Is there a problem? Should we reschedule?
None of his earlier three texts had been answered. Their agreement had been to meet at half past midnight, this being after she called him, and told him she had something for him and wanted to see him, tonight, now. And now, two large soy mocha caps after he arrived, she was forty-six minutes late.
Josh hissed through his teeth, which was something he did when he was annoyed.
Obviously you got hung up or forgot or something. Whatever. I’m leaving. Hope you’re not dead in a morgue. Please let me know.
Josh stood to go as Skylar stepped through the door, slender and gorgeous, wearing a black moto jacket over a short black dress, black tights, and black ankle boots. Her hair was different. Burnished auburn, long on one side, short on the other, with a single blonde streak. Even with Josh being all the way in the back, their eyes locked, and she smiled, a crooked smile he found charming. Josh had never decided if the smile made her seem knowing or bored. Josh liked her. He was even impressed by her, but he was also put off. She was smart—maybe, in a way, brilliant—but she was dumb as a rock in other ways, and deeply flawed. She was one of the most self-destructive people he knew.
Josh said, “I was leaving.”
“Sit. Leave three minutes from now. I have something for you.”
“I was worried. And now I’m annoyed. You couldn’t text?”
Her eyes crinkled with lines almost too faint to see.
“I’m sorry. I’m a horrible person. Now sit.”
Josh made a big sigh to show his annoyance. But he sat.
“This is me, sitting. I’m still mad, but I’m sitting. Want a coffee?”
“Can’t. My car’s waiting, but I had to see you.”
Josh rolled his eyes.
“Tonight. Now, as I recall.”
She placed her phone on the table near his, and her hands over the phone.
“I have something special for you.”
“Lucky me. I wait for an hour, and I get thirty seconds with your royal highness?”
“You get this.”
She turned over a hand to reveal a silver flash drive. Under the table, she toed his shoe. Josh moved his foot, but she toed him again.
“You’re kicking me.”
“I’m kicking you because you’ll be impressed.”
She wiggled the flash drive back and forth—tick tock, tick tock—like a metronome.
Josh frowned.
“I don’t get it.”
“It’s a flash drive.”
“I know what it is. I can see it. And?”
“Ah. But you can’t see what it contains.”
“I was already annoyed. Now I’m really annoyed.”
“Take it. See what’s on it. You’ll have questions, which I will answer.”
Josh scowled at the flash drive.
“I hate games like this.”
“This isn’t a game.”
The crooked smile had vanished, and now she seemed watchful.
“Is it your new work?”
“No. Not me.”
“Then what?”
She nudged the flash drive toward him.
“Secrets. Dangerous secrets.”
“You’re annoying. You’re amazing and beautiful and talented, but you’re a very annoying person.”
She touched the flash drive closer.
“Only when I respect someone.”
“You could talk to me like a real person and spare the drama.”
“I don’t have time tonight or I would. Once you see, you’ll understand.”
“What am I supposed to do with these dangerous secrets?”
Her watchful eyes darkened.
“Talk to me and we’ll decide. Until then, don’t tell anyone unless you tell everyone. You see?”
“No. I don’t.”
Josh felt nervous. He was afraid she had gotten herself involved with something shady, and wondered why she wanted to involve him. He pushed the drive with his finger.
“Where did you get this whatever it is?”
“I’ll fill in the blanks when we talk. You’ll have questions, Josh Shoe. I’ll have answers.”
Her phone chimed. Skylar glanced at the s
creen, and stood.
“Gotta jet. My driver.”
Josh stopped her with a touch. She was serious, and being as real as she had ever been, which worried him even more.
“Sky? What’s going on?”
“You’re a good dude, Josh. We’ll talk.”
She turned and hurried toward the door.
Josh quickly left money on the table and tried to catch up, but two other couples rose to leave at the same time, and Josh fell behind. When he finally reached the sidewalk, Skylar stood at the open door of a black Uber car. The crooked smile touched her lips when she saw him, but now her smile seemed sad.
