“I’m not sure if that makes me feel better, or worse.”
“What were you doing on Mulholland?”
“Excuse me?” Mariska blinked back her irritation and tried to tame down her tone. “Not that it matters, but I was going to visit a colleague…of sorts.”
“Of sorts?”
“We don’t exactly work together, but she is a member of the review board for the museum.”
“Who’s that?” Wulf pulled out a small notepad and pen.
“Ingrid Ashton.”
“Did anyone else know you were going up there?”
She thought about it for a moment. “Not that I know of…I don’t remember telling anyone about it.”
“Was she expecting you?” He looked up from his pad, eyebrows arched.
Mariska shook her head, “Actually, no. I went unannounced and unplanned. Kind of a spur of the moment decision.” Suddenly, a memory flashed. Badger had texted her a word of warning. That she’d been in danger. How did he know?
“You, okay?” Wulf asked.
She pushed away her thoughts. No sense in bringing up the man she contacted on Craigslist, that she never met, never saw, and has no idea how to contact. No, it would be too messy, and she didn’t feel like explaining herself. Not right now and not to him.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just have plans for this evening, and it’s getting to be around that time.” She looked at her watch, but she hadn’t been wearing one. Damn, it.
They both stood when she heard someone knock at the front door followed by the sound of it opening. She hadn’t locked it. Damn it.
“Mariska?” David hollered into the apartment as he closed the door. He stopped short, mid-stride, wine in one hand, flowers in the other.
Mariska and Detective Wulf, stood at the entrance to the kitchen in silence as she saw what looked like confusion turned into annoyance cross his face. David’s gaze settled on Wulf. He said, “What’s going on, Mariska?”
Damn it.
Chapter Seventeen
David slammed the front door closed and locked it. “Care to explain?”
“Explain, what?” Mariska crossed her arms and refused to look away. “So, you’re mad, now? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’m not mad,” David said. He walked past her and started putting water in a vase for the flowers he’d brought. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The way you slammed the door shut, I’d say you’re mad.”
David turned away from the sink and walked over to the kitchen table. He placed the vase filled with beautifully arranged, pink and white tiger lilies in the middle of the table. The flowers were spaced with greenery, and a ribbon was tied around the base of the container. Under different circumstances, Mariska would have been impressed. Tiger lilies had always been her favorite. So, while the flowers were gorgeous, Mariska would have preferred the wine.
“I’m not upset. What you do in your apartment is none of my business.”
“Damn, straight. It’s absolutely none of your business. But since I’m not sleeping with the man, I’m open to answer whatever questions you may have.” Mariska poured herself a glass of chilled white wine. “Want a glass?”
He didn’t answer at first. David looked back at the door for a moment. He must have made the decision to stay, because he said, “Sure, pour generously.”
At least they had that in common. The small bottle emptied between the two large wine glasses, Mariska handed him his and walked into the other room. “Come in here, and I’ll explain everything.” Knowing full well after seeing his little jealousy-induced fit, her description of the day’s events wouldn’t be with full-disclosure. Not yet.
David sat on the sofa and Mariska settled into the large recliner perpendicular to him. Close, but far enough away that it wouldn’t be awkward. In silence, they sipped wine and looked off in opposite corners of the room. Might as well tear off the bandage, Mariska thought. No sense in prolonging the inevitable. Chugging the last three gulps of wine, she reached forward and put the glass down on the coffee table.
Before she could utter a word, David said, “Your hair is a total mess, and your makeup is smeared. The top button of your blouse is missing, and it’s not tucked in.”
Mariska absently smoothed her hair on the side while looking down at the mess she’d become.
“I assumed I’d walked in on something I wasn’t meant to see,” David said. He too took the last of his wine in short order and put the glass down on the coffee table.
Mariska looked away for a moment. She owed him an explanation. He was her best friend. “I can see why you have questions. Although, since we are just friends, I don’t like the accusation.”
“Just friends,” David’s words came out with a bitterness she hadn’t expected. “You know how I feel about you.”
“We discussed this a long time ago,” Mariska said. “I mean, you’re the one who said our friendship was too important to risk on a relationship.”
The fire in David’s expression went from red hot to extinguished, in seconds. His puppy dog eyes tugged at her heart, and she wanted to take back everything she’d just said…and how she’d said it. “David…”
“No, you’re right. I did say that. And, at the time, it was the right thing to do.” He looked at the empty glass on the coffee table. “Geez, the wine got to me pretty quick.”
The poor attempt at deflecting his feelings was obvious to them both. Desperate to cut the tension in the room, Mariska grabbed his hand. David, at first, flinched under her touch but didn’t pull his hand away.
“Thank you.” Mariska locked eyes with him. “Thank you for caring about me.”
He smiled, but he still looked sad. “I will always care about you.”
“Then this might be hard for you to hear.” Mariska pulled her hand away. “You’re absolutely, right. I look like a mess, and there’s a really good reason why.”
David didn’t respond, only looked at her with his expectant eyes. His brow furrowed and his mouth drawn into a thin line.
“Maybe I should open another bottle of wine,” Mariska said.
