Blood Ties

Calm before the Storm

Chapter Two

On her way to Christopher Townsend's work place, Vicki couldn't help but stop and looked in the comic book shop. She flipped through Henry's latest issue. She frowned. The store clerk looked up at her smiled.

"It's a little lacking isn't it?" He asked.

Vicki raised a brow.

"What?"

"His new issue." He said nodded at the comic she had in her hands.

"Oh." She exclaimed.

"The last few ones have been filled with action and adventure and a really great heroine, and now…they're just kind of plane." He said. He shook his head. "It's sad really. This new one just isn't selling like the old ones."

Vicki flipped to the back cover. She glanced at the address. It gave a Montréal address. She frowned. She headed up the front counter and gave the clerk her money.

Mike approached Kate as he entered the apartment. She turned to him and shook her head. She nodded at the body of a young girl.

"There's no forced entry that we can find, no marks, or bruises on the girls body, no bleeding, nothing to indicate that she was a victim of a crime."

Mike looked over the girl. She was still wearing her night gown and her bathrobe. The night gown was a pretty red silk gown, and the bathrobe was thin white fleece, the white made her pale skin look even paler. Even dead, the girl was still a striking beauty. Mike turned his attention from the girl and looked back up at Kate.

"Isn't this what's her name? You know…that actress who just got her billion dollar inheritance or something?"

Kate gave a nod.

"Yeah. It gets better. There were two other reports like this, like people just dropping dead." Kate shook her head. "We shouldn't even be here. This is a waste of our time."

"Then why are we on it?"

Kate shrugged.

"A cop died like this too." She said.

Mike glanced at her.

"Who?"

"Crawford." She looked away.

Mike frowned.

"Crawford? No way? Crawford was the best of the best."

She shrugged. She glanced at the actress and gave her a nod.

"Yeah well, you know, she got all the best roles." She sighed."I don't know. Maybe you should pass it on to your friend." She sneered.

"I'm done with Vicki, Kate." Mike said. He shook his head. "We can handle this case on our own."

Kate smiled. She put a hand on his shoulder.

"Good to hear." She said.

Vicki had been listening to Robert Stevens, the CEO of the company Christopher Townsend had worked for.

"Townsend was an excellent employee." He said. "The kid was always on time, his reports were always perfect. He was top notch."

He had a scruffy voice, but he was a very well dressed man, and he held his head high. He looked like he wasn't much older than her.

"Did he have any close friends here?"

The man shook his head.

"Not that I can think of actually." He said. "He never went to any of the office social events, never went with the groups after work for drinks or dinner. He was reserved."

"I see." Vicki said.

The phone rang. Stevens hit the speaker button.

"Sir, the police are here, they want to ask you some questions. Should I send them in?" The secretary asked.

"Sure. Let –em Sara." He turned to Vicki. "I'm sorry Miss Nelson."

Vicki gave a nod.

"I understand. If I can think of anything else I'll be in touch." She waved and turned out the door. On the way out she bumped smack into Mike. She backed up. He smiled nervously at her. She sucked in a breath and looked away. She headed out of the office. Mike frowned. He felt horrible and wanted to run after her. Kate nudged him. He turned to her and they continued into the office.