“Mimi, it’s not like that. I’ll only be gone a few weeks.”
“Like what?” Lame. “I’m sure you’ll love Paris.”
“No, I hate Paris. I don’t speak the language, and they hate that. I’m just lucky our company hires a translator for the trip.”
I got ready to disconnect. “If you feel like it, and you don’t find a French model to fall in love with, call me when you get home.” I pulled the phone from my ear and was poised to push the little red “goodbye asshole” button when I heard a noise.
“MIMI?”
I put the phone back to my ear. “What?”
“We still have tonight, if I’m not rushing things.”
My heart nearly burst. Yes! “Tell you what, you bring me Chinese, and we can rush things a bit.”
I hung up the phone and sprinted to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror and saw dark circles under my eyes, dry lips and hair that looked like rats had nested there.
A quick once over, I dabbed on a bit of concealer for the circles, and some lip stain and a smidgen of gloss on my lips. A quick dusting of blusher on the cheeks made me look a bit fresher.
On closer look, I swear I had more wrinkles than I’d had that morning. Nothing I could do about that in such a short time, so I moved on to see what I could do with my hair.
Ever notice when things aren’t going well in a girl’s life, she tends to make major changes to her hair? I’d almost done the same a few weeks earlier. I thought about it again as I grabbed my long waves at about shoulder length and contemplated cutting it. Then I dropped the length of it and examined the roots. Lifting and sifting through my scalp, I decided I still had a few weeks before I needed a touch up. But this time, I planned to go to my stylist and redo my caramel highlights.
Messy hair seemed to be in, so I just did some finger styling and pulled it up in a high, loose ponytail.
I’d contemplated changing clothes, but I didn’t want to look too anxious or interested. Besides, by the time I’d thought of it, I could hear knocking at the door, and it was a bit too late.
I rushed to the door, but stopped short and did one last check in the mirror before looking in the peephole. God help me, I think ancient karma was coming back to haunt me. It was Charles.
I stepped to the side of the door and waited. Maybe if I didn’t answer, he’d go away. I should’ve known it was too soon for it to be Sebastian. Charles was dead set on ruining my sex life, whether he knew it or not.
Charles knocked again and I jumped. The man had ESP (extra snoopy perception), and he knew I was home.
“Mimi,” he yelled. “Get off the damn toilet and answer the door.”
Because I’ve known Charles for so long, this wouldn’t normally embarrass me, but just after he yelled, I heard another voice.
“Charles, how ya doing?”
It was Sebastian, and now I had to answer the door. I cursed Charles silently and opened the door wide.
“I hope you washed your hands.” Charles pushed past me into the house.
“I wasn’t on the toilet.” I turned to see Sebastian with the classic brown paper bag. He’d bought a lot of food.
I must have been staring at the bags with a weird expression because, he said, “I wasn’t sure what you like.”
My soul smiled, and I’m pretty sure it came through on my face. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m easy. I pretty much like everything when it comes to Chinese.”
“Chinese? I’m starving.” Charles came back to the door and grabbed the bag from Sebastian. “I’ll grab plates.”
Great, so much for rushing things. I ushered Sebastian into the living room and closed the door.
“Did you invite Charles, too?” He looked a bit disappointed.
I looked back toward the kitchen, watching Charles disappear. “Sorry, he just showed up. He’s been known to do that at times.”
“No problem. Maybe it’s for the best. That way we can’t start something we can’t stop.” He winked, and we headed into the kitchen too.
“Am I interrupting something?” Charles feigned innocence.
“Not at all. Mimi and I were just going to eat Chinese and talk about the French.” Sebastian helped Charles take down plates and dish out the food. Five plates in all: peanut chicken, cashew chicken, General Tso’s chicken, beef with broccoli, and pork fried rice. Charles put the huge helping of white rice in a bowl.
“Sticks or forks?” I reached into the silverware drawer. I heard sticks and forks, so I brought both to the table.
“So Sebastian, what brings you here?” Charles stuffed his mouth full of beef with broccoli while he waited for the answer.
