Chapter 11
Jack pulled the car into his spot in the parking lot outside the building that housed the FBI in downtown Minneapolis and turned off the engine. Looking in the rear-view mirror, he ran his hands through his short, dark hair and checked his tie. Jules had taught him how to dress; 100 % cotton shirts, starched and pressed, silk ties with a Windsor and a dimple, dark wool suits, polished black shoes, simple socks, and a belt that matched the color of his shoes. It served him well as an accountant out of school and carried over in his career at the FBI.
“Happy Birthday to me,” he said, and got out of the car.
Jack left the stairwell, and turned to head to his office, but stopped when Ross yelled, “Jack, I’ve got the videos from the three bank robberies set up in the conference room. Are you ready to look at them?”
Jack turned to face Ross. This kid was anxious. “Junior, we’re going to Wayzata. I’m going to get my coffee and we’re out of here.”
“I’ve got coffee in here and I might have something. Come take a look.”
Jack shook his head. Just like his kids, no focus. As he turned into the conference room, the singing began.
“Happy birthday to you…” Somebody pulled him into the center of the room, where he stood smiling, enduring being the center of attention. He jabbed a finger at Ross, raised imaginary batons in the air, conducted the group, and joined in at the end, bellowing, “Happy Birthday to me.” Jack looked into the faces of his friends and colleagues. “This is what I was waiting for. Not the singing, but the official breakfast of crime fighters, fresh doughnuts and real coffee. Thanks, everybody.”
As people left, they wished him happy birthday, gave him a hard time about turning forty, shook his hand, or gave him a hug. Everybody here was family. Barb, his assistant, was last. She gave him a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek.
“Thanks for pulling this together, Barb. Did you let everyone know it was my birthday today?”
“Not everyone, a couple of people are on vacation. Happy birthday, Jack.”
Ross stood at the table. “They made me do it. Happy birthday.”
Jack held a chocolate covered donut in his left hand and a cup of coffee in his right. “Thanks. I think I needed that today. Did you really have the videos ready?”
“They’re ready to go,” Ross said.
Jack and Ross watched the videos from the other bank robberies. “Well, that was a bust, nothing new. What’s next, Junior?”
Ross looked at his watch. “There’s a temp from the Wayzata bank I need to interview. She lives over by Lake Calhoun. I’ll call her to make sure she’s there. We’ll drive my race course on the way over, conduct the interview and I’ll buy you a birthday lunch.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll get to see your interviewing skills.” Jack said.
Chapter 12
Jack held his palm up over the air vent to check and see if it was cooling yet. “We’re sitting inside for lunch. It’s too hot to sit outside. Especially in these suits.”
Ross drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as they drove around Lake of the Isles. Jack looked out the window and watched the world go by. His mind was a mess. His thoughts jumped from his kids and his birthday plans with them to what he and Ross had seen at the bank. He was struggling with coming up with an explanation for why the Governor had killed that woman. He thought their trip to the scene was going to help, but nothing had jumped out at him.
“Jack, a dollar for your thoughts.”
Ross’ voice snapped him out of his trance.
“What?” Jack asked.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Too many things, that’s the problem.” Jack rolled his head to loosen his neck. “Tell me about this woman we’re stopping to see.”
Ross smiled. “She’s about twenty-eight, long legs, blonde hair, and blue eyes.”
“Very observant, Junior. What else do you happen to remember?”
Ross tried to get serious. “She’s a temp. Works in the back room handling faxes, some data entry, etc. She worked pretty closely with the victim and seemed to take this whole thing pretty hard.”
“So, why are we stopping to interview her?” Jack asked. “Because she’s cute?”
“Well, that doesn’t hurt,” Ross said. “But like I said, she was pretty broken up by this and I wasn’t able to get much info from her when I interviewed her at the bank. She was too distraught.”
“Any other theories on why The Governor killed the woman at the bank?” Jack asked.
Ross shook his head.
“One thing you don’t want to do is let your theories totally drive your questioning and investigation. Keep the theories flowing, but try to let the evidence and facts point you in the right direction.” Jack looked out the window. “I’ll see what other words of wisdom I can come up with to pay for my lunch.”
Jack looked out the window again while his mind drifted to thoughts of the kids and Julie, wondering what they were doing.
As they drove by the Lake Calhoun boat marina, Jack looked out at the kids learning how to handle the sailboats and the winds. A couple of kids were standing on the side of a boat tipped in the water, struggling to right it. It was apparent they were going to have to recruit a few more bodies to have enough weight to right the boat.
“Hey, Jack. I think that’s her.” Ross signaled to a woman in sunglasses, a sleeveless shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals walking on the sidewalk ahead of them and across the street.
“You’re right, she’s pretty. You know what you’re going to say?” Jack looked at Ross. “Just don’t blubber and drool. You’re a Federal Agent for God’s sake.”
Ross laughed and pulled the car over. “Got it.” He put the car in park. “You coming?”
Jack shook his head. “Too hot. Leave me here in the air-conditioned embrace of La Reina. You go talk to her. We’ll debrief over that lunch you’re going to buy me.”
Ross grabbed the door handle to get out of the car.
“Don’t take too long, Junior. I’m hungry.”
Ross got out of the car. “Ms. Hoffman…” the rest of his words cut off as the car door slammed shut.
Jack watched as Ross trotted over to the young woman. She looked up in surprise, then recognition. Jack saw she was a flirt from the start. She laughed, dug her toe in the dirt, and tilted her head as Ross asked her questions. Jack hoped Junior could concentrate.
After a couple of minutes, Ms. Hoffman glanced at her watch and touched Ross’ arm. Ross nodded, walked her to her car, and opened the door for her before turning to head back to where Jack was waiting.
“It’s nice in here,” Ross said as he got back in the car.
“You get what you wanted?” Jack asked.
“Like I said, she was a temp. Didn’t know many people at the bank except the deceased. Feels bad for her family. She’s been there a couple of months.”
“You got that out of her?” Jack chuckled. “I thought you were coming back to tell me you had a lunch date with her and you were dumping me. If it wasn’t so hot out you’d still need the AC to cool off after that conversation.”
“It wasn’t like that. She had to get going to meet a friend for lunch. She’s can’t believe what happened at the bank and isn’t sure she can go back to work there. She’s going to go talk it through with her friend.”
“It’s a bummer, but she’ll be OK. So, where are you taking me for lunch? Remember we both need someplace cool.”
