Page 25 of Protecting Bianca

Gregory looked away and tightened his lips. “I don’t know. I make a lot of deliveries in a day.”

“Well, maybe coming to the station will help jog your memory.” Khan reached for Gregory’s arm, but he moved back.

“I didn’t do anything,” he said.

“Yeah, well, we need to make sure,” said Khan.

Shaking his head, Gregory looked up. His face crumbled, but he fixed it before releasing a sigh. “I swear, I don’t know what was inside that package. Some guy paid me to deliver it to 135 Trinity. That’s it, man. I swear.”

“What did this guy look like?” I asked.

He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“Well, try to remember,” said Khan. “Was he tall?”

“Not really. He was shorter than me. So maybe 5’8.”

I pressed on. “Can you describe him?”

Still shaking his head, Gregory thought about it. “I don’t know. He was skinny, white, and had long hair. Maybe to hisshoulders, maybe longer. I wasn’t paying attention. He said he was in a rush and couldn’t make it to the building in time. I didn’t think anything of it.”

“Bullshit,” Khan spat. “You didn’t think it was suspicious to deliver a package after some guy you don’t know paid you in the street?”

“Fuck. I know it sounds bad. But crazy shit happens here all the time. That was the least crazy thing that happened to me that day.”

“Okay, Greg. You need to tell your boss you’re coming with us. We have a few more questions and we can either ask them in front of your colleagues or you can answer them downtown. Your choice.”

Gregory dropped his head. “Fine. But I don’t know anything else.”

I believed him.

When Chaudhary and Khan escorted Gregory to their car, I didn’t follow. Gregory was just a pawn. The real criminal behind this was still out there.

At least we had a description now. Not a great one, but it was something.

As I drove back to Grapevine’s offices, I tried to picture the man Gregory described. I hadn’t thought to ask him the color of the man’s hair. Was it light or dark? When I got back, I called Khan and asked him to find out where the driver had picked up the package so I could find the man talking with Gregory.

“Morning, Mr. Payne.”

“Morning, Mr. Travis.”

The foyer of Grapevine was quiet. Since no meetings were allowed, hardly anyone walked about. It was perfect. Dave could keep an eye on any individual who didn’t belong here.

I took the elevator to the tenth floor, planning to brief Mr. Towers on the latest, but when I turned the corner toward his office, I bumped into her.

She wore a black dress today. It hugged her curves and dipped low to her cleavage. My eyes followed the lines until it became difficult to swallow, then I immediately pulled them up to her face.

“Excuse me,” I said and moved out of the way.

“It’s all right. I think I was the one who bumped into you.”

She walked past me, and I should have let her go, but I couldn’t stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth. “How was your date?”

“Pardon?” She swiveled back and her hair landed over her breasts. The wispy strands framed her body like a painting.

I cleared my throat. “Did you have a good time with Stewart yesterday?”

“Oh. Uh…yeah. Bowling was fun.”

---