Moth

by Jennifer Foor

  She smiles. Her face is shining, her cheeks a crimson color from the alcohol she’s consumed. Windy barely touches her food when it finally comes. She’s too drunk, and I’m already worried she might puke the moment she stands. Before I can ask for the check she’s ordered a fifth glass of wine. Her words are slurred, and she’s going on about a brother I know the real Windy doesn’t have. I take everything she says as evidence. One little detail could bring this case to a close, depending on how much it leads us to the answers we’re searching for.

  She’s clumsy as we walk out to the car. I convince her I’m driving, although she puts up a fight at first. She spats out directions on where she lives. “Make a right up here. Don’t even think about walking me inside. I can handle it myself. You’re not getting this pussy.”

  It’s cute seeing her act this way. For someone we suspect as a criminal she’s let her guard down. She’s being irresponsible and her innocence shows. Anyone who was a professional wouldn’t be caught dead in this position. “I promise I’m not interested in sloppy drunken sex with you tonight, Windy. I’m going to make sure you’re safe before I head out.”

  “Safe,” she repeats the word. “That’s a fucking joke. I haven’t been safe in years. My life is a disaster. My problems continue to escalate. I’m fighting a losing battle. For all I know you could be the person they hire to kill me.”

  I bite my tongue. If she wakes and recalls this conversation I need to make it seem like she’s just being silly. “Quit playing around. You’re a college student trying to get somewhere from working hard. No one is going to hurt you.”

  Windy begins to sob. It takes a few seconds for me to realize she’s actually crying in the passenger seat. Lucky for me, I know where her apartment is located, so I’m able to pull up in front of it without asking her. She’s too blitzed to remember every single small detail of this ride.

  “You don’t understand. How could you? You have no idea what I’ve been through.”

  I run around to the passenger side and help her out. After making sure her vehicle is locked, I assist her into the building and up the flight of stairs to her place. She laughs at me as I struggle to locate which key opens the door. When we finally get inside she saunters toward the bedroom paying no mind to me being in her apartment. I hear a loud thump and head in the direction it resonated from to discover she’s flat on her floor, face down, laughing.

  Once again, I help her up and get her seated on her bed. The front of her tube top has shifted and one of her breasts is exposed. This is a huge test for me. We’re so close. All I want to do is explore her body and find out why I can’t stop thinking about it, but I have to refrain. I need to be someone she puts her trust in, even if it means I need to get up and walk out. I pull her top back up and look in her dresser to find something she can put over her head. I located a shirt and help her with it. She kicks her shoes off one at a time, flicking them high in the air. Once her legs are on the bed I tuck her in so she can’t fall out. I’m sitting there watching her intently. I want to question her about my brother. She has answers for me. She knows the truth.

  “I should go.”

  Her eyes are closed as she responds. “It’s still early, but you need to stay away from me, Moth. I’m dangerous. People who care about me die.”

  “You’ve had a long night. Get some sleep. I’ll put my number in your phone so you can call me.”

  She points to the door of her bedroom. “It’s out there in my purse.”

  This is my opportunity. I stare at her for a couple more minutes before looking up at where one of the cameras sits. For all I know Renner and House are sitting in front of a computer screen with popcorn waiting to see some action. I flip them the finger and leave the room right after.

  She’s been guarding her purse all night. I remove her phone and run the program on mine to clone it. It feels wrong, but I know it’s my job to do this. Her tears may have been genuine, but at some point she got into bed with the enemy. There’s nothing I can do about it now but to see that justice is served. I copy down the number so we can trace it, and make sure she has my number, putting the name in as Monty the Sex God, then return it to her purse.

  When I leave I feel guilty. Something about this is wrong. I have another gut feeling and when I don’t follow them things don’t turn out well. With a pocket full of evidence I head back to the surveillance platform. Only time will tell if this leads us in the right direction.

  Chapter 11

  The three of us are sitting in front of a fifteen inch laptop going over the phone records. We’ve discovered the calls are being looped from several different locations, leading us on a monkey chase with nothing to go on. Now that the number is cloned, I’ll be able to listen in on the conversations in hopes of picking up information that way. For now we know the second phone is registered to the pharmaceutical company she works for. We’re not sure of their involvement, if any, but it’s a feasible lead. This obviously goes above Windy’s head.

  After leaving her apartment, I walk back to the house the guys are staying in to do surveillance. It’s enough time for me to take in everything I’ve learned. Windy isn’t just impersonating someone else. She’s admitting her life is dangerous¸ which means it’s way more involved than pretending to be a college student in order to land a job. I want her to be a victim, God do I wish it were true, but all signs are pointing in the other direction. I have to distance myself from her until I can settle my emotions. I’m still in bad shape after the failed bust in Guatemala and the loss of my brother. I’m not thinking clearly, and because of that I need to avoid Windy until I can get my shit together.

  I don’t leave the house to head back to my brother’s place. After the confrontation with Matt, I’m trying to avoid the third degree. He’s going to want to know I’m on top of the case when I’m far from figuring out what the hell caused my brother’s death. I can’t connect Windy to Alizar¸ and it’s boggling my mind.