“Maybe you should tell me what’s going on. Are you okay?”
“I was in a car accident.”
“What?” David stood and then quickly knelt in front of her. “Are you, okay? What happened?” His eyes searching her entire body for signs of injury.
“I’m fine. Nothing, broken.”
“Why didn’t you call me? Where did this happen? I was wondering why you were home and your car wasn’t parked out back.” David sat back into the couch but kept ahold of her hands.
“I didn’t want you to worry. Plus, I was fine, so it wasn’t like I was in any real danger…well not anymore, anyway.”
“What does that mean?” David squeezed her hand. “And why was Detective Wulf here? He’s a detective, not a regular cop.”
“I called him. See…my accident, might not have been an accident in the true sense of the word.” Her face scrunched up as she watched the words sink in. Before he could say anything, she cut him off, “I think I was run off the road…on purpose.”
“Run off the road? What the…?” His eyes searched hers for more answers. “Where did this happen?
“I was on Mulholland Drive…”
“Mulholland? Why the hell were you driving up there?” He paused for a moment. “Does this have to do with what happened at the museum?”
“Yes. I mean, I think so. I don’t know. I was going up to Ingrid Ashton’s home to ask her a few questions.”
“Ingrid Ashton? Why?” David looked almost angry. Why the hell would he be angry?
Enough, with full disclosure. David was clearly too upset to hear all of this, so she was going to stop the escalation of emotions. “I wanted to ask her about my grant.”
“But…” he paused for a moment. “Oh. The grant.”
“Yeah, nothing that unusual. I wanted to ask her if I were to be reinstated at the m
useum if she’d be willing to still award me the grant.”
He let out a sigh. “Well, that’s a relief.”
“A relief? I almost died.”
“You just said it wasn’t a big deal. Now you almost died?” David laughed. “Which is it?”
“First of all, asshole, I was run off the road, and my car is totaled.”
“I’m sure your dad will replace it.” David stood and started walking into the kitchen. “Should I start making us some dinner?”
Mariska hopped off the recliner with such explosive energy that she toppled the wine glass sitting on the coffee table. “That’s uncalled for. You know I don’t like taking handouts from my family.”
“And yet you do. How’d you get the car in the first place? This apartment?”
“They were graduation gifts.” Mariska pinched David’s arm hard enough to hurt him, but he didn’t give her the satisfaction of reacting to it.
“Guess what I got for a graduation present?”
Mariska didn’t answer.
“I’ll tell you. I got a twenty-five-dollar gift card to Red Lobster. So, tell me again how much you hate taking handouts from Mommy and Daddy?” The coldness in his eyes matched his tone of voice. And they both hurt her more deeply than she’d expected.
“You’re right.” She shrugged. “I do accept financial help from them. Who cares? As long as I work hard and accomplish my professional achievements on my own, I don’t think it’s wrong to accept help from my family.” Pausing only to take a quick breath she continued, “I think you’re missing the point. I was in an accident and could have been seriously injured. And, I wouldn’t be surprised if this had something to do with the attack at the museum.”
“Even if it was related, why would someone run you off the road?” David started back into the kitchen, pulling out pots and pans he would need to make his ‘famous David’s pasta’…if she’d let him stay that long. She was still undecided at this point.
“Detective Wulf believes me. And quite frankly, he has shown more concern for me than you have.” She looked away. “I don’t think I’m all that hungry.”
“Mariska.” David grabbed her by the shoulders and looked squarely into her eyes. “I’m sorry. I really am. I think the shock of finding you and the detective together, then hearing about the accident, and then the immediate relief I felt that you were okay…it skewed my feelings. So, of course, I’m concerned about you. You know this.”
“I guess.” She wanted to be alone.
“Do you want to tell me about the accident?” David said. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”
She thought about it for a minute. Yeah, you could leave and give me some space, she thought. “Nah, no sense in talking about it. I gave my report to the detective. I’m sure if there’s any more developments, we will find out together.”
“Great. It’s a deal. Now, would you like the marinara sauce or the alfredo?”
Mariska grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “I don’t feel much like eating. It’s been kind of a rough day, and I think I just need to get some rest.”
“You’re not going to eat?”
“No, I’m not really all that hungry.” Her stomach growled, but David didn’t seem to notice. “Can I take a raincheck?”
David looked around the kitchen and shrugged his shoulders. What else was there for him to say? “Sure…I guess.”
Mariska walked with him to the front door, unlocked the deadbolt and opened it for him. “Thanks for the wine. Prosecco—you always know my favorites.”
“Just to be clear. You believe me, right?” David looked away.
She sighed. “Yes, I promise you I’m not mad. I just need to get some rest.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow?”
How about in a couple of days? “Sure, that sounds great.” She smiled. “I hope you have a good day at work tomorrow. Wish I could be there too.”
“You will. It shouldn’t be long. I mean, you didn’t have anything to do with the missing remains. I’m sure once the investigation is complete, Dr. Snyder will retire, and you will be back. It’ll be like old times.” David looked out the door. “Well, I guess I better get going.”
“Thanks again.” Mariska gave him a gentle hug and closed the door behind him.
