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Authors: Marti Talbott
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boutiques, a bookstore, and several novelty shops on the street level. Opposite the hotel was the impressive Gladstone Building, complete with gold lettering above the doors and a uniformed doorman.
She was only a few feet from the fountain when she spotted him in front of the Gladstone Building talking to another man. Worried he might notice her, she went to the boutique, pretended to be looking in the window, and instead, watched him in the reflection. He was even more handsome in person than in his picture.
She took a chance and turned to look at him again. He was wearing what appeared to be a very expensive business suit. Maybe he did have enough money to pay for tickets on a cruise ship. She watched him shake hands with the man, walk into the Gladstone Building, and disappear.
It was only then she realized what was in the boutique window. It was a beautiful summer gown in just the right color. Maggie opened the door and went in. A moment later, the saleswoman took the dress off of the mannequin so Maggie could try it on.
*
By noon, Carl was still stroking his beard with one hand, and using his mouse to scroll slowly down the computer page with the other. “She didn’t have a chance in that car.” He printed two copies of the crash photo the Connelly’s attorney presented in court, and handed one to Michael. “The police report says the car rolled three times before it hit the bottom of the ravine.” He dug in his briefcase for a small magnifying glass.
“Her face is pretty messed up,” said Michael. “Compared to the age progression picture, I really can’t be sure if it is or it isn’t Georgia.”
“Wouldn’t you say the hairlines are different, though?” Carl asked.
Michael lifted his glasses, rubbed his tired eyes for a moment, and then looked at the picture again. “Maybe…maybe a little. It’s too hard to tell.”
“What does the PI’s report say?” Jackie asked.
“Nothing Austin didn’t tell us,” Carl answered. He moved his magnifying glass slowly down the right-hand side of the photo. “There it is – the purse.”
“I see it,” Michael said.
“Any other purses at the crash site?” Jackie asked.
“I’m still looking,” Carl answered. “Nope, I don’t see anything. Of course, we can’t see in the car, but the police would have reported it, if more identification was found.”
“Good point,” said Michael.
“It couldn’t have been very hard for a PI to find this information. A phone call to Scotland Yard would have worked well enough, especially since Mathew knew where to look. I wonder how much the Connellys paid their PI.” Carl asked.
Michael rolled his eyes. “Mathew probably charged it to Nick.”
Jackie l aughed, “You’re probably right. Michael, haven’t you hacked into the boarding school records yet?”
“Jackie, it’s a very sophisticated computer system…an expensive one that hasn ’t been on the market for very long,” Michael answered. “I’m surprised a boarding school can afford it.”
“I wonder what a boarding school charges for hiding a child,” Carl mumbled.
Michael yawned, and reached for his cold cup of coffee. “We’re about to find out, hopefully.” He took a sip and nearly spit it out. “Yu ck, time for a fresh pot.”
*
When she got back to work, Maggie was so excited; she couldn’t wait for her afternoon break. As soon as Jim walked past, she followed him upstairs. “I think I’m in love?”
“Really? With who? Not one of these clowns, I hope ,” he said, walking into the break room and sitting at a table. This time, Nicole and Susan sat in the corner of the room having what appeared to be an intense conversation. As soon as Maggie and Jim came in, Nicole and Susan got up and left.
Maggie ignored them both. “No, with my chat friend.”
“The axe-murderer? Please, Maggie, you can do far better than that.”
“Wait until you hear this. He sent me a picture and gues s where he was standing? Right in
She was only a few feet from the fountain when she spotted him in front of the Gladstone Building talking to another man. Worried he might notice her, she went to the boutique, pretended to be looking in the window, and instead, watched him in the reflection. He was even more handsome in person than in his picture.
She took a chance and turned to look at him again. He was wearing what appeared to be a very expensive business suit. Maybe he did have enough money to pay for tickets on a cruise ship. She watched him shake hands with the man, walk into the Gladstone Building, and disappear.
It was only then she realized what was in the boutique window. It was a beautiful summer gown in just the right color. Maggie opened the door and went in. A moment later, the saleswoman took the dress off of the mannequin so Maggie could try it on.
*
By noon, Carl was still stroking his beard with one hand, and using his mouse to scroll slowly down the computer page with the other. “She didn’t have a chance in that car.” He printed two copies of the crash photo the Connelly’s attorney presented in court, and handed one to Michael. “The police report says the car rolled three times before it hit the bottom of the ravine.” He dug in his briefcase for a small magnifying glass.
“Her face is pretty messed up,” said Michael. “Compared to the age progression picture, I really can’t be sure if it is or it isn’t Georgia.”
“Wouldn’t you say the hairlines are different, though?” Carl asked.
Michael lifted his glasses, rubbed his tired eyes for a moment, and then looked at the picture again. “Maybe…maybe a little. It’s too hard to tell.”
“What does the PI’s report say?” Jackie asked.
“Nothing Austin didn’t tell us,” Carl answered. He moved his magnifying glass slowly down the right-hand side of the photo. “There it is – the purse.”
“I see it,” Michael said.
“Any other purses at the crash site?” Jackie asked.
“I’m still looking,” Carl answered. “Nope, I don’t see anything. Of course, we can’t see in the car, but the police would have reported it, if more identification was found.”
“Good point,” said Michael.
“It couldn’t have been very hard for a PI to find this information. A phone call to Scotland Yard would have worked well enough, especially since Mathew knew where to look. I wonder how much the Connellys paid their PI.” Carl asked.
Michael rolled his eyes. “Mathew probably charged it to Nick.”
Jackie l aughed, “You’re probably right. Michael, haven’t you hacked into the boarding school records yet?”
“Jackie, it’s a very sophisticated computer system…an expensive one that hasn ’t been on the market for very long,” Michael answered. “I’m surprised a boarding school can afford it.”
“I wonder what a boarding school charges for hiding a child,” Carl mumbled.
Michael yawned, and reached for his cold cup of coffee. “We’re about to find out, hopefully.” He took a sip and nearly spit it out. “Yu ck, time for a fresh pot.”
*
When she got back to work, Maggie was so excited; she couldn’t wait for her afternoon break. As soon as Jim walked past, she followed him upstairs. “I think I’m in love?”
“Really? With who? Not one of these clowns, I hope ,” he said, walking into the break room and sitting at a table. This time, Nicole and Susan sat in the corner of the room having what appeared to be an intense conversation. As soon as Maggie and Jim came in, Nicole and Susan got up and left.
Maggie ignored them both. “No, with my chat friend.”
“The axe-murderer? Please, Maggie, you can do far better than that.”
“Wait until you hear this. He sent me a picture and gues s where he was standing? Right in
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