Scent of Gardenia (Scott Tucker Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

interested, I would really like that.”
    I
witnessed the twinkle in her eyes, and her immediate smile. Her hand was
shaking as she reached for her glass. “You lucky boy…you just won the Kewpie
doll.” She added, “I wish I wasn’t going out of town tomorrow.”
    “We
still have tonight.”
    She put
her glass down, turning so that we were touching under the table again. “No
Scott, our next time together is not going to be that rushed. I’ve
waited over three years for you to answer that question, and I’m going to enjoy
our next time together. Maybe you will too.”
    Maggie
came over to the table with another round of drinks. “Judging from the look on
her face—she said yes.”
    I smiled
at Maggie. “Yes, I guess you could say that. Thanks for the refill.”
    “The
manager sent it over as a thank you for coming back in to see us. I think he
still has a thing for redheads, because he doesn’t do that very often. I also
think he wants you back…well, maybe you can come too Scott.”
     
    *.*.*
     
    “Scott,
it’s getting late and I need to talk to you. That’s not to say I haven’t
enjoyed our conversation so far.” She took a sip of her beer, then continued,
“Two things. The first is my dad, as you know, is in real estate. Well he
continues to complain about the process the Real Estate Board uses for new
listings and updates. He has some ideas and wants someone to help him document
the current process and help determine a better way of doing business. He’s got
the ears of the Real Estate Board, but needs to do it up professionally, and
that’s where you come in.”
    “The
second thing is much more complex, relating to a case I’m connected to. Without
going into too many details; rich young men are coming up missing. Our hands
are pretty much tied because, as near as we can tell, the men are last seen in
and around Bermuda. They just vanish, never to be heard from again. I’m
involved from a ‘profiler’ point of view. I have some suspicions. To be honest,
I haven’t shared all of them with my colleagues at the Bureau.”
    She added,
“As a matter of fact, I’m headed to Bermuda for a few days to meet with the
authorities there to see if I can learn anything that hasn’t already been
shared. Here’s how this might relate to your office. Larz Nielsen, who is the father
of the latest missing man, lives in Brookline and wants his own investigation.
The family is very wealthy. The father is pushing the authorities in Bermuda and at the Bureau for more action. That’s why the Bureau is popping for my trip.
They want to make sure there’s nothing that will reflect poorly on us.”
    “Anyway,
I’ll know more after my visit, but this family wants to do their own investigation
into the son’s disappearance. I’m in a position to recommend Paddy’s office to
them. Larz Nielsen also knows Victor Young, the Attorney General, and is
campaigning with him for some additional help.”
    “Thanks
for sharing all of that. I will be glad to talk to your father about the real
estate listing process.”
    She
reached into her purse and handed me a card. “Here’s my dad’s office
information, with his direct number on the back. He obviously knows about you
from all that happened years ago, but he also knows about the expansion of
Paddy’s business. Anyway, he’s primed for your call and looking forward to you touching base with him.”
    “That
sounds great. Thanks Mercedes. Do I need to be concerned about what happened
with your sister and her disappearance?”
    “No. If
anyone should feel uncomfortable about that—he should. After all, it was her
that was trying to kill you.” Her expression changed to a smile. “Well actually,
when I interrupted her, she was engaged in what looked like a more pleasurable
endeavor. She did have your precious parts in her hand if I remember
correctly.”
    I could
feel my face turning red. “Mercedes, what she was doing was not at all
pleasurable…well at