Family Matters - Part 19

8/14/2019 Family Matters - Part 19

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-1Family Matters - Part 19

By Susan Evelyn

Nick put the plate of food down in front of Junie.

“There you go. Try that.” He was reasonably pleased with his latest culinary efforts.

After years as a bachelor, the last few weeks had been very different. His previous habit was to of grab

something ready made whenever he needed to eat. He had played the dutiful host trying to ease her

enforced incarceration. Along the way he had enjoyed dabbling in the kitchen. At last he felt that he had

attained the right balance of spices and sauces to recreate the regional dishes that he had enjoyed in Japan;

flavour sensations that he had not found available at restaurants in the vicinity.

Fortunately, she had not had to suffer his experimentation every meal. There had been more regular fare

between these attempts, and even on occasion some fast food varieties fetched dutifully by his

subordinates.

He ate with enthusiasm, stopping briefly to comment. “I think I got it this time”.

“It’s nice,” she answered trying to summon a little excitement in her voice, while her fork pushed the food

around the plate with disinterest.

She sighed. “How much longer is this going to keep going?”

“Now I’ve worked out the right sauces and spices,” he began before she interrupted.

“No, I mean this. This whole set up.” She wave her hand around to include the environs. “When can I go

home, or go out?”

“Ah,” he understood her meaning. “Well, can’t say for sure. Depends on whether they catch up with this

Spaniard fellow.”

“It’s been ages since they broke up the contacts in Japan,” she reminded him.

“One week,” he corrected, his voice dropping into the cold official mode that she had heard him use on the

phone. “But they missed him returning to the States. Can’t risk having you out there. He’ll be even more

dangerous now.”

She groaned. The fork pushed a piece of shallot across the plate. Her shoulders slumped.

“I can’t stay away from work this long,” she complained. “There’s probably a stack of messages on my

phone by now.”

“Until this can be sorted out satisfactorily and that guy safely behind bars, you just can’t be seen following

routines like going to work. Actually, I think Sam was going to send someone around there today. See if

anyone has been asking about you.”

“Oh, geez! Well, I guess that blows that job,” she scowled and pursed her lips.

“You never know.”

“What? Think about it. The FBI snooping around asking questions? Me not there for, what is it now? 3

weeks? And after only just starting. Nuh! It’ll be all too much. They won’t be able to handle it. They are

very boring, staid, unadventurous, accountants. They can’t take anything out of the ordinary.”

“It won’t be so bad then.” He smirked a little with his head bowed so that she could not see.



“Not bad?” She was showing more emotion in her outrage than she had displayed all week, “You may have

independent income, but I don’t. I have bills to pay. And the rent. And don’t you say anything. I don’t

accept charity when I am perfectly able to earn an income. And I am not moving in with you permanently.

A girl needs a little privacy.”

“Okay, okay,” he tried to calm her a little, “We’ll work something out when it gets that bad. Now, please,eat something before you fade away.”

……………………

A conservatively dressed young lady was shown into the office. He stood and was about to offer his hand

and then hesitated. She shook his hand, taking the initiative in their contact, and sat on the visitor’s chair infront of his desk.

“My secretary didn’t give me any information about you. How can I help you, Miss….?” He mumbled

averting his eyes from the pretty face and shapely figure beneath the well fitted shirt and jacket.

“Miss Castle,” she filled in for him in a matter-of-fact tone. “Mr Shayman, I am from the FBI.” She quickly

came to the point, showing her badge and ID.

He immediately stiffened and frowned. It was a reaction she had grown used to. Inwardly she sighed.

“I have some simple questions that will help in our inquiries.” She spoke the standard introduction.

“What is it? Is it one of my employees?”

“Not really. There is no-one in trouble here. Not what you are thinking, anyway.”

“It’s that Miss Trent, isn’t it? She’s been away so long. Says she’s sick but I can’t contact her.”

“Well, sort of. She is a crucial witness in a case we are trying to resolve. She was nearly attacked on the

street and she had to go into protective custody.”

