Page 28 of Fixer
“Like what you see?”I asked, not sure if I was teasing or being vain.
Dustin just said, “Yeah,” and rose to his feet.
Well, I liked my view too.My cock thickened as I took in the acres of muscle and that lean ass that I’d owned last night.I felt good, relaxed and sated enough for the pulse in my groin to be eagerness, not deep hunger.
Still, I was disappointed when Dustin yawned, shook himself, and reached for his underwear.“We should eat and make some plans.”
“I have a craft market to get to this afternoon,” I realized.The events of the last few days had thrown my schedule off.“I could skip it.”
“Don’t.Making money is good.Acting like you’re sticking to your routine is also good, though it’s unlikely your landlord’s watching us.What time does the market start?”
“Three p.m.With an hour’s drive down into the suburbs plus set-up.I should be out of here by one-thirty, to be safe.”
“That works.”Dustin headed for the kitchen.“I have a phone number for Miss Kawashima.It might be best if you’re the one to talk to her, but outside of her workplace.Perhaps you can meet her for lunch.I’d bet she’s heard of you from her father, so she’s more likely to trust you than me.”
“I wouldn’t know what to ask.”Dustin seemed comfortable in only his briefs, so I didn’t bother to dress fully either before following him.I got bread out of the refrigerator, where I kept the loaf safe from bugs, and put two slices in the toaster.“Peanut butter or jam?”
“Both?”Dustin started the coffee.Some wolves didn’t like the stuff, claiming it had a bitter edge they couldn’t stand, but I lived on caffeine, and from the beeline he’d made for the pot, I guessed he did too.
“Coming up, but seriously, wouldn’t you be a better choice to talk to her?”
“I need to go to the city registrar and the library.I want to research who actually owns all the buildings in these few blocks, which may not be the person the tenants know as their landlord.Lots of shell companies in real estate.If I can, I want to check what the properties were worth on the last tax assessment, or at least, what they last sold for.We also need to know who the contractor for the road project is, and if he has any connection to the mayor or the landowners.Plus more general info on the mayor.”
“Um, yeah, that sounds useful.But boring.”
Dustin laughed.“Ninety percent of private investigation involves paperwork and microfilm, searching for useful information.Some shadowing, some camera work, some interviews, but a lot of dusty offices and libraries.Hey, I’ll trade you for the interview.”I threw up my hands.“No thanks.I wouldn’t have a clue.I’ll talk to Miss Kawashima, if you help me figure out what we need to know.”
He slid the first mug of coffee my way.“You got it.Food first.”
An hour later, Dustin took off to do his sleuthing thing with my spare keys in his pocket.I spent the morning packing my wares for the craft show and doing a couple of small fix-it jobs for residents in the building.At ten past noon, I stood outside a small café downtown, not far from city hall.We’d decided the safest choice for all concerned was for Mr.Kawashima to call his daughter and suggest lunch, so I could “accidentally” run into them here.Hopefully he’d let her know I was coming.
The café interior smelled wonderfully of bread and meat and cheese, and less wonderfully of people, cigarettes, and mustard.There was a counter where folks ordered their food, and a group of small tables along one side.Mr.Kawashima and a young woman with features like his sat at the table nearest the door with white paper sacks in front of them, like they’d gotten their meals to go.
I paused by Mr.Kawashima and he said, “We decided the park was best.We can walk and talk.”
“Let me get some food, and I’ll join you.”I ordered a thick ham sandwich and a soda.As soon as I had them in hand, I headed back out into the sunshine.Fifty feet down the block ahead of me, Mr.Kawashima and his daughter strolled toward Brightwater Park.My legs were longer, and even without breaking a sweat, I caught up with them as they turned in at the main paved path.
Neither said anything to me until we reached the side plaza where water fountains splashed and soared.Around us, people jogged and played frisbee and strolled together, but the cool spring weather limited their numbers.
Miss Kawashima sat on the edge of the biggest fountain and laid her lunch sack on the stone wall beside her.Her father sat on her other side.I wanted to see her face so, despite the move putting my back to the path, I lowered myself to the pavement in front of her and set my food in my lap.
“I hope you understand, Mr.McKinley,” she began.
“Wade.Please.”
“And I’m Mina.I’ll tell you what I know, but I don’t want anyone to find out it was me.I won’t speak to a reporter.I won’t testify.Am I clear?”
“Crystal.”I liked her spirit.“Okay, I was told that you overheard a secret meeting where some property owners were negotiating with the mayor to move the road-widening project to the east side of the route, in order to make more money, perhaps by fraud.”
“Yes.The mayor was there and Mr.Underwood who heads the city planning office.Also two men I didn’t know.I was supposed to be gone for the day, but I realized I’d left my library book at my desk, and I needed to return it.When I reentered the office, they were having a meeting.Normally, for a planning meeting, I’d be there, setting up and then taking notes for the mayor.He has a primary secretary, but my shorthand is better than hers.But she wasn’t there either.Just four men inside the conference room.The room has a glass window, and I could see in, but they had the lights on bright in there and the outer office was dim.I don’t believe they knew I was watching.”She shivered.“I hope they didn’t.”
“What exactly did you hear?”
“Well, at first, I was just surprised they were meeting so late, and I didn’t try to listen, though the soundproofing isn’t good.I went to my desk to get my book.Then one of the men said, ‘We can set the valuation of the buildings way up, a million apiece.Maybe more.’And the mayor said, ‘I know an assessor who’ll value them however we ask, but he’ll want a cut of the profits for himself.’That was when I got worried.”
“Hm?”
“Well, when someone wants a cut of the action, that action usually isn’t legal, right?”
