Kate nodded. “That’s where I’m going first,” she said, “and we need to take this in, see if we can get confirmation of what the hell is going on here.”
“I don’t think these albums are trophies,” he said. “I suspect they are more like wish books. I hate to say it but thinkordering catalogs.”
Just the suggestion made her stomach churn. “Please don’t use that term,” she said hoarsely.
“I’m not sure we have a choice. It’s almost like this is an online catalogue,” he said. “Each one of these photos has a number.”
She stared down at the photo album, looked up at him, back at the photo album. “So what is this then?” she asked, holding up the envelope. “Some of the numbers are here.”
“I’m thinking it’s a sales record on theseproducts.”
They stared at each other in horror because that was a truth nobody wanted to believe.
*
Tuesday, 1:00 a.m.
Simon didn’t knowwhy he assumed Kate would come to him because there was absolutely no reason for it. Except that she’d come at other times. When he still had no sign of her at one o’clock in the morning, he threw in the towel, got dressed in jeans, grabbed a leather jacket, and walked out. He hopped into his car and drove in the direction of her address. She probably didn’t even know that he knew where she lived. But it was something he had learned almost immediately.
He stared from the sidewalk up at the old apartment building. She lived at the top right corner, and her light was on. Did she leave the light on, or was she there? Maybe she slept with it on. More than likely she was still working. Speaking of which, he turned, looked around, and saw a Chinese restaurant still open at the corner. He walked in and found the place was empty. He asked if they were still taking orders, and the old man told him they were closed.
“I just want to get enough for tonight, right now. Do you have anything left over?” They haggled back and forth, and Simon finally convinced the man to sell him the leftovers. Equipped with two large bags, he walked over to her apartment, let himself in the main door, and entered the elevator. When he got to her hallway, he headed toward her number and knocked. He almost felt her jump at the sound. When he heard her call out, he answered quietly, “It’s Simon.”
She opened the door, and he stared at her calmly. She was shocked, dumbfounded even. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
He held out the Chinese food, the aroma wafting through the place. “I figured you probably hadn’t eaten.”
She frowned instantly, stared at the food, then looked back at him and said, “No, I haven’t. But what has that got to do with you?”
He didn’t give her a chance to argue, just pushed his way inside, and placed the bags on the table. “I figured you were still working, when I saw the lights on.”
“Again, what does that have to do with you?”
He smiled and said, “You can’t fight all these guys on your own.”
“I can do whatever the hell I need to do,” she snapped.
“Maybe,” he said, “but, at this point in time, it’s not an issue.”
“You can’t do this. It’s bad news.”
“Why?” he asked, turning and looking at her. Already hating the sense of rejection coming.
“You’re a suspect.”
He gave a bitter laugh. “Like hell,” he said. “I’ve already proven that I had nothing to do with this. You’re just looking for excuses.”
She shook her head and said, “It’s not allowed.”
And he could sense the desperation in her voice. “You don’t like to fraternize with suspects?”
“No,” she said. “I can’t.”
“So, it’s a good thing I’m not a suspect anymore then, isn’t it?” He started taking the food out of the bags. “Come eat,” he said. “There’s lots. And you ruin my sense of peace and quiet as it is.”
“Why?” she asked, as she came to stare down at the food in front of them. “What did you do? You ordered enough for ten people.”
“No, they were shutting down, and this is all the leftovers.”