  While Renner and House get some shut eye, I run through financials for the pharmaceutical company. I search their subsidiary corporations, and even the backgrounds of the two employees trying to fawn over Windy. Nothing adds up.

  It’s four in the morning when I check her surveillance video. She’s not in her bed, which makes me start searching every room in her house to locate her.

  I find her in the kitchen. She’s staring at a piece of paper I can’t seem narrow in on from the angle she’s holding it. She has one hand over her mouth and begins to cry. It’s not until she steps away that I can tell it’s a picture. I zoom in and can see it’s a figure of what appears to be a male. It’s black and white, which only distorts the image more. Whoever it is, she’s affected by it. I wonder if it’s someone she lost. Perhaps it’s a lover and that’s why she’s adamant about being dangerous. Or maybe she caused his death. Without knowing I can only suspect this picture might give me another identity to search. It’s important we figure out who it is, as soon as possible.

  After her breakdown, Windy retreats back to the bedroom. She has her phone in her hand and looks to be scrolling through it. I see her typing and then tossing it to the side. I’m not sure which phone she’s used, so I check both of the cloned devices.

  I’ll do it. Just don’t hurt him. – N

  N

  It’s all I have to go on. Whoever she’s messaging knows her real name. I’m focused on the person she sent the message to. It pings to several countries before coming back unknown. It’s another dead end. Whoever is controlling the situation knows their way around a computer and also how to keep people like me from following the breadcrumbs. With them being one step ahead it’s going to be hard to solve this.

  I’m exhausted the next day. While Renner and House continue to go through the information we’ve already collected, I head back to my brother’s place to get some much-needed rest.

  As soon as I’m in bed I find the urge to check in on Windy, otherwise known as N for now. She’s getting ready for
work, walking around in a bra and matching panties. I for one would assume she’d want to wear something hideous just in case those guys wanted to take advantage of her, not that it would deter them. She’s beautiful in anything she wears. Instead of being plain Jane, she’s wearing what appears to be black lace. I lick my lips as I watch her sexy thighs moving as she ambles toward her vanity. Against my better judgment I shoot her a text message to the number I got from her phone.

  How are you feeling? – Moth

  She hears the sound of a notification and gets up to head toward her nightstand where the phone sits. I see her pull it up and then immediately toss it down on the bed. This isn’t the reaction I’m hoping for. She just dissed me while I was watching. It’s a low blow to my ego, though it doesn’t last long. Before she can make it back to her makeup counter she has a change of heart. She spins back around and picks up the phone. A few seconds later I get a message back.

  I’m embarrassed. I can’t believe I got that drunk. I only remember pieces. Please tell me I wasn’t a floozy. – W

  It’s reassuring that she’s more worried about making a good impression than the things she might have told me.

  Don’t be embarrassed. You needed to unwind. You didn’t do or say anything inappropriate. You were a lady. – Moth

  We shouldn’t do it again. I like you. I had fun with you. It’s too much right now. – W

  I’m not surprised she’s trying to get rid of me. Her secrets are a constant reminder of what’s at stake, and after I saw her breaking down over whoever was in the picture, I’m sure she has more reasons to steer clear of a new fling.

  It’s too late. I’m making you dinner tonight at your place. What time do you get out of class? – Moth

  I watch her body movements as she paces around contemplating what to see in response. I can’t allow her to push me away, not when I’m getting close.

  You can’t come here. – W

  She’s obviously worried about who might see. I wonder if someone is close. Then I start to think maybe I’m not the only one who has cameras installed in her apartment. This is something I’ll need to research while she’s at the pharmaceutical company today.

  Whatever you’re afraid of is nothing I can’t handle. I’ll meet you at your apartment at nine. I’ll bring the food. – Moth

  She sits down on the edge of her mattress and stares at my message. Then she falls back with the biggest smile on her face. She’s happy. Her smile is contagious. I’m giddy over this reaction.

  Her final reply is meant to deter me from what she’s determined to hide.

  Fine. If you insist. Pushing me won’t make this friendship mutual. – W

  Like I said before, I’m not afraid of anything. I like challenges. See you later, beautiful. - Moth

  I’m too tired to carry on this conversation. She has to get to work, and I require at least a couple hours of rest before I can begin to function properly.

  It’s mid-afternoon when I awake. The sun is blazing through the open window, making it difficult to roll over and fall back asleep.

  When I check my messages I find one from Renner.

  Heard from Malone. Calls to cellphone are using same loop system as Alizar. Could be coincidence, but wanted you to know. - R

  I wipe the corner of my eyes and try to focus what this could mean. Malone has been doing research from her desk back in Miami, where I’d rather she stay. She’s not built for field work. It’s nothing against women, she’s just a fragile type. Her brain is bigger than her bite.

  If she’s calling then the director has already been informed. It’s only a matter of time before he’ll expect more, and I don’t know if we’ll be able to provide it. Each angle we take seems to lead us in the same direction, with no real result.

