“Do you think he has one-night stands, Gila?” In thinking back, she’d never seen him with a girlfriend. “Today’s message will detail the virtues of safe sex and explore the wonders of blueberry-flavored ribbed condoms.” She had litter experience with the former and none with the latter.
The frequent, electrical one-way conversations irrevocably inserted her into his life, a thorn he couldn’t excise. A giggle escaped at her mental snapshot of him growling revenge, slamming his hand over the alarm clock, hair sleep-tussled, while his dog Damien whined.
Retaliation would again take the form of his road buddies pulling her over for some imagined traffic offense and delivering a long lecture. Her lead foot had earned her a stack of warnings to prove it.
The officers were always younger and always single. If he’d intended to intimidate her into leaving him alone or hoped she’d find another to annoy, he enjoyed a slow and gentle learning curve.
At first, she’d thought his response sneaky and covert then came to realize it as a ploy to not only keep tabs on her, but also help assimilate her into his world, building contacts on which she could draw in the future.
Regardless of the motive, she now appreciated a better working relationship with Portland’s police department, one that in the long run could further her chosen profession. By giving his roundabout, albeit cryptic stamp of approval, Matt had inserted her in the boys’ club and accelerated the opportunity to earn her dues.
The last of her devious signals were surfing the net to her favorite detective’s bedroom lamp when a middle-aged man slotted his expensive sedan next to her clunker.
If things went well with the current case, she’d be trading her POS in for a newer model. Matt had a friend who wanted to sell his truck. She’d never thought of herself as a truck kind of gal, but adaptation was the key to survival.
First impressions dictated her potential client wary and in trouble. After cutting the engine, he closed his eyes and blew out a series of short breaths, as if to regain self-control. Disheveled gray-streaked brown hair refused coordination with a finger comb. Dirt smeared his jacket shoulder and left temple. So far, he looked the part assumed after their phone conversation, late thirties, expensive car, worried.
Shrewd intelligence evaluated her before scanning the perimeter. He appeared to assess potential threats.
After adjusting his tie, he popped the latch on his door and leveraged himself out. Slow, stiff movements betrayed either injury or discomfort from sleeping in his vehicle.
“Denny Alscher?” She judged him to stand about six feet tall, though the view through her car window limited her perspective.
He nodded.
A gust of wind folded his torn, unbuttoned jacket open to reveal dappled crimson stains on the left side. Tailored slacks screamed money despite the wrinkles and grass stains. She perceived no sneer at her presence to indicate lack of confidence due to age, gender, or the heap she drove.
A nonchalant wave welcomed him to drop into the passenger seat. As soon as the sweat dried on his brow and he controlled his breathing, she’d take him into the restaurant. Her friend Alena reserved the back table for them.
Hesitant fingers hovered over the door handle, his eyes gauging the threat from her ferret. A scowl ghosted his brow before he jerked the door open.
“It’s okay. He’s friendly, won’t bite.” A rush of cool air conveyed the scent of fried potatoes, bacon, and pancakes into the car. The additional scents of diesel and copper perked her interest. “Have a seat, Mr. Alscher. You look like you could use a quiet moment before going inside.”
As a budding professional in the world of private investigators, she needed an office, which she couldn’t yet afford. Her last case ended sooner than expected when she caught the man cheating on his wife the first weekend after hire. If the shades on his boat hadn’t been up, she never would’ve obtained the necessary pictures. Another man laid low by arrogance.
“Thank you, and call me Denny.” His hands shook until he clenched them in his lap.
Adrenaline bleed off. Either his fear was real or well faked. “I’m Katt. Why don’t you tell me from the start what happened.” She wanted the details while fresh in his mind. A pointed nod and arched brow accompanied the tape recorder she placed on the duct-taped console between them. Recent experience educated her about the importance of focusing on body language and other visual tells in assessing a client. A replay of the conversation could come later.
He nodded his assent. “I was attacked late last night by two goons.”
“Where were you?”
“Coming out of my home, and before you ask, I live in the boondocks with no close neighbors. They probably came through the woods.”
“Did you recognize either?”
His lips thinned to a straight line before he turned his gaze to glance over the hood. A ten-second pause elapsed before he began speaking. “Why would I know who they were?”
Liar. He either knew them or knows who sent them.
“I have a fellow PI who’s a sketch artist. We’ll do a composite drawing after we finish here.”
A split-second of doubt flickered across his expression before he covered his mouth and cleared his throat. “Excellent. The sooner they’re off the streets, the safer I’ll feel.”
“You said on the phone that you worked for Horizon Solar. What exactly do you do there?”
“I’m a chemical engineer. They’re working to solve the issue of converting solar energy into usable liquid fuel using artificial photosynthesis. The sun produces enough energy in a single hour to power mankind’s energy needs for a full year. We just haven’t been able to design an efficient solar-to-fuel generator. What my company is doing involves the utilization of water and carbon dioxide to develop forms similar to gasoline.”
He took a deep breath, warming to his subject. “To develop an efficient system that reduces greenhouse gas levels, we must couple our technology with methods that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere instead of introducing more into it.”