Why did that man have to be such a dick, sometimes? She went into the living room and retrieved her cell phone. After placing a call for some Chinese takeout, she called Theresa.
“Hey Mariska,” Theresa said as soon as she answered the call.
“There’s been some developments.”
“Go on.”
“I was in an accident. Only, I don’t think it was accidental…if you know what I mean?”
Theresa paused for a moment. “Are you hurt? Do you need me to call anyone?”
“No, I wasn’t injured. And, I’ve reported it to the police already.”
“How can I help?”
“I was reminded of Dr. Snyder’s upcoming retirement. Can you ask around…and investigate if there have been any offers made to purchase the La Brea Woman’s remains?”
“Sure, I can do some digging. Do you suspect Dr. Snyder of selling her?”
“I really don’t know what to think at this point. But I visited a friend this afternoon, and…” Mariska heard a strange series of clicks coming from the phone. She pulled it away from her ear and saw the display flickered on and off. “What the hell?”
“What’s going on, Mariska? Everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. I think we should discuss this in person, rather than over the phone.”
“Okay, tell me when I pick you up tomorrow,” Theresa said.
“Thank you. I’ll see you then.” Mariska disconnected the call.
After calling and reporting the accident to the insurance, she needed to make another call. One, she was dreading, but one that needed to happen. Sooner, rather than later.
“Hello?” Mariska’s mom said.
“Hey, Mom.” Mariska cleared her throat. “I need to ask you for a huge favor.”
“Really? I love helping you. What can I do?”
Not only was it a bit embarrassing to ask her family for a new car, but she was going to have to explain what happened—she hated worrying her mom. “Let me start off by saying, I’m sorry, and I promise to you pay you back…I have some money in a CD, but I can’t touch it for another four months.”
“What is it, dear? We’re here to help.”
“I going to need a new car.”
Chapter Eighteen
Wulf sat in a booth at a local greasy-spoon diner. He thought about the exchange between himself and Dr. David Beaumont. He couldn’t blame David for being less than polite toward him. Mariska was a beautiful woman, and they had a long-standing friendship. He suspected David wanted more than that and had some jealousy issues. Wulf made a mental note to ask Mariska the next time he saw her if she knew her friend was harboring some unresolved feelings for her. He knew it wasn’t professional, but it might bring up some interesting information about their past…and who knew, maybe it would help the investigation.
Wulf opened up his laptop and read through his account of the night he was nearly killed by the man in the SUV. Not that he could shake the images from his mind, but it always helped to read the details. He hadn’t told Mariska that according to her description of the SUV that ran her off the road and from the color of paint transfer found at the scene, it was plausible the man who drove her off the road was the same one that had followed her to the club. Forensics was still working on a definitive link between to the two incidents.
“Can I take your order?” the waitress asked.
Wulf looked up from his computer. “I’ll stick with the coffee.”
“Are you sure I can’t tempt you with a few hot biscuits?” The waitress snapped her gum and gave him a wicked smile.
He smiled back. “Nah, the coffee’s good, thank you.”
“Suit yourself.” She blew a bubble, poppin
g it between her teeth, before turning away to go harass one of the other men sitting alone in the restaurant.
Shaking his head, Wulf couldn’t help but laugh. He had what his friends called the seven-seventy-rule. All the females loved him as long as they were seven and younger or seventy and older. In other words, he was hopelessly single.
Getting back to the business at hand, he scrolled through his police reports regarding the incident at the club. He then brought up the picture that Mariska had taken at the crash scene. She hadn’t taken a good one, but with some software enhancement back at the station, he might be able to make it usable. He could only tell that the truck looked like the one he encountered the other night outside the club.
He sent an email with the photo attached to the computer expert in the police lab. If anyone in the department could enhance this photo and give him a suspect to hunt down, it’d be that guy. After sending the message, he checked his inbox. A message marked: Urgent, caught his eyes. Wulf opened the message.
It read:
Det. Wulf,
We have a mutual acquaintance in need of help. Dr. Mariska Stevenson is innocent and in danger. We will need to join forces to save her life. Through unofficial channels and methods, I was able to intercept a communication between the man who has been following Mariska and who I believe to be his employer. I can tell you the hitman goes by the name Gambo. His employer goes by the initials, C.H. As of right now, they have managed to cover their tracks very well. I have no further information. I’m sending you this email from a dummy account so don’t reply to this message. My name is Badger and I’ll be in contact as I find out more.
That makes two times this Badger person has contacted him. It was time to investigate whoever this was as well. And with things escalating quickly in the case, he’d better find out answers…and soon. Mariska’s life was at risk. Thankfully she’d managed to survive the couple attempts to kill her up to this point. She was a tough woman. He sent an email to one of his buddies in the cyber-crimes division at the Bureau, asking if he’d ever heard of someone who went by Badger. It was clear to Wulf that whoever this Badger was, this wasn’t the first time he’d been involved in some serious technology crimes or at the very least was being monitored by the Bureau. He closed the laptop and ran his fingers through his hair. A heaviness weighed on him, one he hadn’t felt in a very long time. It was a worry about someone he cared about who was in trouble.
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