Devlin
stood up from his desk and turned to look out the floor to ceiling windows of his massive office near Princeton New Jersey. His tall, lean figure looked imposing in his perfectly cut Savile Row suit, as he turned back to his cell phone and pressed the speed dial button for Kurt Rygaard. The strange little man had been Devlin’s loyal right hand man for well over a decade. He was paid strictly in cash and lived under an assumed identity since staging his own death many years before in South Africa. There was absolutely no official connection between them so the billionaire could remain fully insulated from the former Secret Policeman’s illicit actions.
“Kurt, find out everything you can about Detect
ive Alan Beach from Columbus Police.” he said glaring coldly through the glass.
“Of course Mr. Devlin.”
Rygaard replied in a thick South African accent.
*****
Alan soon arrived at the police station and climbed the stairs to the crime lab where Larry was busily examining some evidence for another detective’s case. The technician looked up and smiled at his favorite detective when he came in.
“Good to see you Alan.
I’ve got the CD loaded and waiting. You remember how to operate the joystick, right?”
‘Hi Larry.
Yes, I think I’ve got it. Do you have time to go through the footage with me? Two pairs of eyes are better than one and I’m hopeful you’ll have another revelation for me.”
“I hope it’s not a case of one revelation per investigation.
Let’s have a look.”
Alan
clicked play on the control console and the big screen came to life. Marissa had received a full hour of footage from the Washington affiliate so Alan put the machine into fast-forward until they saw Officer Fraser go into the meeting room by himself. They watched carefully and timed how long he was in the room then observed as he exited and disappeared down the hall. In real time, it was just under three minutes before they saw Fraser return and unlock the door for Congressman Taylor and his visitor. Just before the men reached the meeting room, the small man in his overcoat and hat appeared at the top of the main stairwell beyond the meeting room and just stood there watching, his head tilted so the camera couldn’t see his face. Taylor and Lewis entered the room and six seconds later, Fraser’s body language changed completely as he shouted a single syllable, pulled out his sidearm and shot the victims. Officer George Geoffrey’s reaction time was delayed a millisecond by the obvious shock of the event but he performed his duties well under the circumstances. Alan put the machine into slow motion and zoomed in on Fraser’s face to clearly see the confusion and his questioning look before his mouth formed the single word, “Why?” Alan then reversed the footage to see if there was any hint of facial features from the small man but his disappointment was complete.
“Nothing!”
Larry snapped in frustration. “Sorry Alan but it looks like you’re back to square one again.”
“Maybe not
.”
Alan tilted his head to one side and looked at Larry thoughtfully
.
“He’s wearing gloves like he was in the elevator footage, right?”
“Yeah?”
“That’s the
Capitol Building. Who could get access to such a secure building dressed like he was?”
“That might be a stretch
Alan. After all, he would have had to go through a metal detector but if the thing didn’t go off, they would have just let him through.”
“Sure but wouldn’t they want him to take his hat off
for the security cameras at the front door?”
Alan smiled broadly at Larry, “Looks like the revelation is mine this time, my friend.”
“Sounds like a possibility Al but how are you going to get the footage from the front door? It’s not like they played that on the news.”
“That may prove difficult but if anyone can make it happen, it’s
Lieutenant Walker and his connections. I’ve got to go Larry – thanks.”
“Good luck!” La
rry called out to him.
Beach bounded up the stairs to Homicide and went straight to Walker’s office.
He knocked and opened the door.
“Have you got a minute
boss?”
“I got five.
What’s up?”
Alan updated him on his visit to Blue Sky and the security footage from Washington then
explained his request for the security footage from the front entrance to the Capitol Building. “It seems to me that unless this guy is some kind of insider, he would have to have entered at the front, like anyone else. With Homeland Security requirements and the US Capitol Police as thorough as they are, you’d think they would make him remove his hat even if he didn’t set off any alarms, wouldn’t you?”
“Makes sense to me but don’t pin all your hopes on
one lead. One of the guards might have been slacking off and let him pass. Besides, even if you do get to see his face, there’s no guarantee it will identify him. You still need to find other angles on this.”
“I know
boss but I don’t see any other angles available to me at this point.”
“You’ve been in worse spots before and come through.
Just stick with it and you’ll come up with something.” Lieutenant Walker’s face turned slightly red and he looked awkwardly but intently at Alan. After a seemingly indefinite pause, he said, “You know I appreciate you, right?”
Alan looked at the
earnest sincerity in his boss’ eyes and couldn’t help himself -he broke into uncontrollable laughter.
“Goddamn, I knew it!
Quit laughing Beach!”
Alan tried to compose himself
, and suppressing his laughter as much as possible, he said, “You’ve got to stop listening to Mrs. Walker boss. I’m really sorry but that was unmistakably her talking through you. Bless her but you know I don’t need you to show your appreciation. I know it’s there; doesn’t mean we have to talk about it.” He laughed again.
“OK, OK; that’s enough now smartass.
You know how she is. Sometimes I could swear she wants to adopt you.” Walker raised a crooked smile and continued, “Well, the joke’s on you now. She wants to have you over for dinner…and she’s gonna to fix you up with her cousin Susan.” he blurted out and began a huge belly laugh.
