by Celya Bowers
“I’m sure it’s just a coincidence,” he said, motioning her inside.
Once inside the brightly lit pub, Maddie’s mood finally began to lighten. She hadn’t smiled, but at least she wasn’t crying. They were seated in a booth across from each other. Sean knew he had his work cut out for him. He needed to ask some touchy questions about DJ.
When the server took their drink orders, he started the inquisition. “Let’s get the elephant out of the room, shall we?”
Maddie looked up from the menu and stared at him. “What do you mean?” She continued looking at the food choices.
“I mean, yes, something is definitely off about DJ’s disappearance. Now that I’m invested in it, I’m going to see this through to the end. No matter what the outcome is, I’m going to be there.”
“Me too,” she said quietly. “We need to find him quickly or it may be too late.” She caressed her neck.
Sean nodded. “Yes, whomever beat Rachel meant it as a message to DJ. Are you sure you don’t know whom he hung around with? Besides the names you already gave me. Maybe he’d mention their names in passing?”
Maddie shook her head. “If he’d mentioned anything, he wouldn’t have to me. He thinks I’m too much like Dad to understand his struggle.”
“What struggle?” Although Sean had never met DJ, he got the impression the man didn’t want to do much in life.
“He thinks it’s okay that Rachel works, the apartment is in her name, and he does absolutely nothing. He runs around with other women, but always goes back to Rachel.”
Sean shook his head. “I think every family has one of those. My brother, Oliver could run a close race to DJ.”
“Where’s your brother now?”
“Ireland.”
She closed the menu and stared at him. “I’m sorry, did you say Ireland? Like the country Ireland?”
He laughed. “Yes. I’m half-Irish you know. Oliver went back there about ten years ago. Initially, he went back to help our grandparents, that didn’t last too long. I don’t think he’s worked in the last five years. There was always some woman ready to support him.”
“What is wrong with these women?” Maddie asked. “I couldn’t figure out why Rachel kept hanging onto DJ. He brought nothing to the relationship. Sex couldn’t be that good.”
The server brought their drinks and took their dinner order. Sean ordered a New York strip steak with all the trimmings. He assumed Maddie was like most women he knew and would order a salad.
“I’ll have the screaming shrimp,” she said, surrendering her menu. “With extra parmesan sauce.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The server quickly left.
Sean cleared his throat. “Okay, I have to ask. What on earth is screaming shrimp?”
She finally smiled. “I had it once about a year ago in San Francisco. I was there on business. Its large shrimp cooked in hot chili sauce, and doused in cheese, sitting on top of a bed of pasta. Your tongue tingles when you eat it. I didn’t know anyone in Arlington made it. I’ll have to come back here.”
Sean clamped his mouth shut, before he said something stupid, like, we’ll have to come back here more often. “Well, maybe I’ll try some of yours and see for myself.”
“You don’t seem like you’re a hot pepper kind of guy, especially being Irish and all,” she said.
“Ah, the Irish stereotype,” he chuckled. “You think all we do is drink? We like good food too.”
“Okay, remember that when you taste the shrimp.” She picked up her wine glass, giving him a mocking salute. The look told him she thought he was going to fall like a house of bricks.
“Will do. Back to DJ. I know he wasn’t around the family much, was it because of Rachel?”
“No. We might not have liked Rachel much; DJ choose not to attend most family functions.”
“Don’t tell me. The rest of your siblings are all successful? Working?”
“Yes. Our parents were very encouraging about us getting degrees. DJ went off the rails long ago. He had no desire for higher education at all. He hated high school. Too many rules.
6
“Are you sure you don’t want something else to drink?” Maddie asked innocently as she finished her glass of wine. “I told you the shrimp was cooked in peppers. You knew it was going to be hot. I don’t know why men don’t listen when I give them a heads up.”
