by Paris Morgan
“No. Then it wouldn’t have been a whisper if I did. What did he say?”
“To be careful and watch what we say, or ask Simon because the people in the house would pay for his anger later if we stepped out of line.”
“So it sounds like something is going on, but it might not be murdering boyfriends that he didn’t like. On the other hand, he might be doing it to get rid of them so he can have more power over the women,” Ryan added, confirming what I was thinking.
“Where are we going?” I asked, suddenly realizing that we hadn’t talked about what to do after the interview.
“The hotel, so you can check in and put on something a little warmer, since you’re so sensitive to the cold. Then you can come over to my room and look at all the case files I’ve got taped to the walls and see if you notice something I’ve overlooked.”
“Hmm…I’ve never gotten such an attractive offer to see someone’s room before with crime scene photos.” I tapped my chin as if I had to think about it carefully.
“At least you know the afternoon will end in dead bodies.” He grinned at me as we pulled up to the hotel.
“True. It’s what every girl dreams her future will include, dead bodies and serial killers. Seriously, though, do you think this could be the same guy that was down south?”
Instead of answering, he got out and opened the trunk to get my bags out. “Let’s wait until we’re inside. I think we’ve been followed.”
I raised my eyebrows in response as I took the bags from him and turned to get a sweep of the parking lot. Sure enough, there was a guy sitting in a beige SUV at the end of the lot with the car running.
“Seems like we’ve stirred somebody up enough to bring them out in the cold.”
“It’s not that cold. After a few days, you get used to it, and it won’t bother you anymore.” Ryan gave an exasperated sigh and walked inside, leaving me with my mouth open.
***
Dinner at Simon’s residence was well attended by most of those not at work. Matt let us in and showed us to the outer room where everyone was milling around before dinner.
We weren’t left on our own for very long when Simon approached.
“Detectives, I’m so glad that you could make it.”
“I’m sorry, we weren’t sure what the dress code for dinner was, and I didn’t bring anything dressier.” I motioned to my jeans and dress shirt.
“You look beautiful in something that makes you comfortable. We try to dress up on Sundays, but most of the time, we aren’t as formal.” He took my arm and started working his way around the room, making introductions.
Surprisingly, there were quite a few men and women scattered about, talking to each other. He stopped in front of a thin young woman who looked as if the wind would blow her away. “This is Natalie. After dinner is over, we’ll go to my study where you can ask her what you need to about David Kim.” He lowered his voice as he said his name.
Poor Ryan just followed us around, not really knowing what to do since Simon had me taken care of. I saw him try to smile at a few of the people, but they simply turned and ignored him. He was going to be in a foul mood when we got back to the hotel.
A bell sounded, and everyone stopped what they were doing, then proceeded to flow into the dining room for dinner.
Simon seated me to his right and Ryan at the other end of the table, between two men who weren’t very talkative.
He certainly seemed to have a hold over his group, and they were trained to be wary of strangers.
Our food was served by by a few members in uniforms.
“So, can you tell me a little bit about your community and how it works?” I was curious to see if there was a rote response.
“Yes. We get questions about it all the time. So many times people get hurt or are having a hard time adjusting after dealing with a life crisis. We offer them a place of retreat, and a way to get back on their feet again. There’s no secret sauce, as many claim or try to accuse us of. We’re quite open and honest. When a member is having a difficult day, then those of us that are in a better place console and guide them through.”
“Very interesting. Is there a special name for the community?” I took a bite of the baked chicken meal, unsure of what it was exactly besides being delicious.
“I know to those who are on the outside consider us a cult, and have named us Simon’s Followers. We prefer The Enlightened. When we reach true enlightenment, then the things that were so hurtful to us in the past will simply be blips that can be overcome,” Simon explained in a condescending tone. “Only when you let go of the past can you find true happiness.”
“That does sound very enlightening. Can anyone find it, or just those who come here?” I waited eagerly, hoping to give Simon the impression that I couldn’t get enough.
“One must first be willing and have an open spirit. Then, if you accept that you cannot change the past, but are willing to move forward through the steps, true enlightenment can be achieved.”
“How many steps are there?”
“Each person must travel their own path, and what one person feels as easy or simple, might be harder to overcome for someone else.”
I hadn’t forgotten about Ryan. I glanced down the table, but I was sure that he could handle himself just fine between the two bodyguards.
“Do you have a lot of people who are trying to stop you from living your lifestyle of enlightenment? Do you have to turn people away?”
Simon smiled. “My dear, Leslie, there are always those who would come against progress, and regretfully, there a few who have been given other opportunities because they just weren’t able to come to terms with their past. It is with great sadness that we help them find another path to walk down so they may eventually come to the truth about their inner selves. A few groups, mostly those in the government, don’t appreciate that we’re repairing and fixing people’s lives. So far, we have managed so out of their way, and have kept to ourselves without causing problems. Now, enough about that. Tell me about yourself.”
