The Case of the Crooked Ex: Chapter 6

The conversation with Heather didn’t go like I thought it would, she still had very little in the way of new information to give me on why now, of all times her ex was trying to off her. I had more information from my sources about her ex’s criminal ties than she did and that wasn’t surprising. From what I had heard he wasn’t the type to share his life or his business with anyone else especially his wife. The trail was starting to go cold and I hadn’t been on it long, not to mention the little dance Heather and I were doing every time we were together was distracting me in a way I hadn’t been distracted in a long time.

While I was pressing her for more information I applied a little first aid to the assorted bumps and bruises she had taken in the fall. What can I say; since I caused them I thought it only right that I administer the first aid. It was the gentlemanly thing to do after all. That of course opened up some awkward moments.

The slow sultry way she rolled her stockings down, after having me avert my eyes of course so she could unhook them, from a garter I am assuming, so that I could treat the scrape on her left knee and lower right shin.

The deliberate way she shook her hair back from her neck and lowered her jacket off her shoulders so I could look at the nasty bruise forming on her left shoulder blade, where we had landed as I knocked her out of the path of the gun fire. She had to move the thin piece of fabric off her shoulder to give me a better look and even that seemed like she was flirting with me.

“You getting a good enough look, or do you need to see more?”

About a million answers ran through my mind at that moment but I bit them back and managed something close to a civilized answer.

“This is going to be one beauty of a bruise but I don’t think anything is broken.”

“Sure you don’t want double check, just to make sure everything works ok?”

Again a world of possibilities was opened with that question but I never get to think about them, good old Sarah is there to put me back in my place.

“Excuse my Boss but if you and Mrs. Stroble is done playing patty cake, that taxi you wanted is downstairs waitin.”

Heather adjusts the strap on her dress and pulls her jacket back on before standing up, even that looks like some kind of invitation to me.

“Yes I should get going, I feel like I need a nice hot bath to release the tension in this body.”

The way she says body makes my heart pound a little faster but I still hear Sarah mumble under her breath

“Yeah I feel like I need to wash some dirt off as well.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing boss, I’ll go tell the cabbie to wait a minute.”

She walks out of the room in a hurry and I turn back to Heather. She crosses the room to where I am standing and gets in close. I can smell her perfume again, the smell of her hair, all the scents and sights I have cataloged in my mind. She kisses me slowly on the cheek and whispers something before pulling back.

“Thanks again hotstuff for saving me.”

“You sure you don’t need me to come with you, make sure you get back to your place ok?”

“I should be alright to get home but why don’t you stop by later to check on me. Never know when Lee will try again.”

“Be careful Heather, I will see you later and hopefully I will have more to tell you.”

Sarah comes back into the outer office at that minute and the two pass each other in the doorway. Heather looks my way with one of those smoldering looks that’s says it’s right here if you want it. Sarah has an annoyed look on hers and walks through the open doorway to my office to lean against the desk beside me. Heather disappears around the corner and I keep starring at the doorway until Sarah cuffs me upside the back of my head.

“Hey what was that for?”

“You got lipstick on your cheek, and cause you’re an idiot.”

Well don’t that beat all, I had no idea what was going on with her and I am sure at this point I didn’t want to.

“Get back to work boss we got bills that need payin.”

She was right I had some leads that needed checking on and if someone was willing to take a shot at Heather in broad daylight it meant I need to stay closer to her because I would bet dimes to dollars that this wouldn’t be the last attempt.