Sean open his mouth to speak, but a barrage of coughs came out instead. This was all his doing. She’d warned him the heat came later, but he wouldn’t listen. Now, however, his mouth was like an inferno. He felt like an idiot.
The waiter appeared at the table with a glass of milk and two slices of sourdough bread. He placed it in front of Sean. “This will help with the burning sensation on your tongue, sir.”
“Thanks,” Sean choked out. Quickly, he took a bite of the bread and gulped the milk. The young nodded and left the table.
Maddie studied him carefully. “Do you feel any better?”
He chewed the bread, and slowly he could feel his tongue again. He took a deep breath. “Yeah, it’s better. Next time, I’ll take your word for the degree of hotness.” He drank the last of the milk. “How can you eat that?”
She laughed. “I love spicy foods. The hotter the better. It’s not for everyone.”
Sean was determined not be outdone by a woman or a crustacean. “You’re right, I don’t do a lot of spicy eating, but I do like it for every now and then.” Never would be a better term. He signaled for the check. “Ready?”
“Yes.” She reached for her purse to get her wallet. But he shook his head.
“Nope. It’s on me.” He coughed again as he reached for his wallet. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “So, what’s our next move?”
Sean reached for the water glass and drained it. Yep, the feeling was coming back to his mouth. “Our next move is trying to find out DJ’s last movements before he went missing.”
“Oh, so you do agree with me?” Maddie sat back in the chair confidently. “I’m not crazy.”
“I never said you were. I can’t go to the police and say this woman has a feeling that her brother is missing. Cops deal with facts, nothing else. Now that I have more facts to go on, I have more questions.”
The waiter brought the check and Sean surrendered his credit card. The young man quickly left. “I’m going to do some research tonight on the computer.”
“What kind of research?”
“Street cams.” The waiter returned with the credit card receipt. Sean scribbled his name and rose from his chair. He took a step to help Maddie with her seat. He pulled her chair back and inhaled her perfume when she stood.
“Street cams?” She asked once they were outside.
He let her inside the truck and helped her with her seatbelt. “Yes, there are cameras all over the city, I’m sure some of his movements should have been picked up.” He walked around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel of his truck. “It’s a needle in a haystack, but I’ve got to start somewhere.”
She looked at him with this big soulful, brown eyes. “I’d like to help, if possible.”
“That’s great! Maybe something will pop out at you, that I would have overlooked. With both of us looking, maybe it won’t take so long. Do you mind going to my place? My laptop is at home.” He hoped it hadn’t sounded like a come on. The judge would kill him.
“That’s fine. But we need to go to my office to get my computer.”
“Why don’t you follow me in your car?” He started up the engine and headed out of the parking lot.
“Okay. If you’re sure you don’t mind me tagging along,” she said. “Plus, I guess I owe you for letting you eat the shrimp.” She chuckled.
“I don’t mind you coming along. My place isn’t neat,” he warned. “And yes, you owe me for the shrimp. My mouth is still tingling.” He drove the short distance to her office.
“Wow, this place could use
some lights,” he said, cutting the engine.
“We have a security officer,” she said, getting out of the truck. “Harold been here for years.”
Sean got of the truck, grabbing his gun from under the driver’s seat. He put on the gun holster and motioned her inside the building. “Harold might need some help. This is a criminal’s wet dream. Low lighting, one guard, and too many exits.”
“Okay, turn your investigator brain off, please.” She stopped at the desk and sighed. Harold was taking a cat nap. “Don’t you say one word.” She pointed a finger in Sean’s laughing face.
“What?” He feigned innocence.
“Never mind,” she said stomping to the elevator and leaving Harold to his nap.
Sean followed silently. They rode up to her office and got off on the darkened second floor. Sean shook his head at all the improper security procedures. He would make sure to mention it to the judge. “Do you work late often?” He followed her to the locked office.
“Sometimes. When I have an important project due. Currently, I have a writer as a client. He has a book launch in December, which is about eight months away. As it gets closer, I’ll start working later and later.” She unlocked the door and walked inside.
