by K T Brodland
Head propped on her chin, elbow on the arm of the chair, she counted each slow rise and fall of Olivia’s chest, traced the curve of her lips, the smoothness of her brow, the way her silver hair framed her oval face, and wondered when Olivia had become so important to her.
More than an hour passed before Olivia stirred. Opening her eyes, she slowly scanned her surroundings, her gaze coming to rest on Cat.
“Hello there,” she croaked. She cleared her throat, tried again. “Hi. Have I been out for long?”
Relieved to see Olivia awake, Cat managed a smile. “About two hours altogether. How are you feeling?”
Olivia pushed up on the pillows and exhaled softly. “I’ll live. I don’t think I’ll be trying to deal with that many people again for a while.”
“Damn right you won’t.”
Olivia’s eyebrows rose at the sharp edge to Cat’s voice. “Hey, anybody would think you were worried about me.”
“No shit, Sherlock. Damn right I was worried about you.” Cat broke off as she found it hard to swallow. “Does this sort of thing happen often?”
“Not as a rule. However, I am usually only dealing with one or two people.”
“What about the night four of the Alphas showed up in your driveway?”
Olivia shifted her position so she was facing Cat. “What’s with the third degree here? That was an entirely different situation and you know it.”
About to match the edge in Olivia’s voice, Cat abruptly slumped back in her chair. Her hands trembling, she raked her fingers through her hair. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I guess I was more worried than I thought.”
Olivia responded, her growing anger backing down in the face of Cat’s obvious distress. “Okay, look, we’ve both had a bad day. Let’s take comfort in knowing that at least Wild Bill is off the streets and a huge amount of drugs are in the hands of the police. Jean said something about having statements on her desk by tomorrow afternoon. Why don’t we both relax, take it easy, deal with all this in the morning?”
Cat drew in a long slow breath, let it out just as slow. “On one condition. You stay here tonight. I can find a tee shirt for you to wear later and there are extra toiletries in the bathroom.”
Olivia considered that offer for all of two seconds. “You won’t get any argument from me.”
“Good. Because I have no intention of driving anywhere tonight. In fact, I think I am going to go and have a stiff drink. Maybe even more than one.”
“You’d better have more than enough for both of us, because I intend to have a drink or two myself,” Olivia said, smiling.
Relieved that the tension had eased, Cat grinned. “Oh, I think I have enough scotch for both of us. If we run out, I know where the nearest liquor store is. And they deliver!”
Chapter Thirty-Six
“ H ave you seen the news this morning?”
Olivia paused in the middle of a sentence describing the scenario from the day before. “No. I’ve been busy. What’s so exciting about it today?”
“We are the lead story.”
“Oh, yippee. That should be good for business.”
Sighing, she wheeled her chair to the other side of Cat’s desk in the PI’s office and surveyed the images on the monitor.
Behind the Global One reporter she could see crime tape crisscrossing the opening to the dimly lit interior of the warehouse where they had spent the better part of the previous day. The reporter was saying that police were called to the site after shots were heard. On arrival the police found one man shot. Eight other men, all of whom were known to the police, were being held for questioning.
One of the men, marched off in handcuffs, had been Wild Bill.
Olivia high-fived Cat. “Nine down, umpteen dozen more to go.”
“Yeah. Thanks to you and your skill at eavesdropping in on conversations between Bill and assorted other perps in the gang.”
“I can’t take all the credit there. You spent several nights sitting down the street from Bill’s house, taking photos of everyone who came and went. We now have more names to add to our list of gang members.”
“Yeah, and much as I hate to say it, but I’d lay odds that Wild Bill was back on the streets before the end of the day.”
“Then we’ll have to make sure he’s back in jail again as fast as possible.”
“Okay, why are you two looking so pleased with yourselves?”
Cat and Olivia whirled around. “Anne! When did you get here?”
Anne waved them back into their chairs. “Last night.”
“Why didn’t you phone us?”
“Have you had breakfast?”
“Would you like some coffee?”
Laughing, Anne held up her hands. “Slow down you two! Yes, I’ve had breakfast, and yes, I’d love a cup of coffee.”
Olivia hurried off down the hall to the break room and made up a full pot of coffee. She loaded a tray with cups, creamer and sugar, along with the steaming carafe and carefully carried it back to the office. She set the tray on the corner of Cat’s desk and poured coffee for each of them. She settled in her chair next to Cat and waited to hear Anne’s news.
Anne had other ideas, though. “I’m still waiting to hear what you two have been up to.”
Cat and Olivia exchanged glances. Cat spoke first. “Let’s just say we’ve been busy draining the swamp. Killed a few alligators along the way.”
Anne’s eyebrows rose. “Hm. I’ll get a translation of that later.” She peered sideways at the monitor still open in front of Cat. “Never mind. I think I get the picture now. You two have been busy from the looks of it.”
Cat grinned at Olivia. “Yes, we certainly have. What about you, lady? We weren’t expecting you back for another two weeks. What happened?”