“I’m one of two sisters, who both turned out to be cops. We stop, or try to stop people from being hurt so that there isn’t a need for such extensive healing. Sometimes we do fail, or there is just nothing we can do, but at least we do make a small difference in people’s lives.” I wasn’t about to give him information that wasn’t readily available online.
“Are you happy with what you’re doing, though? Do you feel fulfilled at the end of the day or are you empty, searching for something to complete you?” he probed further.
I thought about it for a minute. “I would have to say that I feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of a good day when we’ve caught a suspect and put him away. Unsolved cases do tend to leave an empty feeling, but spending time worrying about it doesn’t help anyone, so I try to focus my energy on the things I can fix.”
“You are so close to starting on the path to enlightenment. Good energy wisely spent is always better than revenge, but you don’t have anyone to spend those nights and other hours with. You have someone who is interested, but you haven’t quite made up your mind about him yet.”
“Why would you say that?” I snapped, falling for his fairly open questions.
“You don’t have the glow of someone in love. They don’t fill your thoughts and block out all the nastiness that you find in the profession you’ve chosen. It must be new, or you have reservations about the relationship that is keeping you from committing fully. You must open yourself up or it won’t matter how many different relationships you have if none of them stick.”
“You’re very intuitive. I met a woman last month who’s psychic. Do you have a little bit of the sight in your bloodline?”
Simon’s face filled with a blush before he covered it quickly. “Psychic? No. I’m just very sensitive to those around me, and can tell when someone is hurting.”
“I’ve gotten to know her very well over the past few weeks, and she is very in tune to the
cosmos. The astrological signs come with special meanings, and she’s teaching me how to interpret them. Do you know anything about signs or their meanings?”
“Not really. While we do draw our energy from the environment around us, different views on the universe aren’t really our focus. Have you found meaning behind the signs that will give you insight into those who hurt others?”
“Um, I’m still working out my thoughts on the universe sending signs. I’m not as cynical as Ryan, but I have a hard time believing that the universe is trying to communicate with us on a personal level.”
“As you continue to follow your path, you will find an answer. Now, if you are finished with dinner, we can adjourn to the other room. Natalie, if you can join us please?” Simon asked nicely, but it sounded more like a more of a demand than a request.
After we had taken seats in what appeared to be Simon’s office, I turned to Natalie, hoping for answers.
“Natalie, are you aware that David Kim passed away?” She nods. “It appears that he took his life, and we’re trying to find a reason that he would have felt that was his only option.”
She looked to Simon before she answered. “David was a nice guy. We’d gone out on a few dates before my life turned upside down. We lost touch for about a year and had just recently reconnected. From our few times together, he seemed upbeat and happy. He was wanting to settle down in the near future.” She paused, blushing. “I was hoping that we were going to have that future together, but it was all still new.”
“That’s why we were pursuing other possible options because this seemed so out of the blue. From reports, his mother thinks that he just wasn’t strong enough to make it through life, which is a Korean way to look at suicide.”
“His family was more traditional, and he hadn’t told his family that he was seeing me because I’m not Korean. Once we were established, then he would have told them, but there was no point if we weren’t serious.” She sniffled. “I’m sorry. This is hard for me when things were going so well.”
“It’s perfectly normal to grieve, and I hate to ask this, but was there anyone who might have held a grudge against him?”
“No. He was so sweet, and would go out of his way to make sure that he didn’t offend anyone. He was quiet, and not super outgoing.” Natalie glanced at Simon again, and I wasn’t sure if she was searching for his approval.
I stood, knowing that we’d gotten a lot of insight into Simon and his followers. Natalie had confirmed what we’d thought to begin with, that Simon was keeping extremely close tabs on all the members of his community.
“Well, I think that answers the questions I have for now. If there’s anything else, we’ll get back to you. Thank you for your help.” I held out my hand to Natalie first, but changed my mind, giving her a hug instead. “Call me if you need anything,” I whispered.
“Simon, it’s been a pleasure. Thank you so much for opening your home to us and allowing us to ask questions.” I headed to the door and cringed when Ryan spoke up. He had been doing so well too.
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude, but how do you pay for all of this?” He gestured to the very expensive furnishings. “I don’t think I heard how you keep things running.”
Simon took a deep breath. “Since Leslie has mentioned that you’re the cynic, I’ll pardon your question as you just doing your job. I inherited the house from my family with a modest amount to run it. We don’t charge the members of our community because they’re trying to get back on their feet. That doesn’t mean that we don’t allow them to contribute to the household to make them feel that they’re part of something bigger. Those who aren’t able act as house workers so that we don’t have to hire those who would be more skeptical.” He smiled pointedly at Ryan.
“Ah, that’s what I was assuming.” He almost shouted to the room.
