Read Online Scent of Gardenia (Scott Tucker Series) by Dick Waters - Free Book Online

Mercedes’ trip to Bermuda—neither of us brought up the subject. Now I wished I knew something more about what
she had learned. I headed to talk with Mike about this development.
     
    *.*.*
     
    I stuck
my head in Mike’s office waiting for him to acknowledge me.
    “Yes
Scott. What do you have there?”
    I handed
him the article. “Mike, this is about one of the missing men in Bermuda.”
    He
quickly read the article and offered, “This puts a different perspective on the
missing men. Now that one of them has turned up dead, it doesn’t look promising
for the others. What did Mercedes share with you about her trip to Bermuda?”
    I
hesitated answering. “You know Mike we didn’t talk about her trip at all.” I
could feel my face flushing.
    He
looked up and handed the paper back to me. “Well I guess you had a better
weekend than you told us about.” He smiled, but didn’t look like he was
expecting a response.
    “I’ll
have to call Mercedes to see whether she knows about this development, but I
would imagine they would have alerted the FBI.” I turned and headed back to my
office.
    My
thoughts went back to our weekend. I knew why we hadn’t talked about her trip.
Maybe this would give me an excuse to see her about this development. Did I
really need an excuse to see her? From my perspective, it seemed unlikely
we would ever be distant again.
     
    *.*.*
     
    I dialed
Mercedes’ number and could feel my heart beating faster. The phone rang three
times. I wondered if anyone was going to answer.
    “Hello, Agent
Strong.”
    “Mercedes,
it’s Scott, good morning.”
    “Wow
Scott, I’m impressed. Did two years go by already?” She laughed softly. “That
wasn’t fair. Thanks for calling. What’s up?”
    “I saw
the article in the paperand was wondering if you were aware of what was
discovered in Bermuda?”
    “As a
matter of fact, our office was alerted with the details. Thanks for calling to
let me know.” She started laughing. “I’m a little ashamed we never talked about
my trip. It wasn’t like we didn’t have time. Scott…” She paused. “Scott I can’t
describe what the weekend meant to me. Do you want to get together and talk
about the developments from my trip? I also need to give you the details on the
family that would like their own investigation conducted.”
    “I would
love to see you…and if you want to discuss the trip and this development that
would be fine.”
    “Scott,
I knew once you got your motor going you wouldn’t be able to shut it down,” she
said with a chuckle. “What does your schedule look like? I have several
meetings during the day, but if you’re available we could talk about this over
a beer or two this evening.”
    “I can
make tonight, but didn’t you want to cover the details with Paddy and/or Mike
about the family who wants their own investigation?”
    “You’re right;
I did want to convey those details. Maybe you can get Mike to join us, and
then…maybe we could spend some time together just the two of us?”
    “I would
like that very much. I’ll check with Mike about tonight. Can you hold a minute
while I check with him?”
    “I have
five minutes before I need to go upstairs for a meeting with my director.”
    “Hold
on, I’ll be right back.”
    I rushed
into Mike’s office. “Mike, Mercedes wants to know if you can make a meeting
with her at the pub tonight after work. She wants to talk about the family who
wants their separate investigation.”
    “I can
spend a few minutes with her, but I can’t stay too long. How about meeting at
5:30 PM, or closer to five than six?”
    I nodded
and rushed back to the phone. “Mercedes.” There was no response. “Mercedes, are
you there?”
    “I’m
sorry Scott. I’m here.”
    “Mercedes,
Mike can make a meeting, but suggested 5:30 PM or closer to five than six.”
    “I can
do that time, but I will try to run earlier than later. I take it he can’t stay
too long?”
    “Yes,
that’s