Alan
couldn’t help laughing along with Walker. Tears streamed down their faces before Alan could speak. “Please tell Mrs. Walker that I would be delighted to join you both for dinner but I’ve met someone, so no cousin Susan please.”
“You know she won’t fall for that
. She’s many things but stupid ain’t one of them. You’re just gonna have to suck it up.” Walker continued to chuckle.
“No really
boss - I have.”
Walker looked
carefully at Alan as the laughter subsided. “You’re not shitting me are you.”
“
I know it seems unlikely but it’s true.”
The big man broke into a chee
rful smile. “Well that’s great. You know you’ll have to bring her along as evidence though. Mary won’t let you off the hook without proof. I’m glad you finally decided to return to the land of the living.”
“It’s early days but so far, so good.
In fact, we’re having dinner tonight.”
“What time tonight?”
“Seven o’clock - why?”
“Look at your watch
dopey.”
Alan looked to see it wa
s just after six o’clock.
“Y
ou can’t keep a woman waiting Beach. I know it’s been a while but if you wanna keep her, you’d better get your shit together.” he laughed again.
“Damn – I’ve got to go
!” Alan called, already halfway out the door.
“Better s
hake a leg Casanova.” Walker laughed.
Alan rushed home to
get ready. Fortunately, his apartment was not far from the station and the Thai restaurant where they had agreed to meet was within walking distance from home. He showered and dressed in record time and walked briskly to the restaurant, arriving with five minutes to spare. He looked in through the glass doors and saw that Holly hadn’t yet arrived so he waited outside for her.
It was a pleasant evening and Alan didn’t want the complications of his case to cloud his thoughts and detract from the evening so he took a moment to look up at the first stars appearing in the sky and clear his mind for his time with Holly.
“Making a wish?” the smooth tone of Holly’s voice broke his concentration.
Alan looked down to see her at his side, looking up as if trying to see what he was
seeing. She was even more captivating than he remembered and before he could think, the words just came out, “My God, you’re beautiful.”
Alan felt a strange sense of panic.
He had just said exactly what he was thinking with no filter and wondered if she would think him disingenuous.
“Well, you certainly kn
ow the way to a girl’s heart.” she cooed.
Relieved at her response, he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips.
“I’m sorry to be so forward. I was never very good with romantic etiquette and I must admit that I’m seriously out of practice.”
“You seem to be handling things quite well from my point of view
detective.” She smiled warmly and took his arm. “Shall we go in?”
Alan opened the door for
Holly and followed her in. One of the restaurant’s staff members greeted them with her hands held together in front of her face in the traditional Thai greeting.
“Sawasdee kha and w
elcome to Lemon Grass. Do you have a reservation?”
“Yes, it’s under Beach.”
“Yes sir, please follow me.”
The young lady led them to a pleasan
t corner table near a window, gave them a menu each and handed Alan the wine menu.
“Your server will be with you soon.
Would you like a drink while you wait?”
“Would you like something
now or would you prefer I order a bottle of wine?” Alan asked Holly.
“White wine would be nice.”
Alan nodded to the waitress and she scuttled off with a smile, leaving him to look at the wine list.
“
They have a nice New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.”
“That sounds good to me.”
Alan put the wine list down and they chatted about Holly’s day until their server arrived.
“Good evening, my name is Sally.
Would you like to order wine with dinner?”
“Sally - that doesn’t sound like a Thai name.” Holly said playfully.
“It’s my westernized name. I don’t think you would be able to pronounce my real name.” she said, smiling kindly.
“Fair enough
Sally. We’ll have the Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand please.” Alan replied cheerfully.
The
pretty young lady commended their choice of wine then left them to look at their menus. They teased each other about their poor pronunciation of the names of some dishes as they tried to find something that sounded familiar.
“Why don’t we be adventurous and try their set menu?” Holly suggested.
“I don’t know what most of it is but I doubt they’ll serve us fried scorpions or anything like that.”
Alan looked mildly shocked, “
Fried scorpions?”
“Yes, they eat scorpions
, insects, ants and other odd creatures in many parts of Thailand.”
“I’m not sure I want to know how you know that.”
“No big deal; I spent a month in Thailand studying Buddhist meditation techniques during a summer break from university. It was very enlightening.”
“Sounds like an interesting trip.
So you don’t know the dishes here?”
“It was a few years ago and to be honest, I didn’t real
ly learn much Thai language. The food was fully catered by the meditation center so I’m afraid I’m not much help. Anyway, I’m sure this will be westernized Thai food. The real thing is way too spicy and exotic for most western palates.”
“OK
, let’s give the set menu a try then.”
Sally returned and took their or
ders, assuring them they would be happy with their choice and left them to enjoy their wine. They continued talking about Holly’s visit to Thailand for a time until their dishes began to arrive. There were several dainty and delicious appetizers with interesting dipping sauces before the main dishes arrived and they talked happily as they sampled the various delicacies. Alan couldn’t help thinking how easy and enjoyable their conversation was. There seemed to be none of the early relationship tensions that he remembered from his younger days and it was a joy to have someone so interesting and intelligent to speak with. They moved on to Holly’s studies and some of the enlightening things she’d learned along the way, when suddenly she interrupted herself.
“You know, so far we’ve only talked about me tonight.
I want to know more about you. Like, what did you do today, for example?”