Running with Secrets

Untitled Part 34

In the same pub, in the same corner as before, Steele sat drinking his whiskey with Grady and Chaz under the same low-light fixture.

"It's a shame he didn't make it out in time," Steele said as he emptied his glass. "I kind of liked working with him."

"He was good," Chaz said, Grady nodded in agreement.

"The next item of business is going to be to try to get into the ICU at Peace River. It won't be easy, but I need to know she's not going to make it," He poured another drink. "After that, we can get into the morgues and find Benson's body." Steele looked into the air. He had just lost one of his best men, and still couldn't have access to the body he'd replaced. They discussed their options as to get into the hospital, since she was still on high security. Their next item of business was to inspect the medical examiner's place of employment to make sure Benson was indeed dead.

*****

"I'm going to a movie, Sir. I figure we're out of town enough that it will be okay, and Kristin wants to see the same one, so....no, it's not a date." Heath explained to his boss. "I understand, I'll keep my phone on and we'll sit next to the door, just in case." He listened for a minute more. "Yes, I know. It's imperative to the plan that Benson's circumstance is---well---" Heath looked up at the woman in front of him. She'd curled her hair after her shower and the minimal make up she was wearing made her eyes pop. Swampwater. That's the word she'd used to describe the color of her eyes, but right now they were stunning. Her outfit, though conservative, was on par for those blog-moms who drive the white or cream colored SUV's. It was another outfit that he'd used the guise of his sister's birthday to get her some things.

Kristin looked at him with questions lacing her mind. She could have sworn she heard him mention Benson, and the only person she knew with that name was Matther. Her first question she'd ask when he got off the phone would be to ask if he was okay, then if he was, she'd ask why. It wasn't petty, she was still pretty scared. She left the room for a few minutes, figuring Heath would need that time to finish his phone call in private. She never knew, with him being a detective, what should be private and what wouldn't be.

"She's out of the room, Sir. I don't have much time to talk if we're going to make it in time. If she asks? I don't think I can lie to her. I'll try to keep her curiosity at bay and tell her that he's left the area and cut ties with his buddies. That's all we know and--". Heath listened to his boss on the other side of the phone call before he continued. "I understand, Sir. I'll make sure of it." Then he ended the call.

*****

"That was the best movie I've seen in a long time." Kristin said. "I don't think the plot holes were very---bad."

"Nah...I watch for the action anyway." Heath replied.

Kristin laughed.

"What?" He asked. "You know it's true. Men watch a Niel Carter-Smith movie for the action and women watch for the eye-candy."

Kristin laughed even harder, because their fellow cinema-goers were looking at them like they were out of their minds. Maybe they were, but one thing was certain, "Thank you for making me forget things for a while. I really appreciate it." She said as she laced her hand through Heath's arm.

"Sure. No problem."

They continued to Heath's car as they talked about the parts of the movie they liked, and continued to talk about the parts they didn't as they drove.

When they got back to the hotel, they reached a comfortable silence as they made their way to their room.

"I'll be back in a few minutes. I'm going to get some snacks from the gas station around the corner. Do you want anything?" He asked, as he opened the door for Kristin.

She looked at him, sizing up the situation. It could have been a date, and now he was looking for a nightcap, so to speak. It wasn't yet alcohol curfew, so he could get anything he wanted. She considered. "A large bag of crunchy Cheetos." Was all she could manage.

"A large bag of crunchy Cheetos? Anything else?" he asked again.

Kristin narrowed her eyes and pulled the right corner of her mouth up just a little as she thought, "Maybe a cranberry-grapefruit Sobe, if they have one, or a blue Powerade." She knew he was really going to call her uncle and talk police stuff, but that was okay. It would give her some time to take a quick shower and get ready for bed.

*****

"The news doesn't look good, Steele," Grady said as they sat in the regular corner booth a the pub. "They're sayin' a Jane Doe at Peace River Community has died from sepsis and they can't keep her body any longer. There was a sketch of her and it matches the woman we saw that day."

"It looks like we're going to go looking for Benson tomorrow then, gentlemen." He downed more shots than were necessary. I just have to make sure. It's a shame the other man got away and you never got his name."

Grady and Chaz looked sheepishly at one another. There was a price, but the man hadn't been involved with their dealings, he hadn't seen the operation up close, so there was a big chance Steele would let it go this one time.

"And the girl from the restaurant," Steele added. "She's of no interest. Don't get involved with that lady cop."

*****

After she checked the window and door locks, Sally bunked down in her kitchen and made a phone call.

"It's been three days. I think everything will be okay by now," her boss said on the other side of the phone call.

"You think it's wise? I know you guys are good, you gave your word and I learned early on to trust you. I'm just still rattled by the encounter."

"I'll authorize two more days, then you'll have to find other means, but I really don't think you'll have anything to worry about."

Reluctantly ending the call, Sally agreed with her boss, then after starting her kettle on the stove top, she went to her door and carefully walked out.