Further detail mesmerized and confused as the process delineated the goal of the company but failed to illuminate his specific duties. The disparity in breaking down the conversation sent up a red flag. While the process proved interesting, he didn’t include where or what he contributed.
“You work in a highly competitive field. Have you been approached by anyone in reference to the specifics of what you’ve accomplished? Maybe someone involved in corporate espionage?”
Again, his gaze ranged over the hood of the car and beyond. “I’m just a peon in the grand scheme of things. If a competitor intended to steal data, they’d have to go higher up the food chain. I don’t have anything to do with the final stages of the process. There are others in the company who have a better handle on things.”
Again, he’d avoided a direct answer. Having studied Matt’s books on detecting deception, she realized her potential employer was sending out all kinds of significant tells. In counterpoint, the bruise on his temple and crimson stain on his jacket, along with the slept-in-the-car clothes, all pointed to trouble. Of some kind.
“What about romantic entanglements?”
“Divorced, years ago. Since my wife was a professional who made more money than me, I didn’t get stuck with alimony payments. We haven’t spoken to or seen her in years.”
“We? As in you and your girlfriend?”
Hesitation followed a quick inhale. “I’ve been thinking about that, since I just broke up with a woman I’ve been seeing.” Small lines creased the corners of his eyes. “She did have a jealous ex who’s a tech nerd. He sent me several texts when I first started dating her. Turned out she was as crazy as him, so I cut all ties.” After a brief pause to wipe his brow, he detailed Molly Brenner’s home and work address. “I’d call her, but she’d probably just blow a whistle in my ear. I assume as an investigator you have police contacts who can assist?”
“I do. I’ll help you file a report re
counting the attack before we get the composite drawing. We should get you to the hospital so they can document your injuries, too. You’ve got blood on your suit jacket.”
“Oh, hell.” Genuine concern deepened his frown, as if noticing the crimson stain for the first time. “I don’t need to see a doctor, and I don’t want to file a report with the police. I think the reason I got away last night is because I broke the first bastard’s nose, hence the stain seeping through my jacket.”
A bloody cloth pulled from his pocket revealed the source of another stain. “Shock value bought me time to escape. Otherwise, I might already be dead.” Denny flipped the side of his suit jacket back on itself. “As far as the report, the company I work for holds their employees to the highest standards, both at work and in their personal lives. I don’t want them to think me a troublemaker, since I haven’t worked there long. If I can just find out who they are, maybe make contact through a third party, it will be enough to get them to back off. Hell, for all I know, they might have been a couple of bullies who thought me a soft target and easy to roll.”
He had yet to hold direct eye contact.
He doesn’t believe a word he’s said.
“You appear to have calmed a bit. Why don’t we go on inside and grab a seat?” Katt’s stomach rumbled its affirmation in a long gurgle as she pocketed her digital recorder.
Despite her lack of excessive funds, she treated herself to breakfast with every new case. That plus her friend serving large portions made the diner her favorite place to eat. She unzipped her jacket and patted her stomach for Gila to hop into a pocket sewn for easy travel.
“You’re taking that rodent into the restaurant?” His hand hesitated on the door handle.
“Ferrets are descended from polecats and weasels, not rodents. They’re also very trainable and social animals, albeit a tad mischievous. Gila goes everywhere with me.” The look she received encompassed one part disbelief and two parts uncertainty.
Family comes in all sizes and species. She thought about the McAllister pack, both two-footed and four, whose unofficial adoption had rounded out her world. They had their idiosyncrasies but as part of the whole, each accepted her into their tight-knit family.
Maybe he expected more from a private investigator? Someone older, more experienced, and hardened. The first two scenarios came with time. She prayed to never reach the third.
“Hey, leave your jacket if you don’t want to call attention from the staff and other diners.” The disparity of expensive material bearing dirt, wrinkles, and grass stains defeated the intention of not drawing anyone’s focus.
The reminder of his bloody encounter took the starch out of his spine. Several contortions later, he’d removed the garment and pulled an envelope from his pocket before tossing the rumpled material on the back seat, all but forgotten. “Here’s your retainer fee. Hope you don’t mind cash. Banks aren’t open and I didn’t want to wait.”
The envelope slapping her palm meant food for the next month and extra toys for her furry friend. She tucked the money into her jacket, praying her ferret wouldn’t steal and redistribute it in a manner befitting his prankish nature.
Sunday mornings at her favorite chat and chew mandated she nod to several regulars en route to the windowless back wall that facilitated the perception of seclusion. If she could do it every weekend, it would make a nice tradition.
Once seated across from her client, Katt took off her ball cap and smiled as her hair cascaded down her back. Denny’s sudden inhalation and rounded eyes indicated acknowledgment of her pink stripe of hair.
“How does that help you blend into a crowd?”
“Seriously? Look around you. Go ahead. How many people, just in this restaurant, have a stripe of color or a piercing? When I want to mix with an older crowd, I just cover it up. Otherwise, I can pass for a kid, which most people won’t look at twice.”
“Huh. Maybe I underestimated you.”
Katt held her breath when Alena paused in pouring their coffee, praying the black gold didn’t land in her client’s lap on accident. Years of friendship and sharing their struggles meant watching each other’s back while living vicariously through one other’s adventures.