Skylar slid into the Uber’s backseat and Josh watched her glide away.
A light-colored sedan slowly passed and fell in behind her. Josh glanced at the passing car, but thought nothing of it. He would, later, but on this night, the sedan was simply a car within a school of cars, no different from any other.
1
Elvis Cole
My office occupied a two-room suite four floors above Santa Monica Boulevard on the western edge of Hollywood. Most of my business came by referral from Attorneys or satisfied clients, but do-it-yourself parties often found me online. Prospective clients usually reached out by phone or email, most to inquire about price or learn whether I could help with their problem. Some only wanted to vent. Making an appointment was encouraged. Venters were not. Walk-in business was rare.
On the day she came to my office, the sky was unnaturally clear, a clarity so abnormal the City of Angels seemed bathed in a nuclear glow. The French doors to my balcony offered an unobstructed view to the sea, but the glare was so bright I found myself squinting. The French doors were usually open, but that day they were closed. The heat.
By ten-oh-seven, I had filed two reports and returned three calls. Another backbreaking day at the office.
I said, “How about we grab a sandwich and fight crime tomorrow? Sound good?”
The Pinocchio clock on the wall beside the door to my partner’s office had a long nose, a jaunty yellow cap, and bulging eyes. The eyes slid side to side, but Pinocchio didn’t answer. He never answered, but he always listened.
I said, “Okay, then, let’s do it. I’m starving.”
At ten-oh-nine, I was packing up when the outer door opened and a woman in a tailored navy pantsuit stepped in from the hall. She was tall and square-shouldered, and her sleek black hair was pulled into a short ponytail.
A man in an expensive summer-weight gray suit followed her. The man was maybe six-three, broad, and sported hands the size of catcher’s mitts. They wore their suits like uniforms.
The woman eyed me with a casual curiosity.
“Elvis Cole?”
I leaned back and considered her.
“He’s downtown with the mayor. Was he expecting you?”
The woman drifted closer as her friend circled to the French doors. He looked outside, opened the doors, stepped out, and raised a hand to shield his eyes. He peered over the rail, then checked overhead as if he expected Spider-Man to swing down from above. When he looked up, his jacket opened and a holster peeked out. I made them for federal agents or bill collectors.
“If you guys aren’t building inspectors, I charge for my time.”
The man stepped inside and went to my partner’s office. The door was closed.
The man said, “Anyone home?”
I leaned farther back until my chair squeaked.
“Marines. Go in. Say hi.”
The big man peeked inside and glanced at
the woman.
“He’s alone.”
I leaned forward and touched the edge of my desk. A Dan Wesson .38 Special revolver waited in the drawer, but the drawer and the pistol were a mile away.
“Are you going to tell me what you want, or do I have to guess?”
They turned without a word, returned to the outer office, and the big woman opened the door. A small, older woman clutching an enormous brown purse entered. She wore no makeup or jewelry, and looked to be in her seventies. Her wispy hair was more gray than not, and her thin flower-print dress looked shabby. She glanced at me, glanced quickly away, and turned to the woman in the blue suit. She appeared uncomfortable.
The woman in the blue suit gave her a gentle smile.
“We’ll be right outside, Ms. S. Take as much time as you like.”
“Thanks so much, Wendy.”
Wendy and her partner left, and Ms. S finally looked at me. She raked threads of hair behind an ear, but they floated free and drifted toward the ceiling.
“You’re Mr. Cole? The detective?”
I stood, hoping she couldn’t hear my stomach grumble.
“I am. And you?”
She came to my desk and held out a weathered hand. She was one of those people who should’ve avoided the sun, but hadn’t. Faint spots and fine creases covered her skin.
“My name is Adele Schumacher. Forgive me for not phoning first. I don’t care for phones.”
I glanced toward the hall.
“And them?”
“Wendy and Kurt?”