Anne shook her head. “I had to get out of there before I shook those nephews of mine so hard their teeth would have rattled. Talk about a pair of spoiled brats! Fortunately for their kids, their wives are much better behaved. Betty, the one who is pregnant, finally grew a spine and told her husband to shape up or ship out unless he started helping out around the house more than he had been. First chance I got I high-fived her. Told her there’s always room here for her if she gets fed up with him.”
“Uh huh.” Cat chuckled. “I can just see you upstairs with an infant wailing at two and three o’clock in the morning.”
“Then start praying Jim grows a pair and becomes a real partner to his wife.”
Olivia piped up. “That reminds me. I’m now a godmother.”
“Oh?” Anne inquired. “How did that come about?’
“Long story short. Remember the McIntyres?” When Anne nodded, she continued. “Their son had a girlfriend who was seven months pregnant when I saw her. Trish’s mom called me a few weeks ago to say Trish had a baby girl and she not only named her after me but asked if I would be the baby’s godmother. I was too stunned to say more than, oh, sure, why not?”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Anne exclaimed. She finished her coffee, then went on to satisfy her curiosity as to what had been happening during her absence.
“And how is the market garden coming along?”
“I’ve decided to just grow enough for myself and my friends this year. Mutual friends of ours have expressed an interest in taking on the gardens next season and they are moving to the mobile on my property this fall.”
Anne nodded. “Sounds like you have everything under control then.” She sat back in her chair. “Now, I suppose you are wondering if I plan on coming back to work here. Well, the short answer is no, I’m not. You two seem to have everything under control and its long past time I hung up my shingle. I have no idea what I am going to do for the foreseeable future, other than to relax and enjoy myself. Now, if you two will excuse me, I’m going to crash. It’s a long drive from Vancouver and I’m beat.”
Cat and Olivia exchanged glances as Anne left Cat’s office and headed upstairs. Olivia spoke first. “I think it’s a reasonable assu
mption to make that we’re going to need a new receptionist.”
“Yeah. I’m afraid you’re right. I’ve interviewed a couple of women, but I wasn’t happy with any of them. To save my sanity I’m going to get in touch with a temp agency I know.”
She shifted her attention back to the monitor, still showing the same reporter, who had gone on to another news clip while they were talking to Anne. “Have you a new target in mind, now that a few more of the Alphas are off the streets?”
Frowning at the reporter on the monitor, Olivia took her time replying. “I did have until someone took Underwood out of the picture.”
“Yeah. I expect there will be some scrambling going on to replace him.”
“Yeah, and what bothers me is the nagging idea that Wild Bill was involved and he pulled it off despite us having him under surveillance.”
“Don’t forget though that the shooting took place in the middle of the night and we did not have Bill under round the clock surveillance. There wouldn’t have been a great deal we could have done about it even if we had been at the Underwoods that night.” Cat eyed Olivia. “Yes, I know, you would have done your damnedest to stop them. Probably got yourself killed in the bargain.”
Olivia opened her mouth to protest, then closed it. Cat was right. Even she could not be everywhere at once. And after the exhaustion she had experienced following yesterday’s showdown, she could just imagine the state she’d have been in if she’d been involved in anything that extensive.
“You’re right, of course, damn you.” Her lips twitched as she tried to hide a grin. “At least we managed to take down one of the Alpha’s main suppliers. I’m thinking we should keep an eye on the gang members who are on our watch list in case there are others in the wind. If there are, they could lead us to their suppliers. When they do, we can come down hard on them, see if we can’t plug that leak. Maybe even save a few more lives.”
“That would certainly make Jean happy.”
“That would certainly make me happy. I saw too much of what that life did to street kids when I was on my own. I shudder at times to think what might have become of me if it hadn’t been for Alison.” She picked at an invisible piece of lint on her jeans. “Not to mention my ability to defend myself when the occasion called for it.”
Cat regarded Olivia for several seconds. “Have you ever wondered how you came by your abilities?”
“I used to. Gave it up after a while and accepted that that’s the way it was going to be.”
“What about trying to find others like you?”
Olivia shot Cat a hard stare. “Now why would I want to do that? Thanks but no thanks. Misery might like company and all that jazz, but I prefer things the way they are. So, drop it.”
Cat held up her hands. “Okay, okay. I just wondered…”
Olivia rolled her chair back to her side of the desk. “I know you did.” She finished up the statement Jean had asked for, avoiding the speculative glances Cat kept sending her way. She had wondered from time to time what it would be like to have other gifted people around. Maybe she wouldn’t be so lonely. Cat was a great friend, even to the point of accepting who she was and what she could do. Or at least, she seemed to. She suspected there was no guarantee that any one else who was gifted could be a friend.
She turned back to her laptop, put the finishing touches on her statement, emailed it off to Jean at the main detachment.
