Читать книгу 1 Law 4 All - Vegas - Billy Angel - Страница 15

Jimmy and Rizzo quietly chewed their breakfast at the Shut-up Café. Last night's visit to St. Mary's Hospital sucked them emotionally dry. Swollen, puffiness from multiple fractured bones and distorted nose cartilage replaced a beautiful girl's classical facial structure. They both knew that Wendy would never look as attractive as before.

Rizzo asked Jimmy, "Do you want to go to the hospital this morning with me?"

"Yea. The poor girl is going to need all the encouragement we can muster."

"What did you mean last night when you said something about bringing in the rest of your team?"

Jimmy reflected for a short time. He figured to give Rizzo the Reader's Digest version. Then he began.

"Some law school friends and I helped a young girl find out who murdered her family in American Samoa. The corporation indirectly responsible, settled out of court. A Senator, married to the CEO, orchestrated the cover up with this corporation's help. She was killed by a mob guy who is now in prison. To thank us, this young girl, Kitiona is her name, paid off all our school loans and set up the 1 Law 4 All Foundation. Three of my law school buddies and I are on retainer to the Foundation."

"The Foundation's objective is to investigate and expose corrupt politicians. There are six of us all together. One retired lawyer who is an ex-marine. And four of us young lawyers scattered all over the country. And of course, Kitiona. That's my team."

"Must be some team to do all that. Well, if we're all going to work on finding Janelle, and who pulverized Wendy, I'll need to be introduced to the members of this team."

"I'll be setting up an electronic meeting with the gang within the next forty-eight hours. I'll let you know the time. We'll talk to them on Skype at my office."

Rizzo's curiosity quench, he made hand jesters towards Jimmy's cell phone playing the theme from X-files on the table.

Jimmy said, "That's my text message ring tone. Some of the messages I get are straight from the X-files." He opened the text message. He clenched his teeth with a grimmest. "Sugar wants a back massage in between rehearsals."

"That's not all she wants massaged. I'm going to the hospital now. Text her something to sweeten the deal next time and let's get going."

Jimmy texted back, 'can't, business, feet and back too next time'.

As they walked to Rizzo's car, the X-files theme sounded again from Jimmy's phone.

Rizzo predicted, "If she's in love she'll say something about patience. Then you'll know she's hooked."

Jimmy's faced flushed as he read the message.

"What did she say?" Rizzo quickly asked.

Jimmy said, "I've got nothing but time."

"Ok, lover boy, let's get you back into the real world!"

Rizzo parked the police sedan at the entrance of St. Mary's Hospital. He turned his visor down exposing the 'police business' sign.

Wendy looked peaceful in bed. She opened one eye when Jimmy said, "Maybe we should wait another day or two."

Wendy suddenly came to life and said, "No!"

Jimmy looked at Rizzo and they both looked at Wendy. Jimmy moved to the side of the bed. Rizzo was content to have Jimmy talk first.

"How are you feeling?" Jimmy asked.

She answered, "How do I look?"

The silent broke all their hearts.

"I guess I'm going to have to rely on my brain from now on," she muttered.

Rizzo stepped forward. "Wendy, can you tell us who did this to you?"

"Yes, and I can tell you why, too."

Rizzo felt a break in the case coming. "We're here and we want to help you. Who worked you over?"

"Locci's goons."

"We'll nail him to the wall for this," Rizzo said excitedly.

"No you won't. I won't testify. Locci told me as much as he loved me, I needed to get out of town. He gave me fifty grand for traveling money and is paying the hospital bills. He said to forget everything or else."

"Or else what?" Jimmy butted in.

"Use your imagination. People that cross people like Locci end up buried in the desert. I can only hope he forgets about me. Or, I'm a dead girl walking."

"Why," asked Jimmy.

"Because of a text message Janelle sent me."

"Was it the message saying, got a senator tonight?" Jimmy threw out a guess based on his conversation with Mac.

Wendy opened her second eye beyond the limits of the swelling. "How did you know?"

"I know because Janelle's brother asked me to find her. Do you remember talking to Mark, Janelle's brother?'

Wendy slowly nodded yes.

"Do you know where Janelle is?"

"The only thing I know is that I never saw Janelle after that text message."

Rizzo broke in. "So, Locci is mad because you got a message from Janelle about some senator?"

"I guess so. I don't know anything anymore. You guys should get out of here. I'm leaving Vegas and never coming back."

One more question, Rizzo said. "We took this picture from Janelle's apartment. Is this Janelle with you?"

Wendy gazed at the picture of her and Janelle smiling happily in front of Wendy's cottage. "Yes."

"Does Janelle have any distinguishing marks on her body?"

"She has a dreamcatcher tattoo on her back."

"Can you describe it?" Rizzo asked.

Wendy swallowed hard. She reached for the cup of water on the side table.

Jimmy noticed her reaching. He grabbed the cup and held it close to her face, straw facing Wendy's mouth.

She took three soft sips and said "Thanks."

Jimmy returned the cup to the side table.

Wendy cleared her throat. "The dreamcatcher had a large round circle with three smaller ones coming off the bottom half of the large circle. The smaller circles had feathers hanging below and the usual Indian symbols. I remember how she'd cover it with makeup whenever we wore backless costumes."