then.”
“Really?” I asked. “You want me to come there early? Are you sure you’ll be awake?” Harry’s suggestion surprised me. Ever since he’d retired, Harry preferred to sleep in most days. He’d once told me that he didn’t accept guests before noon. The fact that he was willing to make an exception to his rule made something warm kindle inside me.
“Of course I will,” Harry replied. “If you’re leaving the country for who knows how long, we gotta make the most of tomorrow. So bright and early, okay?”
“Okay, Harry,” I said. “I’ll call you when I’m on my way. See you tomorrow. Bye.”
“Bye-bye, Charlie.” I heard Harry say before the call ended. I realized as I put my phone away that I was grinning widely. It never ceased to amaze me how just talking with Harry was enough to raise my spirits.
16
Charlie
The drive up to Mount Charleston only took about forty-five minutes, and although it wasn’t geographically very far from Las Vegas, it felt like an entire world apart. Where Las Vegas was a loud, bright, and crowded city full of pollution and noise, Mount Charleston was a sleepy little town with a population of around three hundred people on average and so few lights that the sky would come alive with constellations of stars every night. Even smaller and quieter than Elko, the tiny mountain town was the place that Harry had chosen to settle in after the accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down forced him to retire.
I gripped the steering wheel tighter as I remembered the incident that had left Harry disabled. He’d been on his way to a call in his patrol car, lights and sirens on, rushing through the streets as fast as he could. A car drove into the intersection as he was passing through and struck the right side of his car at full speed, and that was all it took. One quick moment and an amazing cop was off the streets for good. The massive settlement he’d received as part of his worker’s compensation benefits was what had allowed him to move to such an expensive and beautiful town in the first place.
I shook the thoughts away as I passed by the gorgeous scenery and beautifully constructed homes. I was coming to see Harry for the first time in a long while, and I didn’t want to be in a sour mood when I got there. Harry had always been adept at figuring out what I wa
s feeling even before I did, and he’d be able to tell right away if something was on my mind.
I always loved coming up to visit Harry, as talking to him helped me get my thoughts in order. Harry also wasn’t afraid to put me in my place or give me a kick in the pants when needed, which I had to admit was fairly often. I could be very stubborn when I set my mind to something, and I could always count on Harry to knock some sense into me when I was taking my bullheadedness too far.
As I rounded the final corner, I spotted Harry’s house. His house was huge and reminded me of an oversized wooden cabin, except for the side that overlooked the rest of the mountain which was covered entirely in floor-to-ceiling panes of glass. It was an odd mixture of old-fashioned and modern, but it fit in well among the other homes in the area, and the view from the top floor in the winter was stunning.
Harry was already coming out to greet me as I drove up the steep incline that led to his driveway, his wheelchair covered in various cartoon stickers that made me think his granddaughter must have been here recently. I parked the truck and hopped out, shivering a little as the colder mountain air hit me. Even though we were less than an hour outside of central Las Vegas, the higher altitude made the air feel colder and thinner.
“There he is!” Harry called out as I turned toward him, shoving my hands into my pockets for warmth. “It’s about time you came to see me. I was beginning to think you got lost down there in the city.” Harry held his arms out to me and gestured for me to lean down so he could give me a hug and a pat on the back.
“Right, let’s get inside then,” Harry said, turning away from me and wheeling himself back inside. “Not even November, and it feels like winter already out here.”
I hurried after him as a light breeze blew over us, cutting through my jacket and into my skin. I sighed as I made it through the door and immediately felt the warmth of the inside of the house wash over me. Past Harry, I could see the television was playing the highlights of some previous night’s football game, and now that I was inside, I could smell something savory coming from the direction of the kitchen.