“Those muggings that have been happening around town? How long is this going to take? I can’t keep her

job open for ever. There’s work piling up.” He complained, finally able to get the situation off his chest to

someone.

“We understand that, Mr Shayman. And we don’t know how long it is going to take. If you have to replaceher, that’s perfectly understandable, and if you cannot re-hire her when this is all over we hope that you will

not discredit her in a reference because of this incident. “

“Errr.. Umm.. Yes. Yes of course,” he stammered, drawing himself up in his seat and pulling his jacket

closed as if the interview was over.

“What we need from you is any information concerning whether someone has been trying to contact her

here.”

“I wouldn’t know,” he said dismissively.

“But your staff will. I need your permission to question them, discretely. We do not want to scare off any

contacts.”

“Oh, Oh I see,” he fussed about his desk a bit. “Well, ummm, I suppose so. I can’t have you interrupting

their work.” He frowned at her.



She sighed again and tried not to roll her eyes. This was so typical. It was almost a miracle that they could

get their investigations under way whenever they had to deal with office bosses and accountants.

“Naturally. Perhaps you have a small room that isn’t occupied at the moment? Or a staff room of some

sort?” She suggested.

“Umm, yes, yes, my secretary will deal with that.”

“So,” she was going to have to lead him into the questions as it was obvious that he was not going to

volunteer any information. “Have you had anyone contact you about Miss Trent?”

“What? Me? Personally?”

She nodded.

“Ummm, let’s see. Ermmmm. No. No, I don’t think so.”

“Have you seen anyone hanging around the front or back of the building who doesn’t belong there?”

“No. No, not really.”

“What do you mean by ‘not really’?”

“Well, there was one fellow, a kid. He was hovering around my car one night. Looked like he was going to

steal my tyres. He ran off when I shouted out to him.”

“When was this?”

“Oh, ‘bout a week ago. That wasn’t one of them, was it?”

“One of who?”

“One of those muggers?”

“Can’t say,” she smiled sweetly but there was no warmth behind it. He got the message. Quid pro quo.

“Well, I didn’t see him clearly. It was late, you know? Dark. He stayed out of the street lights.”

“Any impressions?”

“Well, I thought he was young, you know, a teenager, because he was short and skinny like a teen.”

“Ethnic background?”

“Hadn’t thought about it. That could make him a bit older if he was Asian or Mexican.”

“Seen him or anyone else before or since that night?”

“No,” he answered, but added hastily. “Not that that means he might not have been there. I only noticed because he was hanging around my car.”

She nodded, thinking <Typical businessman, only sees what impacts on him. Probably the same at home.

Poor wife. If he has a wife. Might still live at home with mommy.>

“Do you remember what night of the week it was that you saw him?”



“Ummmm,” he muttered, raising his eyes to the walls as if flicking through some unseen diary. “I was

working late. Erm… Tuesday? Not sure. Maybe Thursday.”

Years ago she would have asked what he had watched on television that night to help trip his memory. She

had given up that tactic as even if he remembered the chances were that it was some pay-tv channel. Theywere not reliable as indicators as their programs often repeated or played consecutive nights. She sighed

again, soundlessly, smiled at him and thanked him for his help. Then she asked if she could speak to thestaff. He nodded with a grumph.

“My secretary will set it up for you,” he mumbled, probably thinking about the loss of working time. He

extended his hand for another insipid handshake before relaying the message via the phone to his secretary.

Melinda Castle was quite sure that he had forgotten about her by the time she had reached the office door.His secretary, on the other hand, was bright and bubbly. She was obviously the personality of the place and

was the buffer for outside contacts.

“There’s a small meeting room you could use,” she told Melinda as she slipped from behind her desk to

escort the visitor into the hallway.

The FBI agent was shown along the corridor. It was quiet here with only an occasional tapping on a

keyboard to be heard muffled through the walls. The room that was opened for her had a table no larger than a family dining table and a few straight-backed padded chairs. The decor was neutral in beige and

brown, carpeted, some non-descript sepia-toned picture on the wall, and a window with the blinds were half drawn against the view of the wall of the neighbouring building.

