Thatcher suddenly stood, moved away from the woman's car, threw his shoulders back, and then walked toward the sporting goods store. He stood facing the window of the store and then suddenly whirled around. He ran a hand over his face and watched as the woman slowly backed out of the parking space and drove toward the exit.
Johanna noted that instead of exiting back out onto the street, the woman hung a quick right and proceeded toward the back of the shops. “I wonder where she's going. Is there another exit? I can't tell from here.”
Frankie kept her eyes on Thatcher. “I don't know. If our focus wasn't on Thatcher, I'd be on her tail. It's times like these I wish we'd brought separate cars.”
“I know.” Johanna snapped a few more pictures of Thatcher. He watched the fading brake lights until the car disappeared from his sight. Johanna doubted from where he stood that he'd seen the turn the car had made. He took a deep breath, straightened his suit coat, and then began to walk past the Biggs Sporting Goods store. He stopped in front of the Kramer Insurance office, then opened the door and walked inside.
“Now what's he up to?” Johanna wondered aloud. “I doubt he's purchasing a policy.”
“I have no clue, but he could be. Who knows at this point,” Frankie said as she stretched and leaned her head back against the headrest. “All we can do is wait.” She reached a hand out and patted Johanna's knee. “I wish you would have kept your skirt on. Hidden here in these dark shadows where no one can see us, we could have had some fun.”
Johanna chuckled. “That's why I changed. I have to make sure not to distract you from our business at hand and these jeans will do the trick.”
Frankie groaned. “Doesn't matter. Just looking at you makes me want to forget everything else.” She licked her lips. “Wait until I get you home. I'm going to ravish your body.”
“That will depend on if Thatcher is a good boy and we can get home at a decent hour or if we have to chase him around the city half the night.” She nodded towards the insurance office where Thatcher was exiting. “Well, he didn't stay in there long.”
Thatcher was smiling broadly as he left the insurance office and walked to his car. He stepped inside, but didn't start the engine.
“Looks like he's waiting for someone,” Frankie observed.
A few minutes later, a leggy young blonde wearing a tight, short black dress emerged from the office.
“Should I take a picture?” Johanna asked.
“It might be a good idea since Thatcher was just in there. We don't know if he has any connection with her, but if he does, you'll have some clear pictures.”
Johanna snapped a few pictures of the blonde. “Do you really think he stays in the office all day like Kendall believes? I mean how realistic is that? You know as well as I do, Frankie, that he must leave for outside business meetings.”
“It does seem odd, but then we don't know what kind of elaborate networking system he has set up. Most business today isn't even conducted face to face. Maybe he conducts it with a video cam.”
“That's true. I just find it odd that he wouldn't step out of the office even for a breath of fresh air or a business lunch.”
“Maybe he has everything he needs right there at his fingertips. I'd love to see the set up. Maybe we should pay a visit to Bronson Enterprises just to see what it's like.”
“We'll need to come up with a viable plan for being there, but I doubt we'd even be allowed near his office.” She paused. “I wonder how often Kendall stops in to check out her various enterprises. You'd think she'd be involved with her own company.”
Frankie scratched her chin. “If Thatcher, for any reason during the day, leaves the building, it would be impossible for Kendall to know about it unless she is notified by someone in the company. Thatcher's personal secretary undoubtedly covers for him if he is absent in the event Kendall should call.” She let her breath out slowly. “You know how that goes. Sometimes the boss's personal secretary becomes a confidant and takes care of his every need. Most would never undermine their boss by sharing any information even to a spouse.”
“Actually, I don't know how it goes since I've never had a personal secretary.” Johanna grinned. “But I'll take your word for it.”
Frankie drummed her fingertips on the steering wheel. “Why is that woman still standing there in front of the door? Thatcher hasn't left either.”
“That's why,” Johanna said as a car a few slots down from where the blonde stood turned on its headlights and seconds later pulled out of a space. The woman waited until the car had passed her, then walked swiftly to Thatcher's car, opened the door, and slipped into the passenger seat. “She must have been waiting until the coast was clear so no one could see her.”
“Looks like it. I wish he'd put his arms around her, kiss her, or something.”
“I doubt he'd do it in public. That's why she was careful not to be seen getting into his car. Did you see how she was dressed? And she looks young enough to be his daughter. How disgusting,” Johanna said.
“Remember, we still don't know if there's anything going on between them. It could be innocent. She could be a relative or the daughter of a friend of Thatcher's.”
“If that's true, why would he be giving her a lift? Then,
