Page 21 of Anarchy Missing
CHAPTER EIGHT - LULU
We order Chinese as soon as we get to Randy’s apartment. He was right, it’s a very short walk between us. Only two blocks. But I have to say, he’s much more interested in the tablet, which is broadcasting a live feed from atop Lincoln Wade’s house, than he is in me at this point.
He’s not as hot as I thought, either. That disheveled look he was totally pulling off this morning is getting old and looking a little more like… unkempt.
I yawn.
“Oh,” Randy says, noticing. “Sorry. You wanna get a look at him?”
“Who?” I ask. Bored.
“Case Reider.”
“He’s on there? Already? Jesus.”
“Look,” Randy says, turning the tablet towards me. “That’s him.”
I study the feed. It’s pretty clear for a camera mounted up on top of a mansion. But a fog must be slowly rolling in, because there’s a mist coming off the asphalt driveway. It kinda curls up his legs as he walks, making him look a little… mystical.
He’s not looking up, so I don’t get a good look at his face. But I’d recognize him anywhere. Just his gait is enough for me to know it’s him. The long strides and the way his broad shoulders sway a little with each step.
I have a sudden longing to see him again. Just a coffee. A conversation. Catch up on what we’ve both been doing all these years. Well, maybe not that. I don’t know if I’m ready to talk about that yet. But just an apology for leaving him behind so suddenly might go a long way towards getting him reinterested in me.
God, I’m stupid. Case Reider was doing my father a favor when he agreed to be my date for the Debutante Ball. The whole thing was arranged by our fathers.
No, he has not been pining for me, that’s for sure. I bet he’s got a ton of girlfriends. He’s a big important CEO now. Friends with some of the most powerful people in the city…
Criminals, I remind myself. He’s friends with the subjects of our investigation.
“So about my plan,” Randy says.
“What plan?” I’m kinda annoyed with Randy again. I really just want to go home and not even wait for the food. I don’t know what I was thinking this morning. It’s gonna be a long investigation if I have to spend every day with him. And this is it, as far as the nights go. I’m not coming back here again.
“To reintroduce you to Case Reider. God, Louise, focus. If you’re too tired to keep working, just let me know and I’ll have a driver drop you off at home.”
“Oh,” I say. But I’m really thinking… Hell, yeah. I forgot about that little plan. I gather myself. Ravel all the frayed edges together and pull down on my sweater, adjusting it with my attitude. “Not that I want to get anywhere near that criminal, but what did you have in mind?”
“Just…” Randy starts, hesitant. “Keep an open mind, OK?”
“Go on.” I’m suspicious. But if this is going where I think it is… then…
“I think you should go on TV tomorrow. Do an interview with Channel Nine. Mayor Salinas and the police chief both did interviews today already. And they’ll do more tomorrow. But we could use your pretty face to let Mr. Reider know you’re back in town. He’ll see you on the TV, tell his buddies, and then they will make contact, Louise.”
Why is he calling me Louise again? All day it’s Lulu this and Lulu that. Now it’s Louise.
“Define contact,” I say, trying to keep myself focused on business.
“Maybe… a phone call? To start. And then meet him somewhere. A casual date. Then, if we get lucky, he’ll ask you to dinner. We’ll plant a wire on you and then—”
“Wire?” I ask, surprised. “I’m not a detective. Or an informant, Randy. This is not something I do. It’s like… entrapment.”
It’s not like entrapment. It is entrapment.
“We don’t have to do the wire,” Randy says, backing down. “But Lulu”—now it’s Lulu again—“I know he’d like to see you again.”
“You don’t know that.” But I’m hoping Case does want to see me again. I just don’t want it to be my job to set him up for a fall. Or twenty to life in prison.
“And it’s not entrapment. The crime has already been committed. We just want info on who did it. And it was his friend, Lulu. It is Lincoln Wade. This job has his name all over it.”
