It surprised Heather when Steve said he’d accompany her to work. Most days, he and Max stayed home, doing whatever suited them. Steve would have coffee, spend a half hour on a treadmill, catch up on news, keep in touch with old friends, or surf the Internet. Now and then, he’d dictate or revise something in a story he was writing. In the afternoon, Steve and Max were likely to take naps. Steve, because the murder of his late wife still haunted him and long periods of sleep didn’t come easily. Max, because he was a cat.
A further surprise came when Steve stood outside Heather’s front door, waiting for her to walk out.
“Have you been out here long?”
“I heard a crash. Were you trying to balance your phone, coffee, a bagel, and your briefcase again?”
“At least I didn’t drop the coffee or the bagel. I don’t have time to clean up a mess.”
“Hand me your briefcase. I can find the car on my own.”
The ride to the office went without conversation. Steve had wireless ear buds inserted while Heather focused on her mental list of things to do. When they arrived precisely at 8:00 a.m., the receptionists’ phones were abuzz with incoming calls. Once inside the outer office, Steve was on his own. He could navigate the maze of offices as well as she could. He took the time to speak to the cadre of receptionists and to accept their offer of a Danish and coffee.
Heather left him to be doted on and went straight to her office, where her administrative assistant waited for her. “Your father is on line one. He’s been calling for the last thirty minutes.”
“I know. He called my cell phone three times while I was driving. Any other fires I need to know about?”
“They can wait. I’ll be at my desk when you’re ready for a full rundown.”
The red light on her phone blinked as if daring her to ignore it. She picked up the receiver and pressed the offending button. “Good morning, Father. How’s the weather in Boston?”
“Never mind the weather. Why don’t you get to work at a decent time? The day is half over.”
Heather’s eyes rolled back. “I’m fine, Father. Thank you for asking. As for the time, I arrive at my desk at eight o’clock sharp, just like you’ve done for the past forty-three years.”
Her father grumbled something about her needing to arrange her schedule to fit his. She thought about asking him to petition God to change the shape of the world and the circling of the planets around the sun, but he interrupted her thoughts. “What’s wrong with that state you're living in? Why did those idiots rule against eminent domain?”
She counted to three before the words forced their way out. “You surprise me. I thought you’d been around long enough to know there are always risks in taking bold moves.”
“Sarcasm doesn’t become you, Daughter. What are you going to do about this mess you’ve gotten us into?”
“If memory serves me, you came to me with the offer to invest. How is this suddenly my problem?”
“You agreed to be point man… er, woman. The boots on the ground.”
“And my team secured over ninety-five percent of the rights of way. It was your attorneys who promised a positive result from the courts on eminent domain. Perhaps you should have talked to some politicians and attorneys in Texas instead of listening to your team of Ivy Leaguers.”
“We wouldn’t have this trouble if this was taking place in a normal state.”
Instead of arguing, she changed the course of the conversation. “Let’s look on the bright side. We’re close to pulling this off. I’m having a video call with the investors later this morning and I plan on painting this as a minor setback. I’ve had the geologists and engineers go over the route for workable alternatives if we can’t get the holdouts to sell. The biggest deal-breaker is in Mattherson County. Unless the geologists can find another way, the line has to go through there or we’re back to square one.”
Her father let out a deep breath, a sign the storm would soon be over. His tone changed. “You may be right about my lawyers. They didn’t consider the obsession your locals have for individual property rights. This will take a personal touch. You’ll have to go to Mattherson County and appeal to the owner’s sense of acting for the common good.”
“That’s not much leverage.”
“Then find more. You’re the private investigator. Investigate.”
Steve came through the door, giving her an excuse to end the conversation. “Need to go. Someone I have to talk to just walked in. Give my love to Mother. I’ll keep you posted.” She hung up and puffed out her cheeks.
Steve deposited his computer on his desk before he approached hers. “Dear old dad?”
“You guessed it. He took a big gamble on the train project and he expects me to make it work.”
“Wasn’t it you who said you wish your father trusted you to make good in business? This is your chance to show him what you’re made of.”
Heather looked at Steve as he stood unruffled by all that swirled around him. After a delayed response, she said, “You’re right, and this calls for quick action. I’d like to hire you, Mr. Smiley. I need to find out what makes the land owners in Mattherson County tick. Something is keeping them from selling the land for the right of way, and we need to find out what it is.”
“I’m committed to helping Leo, but I’ll be free after that.”
“How long will that take?”
Steve lifted his shoulders and let them fall. “He’ll send me the first case as soon as he can. I’m expecting it today.”
“Good. You should have it solved in a day or two. We can go to Mattherson County later in the week. In the meantime, I need to call Jack, grovel, and play a round of golf with him tomorrow. I may have to fit two dates into one day.”
Steve shook his head. “You two certainly have a unique relationship.”
Phone calls, meetings, a long video conference, and a steady stream of messages delivered from Heather’s administrative assistant took up the rest of her morning. All the while, Steve sat at his desk with white ear buds inserted, waiting for Leo’s call. The only sound he made was when he asked Heather what she wanted for lunch. She waved him off, but he ordered her a salad all the same.
Leo’s call came as Steve took the first bite of a sandwich that smelled like heaven in a bun. Heather absentmindedly stabbed an assortment of vegetables as she reviewed a multi-page spreadsheet and listened to Steve speak to his former partner. Once the three-minute conversation ended, she looked up. “Does it sound like an interesting case?”
“When they said cold case, they weren’t kidding. It’s a murder from 1942.”
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not, but I think the lieutenant over Cold Cases is. Leo said it’s how they initiate new members into the team. They pick an ancient case that nobody’s been able to crack and give it to the new guy to solve. After the detective gives up, they put the case back in a cardboard box and move on to cases with a better chance of success.”
Heather got back to work, and Steve finished his lunch. It wasn’t long before he grumbled under his breath. After he issued a loud huff, she went to his desk and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“You tell me. My computer can’t put words to the documents Leo sent.”
Heather looked down, took the mouse from him, and scrolled through the screens. “No wonder. These are handwritten notes in cursive, or copies of faded typed pages.”
“Probably copies from carbon paper,” said Steve. “I’ll need to find someone to read them to me.” He paused. “That could be dicey. These are still confidential police reports. I don’t want Leo to get busted on his first day.”
“You could hire an attorney to help you.”
Steve shook his head. “This needs to be done on the down-low. Who do I know that has the time and is completely trustworthy?”
“I could do it.”
“You don’t have the time. You haven’t even called Jack.”
“Oh, snap. I’d better take care of that right now before I forget again.”
Steve’s cell phone came to life by announcing an incoming call from Bella Brumley. “Bella, what a surprise.”
“I’ve been trying to call Heather. Do you know where she is?”
Heather slapped her forehead. “Bella. I’m so sorry. We’re leaving the office now.”
“No problem. Did you remember I’m staying with you?”
Heather crossed her fingers. “Of course. I told Max his favorite television personality was coming to see him.”
Steve chimed in. “We should be there in less than thirty minutes.”
“No rush. Can’t wait to see you.”
The call ended, and Steve reached down and grabbed his cane. “Anything you need to tell me?”
“Bella wanted to surprise you. She’s in a big fishing tournament this weekend at Lake Conroe. She and her film crew flew in from Florida today.”
“So, you not only forgot to tell me, you forgot about her coming.”
“Guilty on all counts, Your Honor. Let’s get out of here.”
Steve spoke again as soon as the elevator doors closed behind them. “At least I’ll have someone I trust to dictate everything that’s in the report Leo sent.”
“I thought you wanted me to do that.”
“You’ll be too busy groveling with Jack. Call him on the way to the airport.”