“This should do nicely,” Melinda said. The secretary nodded and moved across the room to a low cupboard

at the back. From there she produced a tray onto which she put a few glasses before depositing it on the

table. Then she retrieved a glass jug.

“I’ll get you some water,” she offered, “Now who did you want to see? “

“Everyone, actually, and I’d appreciate a staff listing if you can provide one.”

“Sure. Won’t be long,” she answered before swinging out of the room. She returned minutes later with the jug full of water in one hand and a sheet of printed paper in the other.

“Here’s the list,” she said as she placed the jug on the tray, and handed the paper to Melinda.

“Thanks,” Melinda afforded her a smile before turning her attention to the list of names. There was no-onethere that she recognised, always a relief. “So who of these work close to Miss Trent’s desk?”

“Miss Trent? The new girl who has mysteriously been away for three weeks?” She asked. Melinda smiled

to herself. This girl was good.

“That would be the one,” she responded without any hint of emotion or connection. The secretary then

pointed out three names as Melinda put a little mark next to them. “And your name? and any other

receptionist?”

After a few moments there were six names with little marks beside them.

“Very good,” Melinda breathed, “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to start with you.”

The secretary raised an eyebrow.

“That way you can tell the others how painless it is,” Melinda added to put her at ease.



“Oh, of course,” she sat on one of the chairs near the table. “What would you like to know?”

“Have you received any phone calls asking about the whereabouts of Miss Trent?” Miss Castle commenced

in her formal voice.

“No. Is this about her being away?”

“Have you seen anyone loitering around the premises, front or back, who does not belong there?” she

continued ignoring the leading question.

“Not specially. But my boyfriend picks me up so I don’t see much outside. I don’t go down till he’s there.”

“You’ve heard about the muggings that have happened lately?”

“Yes.” She was a little apprehensive.

“Do you know anyone personally who has been approached by this gang?”

“No.” The secretary relaxed again. “Is that what this is about? Was Miss Trent one of the victims?”

“This is not for general dissemination,” Melinda leveled her gaze at t he secretary. “But I need your help toget this questioning done simply and quickly. So this cannot go any further.”

The secretary nodded, her short curls bobbing around her face, and a serious almost conspiratorial look in

her eyes.

“Miss Trent was approached by this gang, and we have her in protective custody as a key witness. It is

essential that no-one gets her private details.”

“Oh, no problem there. Our policy prevents anyone giving out that sort of information.”

“Nevertheless,” Melinda continued, leaning forward a little. “Chances are that your Mr Shayman will get

someone in to take over her position, or at least fill in, because we cannot say how long this is going to

take. Our suspects have gone to ground and now we have to find as many leads as possible.”

“Oh yes, Happy to help. So that’s all the questions?”

Melinda nodded.

“Who would you like to see next?”

“The receptionist and the person who covers for her, then the three who sit closest to Miss Trent. One at a

time, of course. I know you can organise this to be as quick as possible so I’d appreciate if you could call

the next one on the list as soon as the one ahead has come in. Keep them at your desk until the one ahead of

them leaves. You can tell them that we are investigating the muggings and asking that people try to

remember anyone hanging around outside. But that’s it. Sound do’able?”

“Oh yes,” the secretary was happy to please now that she had an important role, “It may take a few

moments to get the receptionist as her assistant will have to man the front desk in her absence. And maybeone of the other three should go between them so that the counter is not left vacant.”

“Whatever you think is best,” Melinda agreed. “Just try to keep them coming quickly so we can get this

over in the least time.”

“Leave it to me,” she was warming to the task as she left the room.



True to her word, the secretary kept a steady stream of people going to the meeting room. The first few

were the only ones to whom Miss Castle mentioned June, after that, she was only interested in the

possibility of someone hanging around the building.

At the end of the process, it seemed that there had been no phone calls or visits by people asking aboutJune’s whereabouts, but the loiterer that Mr Shayman had run off had been seen on several days the

previous week. The day had not been a complete loss. She would report her findings to Sam and no doubtthey would set up surveillance. They could be getting a step closer.

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Family Matters - Part 19