She frowned as if my question was odd.
“They’re my helpers.”
I nodded. Helpers.
“I apologize for showing up without an appointment. If now isn’t a good time, I could wait or come back later if you’d—”
I held up a hand, stopping her.
“I think I can fit you in. Please, sit.”
She sat in one of the leather director’s chairs across from my desk. I took my seat again, facing her.
“All right, Ms. Schumacher, how can I help?”
“You find missing persons.”
A statement of fact.
“Among other things, yes. We offer a wide array of services.”
We. This was the detective presenting himself as a multinational corporation.
“My son was kidnapped. I’d like you to find him.”
I pulled a yellow legal pad close.
“Are we talking about a minor child?”
“Josh is twenty-six. Joshua Albert Schumacher.”
She spelled his first and last names. She probably figured I was smart enough to spell Albert.
“If you believe he was kidnapped, you should call the police.”
“I filed a missing persons report four days ago. The first detective referred me to a second detective, but I haven’t heard from her since.”
I nodded. She probably filed the report at her local division station, but division dicks don’t look for missing people. The division dick would have passed the case downtown to a detective at the Missing Persons Unit.
“Uh-huh. Have you received a ransom demand?”
“I have not and don’t expect to. I believe Josh was kidnapped to silence him.”
“Silence him?”
“Yes.”
She drew a 9x12 manila envelope from her purse and placed it on my desk.
“I have pictures of Josh here, and information you’ll need. Address and phone, a key to his home, and so forth. The second detective’s card is here, too. She was smug.”
I made another note. Smug.
“Why would someone want to silence him?”
“He’s an investigative journalist. He was going to expose them.”
“Expose who?”
“You may have heard of his show. In Your Face with Josh Shoe. It’s a very popular podcast.”
“Sorry. I’ll look it up.”
“He’s becoming quite famous.”
“I’ll give it a listen.”
I tapped the pad with the pen, encouraging her to continue.
“So who is it Josh was going to expose who kidnapped him but hasn’t demanded a ransom?”
She raked the hair behind her ear again, but it still didn’t stay.
“He’s likely being held at a secret facility. If so, your job will not be easy.”
“Secret facility?”
“In Nevada. They might be holding him at Site 4 or Area 6, but he definitely went to Area 51. He’s been there several times.”
Pinocchio’s eyes slid from side to side. Their unchanging precision was reassuring. I cleared my throat.
“Area 51. Where the government develops stealth aircraft.”
Her eyes grew bright, like bits of mica catching the sun.
“Stealth technology is the least of their projects.”
I jotted another note. Aliens.
I wondered if Wendy and Kurt were outside laughing.
“Uh-huh. And did you explain this to the police?”
Adele Schumacher sat a bit taller.
“They dismissed me just as you have. The difference between them and you is you work for hire. You are my last best hope, Mr. Cole. I need you.”
She fished a white envelope from her purse. The envelope was thick and held closed by pink rubber bands. She peeled off the bands and showed me the contents. The envelope was fat with hundred-dollar bills.
She said, “How much would you like?”
I wet my lips.
“You shouldn’t carry so much cash, Ms. Schumacher. You could lose it.”
“Electronic transactions are not secure. Cash is secure. How much?”
She pushed the envelope toward me.
“I don’t want your money. Please put it away.”
She didn’t.
“I don’t expect you to find him for free, Mr. Cole. How much?”
“Have Wendy and Kurt tried to find him?”
“They did what they could before we went to the police. Joshua has not been admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles County, nor has he been arrested.”
The envelope was heavy with cash, but she didn’t seem to be tiring.
“Have you asked his friends? His friends might know.”
She glanced at the manila envelope.
“I have. They don’t. But I’ve included a list of Joshua’s three dearest friends, so please follow up. Ryan has known Josh the longest, and even Ryan can’t reach him. I assume you’ll want to see Josh’s home? He rents a bungalow in Los Feliz.”
