Page 29 of Fixer
“Sharp thinking.”
Mr.Kawashima said, “She is very smart.Just like her mother.”
Mina flushed.“I still didn’t know what they were talking about, but I didn’t like the sound of it, so I crouched down behind my desk to listen.”
“That was brave of you.”
“Stupid, maybe, but I’ve never liked the mayor, even though he’s my boss.He has wandering hands.”
Her father frowned.“You never told me.”
“It’s a good job, and I know how to dodge, but a guy like that isn’t trustworthy.If he was doing something shady, I wanted to know.”
I asked her, “What did you hear?”
Mina took me through the story.She’d figured out that the unknown men were property owners, planning to get the city to pay way over market value to buy and demolish their buildings.They were discussing ways to make the switch of the new lanes from the west to the east seem like a good idea to a council vote.Then their descriptions of the curve of the road, the neighborhood, and the cross streets, made her realize that one of the buildings to be demolished was her father’s home.That made the outcome personal.
“I tried to see where they put the maps and papers away when they were done,” she concluded, “but I was afraid of being spotted.I’m pretty sure the mayor took them into his office and locked them in a file cabinet.He has several, though.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I hid in the kneehole of my desk until they turned out the lights and left.I waited a while and…” She looked down.“I perhaps should’ve tried to find the papers but I got scared, all by myself there.So I went home and called my father.”
“You did exactly right,” I told her.“If they’d caught you, we’d be in far worse shape because no one would know anything was happening.You’d disappear, and they’d get away with it.”
Her eyes went big.“You think they wouldkillme?”
I backpedaled, trying not to scare her.“I don’t know, but when millions are involved, violence is a risk.You’ve done your part and brought your story to us.We’ll take it from here.”
Mina raised her chin.“I’ll do more, if there’s something I can help with, as long as no one knows it’s me.”
“Thank you.”She was the kind of pretty, spunky woman I would’ve normally been attracted to.Instead, all I felt was a little admiration, and zero interest at all.Not the slightest stirring.Dustin has ruined me for anyone else in one night.Except my change of direction wasn’t just from a single night of explosive sex, but from everything that came before.“I’ll ask my private detective friend.He’ll let you know if he needs help.”
“Will you stop the crooked dealing and save my father’s building?It’s not such a great place, but he lived in it with my mother for thirty years before she passed away.It’s his home.”
“We’ll certainly try,” I promised.
“Don’t phone me at the office, but you can call me on my home number if you need to, any time after six in the evenings.”She recited the digits, and I committed them to memory.
When I got home, I tried to scribble down what she’d said while the details remained fresh in my mind.By the time I had two pages of notes, I had to hurry and load my car.Of course, with a late start, I hit annoying traffic, too, but I reached the vendor parking for the craft fair with fifteen minutes left to get set up.Good enough.
I exchanged greetings with a few familiar faces, but didn’t stop to chat.For once, I wasn’t invested in displaying my carvings in the most effective way.I erected the stands for my pendants, ornaments, and wind chimes haphazardly, and strung a random assortment on the hooks.
Over and over, I found myself glancing at my watch, glaring at the sluggish movement of the hands.I wanted to see Dustin.I wanted to hear what he’d discovered, but even more, I wanted his voice, his wolf scent, his intense brown eyes, his strong hands.
Despite doing a steady business that became brisk in the last hour, I began packing my stall on the dot of seven and was on the road ten minutes later.When I got home and located a parking spot, I left most of my wares in the car hidden under old tarps, grabbed my money box and a case of the most time-consuming pendants, and jogged to my building.
Mr.Turner pulled me aside in the lobby to ask how my investigation was going in tones that might’ve been meant to be hushed but echoed off the walls.I murmured, “Shh, let’s keep our voices low.I know you understand the need for secrecy, given your background.”He nodded eagerly, though I had no idea what his background actually was.He frequently came out with the catch phrase, “Given my background, I should be in charge.”I’d never bothered to ask.
“I’ll keep you in the loop,” I lied as I nudged him through the inner door.“And let you know as soon as we have any facts.It’s all just hypothetical so far.”
Once I’d disentangled myself from Turner, I jogged up three flights, down the hall, and let myself into my apartment.
There, I breathed deeply, warmth settling into me.Home.The familiar scents of my space were overlaid with Dustin’s presence, and a savory aroma that suggested some kind of beef stew.
Dustin turned to greet me from the kitchen.“Hey, you.Dinner’s not quite ready.I didn’t expect you back till eight-thirty.”
“I hurried.”
