Cassandra (Fells Point Private Investigator Series) Page 2

  He looked at her as if she’d just asked him to cut off his dick. The visualization of Grossman cutting his own dick off put a smile on her face while waiting for his answer. “I didn’t rent a car, so you’ll have to pick me up at the hotel or here at the office.”

  In a syrupy sweet voice, she asked, “Which is more convenient for you?”

  The look in his eyes was hateful and controlling. “I would say the hotel.”

  Continuing with her syrupy voice, she told the schmuck, “Then I’ll pick you up at the hotel. Where are you staying?”

  As he answered her question, Cassie realized just how awful his breath smelled. “I’m staying at the Holiday Inn Express at Logan. I’d like to get on the road just after rush hour.”

  “I can do that. You understand that rush hour in Boston will last until after 10:00 in the morning. Most companies in the Boston area have moved to flexible work hours.”

  “Well then, I guess that means we leave after 10:00.”

  “Fine, I’ll pick you up at 10:00 tomorrow morning. I’ll stop in the garage to pick up the car on my way. Do you need a ride to the hotel? I can drive you there, if you like. I can switch my car for the Bureau’s car today so we don’t waste any precious time in the morning.”

  Grossman relaxed when he saw that Cassie conceded to his authority, “Yes that’s what I’d like to do.”

  “Okay, then we’re all set. I’ll drive you to the hotel when I receive my new ID.”

  Joe brought in the new ID. Cassie looked at it. She was now Becky Grossman. “Joe, I’m assuming Bruce doesn’t need a new ID since he has a work history in New Jersey.”

  “That’s right, so what did the two of you decide on a departure time?”

  Cassie sat back and let Agent Grossman answer since he was the head agent on this investigation.

  “Cassie’s going to pick me up at 10:00 tomorrow morning at the hotel.”

  “Bruce, I don’t want to correct you, but as of the moment I handed Cassie her new ID. Her name is Becky. From here until the end of the investigation; it’s extremely important that you remember that her name is Becky and that she’s your wife.”

  When Grossman responded to Schuman’s statement, his sleazy eyes focused on her chest. “Yes sir, I will be sure to remember that. Becky, do you prefer Becky or Rebecca? You appear to be a Rebecca more than a Becky.”

  The sound of his squeaky voice made Cassie nauseas. “Mr. Grossman, if you believe Rebecca is appropriate then Rebecca it is.” She winked at him.

  In her mind, she thought, two can play his game. She would enjoy sitting back and watching him take the lead. If he were skilled in investigations she figured he’d be an asset; if not she’d figure something out later.

  They walked to the garage to pick up the car. Rebecca stood behind it waiting for her instructions from Grossman. She didn’t want to make any assumptions about who should drive to the hotel.

  “Cassie, I’m sorry, I mean Rebecca, why don’t you drive since you’re more familiar with the area than I am.”

  “I’d be delighted to, please hand me the keys.”

  Rebecca knew she was behaving inappropriately, so she had to attempt to lighten the air in the car, “How long have you been with the Bureau?”

  “About two years. How long have you been an agent?”

  “I joined in 1998, so that means three years.”

  “I thought you’d been an agent for longer than that.”

  “No, after I graduated from the University of Baltimore in 1992, I spent four years in the Marine Corps, where I received training for combat and intelligence.” He could put that in his pipe and smoke it.

  “That’s pretty impressive.”

  “What about you? How did you land in the Bureau?”

  “I’ve always wanted to be an FBI Agent. My parents wouldn’t pay for a college education, so I worked and paid for my own schooling. Since I wanted to work undercover cases, I applied to the FBI in California. I ended up in Portland, Oregon, instead.”

  “Have you worked many undercover cases?”

  “No. All I did in Portland was answer phones. I called the Assistant Director in Washington since he’s my father’s uncle, and that’s how I landed this case. My great-uncle thought I would do well on this case since I worked in Atlantic City.”

  Rebecca thought, Oh my God. This is going to end up a cluster fuck.

  “What did you do in Atlantic City?”