“Maybe.”
The big-time detective laid out his game plan: Maybe.
“Ryan is there now, waiting to help however he can.”
I wrote Ryan on the pad and drew a box around it.
“Have these people all tried to reach your son?”
“Yes, and he hasn’t responded. I’ve also left messages. I can’t know if the calls have been blocked or his phone was taken, but Josh would have responded. If he hasn’t, he can’t. Quod erat demonstrandum.”
“Q.E.D.?”
“Yes. It means the proof is—”
“I know what it means, Ms. Schumacher."
She lowered the cash. Adele Schumacher seemed like a nice person. She was a delusional conspiracy theorist at worst or a gullible eccentric at best, but her fear was genuine. I chose my words carefully.
“Does Josh have a girlfriend or boyfriend?”
Her eyes grew vague and she didn’t respond. I hadn’t accepted her money. She was afraid I wouldn’t. I tried to sound reassuring.
“He’s twenty-six, Ms. Schumacher. He’s single and self-employed, which means he’s mobile. I go to the Sierras each year. There’s no cell service, my phone doesn’t work, and nobody can reach me. Josh probably left with a friend and didn’t think to tell you. It happens.”
“Josh hates the outdoors.”
“It was only an example.”
Her eyes focused, and she placed her palm on my desk.
“Josh and I meet for lunch every two weeks. If Josh can’t make it, he lets me know, and we meet the following day. Always. Joshua never misses our lunch.”
“But this week he did. Things like this happen.”
Ms. Schumacher leaned forward, and her mica eyes grew sharp.
“Mr. Cole, my son makes very little money. When he moved out to live on his own, we began meeting for lunch. At those lunches I give him cash. It’s what he lives on. So when I tell you Josh has never, not once, missed our lunch without calling, he hasn’t. But this past week, he did. He did not call, nor reschedule, and he has not responded. Therefore, he cannot.”
“Q.E.D.?”
“Q.E.D.”
We stared at each other.
“Is his father in the picture?”
“His father—my ex-husband—refuses to support him. They barely speak.”
She leaned so far forward she gripped my desk for support.
“Josh was working on an exposé. He had an inside source, he said, and proof, but he wouldn’t say more. Josh has done shows about classified programs before. I’m certain the two are connected.”
“An exposé about aliens.”
She sat back.
“Does it matter? My son is missing. I want you to find him.”
She counted out twenty one-hundred-dollar bills, hesitated, and counted another ten. She pushed the stack toward me.
“Three thousand dollars. If he’s with a friend as you say, finding him should be easy. Find him, and I’ll double this amount.”
I told myself it couldn’t hurt. I could swing by his bungalow and maybe have a line on her son by the end of the day. And even if I didn’t, Adele would feel better knowing I was looking.
I picked up the bills, kept ten, and pushed the rest back.
“Let’s start with this.”
“I’d like a receipt, please.”
“Of course.”
She tucked the receipt into her purse, stood, and offered her hand.
“Please find him.”
“Try not to worry. I’m sure he wasn’t abducted.”
She looked at me as if I were slow.
“Are you, Mr. Cole? I’m not. I’ve seen things you can’t imagine.”
Adele Schumacher went to the door and let herself out. Wendy stepped in a moment later, and came to my desk.
“You’ll do it?”
I nodded.
“This is me, twenty-four-seven.”
Wendy gave me a plain, cream-colored card bearing her name, phone number, and email. Gwendolyn Vann.
I raised my eyebrows.
“I went with a Sherlock Holmes motif, myself. The magnifying glass. The deerstalker cap. People seem to like it.”
Wendy tipped her head at the Mickey Mouse phone perched at the end of my desk.
“Sit tight. Mickey will ring in three minutes.”
“Who’s calling? Aliens?”
Wendy ignored me.
“When the mouse rings, answer.”
Wendy walked out and closed the door. I waited. Three minutes later, the phone rang.
I answered.
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