  Maybe this new approach will only leave us with more dead ends. We’ve tried to catch this guy. We’ve done everything in our power to bring down his operation. Now there’s more going on we have to look into. I’m beginning to wonder if this is exactly what he wants. If Alizar is as smart as we assume, I can only imagine what he’d set into motion to throw me off his trail.

  After a much needed hot shower I check to make sure Windy had left her apartment, then call the guys to meet me there. We’re going to search every nook and cranny of that place again, this time focusing on listening devices. If there are eyes on her apartment we’ll find them.

  It takes them nearly an hour to show up with the lock kit. I’ve walked to the coffee shop twice to kill time. Once inside we get to work, checking light fixtures, tables, electronics, and even the mirrors.

  I’m not shocked we uncover four bugs that aren’t DEA issued. I was right. Someone else is watching her, and now we need to figure out who and why. Without directly asking fake Windy, I’m going to have to continue with the ruse of dating her. It’s the only way I’m going to quickly obtain answers.

  We spend the rest of the night looking into the hardware manufacturer to try and trace who purchased them.

  At eight in the evening I head out to purchase something to make for dinner. It’s been a while since I’ve cooked for a woman. Usually I’m ordering pizza, or throwing shit in a pot to make chili that my team can eat for the next week. Tonight has to be different. I’m out to impress the girl, not give her a case of bad gas and explosive diarrhea.

  I purchase vegetables, pasta and some wine. I’m going to make a special sauce for the linguini that will give her a flavor orgasm. For dessert I’ve picked up some brownie mix , cream cheese and a can of whipped cream. It’s nothing fancy, but I’ll make it work. Before my mom decided to flee the country with a younger foreigner, she made a crazy good black-bottom. It’s the only desert recipe I know how to make. I guess she didn’t leave me with nothing after all.

  I show up promptly at nine and knock on her door. It’s quite comical knowing how easy it would be to pop her lock and show myself inside. While I’m still entertaining the idea, I hear the latch unfastening and see her standing with the door half ajar. Her hair is up in a messy bun. She’s wearing a pair of black rimmed glasses, dark yoga pants, and a T-shirt that doesn’t cover her belly button. I should be offended she’s dressed so comfortably, but it hits me right in my tender spot where sex appeal is at it’s best. “Hi,” she says while still blocking me from entering. It’s obvious she can see I’m struggling with the two large brown bags, so she offers to take one. “Let me help you with that.”

  “I was starting to think you weren’t going to answer the door.”

  She glances back with a ornery grimace. “I was thinking about it.”

  “Good thing you didn’t. I’m about to awaken your senses with some Italian.”

  “What if I don’t like pasta?”

  “Trust me, you’ll like anything my hands create.”

  We reach the kitchen and place both bags on the counter. “Does everything you say have to have pun?”

  I shrug. “Usually.”

  She leans against the counter. “It’s been a hell of a day. I guess I can use the amusement.”

  As I turn to unpack the items I’ve purchased, I catch her ass in my peripheral vision. In those pants I can see every single curve. Since I know exactly what it looks like naked I’m immediately turned on. A low grumble accidentally escapes me so I clear my throat to distract my sudden inability to control myself around this jaw dropping sexy woman.

  She helps me unload both bags and folds them to be able to reuse. I watch as she gets me a large pot and a pan to cook with. She opens a drawer full of kitchen utensils, but doesn’t pull any out. I retrieve a wooden spoon, and search but am unable to come up with a large knife to chop the mushrooms garlic, and onions. “A knife,” I ask.

  She pulls the biggest one out of a holder located beside the refrigerator where I can’t see. For a brief moment I’m wondering if she’s going to use it to cut my throat. I’d deserve it. If she’s on to me it would be unexpected.

  She holds the knife with a firm grip and points
it in my direction as she speaks. “If you try anything funny I’ll cut your balls off, one at a time. Remember that later on tonight.” Her face remains stern for an entire ten seconds before she bursts into laughter. “I’m fucking with you, silly. It’s a joke.”

  I play it off like I’m not freaked out. “Get your tail over here and start cutting up these mushrooms, Miss Funny Pants.”

  Instead of doing what I ask she sits the knife down on a cutting board and hops up on the counter in the spot next to it. “You said you were making me dinner. I think that means I’m not aloud to lift a finger.”

  I point the wooden spoon in her direction. “You’re lucky I find you cute, otherwise there’d be hell to pay.”

  Her smile is once again electrifying. I’m taken back by the comfortableness I feel when in her company. I know she’s part of the case. She may even be a killer. So why can’t I focus on anything else than spending time with her as if we’re two innocent people getting to know one another. I’m a man, attracted to a beautiful woman. It’s natural for this to happen, but it’s wrong for me to be this interested. It’s wrong to want her, but I can’t stop myself.

  She changes the subject. “How many days a week do you work out?”

  I can see her looking at my bicep as I begin to cut the mushrooms. “I don’t have a set schedule. I just like being in shape. I run mostly.” I pause for a second. “Do you like guys with muscles?”