“Ryan, it’s been a long day, and this isn’t the way to repay Simon for his generosity. Let’s go, and let them have the rest of the evening to enjoy in peace,” I urged, trying to keep him from saying anything else that might antagonize Simon, as I remembered Matt’s warning.
“Yeah, I guess that might be a good idea.” Ryan gave a mock salute. “The food was great. Laters.”
I shook my head. Was he drunk?
Our exit wasn’t as smooth as I’d have liked, but we made it to the car without incident. It wasn’t until I was behind the wheel that I realized that I hadn’t felt the cold in my concern for Ryan.
“Do you think he bought it?” Ryan asked gleefully, rubbing his hands together.
“Bought that you’re completely crazy? Rude? Drunk?” I turned to him incredulously.
“I might be a little drunk,” he confessed.
“How on earth is that possible? We weren’t served alcohol, and we’re on duty.” I started driving, hoping that I remembered where the hotel was in the dark.
“I think one of the bodyguards may have added something to my drink. You should drive,” he suggested.
“Ryan, I am driving.”
“Oh, yeah. We’re moving, aren’t we? That’s so cool.”
“Why did you confront him about his money?” I asked as I recognized a store near the hotel.
“It seemed like a good idea. I couldn’t put my finger on it at dinner, but he’s hiding something, and there’s no way that he got all his money legally. He’s stealing it from the community members.”
I parked and looked around for signs that someone had followed us, but no one pulled into the lot after we stopped.
“Let’s get you upstairs, and we can discuss things in the morning.” I wrapped an arm around his waist as he swayed getting out of the car.
The last thing I needed was for him to fall over and pass out before he got to his room.
It felt weird reaching into his pocket for his room key, but it was the only way to get him into his room. I leaned him against the doorway and slid the card into the slot.
“Hey, are you going to stay for a sleepover?” he mumbled. “I don’t think your boyfriend or my fiancée would like that.”
What either of our prospective partners would think was the least of my worries at the moment. I had an impaired partner, and a possible killer on the loose. Whoever had been forcing the suicides hadn’t been found, and it just made sense that I couldn’t leave Ryan alone. Hotel rooms weren’t that secure, and I didn’t have a gun here.
Ryan stumbled over and flopped facedown onto the closest bed, mumbling unintelligently.
Taking pity on him, I pulled his shoes off after making sure that the room was locked, with a chair in front of the door. His gun had been tucked into an ankle holster, so I pulled it free. I felt uncomfortable sleeping in the other bed, so I curled up on the small sofa, placing the gun next to me.
Snores filled the room, and I realized that maybe Ryan wasn’t as sexy when he was asleep as I’d imagined. Normal life tended to take the glow away from things and put them into perspective. Keeping things professional was going to be more difficult in the morning, but that wasn’t something I would worry about right now.
Chapter 9
Ryan
“Ow, my head hurts.”
“Well, it should. You were trashed last night,” a voice spoke from the other side of the room.
I thought I was alone and rolled over quickly, trying to focus on the person sitting in the corner.
“Why are you in my room?” I asked stupidly.
“How to answer that…” Leslie took a sip of coffee. “You got drunk, or were drugged, at Simon’s house last night. By the time we got back here, you were barely able to walk. I made sure that you didn’t asphyxiate in your sleep. This couch isn’t very comfortable, but it’s better than nothing,” she chirped cheerfully.
“Where did you get the coffee?” I groaned, putting my head in my hands to keep the room from spinning.
A cup appeared at eye level and I took it from her, drinking greedily.
“It’s been years since I tied one on
like that, and I don’t even remember drinking any alcohol at Simon’s. They must have drugged me. Why didn’t you take me to the hospital to have my blood tested?” My eyes felt gritty, and were still having trouble focusing, but the coffee was helping a little bit.
“We’re in Wisconsin. I’m not officially on a case, so there would have been tons of questions at the hospital. If you were drugged, it wouldn’t matter because we can’t prove anything. I think they did it, and we didn’t stay as long as they had planned for us to.” She took a seat back on the couch, just out of range, and I wasn’t about to turn my head again.
“Okay, I can live with that explanation, but why did you stay here after you got me on the bed? Your room is only a floor away.”
“We have a killer on the loose, and you weren’t at full capacity. What if this is how they got Jesse up onto that ledge, making it look like he jumped all on his own? I couldn’t take the chance that they had some way to get into the hotel rooms.”
“You watch too many spy movies. It’s a lot harder to get into a hotel room than they make it seem.” I glanced down and realized my gun was missing. “We’ve got more problems. They took my gun.”
“No, they didn’t. I have it. You weren’t in any shape to use it even if we were attacked, and I don’t have one with me,” Leslie explained in calm voice.
“Why do I feel like you’re being really nice to me?”
“That’s because I am,” she retorted. “I’m going to leave you to get cleaned up, and I’m going to my room to do the same. Here’s your gun.” She placed it on the nightstand next to the bed.