“Mimi invited me. We were going to discuss my trip to France.” Sebastian rivaled Charles in the stuff your mouth contest.
I picked at my delicious plate of cashew chicken and watched the two men. I figured when they were ready, they’d include me.
“I see.” It sounded more like “I shee” as Charles was speaking around his food.
“You?” Even though Sebastian had food in his mouth too, it didn’t sound as bad.
“I just brought something for Mimi to see. I thought she might find it was interesting.” Charles stopped eating for a moment and pulled his iPad out of the messenger bag he’d brought in with him.
I was intrigued, but said, “You couldn’t have called first?”
“It’s not like you’re ever doing anything.” Charles glanced at Sebastian. “Well, it’s not like this is normal.”
I could have strangled him, but then the homicide unit would arrive and… oh my freaking God, there was another knock at the door.
I slammed my fork onto the table and went to go answer. I didn’t even bother to look in the peephole before opening the door wide. Shit, I thought for sure it was going to be Jackie.
“Hello, Nick!” It just couldn’t get any better than this - every man in my life in the same room at the same time. “Come on in, we’re eating Chinese food.”
Nick looked past me into the kitchen. “We?”
“Yeah, Charles and Sebastian are here, too.”
“Sebastian’s here? Charles called and said to meet here. He had something.” Confusion clouded Nick’s expression.
“Oh, the more the merrier. Come on in.” I felt a pulsing headache coming on.
Nick and Sebastian were polite, but barely acknowledged each other.
Once we were seated and Nick’s plate was full, Charles opened the cover on his iPad, and we all scooted closer together to look. Since this wasn’t classified, Sebastian looked, too.
“See that?” Charles pointed at a picture of someone’s backyard.
“What are we looking at? It’s someone’s yard.” Nick squinted and looked closer.
I saw it immediately. “It’s the neighbor.”
Charles pointed to the face just on the other side of the fence. “The neighbor was looking over the fence into William’s yard when this photo was taken.”
Everyone had stopped eating, except Sebastian. It’s not like any of this interested him, and by now I’m sure he wanted the hell out of here.
Curious, I asked, “Do you know who took the photo?”
“I have no way of knowing, but it was on William’s hard drive, along with hundreds of other family photos. Seems they had quite a few backyard picnics. There are at least a dozen BBQ photos. Some with only adults, but most had small children and tweens in them.”
This picture had a slightly younger looking Anna along with four other young girls, all dressed in bathing suits and playing on a Slip-N-Slide™. The neighbor was only visible peering through the fence because Charles had enhanced the photo. I couldn’t identify the other girls with Anna.
We were all silent for a moment, just staring and analyzing. I could hear Sebastian chewing. I looked up and smiled. He smiled back, a bit of sauce running down his lip. I reached across and wiped it.
Suddenly, it seemed all eyes were on me. I wiped my
hand on a napkin, and diverted my attention back to the iPad photo.
“So maybe this neighbor knows something about the goings on at the Garrison house.” Nick pulled a pad of paper from his pocket and flipped through the pages.
“Seriously, Nick? Paper? It is 2012.” Charles was appalled that Nick didn’t have any sort of digital device, just a pen and paper.
“Yes, Charles, because I know exactly how to use a pen and paper without needing hours of technical training, and I know where my notepad is at all times. It can never be hacked, and never be accidentally erased. Just ask my old homicide partner about that shit.” He’d stopped flipping.
Charles coughed out, “Stone age.”
“Here,” Nick pointed to his pad. “The patrol officers canvassed the neighborhood asking questions, and no one seemed to know anything about William Garrison. They said he was quiet and kept to himself. I haven’t heard back from anyone who seemed suspicious. As a matter of fact, everyone seemed shocked that this happened.” He flipped the pad shut.
“So?” If Nick wasn’t going back to William’s neighborhood, I sure as hell was. “What now?”
We’d eaten at least half from each of the plates and most of the steamed rice when Nick stood. “So much for eating. Come on, Mimi, let’s go.”