Sean followed her and took a seat. “So does Harold take his naps up here when you’re working?”
She tried hard not to smile but failed. “No, he does not. He escorts me to the car when I’m done.”
“How?” Harold looked like he was approaching retirement age.
“He’s stronger than he looks. You’ve only seen him sleeping,” she said.
Sean held his hands up. “Okay, I get it. Harold is an awesome security guard in his waking hours.”
“Thank you,” she said. She opened a door and retrieved her laptop case. “I’m ready.” She took out her phone and started tapping the screen. “What’s your address in case I lose you in traffic?”
He rattled off his address.
“Wow, you’re upscale, huh? That the Beaumont Homes.” She entered the information in her phone and placed it in her purse.
“How do you know that?”
“I’ve lived in Arlington all my life. I know most of the old neighborhoods. The Beaumont got pricey when the football players started living there. “
“Tell me about it. The ex-wanted to live there, and she had a good job. I got it in the divorce.” He hadn’t mention that he was thinking of selling the large home.
“Oh, I can’t imagine a woman letting that place go.” She walked out of her office. “That neighborhood is always in magazines for the design and original flow of it.”
“She said it held too many memories.” He followed her out of the room and closed the door. “Aren’t you going to lock it?”
She shook her head as she headed for the elevator. “No, I engaged the self-locking mechanism.”
“Sounds reasonable.”
She laughed as she pushed the button. “I’m so glad the Conway Investigations approves.” She stepped inside the waiting car.
“Oh, you’re going to pay for that.” He joined her inside and pushed the button, closing the elevator.
“That sounds like a challenge.” Maddie adjusted her bags. “And I love a challenge.”
“Noted and filed.”
Maddie couldn’t decide if she was impressed or surprised as she parked in Sean’s driveway. The brightly lit two-story house stood regal on the corner lot. She hadn’t expected a circular driveway. She got out of her SUV and approached the front door, half expecting a housekeeper to greet her.
“There you are,” Sean said, motioning her inside. “I thought you were going to follow me inside.”
Maddie was at a loss for words. “Yeah, I was looking at your house. Very nice.” She walked to hallway and waited for him in the entryway. She gazed around the house. “Looks like something out off of one those designer shows.”
He shrugged. “I hadn’t done much to the place since the divorce. Been too busy with work, plus I just came back from Ireland a few months ago.” He led her to the living room. “Take a seat. I’ll get my laptop.” He started to leave when her voice stopped him.
“Hold it.” She sat down and patted the space next to her. “You can’t say a sentence like ‘I just came back from Ireland’ and amble out of the room like you’re in a western movie.”
She thought she had insulted him, but he laughed instead. “You got me.” He sat on the sofa and let out a tired breath. “All right. As you know I have been divorced about five years. I guess the first few years, I was in denial, but when it actual hit me that yes, my 15-year marriage had crashed and burned, I lost it. That’s when your dad stepped in. He suggested I take a sabbatical. My grandparents live in Ireland. I took a leave of absence for two months. Best thing I ever did. Once I was in the Irish countryside, things started to look better. Asia, that’s my ex, gave me the house in the divorce and a settlement.”
“Wait. Your ex is Asia Montgomery, the news anchor?” Maddie was shocked. “She doesn’t seem your type.”
“Why?”
“She seems like she’s very perky.”
“She is.”
“Oh,” Maddie said quietly. Boy was this a bag of worms she wished she could close.
“Yeah, she said I’d become a buzzkill lately. I was letting my work take over my life. She took a job in Boston after the divorce. It could have been before; the time was kind of fuzzy.”
“So, you needed to be somewhere safe and secure. And that was Ireland.”
“In a nutshell,” Sean said, reaching for her hand. “Thanks for understanding.” Her caressed her hand gently. “How about I make some coffee before we get started?”
