Simon Says_. Walk (Kate Morgan #6)(71)
Author: Dale Mayer

 

He burst out laughing at that. “How was your day?”

 

She pondered how to answer and then shrugged. “Frustrating, irritating. We checked up on people’s stories. We found Elizabeth’s brother in jail, just like Smidge suggested, so he’s in the clear. We’re looking for answers from a multitude of different directions, and, sure, there are answers but not good answers. I called Samantha’s parents, who were alternately happy someone was looking for their daughter and angry it took this long.”

 

“Of course,” Simon agreed, “and, for you, you can only solve things if and when something breaks. That hasn’t happened yet.”

 

“We do what we can do with the information at hand,” she explained, “and, what most people don’t understand is, … too often we need other murders, other nastiness to happen, before we can get a clear shot at solving this. If we have no witnesses, nobody shows up in any cameras, and all we have is a body? Sometimes we have no forensics to deal with. In fact, I am still waiting for Smidge to get me whatever he can for answers, so there isn’t really much I can do. That drives me crazy.”

 

He smiled and nodded. “Of course. And I really didn’t expect you to have any answers, at least not yet,” he replied, “and I sure as hell don’t have anything to offer, … so we’re at a stalemate.”

 

“Which is not where either one of us want to be,” she said gently. “I get that you’re trying to help, and I appreciate that you did make an attempt to reach out. I also realize that it probably isn’t fair to even ask it of you, but I’m going to anyway.”

 

He studied her and shook his head. “This really has you stumped, huh?”

 

“I’m not happy about it. Believe me. If I had anything else that I could do that would answer or solve some of this, I’d be there in a heartbeat, but, barring any other options, what am I supposed to do?”

 

“I won’t argue with you on that.” He sank deeper into the chair across from her. He sniffed the air and asked, “Did you bring food?” He bolted to his feet.

 

She nodded. “I had this idea that you might want food, but I hear you sent somebody out on a mission to pick up a pretzel.”

 

“Sure, and that pretzel was a very long time ago,” he stated, looking at her in joy. “What did you pick up?” She shrugged as he walked over, opened the bag, and the aroma of souvlaki filled the kitchen. “Oh, good choice,” As he quickly took out the packages of food, she laughed. “I thought I was the one driven by food.”

 

“You are,” Simon agreed, “but I’m learning.”

 

And, with that, he quickly served up two plates, and they sat in a comfortable spot in the kitchen and ate. As soon as she was done, she looked over at him and asked, “What about that direction thing you were working on? To even think about somebody out there waiting to be rescued, it’s heartbreaking,” she murmured.

 

He nodded. “It’s more than heartbreaking. I’m just … out of ideas. That’s why I did what I did. I am willing to go out again, but I need to feel better first. Samantha keeps reaching out. I keep reaching back, but it’s not getting us anywhere.”

 

“And yet, downtown at that corner where you were attacked, you told me that Samantha’s here.”

 

He nodded slowly. “I remember you saying that, but I don’t remember saying it or why I thought it.”

 

She nodded. “How are you feeling?”

 

He slowly put down his empty plate and in a wary voice asked, “What is it you want me to do?”

 

She hesitated, then shrugged. “I might as well ask. I don’t know what else to do.” She was in a tough spot. “Samantha’s not exactly on my caseload.” She took a moment to add, “We usually don’t handle missing persons, and I don’t have a body, but …”

 

“But?” he asked cautiously.

 

She studied him. “I thought maybe we could take a trip to the same area and see if you picked up on her energy again.”

 

He slowly nodded. “That’s a good idea. Particularly if we go together.”

 

“Yet it’s also quite possibly a terrible idea because I don’t want you to go if you’re not up to it.”

 

“You will be there to protect me?” he asked again, his smile splitting his face wide.

 

“I’ll be there, and obviously I’ll do my best. However, I might not be able to protect you from the boogeyman—who knocked you flat on your ass without any warning—because I don’t even see those guys coming.”

 

He stared at her for a long time and then cracked a smile. “Just the thought of you standing guard, waiting for a boogeyman to come jump out of nowhere to attack me, and be on guard for me? I will tell you that it does warm the cockles of my heart.”

 

“Cockles of your heart? What the hell does that even mean?”

 

“I’m not sure,” he admitted cheerfully, as he glanced at his watch, looked outside, and asked, “Why don’t we go now?”

 

His change in demeanor was so abrupt that she frowned at him. “Is there a reason to go now?” she asked.

 

He stared at her, and an oddly disquiet look filled his gaze.

 

She immediately hopped to her feet. “Let’s go.”

 

But he was slow to rise, and, when he got to his feet, she was not sure that he would hold up on his own. “Unless you can’t travel.”

 

“I can travel,” he said. “I don’t know how far I can walk, if something happens.”

 

She chewed on her bottom lip, as she contemplated the thought of a downed Simon out there. “That’s really not making me feel very confident,” she muttered.

 

“Not supposed to,” he noted, equally unsure. “But, yeah, something out there’s calling me. So let’s go.”

 

He walked to the elevator, and she cried out, “Wait, wait, wait. What do you mean, something’s calling to you?”

 

But he was already in some weird zone. She watched his features shift and change, but he was determined to get out that door. She groaned and followed him. “I’d really feel better if you did this at home.”

 

“I need to go,” he declared.

 

She felt that urgency in his tone deep in her soul. “Fine,” she muttered, “but I’m driving.”