plate. They seemed a lot more appetizing when I ordered
them. Of course that was before they were delivered by my own
personal spawn of Satan. Admittedly I may have been exaggerating
the perceived evil of the man sitting across from me. The problem
was that Dominic Caldwell both scared and unsettled me. I firmly
believed in the benefits of civilization. Everybody is supposed to
work within the rules of the law. Dominic has his own
interpretation of what those laws are and how they apply to him.
Usually they don’t. I had been made acutely aware of this when I
found myself arguing the strict definition of what a kidnapping
actually was.
I picked up the burger and took a bite out of
it. If I was going to be kidnapped again I may as well have it
happen when I had a full stomach.
Dominic watched me quietly as I ate the
burger. The silence seemed to stretch out uncomfortably and I could
feel my entire body tensing up.
Finishing the burger I wiped my hands with
the napkin and sat back.
“What do you want Dominic?” I was pleased
that my voice didn’t shake.
“ Just a
chat,” said Dominic. “I have so missed our chats.”
I hadn’t. I was quite happy with a life that
did not include chats with Dominic Caldwell.
“What exactly did you want to chat about?” I
asked. “I wouldn’t have believed my thoughts on any topic would be
relevant to you.”
“ Oh Trudie,”
said Dominic. “I thought I had made myself clear that I treasure
the time we have together. I find your insights into certain
matters to be invaluable.”
“ And what
insights are you looking for at the moment?” I asked, because there
was no way that I was ever going to believe that this meeting
between the two of us was coincidental. Even I’m not that
unlucky.
Dominic sighed. “I believe that you found
Hamish Pollard’s body.”
I nodded wondering why that would mean
anything to Dominic.
“Mr Pollard and I had a business
relationship.”
“What kind of business relationship?” I
asked.
“ Mr Pollard
was a frequent customer at several of my establishments” said
Dominic.
That
explained it. From what little I knew about Dominic he owned
several casinos in Las Vegas. Considering the level of interest
shown in him by both local and federal law enforcement agencies, I
am sure there was far more to his empire but I was only aware of
this small area.
“ I’m guessing
he owed you money,” I said.
“ As usual
your insight astounds me,” said Dominic.
I was confused. “What are you doing here
Dominic?” I asked. “Whatever Hammy owed you could not possibly be
worth you coming to LA yourself and chasing up the money.”
Dominic smiled. “You are correct or course. I
would usually not be dealing with this issue myself but I heard of
your involvement and it did pique my interest.”
I did not
want to pique his interest. I had never wanted to pique his
interest. Dominic Caldwell was a handsome, rich and powerful man,
but he had a way of doing business which was slightly left of
completely legal. All of a sudden I had a very frightening
thought.
“ You haven’t
sent one of your colleagues to talk to Denise Pollard have you?” I
asked, the dismay obvious in my voice. I had met two of Dominic’s
colleagues. The first one stuck a needle in my neck, rendering me
unconscious for nine hours. The second kidnapped me from a
drugstore. I started to get out of the booth.
Dominic placed a hand over mine on the table,
effectively trapping me in place.
“Where do you think you are going?” he asked
quietly.
“ I’m going to
rescue Denise from whatever thug you sent after her.”
“ Mrs Pollard
is in safe hands. My colleague has been informed that he is to
treat her with the utmost respect. My instructions were made very
clear in this regard,” Dominic said.
I stayed standing. “I don’t have the greatest
confidence in your communication skills.”
Dominic smiled. “I do like you.”
I wasn’t particularly fond of that
them. Of course that was before they were delivered by my own
personal spawn of Satan. Admittedly I may have been exaggerating
the perceived evil of the man sitting across from me. The problem
was that Dominic Caldwell both scared and unsettled me. I firmly
believed in the benefits of civilization. Everybody is supposed to
work within the rules of the law. Dominic has his own
interpretation of what those laws are and how they apply to him.
Usually they don’t. I had been made acutely aware of this when I
found myself arguing the strict definition of what a kidnapping
actually was.
I picked up the burger and took a bite out of
it. If I was going to be kidnapped again I may as well have it
happen when I had a full stomach.
Dominic watched me quietly as I ate the
burger. The silence seemed to stretch out uncomfortably and I could
feel my entire body tensing up.
Finishing the burger I wiped my hands with
the napkin and sat back.
“What do you want Dominic?” I was pleased
that my voice didn’t shake.
“ Just a
chat,” said Dominic. “I have so missed our chats.”
I hadn’t. I was quite happy with a life that
did not include chats with Dominic Caldwell.
“What exactly did you want to chat about?” I
asked. “I wouldn’t have believed my thoughts on any topic would be
relevant to you.”
“ Oh Trudie,”
said Dominic. “I thought I had made myself clear that I treasure
the time we have together. I find your insights into certain
matters to be invaluable.”
“ And what
insights are you looking for at the moment?” I asked, because there
was no way that I was ever going to believe that this meeting
between the two of us was coincidental. Even I’m not that
unlucky.
Dominic sighed. “I believe that you found
Hamish Pollard’s body.”
I nodded wondering why that would mean
anything to Dominic.
“Mr Pollard and I had a business
relationship.”
“What kind of business relationship?” I
asked.
“ Mr Pollard
was a frequent customer at several of my establishments” said
Dominic.
That
explained it. From what little I knew about Dominic he owned
several casinos in Las Vegas. Considering the level of interest
shown in him by both local and federal law enforcement agencies, I
am sure there was far more to his empire but I was only aware of
this small area.
“ I’m guessing
he owed you money,” I said.
“ As usual
your insight astounds me,” said Dominic.
I was confused. “What are you doing here
Dominic?” I asked. “Whatever Hammy owed you could not possibly be
worth you coming to LA yourself and chasing up the money.”
Dominic smiled. “You are correct or course. I
would usually not be dealing with this issue myself but I heard of
your involvement and it did pique my interest.”
I did not
want to pique his interest. I had never wanted to pique his
interest. Dominic Caldwell was a handsome, rich and powerful man,
but he had a way of doing business which was slightly left of
completely legal. All of a sudden I had a very frightening
thought.
“ You haven’t
sent one of your colleagues to talk to Denise Pollard have you?” I
asked, the dismay obvious in my voice. I had met two of Dominic’s
colleagues. The first one stuck a needle in my neck, rendering me
unconscious for nine hours. The second kidnapped me from a
drugstore. I started to get out of the booth.
Dominic placed a hand over mine on the table,
effectively trapping me in place.
“Where do you think you are going?” he asked
quietly.
“ I’m going to
rescue Denise from whatever thug you sent after her.”
“ Mrs Pollard
is in safe hands. My colleague has been informed that he is to
treat her with the utmost respect. My instructions were made very
clear in this regard,” Dominic said.
I stayed standing. “I don’t have the greatest
confidence in your communication skills.”
Dominic smiled. “I do like you.”
I wasn’t particularly fond of that
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