I looked at Sebastian. I wouldn’t be seeing him again for weeks. He looked at me with a weak smile. He knew he’d lost.
“Go,” he waved me on. “I’ll see you in a few weeks.”
“Don’t mind me,” Charles mumbled, and shoved more rice in his mouth.
I hesitated. This was so rude. “I’ll meet you out in the car. I need to change clothes and say goodbye to Sebastian.”
I was pretty sure I saw the veins in Nick’s tired eyes get even redder. “Make it quick, time is of the essence here,” Nick said, and he was gone.
So said the man who’d just been sitting at my table stuffing his face full of Chinese food Sebastian had paid for.
“Charles, give Sebastian some money for the food we ate. I’m sure he wasn’t expecting to be paying for dinner for four.”
I leaned down and kissed Sebastian on the cheek. “I’m so sorry about this, but a teenage girl is missing.”
“Some things just aren’t meant to be, I guess.” He put his hands around my neck and pulled me close. Then he kissed me on the forehead. In my ear, he whispered, “So much for rushing things.”
My heart thumped hard, and I took his hands and kissed them. “Have a safe trip. And if you get lonely, call me.”
I left before I could do anything stupid. Instead of completely changing my clothes, I slipped on black ballet-style shoes and a long blazer to camouflage the yoga pants.
I heard Charles say, “You aren’t really going to Paris, are you?”
I hummed to myself, so I couldn’t hear Sebastian’s response. As I walked out the front door of my house, I knew I’d never hear from him again. I wasn’t sure if I was okay with it.
When I got in the passenger seat of Nick’s car, he said, “Really, what’s up with you two?”
I could honestly say, “Absolutely nothing. Just friends. He was coming over to say goodbye before he leaves for Paris.”
Nick was silent, but I thought I saw a grin on his lips.
“So why am I going with you? You want me to work my feminine wiles on the neighbor?”
Nick flipped his notes open again and called in on his car radio. He asked the dispatcher for the homeowners’ information for the houses on either side of the Garrison home. He gave the dispatcher house numbers, and he waited.
“No, I’ve seen you work your feminine whiles, and we aren’t that desperate yet.”
I smacked him on the shoulder just as the dispatcher came back on the radio. “2304 is Gretchen Miller, and 2300 is Leonard Crowhopper.”
Nick disconnected. “Mr. Crowhopper must be our nosy neighbor. Let’s pay him a visit.”
Not that I was one to look a gift horse in the mouth, since there was no reason for Nick so let me be any part of this case, but I asked, “Why am I coming along?”
“So I can keep an eye on you.” His matter-of-fact tone made me wonder what he was up to.
“Did I do something?”
“I don’t know, but after I get the 411 on this Crowhopper guy, I’ll have time to talk to you. And I want you where I can get in touch without having to track you down.” He pulled the car over in front of Garrison’s house.
I thought I saw the curtains move at Crowhopper’s house, but it could’ve been my imagination.
Nick didn’t get out of the car immediately, but when he did, he said, “Stay here a minute.”
He went to the trunk of his car, came around and opened the passenger door. I noticed he had a black Kevlar vest and a homicide jacket in his hands.
“We can’t be too careful. Put these on.” He handed me the vest first.
I got out of the car and put the vest on, adjusting it to fit snugly. Nick turned me around and made a few more adjustments. After a few more tugs and pulls, he helped me put on the Salinas Police Department jacket. It was a little big, but covered the vest nicely. The ballet slippers were a bit out of place, but how did I know I’d be playing a pretend cop?
“Ready?” Nick asked.
“Do you think this is really necessary?” I shoved my hands in the pockets.
“Just play along for a change.” Nick walked in front of me toward Crowhopper’s house.
We both stood to the side of the front door. Nick knocked and we waited. And waited. He knocked again. “Mr. Crowhopper? Salinas Police Department. Please answer the door.”
I was sure I could hear some noise inside, but no one answered the door. I looked at Nick. “Well?”
“Let’s just wait another minute.” He knocked again.
Finally, a voice said, “Just a minute. I’m coming. Please don’t knock down my door.”