  “Nothing spectacular, I drove a delivery truck; it paid enough to cover my education costs.”

  As Rebecca pulled to the front of his hotel, she apprehensively asked him, “What did you deliver?”

  “I worked for a number of delivery businesses, so I ended up delivering everything from vending machine snacks to food items.”

  Rebecca was feeling a bit more comfortable with Grossman. Egomaniacs love talking about themselves. “Did you pack and unpack your truck?”

  “I sure did. I hated it.”

  Rebecca pulled the car into the hotel’s entrance road, “Here you go Bruce, I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Rebecca wasn’t sure what to think as she drove from the hotel to her house. This could turn out to be very interesting. If Grossman had driven delivery trucks working his way through college, it was likely that he knew his way around town and that would be very useful. There was of course the possibility that he told her that just to make sure she clearly understood; he was the man in charge.

  When she showed up the next morning to collect her lead agent, she found him on the sidewalk outside the hotel entrance waiting for her. “So I see you brought that fucking mongrel when I asked you not to.”

  She asked herself, is this guy psycho? “Bruce, I thought we worked this out yesterday and that you knew, that I was bringing Brutus, or you do the job alone.”

  “Are you threatening me?”

  Rebecca looked at him aghast. “No I’m not. I’m truly sorry of that statement felt like a threat. I would never threaten my partner.”

  Rebecca drove the first leg from Boston to Atlantic City. They didn’t speak to one another, which was fine with her.

  When they crossed the state line into Connecticut, she broke through the silent barrier, “Bruce, Danbury is probably the half-way point. Do you want to stop, grab some lunch, and fill the tank?”

  “Is there a map in this car?”

  Rebecca kept her eyes on the road. “There should be one in the glove box.” This asshole was going to question everything she suggested.

  “Danbury will be fine.”

  When Rebecca took the first exit, she asked Grossman, “Do you have something particular you’d like to eat.”

  “Go to the first fast food drive-thru you see, we’ll grab a couple of burgers that we can eat in the car.”

  “I can do that, but I also need to walk Brutus and give him some water.”

  “In that case, get back onto the highway and we’ll stop at one of those complexes that are all over the place. I think they have dog walks. I think they also have picnic tables.”

  As Rebecca took the southbound ramp for the highway, she told Grossman, “That sounds like an excellent idea.”

  As soon as the car was on the highway, there was a sign indicating that the Service Area was five miles ahead. “Bruce, I’ll that the exit for the Service Area just ahead of us.”

  Rebecca pulled the car into a the service area and found a parking space near the dog walk. “If you don’t mind Bruce, I’ll walk Brutus while you grab us a few burgers.”

  “I don’t mind. Is there something special that you want?”

  “No, so get what you want. There’s an empty table over there under the trees, I’ll wait for you there.”

  Rebecca watched as Bruce walked away from the car toward the food pavilion. Once he was inside the building, she grabbed Brutus’ leash, “Come on baby, let’s stretch our legs, and get a little water.”

  Before she left her house that morning, she’d filled a water
bottle for Brutus. Rebecca walked him away from the table area so he had some privacy to do his business. She then filled his water bowl. It was empty within minutes. “Hey guy, wanna a little more?” He wagged what little tail he had. She filled the bowl and when he emptied it, she patted him on the head, “That’s all. We still have a long way to go and I doubt we’ll make another stop.”

  Rebecca looked up to see Bruce heading their way. “Is that dog going to be near our table while we eat?”

  “Bruce, he just drank two bowls of water after being cooped up in the back seat for three hours. Just like us, Brutus can use a little fresh air. I’ll need to walk him once more before we get back on the road.”

  Rebecca held her hand out palm down, which signaled Brutus to lie down.

  “I’m impressed. Does that dog know hand signals?”

  “Yes sir, he does. He’ll lie quietly until I release him to stand.”

  He had finished his burger in less than four bites and looked annoyed that she was taking longer. Rebecca managed to choke down the burger and fries Grossman had brought her. When she swallowed the last bite, she told him, “Let me take Brutus for a short walk, then we’ll be ready to hit the road.”