She glanced at her watch. Was it really near midnight? “Coffee sounds great.” She watched him leave the room. While she waited, she turned on her computer and checked her emails. Nothing. She breathed a sigh of relief. She needed a little downtime right now. The pain in her neck was getting worse with each passing hour. She hoped they could find her brother before his luck ran out.
Sean walked back in the room with a silver tray loaded with two mugs, cream, and sugar. He also had his laptop under the tray. “I hope you like flavored coffee. It’s hazelnut.” He sat next to her on the sofa.
She smiled as he handed the coffee to her. “Sure, I’m a coffee nut. I like it flavored, plain, just about any way you could imagine it.”
“That’s good to know. I thought you were going to be a purist or something.” He doctored his coffee, took a long sip, and opened his laptop. His long fingers sailed over the keyboard. “I’ll just bring up the street cameras. “What day do you think he went missing?”
She thought back to the last time she’d actually talked to DJ. “Maybe last Thursday. Friday at the latest.” She rubbed her neck. The sharp pain had intensified in the last hour. “Thursday, he’d called me at work.”
“Did he ask for money? Sound desperate?”
She chuckled. “He knows better than to ask me for money. He says I’m too much like Dad. I won’t give him money and he can’t stay at my house.”
“But you think he’s missing?”
She looked at him. “Yes, I know how it sounds. Just because I won’t give him money or shelter, doesn’t mean I don’t care. I want him to be more responsible. He lets Rachel support him.”
“Maybe she really loves him?” He took another drink of coffee. “I see it all the time. Women, and men too, will support someone just not to be alone.”
She nodded. If she had a nickel for all the times Rachel tossed him out, then took him back, she mused. “Sad, isn’t it?”
7
“Ready to call it a night?” Sean asked as he poured another cup of coffee. “It’s pretty late,” he reminded Maddie. “We can take this up tomorrow if you’re free.” He wasn’t ready for the night to end, but it was in the wee hours of the morning.
Maddie nodded. “How about let’s look at a little more, then I’ll head home? I feel
like we’re close and hate to give up now.” She reached for the coffee pot and poured some hot liquid in her cup.
They’d been at it for hours, shoes had been kicked off, and they were sitting on the floor, next to each other. Their laptops side by side, hoping to find clue. Sean took a deep breath, something about had been bugging him all night. “So why aren’t you married?”
Maddie stared at him. “What do you mean?” She doctored her coffee and took a sip.
“I mean you’re a beautiful, smart woman, why aren’t you married?”
She laughed. “I get that question a lot. I’ve had my own business for about five years, and before that I was an attorney. You know, like father like daughter.”
“What kind of attorney? I’m a former cop. Why haven’t I seen you in court?” Sean was intrigued now. They were both on second careers.
“Why is it important?”
“Curiosity, mostly.”
“I was a sports attorney. I spent five years on the Dallas Panther’s Basketball legal team. The job paid well, but my heart wasn’t in it. You know, negotiating million-dollar contract, just wasn’t my thing.”
“How did you make the leap from attorney to public relations?”
“Wow, you really are a cop, aren’t you?” She stretched her legs out in front of her. “While I was at the job I hated, I planned my cousin’s wedding. It was gorgeous and I love planning it. It was featured in the local newspaper and in Dallas Brides. Anyway, I started getting offers to plan all kind of events after that. You know, like parties, anniversaries, retirement parties, things just kind of morphed into a business. So, I quit my job, rented some office space, and started my new career. I’ve never been happier.”
“You should do what you love. Apparently, this is what you should be doing. Who’s the biggest client you’ve had so far?”
She thought for a moment. “I’d have to say the City of Dallas. I planned a black-tie event about three years ago. I had a million-dollar budget.”
“Wow! That’s impressive,” Sean said. “Do you always do events on that scale?” No wonder she could afford a pricey office, SUV, and an assistant. “Do you do jobs like that now?”