Nick stepped back. I had to admit, the man’s voice didn’t sound very intimidating. We looked at each other, and then both turned to the door when we heard the lock move.
“Leonard Crowhopper?” Nick asked when the man opened the door wide.
“Yes? What can I do for you?”
I’d seen him before. He was the neighbor who came out to talk to Charles and me. He wasn’t at all meek then, and didn’t seem meek now. I wondered why he’d been hesitant to open his door.
“Is there a reason you didn’t open the door immediately?” Nick flashed his badge.
Leonard looked at his feet, turned crimson, then looked at Nick, but not in the eye. “Bad timing?”
How ironic.
Nick looked skeptical. “Do you mind if we come in?”
“No,” Leonard opened the door fully. “Sorry, I’ve been working and the place is a bit untidy.”
I stepped into the house and Nick followed. I only wish my house was this untidy.
The décor was simple, like a bachelor in an apartment. According to the records Mr. Crowhopper owned this house, but it barely looked lived in. There was a sofa, loveseat, and a chair, all of black fabric, centered around a simple glass topped coffee table. No art on the walls, no throw pillows, not even a magazine. I could see why he apologized for the mess, as there was a microwave dinner on the coffee table, along with a glass of milk and a plate of brownies.
“What do you do for a living, Mr. Crowhopper?” Nick asked, as he took in the sparse décor.
“I work for an Internet security company.” He sounded proud. “Please, my name is Leonard.”
“Thanks, Leonard. I’m Nick Christianson, and this is Mimi Capurro.”
Leonard took a better look at me. “Oh, hi, we met…well, you know when.”
“Do you drive all the way to the Silicon Valley to work every day?”
“Not anymore. I telecommute, which is much easier and a lot less expensive with the price of gas these days.” Leonard waved us into the living room. “Please, sit.”
We both sat on the loveseat - how quaint
.
“What exactly do you do for this Internet security company?” Nick sat at the edge of the seat, looking ready to bolt at any moment.
“I find holes.” He waved his hands in the air. “I find back doors, security leaks, holes in the system, then I sell the companies a patch.”
“So you’re a hacker?” That’s what it sounded like to me.
“Oh no, I have permission to look. Major companies hire our company to find the security weaknesses. So yes, I’m a hacker, but I have permission.”
“So being nosy is your business,” Nick stated.
“I guess so.” Leonard grinned at this.
“And maybe you’re nosy about more than just computer security?”
Leonard crossed his arms over his chest. “Meaning?”
“I have a picture or two of you peeking into your neighbor’s backyard during his get-togethers.” Nick handed him a copy of one of the pictures Charles had provided.
Leonard looked at the photo carefully. “Where did you get this?”
“From William’s computer.”
“And did you see what else is on that man’s computer?” Leonard uncrossed his arms and leaned forward.
“You’ve seen William’s computer?”
“Fine, I’ll admit it, I’m nosy. I’m not sure William should be having any BBQ parties with young girls in his backyard.”
Now Nick was mirroring Leonard and leaning in. “So you have seen what’s on the computer?”
“Why don’t you ask his sister?” Leonard avoided looking at Nick. He played with the brownie on the plate.
“I’m asking you.”
“I may have gotten a glimpse, but I haven’t looked at it. That would be an invasion of privacy.” Leonard picked at the crumbs on the plate. “Talk to the sister.”
“What does William’s sister know?” I asked, wanting to slap his hand away from the brownies.
“I’m not sure how she knows, but it’s like radar. Every time there’re young girls at William’s house, she shows up. And not long afterward, the girls leave. When his daughters visit, she’s there the whole time.”
This was news.
Nick seemed intrigued. “Just how often do you watch what’s happening next door?”
Leonard laughed, warily. “I work from home. I’m single, and I get bored very easily. Most of my hacking is done at night. In the daytime, I snoop. Not anything illegal, like with cameras or telescopes, but I look and listen.”
Gotcha Detective Agency Mysteries Boxed Set (3 Books) Page 33
