Warning Signs

 

 

Warning Signs

PHOTO 1 Burning matches  letters/documents searching on a map

WC 340

 

 

“Burn the evidence before they find it on you. It'll get you killed”.

Shelly heard her father's voice in her head again. He was probably right. She wanted to do it but she couldn't bring herself the put the match to the bundle of documents.

Shelly sighed and blew out another match then stuffed the documents back in her leather carry all.

She was onto something and she knew it. She picked up the map again and checked the coordinates. She knew the town and she knew there was going to be trouble.

Shelly had gone through the documents twice. Bryce wasn't going to like what she was going to find. Shelly sighed. If her ex-husband didn't like it he had only himself to blame.

The documents she had on her had belonged to Bryce's father. The old man had a secret life his son knew nothing about. The old guy had been a walking Rico Act violation.

Shelly got back in her car. She put her bag and the map on the seat beside her and went to find the old man's stash. If it was still there, she had to find it before someone else did. If the wrong people found out about this, Bryce could be in danger.

She pulled out of the roadside park and took a left onto the main road. She had a three-hour drive to Coastlan. She would have to play it smart.

She glanced back at the tight red dress and matching stilettos. She would just have to go undercover. But a pushup bra and a ditzy persona was only going to get her in. She had to think smart to get herself back out with the goods in one piece.

“Watch your ass Shell. You're going to have to charm the hell out of ‘em”.

Shelly sighed. Her father was in her head again. She didn't know if it was her fear or a sign that this job was going to go horribly sideways. With her luck it was probably both.

Cheap Snitches

 

 

Cheap Snitches

PHOTO 2 Fireworks from a boat on the lake

WC 338

 

This wasn't her idea of a clandestine meeting. Shelly sat on a blanket in the middle of the park on the banks of the lake waiting for Bryce. He was bringing her copies of police files that pertained to the case she was currently working.

She opened the picnic basket next to her and took out a sandwich. She was hungry and he was late. He was always late.

She jumped as the first firework exploded in air from the boat in the middle of the lake. She cursed herself for being so jumpy. It’s just been a long week and its wasn't uncommon for her to get shot at in her line of work.

Bryce sat down next to her. “Good spot.” He was in jeans and an untucked white shirt. “Handsome as ever.”

“I thought so.” Shelly glanced over at him. “Want a sandwich? Ham and swiss on pumpernickel.”

“Only if you put dill pickles on it.” Bryce looked in the basket.

“Of course I did. What do you take me for, a gourmet?” Shelly reached into the basket and handed him a sandwich. “You got something for me?”

Bryce reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He took a SD card out and handed it to her. “Files and crime scene photos.”

“I owe you.” Shelly took the card and dropped it the inside pocket of her leather jacket. “What are you doing later?”

“Taking you for ice cream?” Bryce smiled that smile he used to get his way.

“Fine but no expectations.” Shelly warned.

“I'm just hanging out with my ex-wife. Not expecting a thing. Nope not a single thing.” Bryce chuckled.

“God! You're still an ass! You know that?” Shelly laughed.

“Yeah.” Bryce admitted. “But you can’t seem to stay away from me.”

Shelly sighed. “Yeah. You're the. Cheapest snitch i have. A sandwich and ice cream and boom all the info a girl could ever want.”

Bryce raised an eyebrow at her then leaned over and kissed her. “Anytime.”

The Package Job

 

 

The Package Job

PHOTO 3 old suitcases in a closet

WC 337

 

Shelly opened every draw and cupboard in the old tumbled down shack. She was just about to give up hope when she saw the chain for the pull-down attic stairs.

“It has to be up there. If it’s not I’m screwed.” Shelly pulled the chain and the stairs came down with an ominous groan. She climbed up.

The attic was small and there was a hole in the roof. Birds cooed at her as she moved a spider web away from her face.

“You guys wouldn't know where my package is would you? It’s in an old suitcase. Seen anything like that here?” Shelly moved slowly as she walked around the attic. She lifted a tarp and found a stack of old suitcases. “Why did I think this was an easy job? Yeah right!”

She tried to pull one out but when she pulled it the entire pile came down on top of her.

The birds squawked and flapped their wings but didn't fly away.

“Thanks for the support guys.” Shelly dusted herself off and chuckled.