She was relieved when Cat did not pursue the subject when they finished up in the office and headed to the farm. Cat’s place was comfortable and she had even enjoyed the companionship as well as the whisky, but it was time to go home. She supposed she should at least offer to fix dinner for them, but Cat had other ideas. She had Olivia pull into their favorite Thai restaurant. While Olivia waited in the car, Cat went inside, returning fifteen minutes later with a big white bag. She handed it to Olivia, slid into the driver’s seat and keyed the ignition.
Once they were underway, Olivia shook her head. “You really are too much, you know. I could have fixed us something. Not sure what since I’ve forgotten what’s in the freezer, but I’m sure I could have come up with something.”
Cat reached and gave her a playful swat on the arm. “Woman,” she growled. “You talk too much. Now, shut up.”
Olivia blinked, then grinned. “Aye, aye, sir.”
With dinner out of the way, Cat leaned back in her chair and cast a speculative glance Olivia’s way. “You and I need to have a long talk.”
“About what?”
“Have you considered going for your PI license?”
“Not really. I doubt if I could qualify anyway. I barely managed to graduate from high school, and then only because Alison helped me with the GED in order to get my certificate. Other than that, my education has consisted of online courses. I also became a voracious reader as you may have noticed based on the contents of my bookshelves.”
“I have, and I’m not sure which impresses me more, the bookshelves in your living room with everything from Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring to the History of Modern Art , or the collection of police procedure manuals, and books on Fortran and sundry other computer programs upstairs in your office.”
‘Hm. I guess you could say I have eclectic tastes in reading material. I somehow doubt that any of those books will help me get my license though.”
“By themselves, no, but they do give you a well-rounded background, though. If you do decide to go ahead and apply, I’d be more than happy to help out, provide you with a reference, that sort of thing. I’m also intrigued by one of the books you have. The Art of Being Invisible .”
“You are, eh? Well, I could write my own version of that one. Unlike the author, I managed to stay out of prison.” A wry smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Ever hear of the Ghost?”
“Oh, hell, almost everyone in law enforcement has heard of him. Half of them think he should get a medal, while the other half thinks he should be tossed in jail and the key thrown away.”
“And what is your take on the Ghost’s activities?”
Cat scratched the back of her head while she considered how best to reply. “I’m of two minds about him. Part of me can admire the motives behind his activities, while the police officer in me disagrees with said activities. The fact that he was incredibly successful at bringing down mob leaders is neither here nor there.”
“So I’ve heard.”
Cat swiveled back and forth in her chair, all the time keeping her eyes fixed on Olivia. “And how would you know about the Ghost’s activities? The only reason most police units knew about him was word on the street. He’d pull the rug out from under some crime lord’s feet and word soon got out. Said crime lord was understandably not eager to talk to the police.”
“No, I don’t imagine they were. As for how I know about the Ghost, the police aren’t the only ones who can tap into the jungle grapevine.” There was an edge to Olivia’s voice. “What bites my ass is the way everyone assumes the Ghost was a guy. Maybe he was a she.”
“And what would give you that idea? For that matter, why would it bother you that everyone thinks he was a guy? Most criminals are male to start with.” Cat leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees. “Full disclosure time here, Olivia. Especially if we are going to continue to work together.”
For a few seconds, the deer-trapped-in-the headlights expression flashed across Olivia’s pale features. “Is that the way it has to be?’
“Yes, it does.”
Olivia looked down and away, clenching and unclenching her fingers, clearly struggling with the unspoken ultimatum in Cat’s statement. “And if I admit I’m the Ghost, are you going turn me in to the RCMP? Or worse still, walk out the door and never see me again.”
An awkward silence descended on the kitchen until Cat slowly spoke. “Interesting choice of words, there. Why would you consider my walking out to be worse than being turned in to the police?”
Olivia spent several minutes looking everyw
here but at Cat, occasionally tugging at the braid that hung over her shoulder. Finally she huffed and met Cat’s eyes. “I’m not concerned about what the police might be able to do with me. First off, they’d have to prove I’m the Ghost, and I made damn sure I didn’t leave any incriminating evidence around. As for the second part, I would hate to lose the one person I was beginning to think of as a close friend. At least, I hope she is a friend and not just someone I work with.”
She breathed a little easier when Cat responded. “I only ask that in future you remember there is a difference between vengeance and justice.”
A smile pulled at Cat’s lips, spread to warm her eyes. “Of course, there’s nothing to stop you from surfing the web, and if you should happen to come across any information that might—just might, mind you—be of use to the police, well, that would be helpful.”
After considering the implications in Cat’s words, Olivia chuckled. “You’re a devious bastard, aren’t you?”
“Who, me? I’m as transparent as glass.”
“Yeah, sure you are. Although I must admit, I was really worried that you’d walk out on me.”
“I’m still here aren’t I? I just hope you’re willing to take me up on my offer to help you get your PI license though. I think you’d make a damn good one.”
Olivia chewed on her bottom lip. Getting her license would be a huge step forward, one she wasn’t sure she was ready for. “I need to think about it.”
“You do that. There’s no rush. Now, come here and let me give you a hug.”
