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PHACKER
Book 3 -- Chapter 12
The Detective Andi Wicksham Series, by RL Bell
Copyright © 1997 RL BELL
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Chapter 12
Lena and Andi stood at Ramirez' door at six o'clock. Tanya gushed over Lena and led the way into the kitchen, thrust a glasses of wine in their hands and presented pesto, tomato and cucumber hors d'oeuvres laboriously assembled on tiny pieces of toast. Out on the deck, Ramirez basted teriyaki chicken.
"Any luck with the pickup-guy sketches?" Lena mumbled through her cucumber.
Ramirez shook his head. "Sent them to Seattle, Beaverton, Oakland, Utah and the FBI." He shrugged without looking up, turned the chicken and fussed with the coals.
"Tell me why you figured the trucking firm’s clean." Andi snorted derisively.
"We checked them out, just like you asked...twice."
"You checked them out?" said Andi slowly. "You did?"
"Somebody did." defended Ramirez.
"How did they do that?" quizzed Andi. She leaned two cookies against each other in a lean-to.
"Max sent a message to Utah and asked for assistance. You think Max is going to authorize travel? It's somebody else's jurisdiction."
"Whoever it was tipped off the truckers and lied to you."
"That's quite an accusation, Wicksham." He looked to Tanya for support, but she and Lena were whispering to each other intently.
Andi shook her head. "It's the truth, they upped their security, lucky for us they weren't at the top of their class.”
“Doesn’t mean they’re criminals...and it means Frank’s breaking hacking laws.”
“They discussed our murders as well as Seattle’s, Oakland’s.
"Jesus, Wicksham, get it through your head. Your imaginary friend's got no credibility. You gave me a bunch of stuff that could have come from anywhere. There isn’t enough untainted evidence enough for a warrant, especially in Salt Lake City."
"I can’t believe Max asked local boys to check up on their friends instead of asking your geeks to do it."
"Maybe you don't understand that I have to play by the rules and Max didn’t want to authorize the labor." Ramirez said defensively.
Andi raised a haughty eyebrow. "I’d like to point out the precious cop-brothers you stretch your ethics to protect, are lying to cover for murders and racketeering."
"Wicksham." Ramirez objected.
Andi held up her right hand. "Face it. I'm stating the truth."
"OK, it's true. There’s nothing to be done. It’s the slop in the gears, no system’s perfect." Ramirez kept his eyes on the chicken.
"No one’s going to get Eugene and Gena’s murderers? Are it?"
"You got evidence I can take to court? Other than e-mail that’s inadmissable, I’ve seen nada." Ramirez shook his head. "Stuff stolen in illegal searches by mythical hackers named Frank don't have a snowball's chance with a DA."
"It counts as evidence to me" said Andi indignantly.
"Bully, but can you prove it in court." Andi and Ramirez caught eyes and shared a sad smile.
After dinner they listened to music and talked politics, work wasn't mentioned again. Tanya and Lena retreated to the back porch to share a bud while Andi and Ramirez fought a close game of Go. Tanya broke out the brie and chocolate and they played games and gossiped until midnight. Lena yawned and pulled at Andi's sleeve. "Let's go home, it's late."
Monday and Tuesday passed quietly. Wednesday they returned to the office to find a message from Trafino.
"Please phone me when you get in. I think we're about at the end of our project. I've taken care of Eugene’s loose ends."
Lena looked to Andi. "What do you think she means?"
"We've being given the sack. Not that we care.”
"I'll crank an invoice."
Andi started to pile the folders littering her desk. "I'm ready for this to end." She reached for the phone and called Berg & Trafino.
"Yes, Ms. Wicksham, it’s good to hear your voice." Trafino greeted her brightly. She didn't sound like a grieving aunt.
"I'm sorry about your nephew.." Andi
"Thanks." Trafino didn't sound concerned. Trafino waited for Andi to respond, but Andi remained silent. "I believe we've gone as far as we’re going. If you prepare a bill we can settle our business."
“Do you want a final report?”
“I don’t require one.”
"Bill up through yesterday?”
"Fine."
"I'm sorry we didn't give you satisfaction."
"Oh, I'm quite pleased with your results." Trafino interrupted, "And I've taken care of the necessary business."
"You've what?" asked Andi, a bit confused.
"I've addressed the issue of my nephew's murder." Trafino responded obliquely.
"What does that mean?" asked Andi, a bit confused.
"Look on third page of this morning's Oregonian, it was an appropriate response." said Trafino flatly. "Send your bill, I'll add a bonus." She gave an ironic chuckle and the phone went dead.
"I'm going out for a paper." Andi was already halfway out the door.
When she returned they spread the paper on her desk and read a three column article with a headline reading:
MURDER AND ARSON IN SALT LAKE CITY
SEVEN GANGLAND-STYLE MURDERS AT TRUCKING FIRM
Andi could feel her breath catch.
Lena emitted a single "Shit."
"I wonder how good Trafino hid her tracks?" Andi chewed her lip and looked at Lena.
"She always seemed professional to me." offered Lena flatly.
"Max will frame us as accessories if he puts it together."
"Suggest the possibility to Ramirez as a joke over a beer." Outside, a car honked, there was a short squeal of tires on pavement then the jingle of a broken headlight scattering glass shards on the asphalt.
Andi blinked and stared out the window. "Let's hope she's real good."
THE END
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Copyright © 1997 RL BELL.
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