She pulled a key from her pocket. She tried it in every lock and it fit the last one. She turned the key and opened the suitcase. The files she had been looking for were inside. She shut it back up and relocked it.

She got to the pull-down stairs when she realized she wasn't alone. “Whoever you are, I have what I came for and I'm just gonna leave now.”

There was a movement behind her then everything went black.

Shelly came to, sitting behind the wheel of her car. The house was burning. She looked around but didn’t see the suitcase. She checked her pocket the key was gone.

“Damn it!” Shelly slammed her hands on the wheel. She leaned her head against the wheel and sighed. I almost had it.

She looked for her phone, but it was gone. She turned on the engine and headed for the main road. She needed a gas station and a phone.

Beach Stakeout

 

 

Beach Stakeout

PHOTO 4 a rocky beach looking out into the ocean with a rowboat near by

WC 337

 

Shelly sat on the blanket hugging her knees as she looked out at the sunrise. “Bryce, they didn’t show.”

“I know.” Bryce rubbed his face he was tired and starting to get hungry. “We’re just going to have to try again tonight. I’ll reach out to my contact and see if he knows what happened.”

“You do that. ‘Im going back to the hotel for a shower and some sleep.”

“Look at us. We spent the night on a blanket on the beach. We haven’t done that since…”

“Aruba. I remember us nearly getting arrested for public lewdness when dawn came.” Shelly laughed. “I still remember how red that officer got when you pulled your badge out of your pants.”

“That was fun.” Bryce sighed this was not.

“Aw! I don’t know. A stakeout with you is always memorable.” Shelly leaned over and gave him a playful shove. “You still snore.”

Bryce chuckled. “It was jet lag.” He stood up and reached down to pull her to her feet. “I’ll get the blanket you get the thermos and the binoculars.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Shelly let him pull her to her feet. She stumbled into his chest.

“I miss you.” Bryce whispered into her ear.

“I miss you too, but we promised to take things slow this time.” Shelly put her hands on his hard chest. “We need to do this right, Bryce.”

Bryce sighed and wrapped her arms around her. “I know but I miss you so much it hurts.”

“Just know we are doing what's best for both of us. We aren’t those crazy kids anymore. We’ve grown up. We had to.”

“I hate being a grown up.” Bryce let his arms fall. “We have to go before beach patrol finds us. I don’t think flashing my gold shield will impress these New England cops.

Shelly picked up the thermos and binoculars then headed for the car. Bryce shook the sand out of the blanket and followed her.

He would always follow her anywhere. Always!

Lost Brother

 

 

Lost Brother

PHOTO 5 a person in a straw hat sitting in a park on a bench

WC 337

 

“Hello Mama Chin.” Shelly sat down on the bench next to the petite Asian woman. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yes child, I want you to find my brother. He lives in San Francisco. He hasn’t called me in a while. I’m worried. I tried calling him, but his phone is disconnected. I'm an old woman and he is my only brother.”

“Do you have his address and a recent photo?” Shelly asked.

“Yes child, I know how this goes. I watch Magnum PI you know. I have it on DVD.” Mama chin pulled out a photo and an envelope from her purse. “This is his last letter.”

Shelly took the photo and the letter. She looked inside. “It’s in Chinese.”

“Yeah. We came over together as small children, but our parents made sure we could read and write in Chinese. We write letters to keep in practice. I put a translation in there. He is mostly talking about a new job and his girlfriend. She’s a floozy.”

Shelly resisted the urge to smile. “I’ll get out there and track him down. I have a contact out there that can get things started for me. She went to the police academy with my ex-husband.”

“The hottie with the nice butt?7 Yeah. I remember him. He likes my duck.” Mama Chin nodded. “You need to get back on that. That's some prime real estate.”

Shelly laughed. “We're trying to work things out. Its slow going.”

“Good.” Mamma Chin grinned. “You need each other. Life is easier when you have someone to share your shit. Me and Papa Chin been married for 40 years now.”

“I promise to bring him for duck when I find your brother.”

“Deal! How much is this gonna cost?” Mama Chin opened her purse.

“Three dinners for two?” Shelly wasn't going to take her money.

“Okay! Deal!”  Mama Chin looked at her watch and stood up. “Thank you. You're a good girl. Gotta go.”

Shelly watched the old woman rush off and smiled.