“If you’re wondering if I’m up for the task. Don’t. I can do this. Though, as discussed on the phone, I will be out of town for two weeks starting next weekend.”
The wilderness training class was something she’d never thought herself able to afford, but a scholarship on top of a phone call from her favorite detective resulted in her immediate enrollment.
“You fighting back and breaking one of the bastards’ noses might deter them from returning. On the other hand, if you think their intent was to kill, I wouldn’t advise going home. You said you don’t have any pets.”
“I—” He paused with a mug midway to his mouth when Alena arrived with food. A curt nod signaled acknowledgment of the waitress. “I have a cabin south of Willamette Valley in the Calapooya Mountains. The place is registered in a friend’s name who passed away recently. I was thinking of taking a short leave from work to sort through some family stuff, so the timing is convenient.”
Fending off two thugs increased the appetite, if his hasty shoveling granted accurate insight. The island of pancakes soaking up a sea of syrup in front of him disappeared in short order.
Above average height allowed him to consume more calories with a minimal waistline bulge. Her own plate of eggs and yogurt wouldn’t bog her down midday but wouldn’t stick to her ribs, either.
“Do you have family nearby?”
“None. My parents recently passed.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, but taking off work might help clear your head. As far as keeping in touch, if your assailant is a techie, maybe you should leave your phone behind and pick up a disposable. As for your car, that model has a GPS…”
“Taken care of that.” A nod preceded him gulping down the last of his coffee. “I’ve withdrawn enough cash that I won’t have to hit an ATM anytime soon. I think things will blow over in a week or so, but I need the time off, anyway.” His gaze slid west, downgrading what he’d described as a serious threat.
What the hell?
Further conversation yielded impersonal details and lacked a clear direction to proceed. A need for drama didn’t appear to constitute part of his character, yet his detailed belief of great danger didn’t match his zeal to seek out the culprits by any means necessary. Perhaps he had reason to be wary of the police.
“Okay, here’s my card. Call me when you get your new phone and I can give you updates as appropriate. When I find them, we’ll go from there.”
Denny nodded.
The way his shoulders tightened and his gaze slid to the door every time its bell chimed coincided with other nonverbal tells depicting his fear.
It didn’t explain why he wouldn’t divulge specific details of his attackers?
First priority when investigating a liar, poke into his background. Maybe he was still married. Maybe he owed someone money. At the risk of being judgmental, Katt didn’t figure he fostered a drug problem.
“One more thing.” Before he could object, she whipped out her phone and took a snapshot. It wasn’t until looking at the pic she noticed red specks contrasting his white shirt. “For my records. It’s a legal thing.”
Several heartbeats passed before the emotions playing across his face settled on resignation. She could see the potential in his eyes, wanting to snatch her phone and delete the photo.
“Don’t worry. No one will see it but me. I keep detailed records for my PI license. I have to answer to a board if I don’t keep my files in order, and I won’t risk my career on a technicality.”
“Fine.” Downing the rest of his ice water, he pushed his plate back.
When the state had issued her license, Katt had no contacts and no experienced PIs to act as a sounding board. Since meeting Luc and Caden McAllister, she not only received their surplus business, but also advice
and tips of the trade.
The brief stop at Caden’s house yielded a generic digital picture using advanced software. One of the perps resembled the model on the back of a popular magazine. Denny’s heel tapped a staccato beat on the floor during his entire visit.
Dust kicking up from her client’s late-model sedan rode the subtle breeze into the surrounding woods as he left. She’d stayed behind to garner Caden’s opinion about her client’s nervousness and obvious deceptions. An offer to assist came as no surprise, but pride forced her to refuse.
“In my experience, the harder a client tries to hide something, the stronger my motivation is to uncover it.” Caden set his laptop on the table between the patio chairs. Morning sun tinged his black hair with a blue sheen. The McAllister brothers shared certain physical traits, but each approached life from a different angle. Caden’s laid-back attitude helped her settle and sort her thoughts.
“I recorded our conversation in the car so I could listen to it again.” Katt inhaled deep, the woodland scents a comfort she wished her home shared.
“Good job. Let’s hear it. See what we can pick up.”
“A wife is easy enough to uncover. If it’s something else, maybe Lexi could give me a little digital help.” Her new client hid something, whether or not it posed a threat, time would tell.
Further discussion mapped out the plan forming in her head. She knew which databases to check and which services offered PIs the most up-to-date information.
An hour later, she thanked Caden and shuffled back to her car. It was great to validate her suspicions. Even better, when she could count on a colleague for backup.
In retrieving a towel so Gila could nestle in her lap, she recognized the bloodstained coat on her backseat. “Hell, he was so nervous, no wonder he forgot it.” Gila squirmed in the makeshift bed, twisting to lay belly up and swat at the keys dangling from the ignition.
They’d barely finished the composite drawings when Denny had again mopped his brow. The nervous eye tic had become more apparent when shaking fingers extended the jaw’s outline of his attackers. As soon as he’d confirmed each likeness, he’d stood, stumbled, and then fumbled his keys in his haste to leave.
McAllister Justice Series Box Set Page 2