  After Brutus had relieved himself on the base of a tree, she turned toward the table where Grossman was impatiently tapping his fingers on the tabletop. She walked past him to put Brutus into the car’s backseat.

  She turned and smiled cheerfully as she told Bruce. “We’re all set.” Rebecca tossed him the car keys.

  Grossman climbed into the driver’s seat and drove away so fast, the rear tires kicked up gravel. She heard the gravel hit parked cars on the lot. Rebecca started to say something, but decided it was better to remain quiet.

  She watched the landscape fly by out the passenger window. She reached her arm behind her seat to scratch Brutus’ head.

  “Rebecca, what are you reaching for?”

  “I was just reaching to scratch Brutus’ ears.”

  “Please don’t do that again.”

  Rebecca pulled her arm from the backseat and watched the world go by through the car window. It was the longest three hours she’d ever lived.

  When they pulled into the driveway of the house where they’d live together for God only knows how long, there was a cold pit in her stomach. She tried hard to shake off a feeling of doom, but it wouldn’t shake off. As the two gathered their belongings from the car, Bruce waved to a neighbor watering her lawn.

  “Mrs. Thompson, how are you?”

  “Is that you Bruce? Come give me a hug. Are you moving back?”

  Grossman jumped out of the car and gave Mrs. Thompson a hug, “Yes ma’am, I am and I want to introduce you to my new wife.”

  Rebecca exited the car with a fake smile on her face. “Mrs. Thompson, this is my new wife. We were just married the other day. Her name is Rebecca. Honey, come meet our neighbor, Mrs. Thompson.”

  “Why, Rebecca, it is my pleasure. How did you hook this young man?”

  “Well, Mrs. Thompson, I can tell you that it wasn’t easy. Bruce was a very popular bachelor, so I worked ever so hard to beguile him.” Rebecca turned to the piece of shit and sucked the bile in her throat that wanted to vomit across his asshole’s body, “Isn’t that right honey?”

  “Rebecca, please call me Sammy. My name’s Samantha, but most folks just call me Sammy. I do declare Bruce; you have picked out a fine looking bride.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. I think so to.” Grossman looked up and down Rebecca making her feel as though he was visualizing her unclothed.

  When Rebecca opened the rear door to let Brutus out of the back seat, she realized Mrs. Thompson appeared terrified of him. As she backed away from the car she said, “Bruce, I see you have one of those mean attack dogs.”

  Rebecca jumped in, “Oh Sammy, please come meet him. His name is Brutus. He’s very gentle. He won’t hurt you I promise.” He won’t attack unless I tell him to and I’m quite close to asking my pup to attack this man who thinks I’m his wife. “Brutus, come shake Sammy’s hand.”

  Rebecca’s Rottweiler exited the car and sat to lift his paw for Sammy. She looked to Bruce when she said, “Well, isn’t that nice? He appears to be a very well behaved dog.” Sammy looked at Rebecca, “Does he want me to actually take his paw?”

  Rebecca giggled, “That’s exactly what he wants you to do.”

  Sammy took his paw into her hand, when she let go of his paw, she told Rebecca, “That’s just amazing.”

  “Sammy, he’s a very well behaved dog.”

  Sammy patted Brutus on the top of his head, while she addressed Grossman. “Bruce it sure is nice to see you moving back into the house. Are you planning to keep it or sell it?”

  “Mrs. Thompson, I think it’s time for this rolling stone to put down some roots so the little lady and I can plan a family soon.”

  While Rebecca smiled and nodded her head acknowledging that was their intention, she thought, fucking hell we are.

  “That’s just wonderful. The house has been empty since your parents disappeared, so I’m looking forward to seeing your children running around the yard. Rebecca, if you need anything you just come over and ask.”

  “Thank you, Sammy. I just may take you up on that offer.”

  As soon as the front door was closed, Rebecca asked in the sweetest voice she could assemble, “Bruce, is this the house you grew up in?”

  “Yes, which I think is just perfect for us.”

  “Did Mrs. Thompson say the house has been vacant since your parents disappeared?”

  Grossman looked at as if he was about to repeat something he’d already told her at least ten times. “Rebecca, my parents didn’t disappear. You know very well that seniors get confused. Mrs. Thompson gets confused. My parents are living in Florida. Since I’m an only child, they held onto the house in case I wanted to live in it. It’s perfect for us. I know everyone in the neighborhood. It’s gonna be a piece of cake.”

  “Bruce, did the Bureau know you intended to use your home for this investigation?”

  “Of course it did. My great uncle thought it was a great idea. It’ll be easy to work undercover from here since everyone remembers me. My neighbors watched me grow up as a child. No one will suspect anything.”

  Rebecca thought for a moment. He had a good point as long as no one knew he was now an FBI agent. “Does anyone know you’re an agent?”

  “No babe, they don’t, and that’s the beauty of it. Let me take you on a tour so you can help me pull the sheets off the furniture.”

  The house was standard tract box housing. It was two stories tall with a basement. The house was small, but they didn’t need much room. It smelled musty and dust covered everything that sat in the open without a sheet. The first floor held a small kitchen that looked like something right out of the forties. The tiled floor was a putrid olive green. The appliances were the same olive green as the floor. When she opened the refrigerator door, the interior had black mold growing inside it. The freezer was inside the tired and worn refrigerator. Cassie opened the freezer door to find that the freezer’s frost covered the ice cube trays. It was obvious that no one had defrosted the freezer in a very long time. It was also a clear indication that the General Services Administration had not purchased food. She closed the freezer door along with the refrigerator door.

  Rebecca thought, luckily, we won’t be staying here long enough to clean those appliances. She would suggest to Grossman that they dine out or order carryout during the investigation. Sure as a bear shits in the woods, she was not going to touch those appliances.

  There was a small living room on the first floor. As she and Grossman pulled the sheets off the furniture, dust filled the air. The furniture under the sheets was worn and torn. The sofa was stained with God only knew what. The musty smell along with the dust caused Rebecca to gag. Grossman ran to her side and slapped her on the back. She pushed him away, “I’m fine, let’s keep working.”

  In ad
dition to the living room, Cassie was astonished to see that somehow, the builder managed to squeeze in a formal dining room, along with one bedroom and a bath. There were shelves in the bedroom covered with a child’s toys. A closer look showed the majority of those toys were broken military figures. The soap scum in the bathroom tub indicated that no one had cleaned it in what appeared to be a very long time. Cassie couldn’t bring herself to lift the toilet seat to see what might be in the bowl.

  The second floor contained two bedrooms and a bath. Cassie was shocked to see that the larger bedroom appeared to have fresh sheets on the double bed. There were also fresh towels in the clean bathroom. The smaller bedroom appeared to be a den. Someone had recently dusted the desk and shelves.

  They worked together pulling the sheets off the furniture. When the task passed Grossman’s inspection, he suggested they go to the grocery store. He told Rebecca, “When we get home from the store, you’ll be able to fix us some lunch.”

  “Bruce, before we go to the grocery store, when was the last time someone lived in this house.”

  “I went off to school in 1993, so it’s probably about eight years ago, why?”

  Rebecca took his elbow, “Come see this.” She led him into the kitchen, where she opened the refrigerator door. “Bruce, that black stuff is mold. We cannot put groceries into that fridge until it’s been cleaned with bleach.”

  “Then I suppose we’ll go out for lunch and when we return to the house, you can clean it.”

  “No, oh no, if you want to clean it out, you go right ahead, but I didn’t sign on to be your housekeeper. We should only be here for several days, a week at the most. We’ll eat out or pick up carryout.”

  “Rebecca, it’s a wife’s duty to do housework.”

  “Not, this wife. I’m quite serious on this one. I’ll divorce you in a heartbeat. You made this mess, so you’re gonna clean it up.” She added the divorce since this asshole really believed they were married.