Chapter 6

Chloe Kinsmen was a sassy blonde headed woman with her assigned partner, Derrick Smith, was a suave man, who was a straight shooter. They were sent to a backwater town in Nevada to investigate Michael's alibi, after a long flight, now a longer drive to nowhere Ville.

Derrick drove the rental car on the state highway; Chloe wiggled in her seat trying to get comfortable. Her mind raced how her boss reacted about the news Michael Knight being the prime suspect in the theft. Jamie seldom showed her true feelings about the cases that she was working on. Chloe's bones her told this case was different, and it was the beginning of the end.

The stars twinkled in the clear sky with no city lights to hide them, and welcomed them to the state. Derrick tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, fighting off a yawn.

"So, Chloe, what part of England were you born in?" Derrick asked.

"Why do you want to know?" She eyed him.

"Hey, I am tired and I need some conversation for me to stay awake. I know nothing about you."

"You have been asking me out on a date for weeks..."

"You are hot and an intriguing woman with a cool accent. Because I want to know you better," he said with a huge grin.

She giggled. "I was born and raised in King's Lynn in England. As a teenager I moved to London. Then a few years ago I met our Boss."

He yawned. Derrick was a bit taller than her, and was nice to gaze upon when he was busy doing something.

"There is a motel up ahead. Do you want to stop and get a room? I'm jet lag and wanting to lie on a bed," Derrick said.

"A few hours of sleep sound good to me."

"Do you think our boss lady wouldn't mind? She is motivated to help Knight."

"Well, we are arriving at a late hour, and I don't know what we could get done at this time of night."

Derrick pulled into the parking lot of the motel, reading the sign. "Is this the place that Knight stayed during the theft?"

"No. Knight was staying at his Girlfriend's home during the theft. But he did stay here on occasion, I think." Chloe reached for her tote bag, pulling out the file to check the information. "You're right. It is. Maybe, the manager can gives us some background information."

"I need some sleep," he said, and opened the car door.

They got out of the compact car, entering the motel office. The bells rang, alerting the staff of their arrival. Chloe could feel her energy draining away from her, as she stood.

A man in his early fifties lifted up his head from his novel that he was reading. "Hello, there folks, are you looking for a room?" he asked.

"We are. But first, I would like to ask some questions," Chloe stated.

"Are you from England?" the manager asked.

"Yes, I am." She showed him a picture of Knight. "Was he here the other night?"

"I know him. That's Amy's boyfriend from the diner. He wasn't happy the other night. I think they had a fight that day, from what my wife told me. He wanted a room. My wife also stated that he didn't seem like himself, and he wore a little goatee. Then he left that morning in a hurry."

Derrick stepped forward. "Was Knight here all night?"

"The funny thing happened that night. He checked in, and then about an hour later he left, leaving his car here."

"Then someone pick him up?" Derrick asked.

"Yes. I didn't see the car. It was pitch dark due to the bad storms. Knight was gone about all night, and didn't return until early that morning."

"Was there anything else strange?" Chloe asked.

"When my daughter checked him out, and she said he looked well rested. When my wife cleaned the room, she told me that his bed hadn't been slept in all night."

"May we see the room?" she asked.

"If you like I could rent it to you, which has two queen beds," the clerk said.

Derrick stared at Chloe since it was her choice to make.

"We will take it. Derrick, please pay the gentleman," Chloe said.

"What has Knight done?"

"We are trying to confirm his whereabouts on a confidential matter, sir. This is just routine procedure, nothing to worry about."

"That's good to hear. He is a nice fellow. Please, sign the book."

They signed it, and saw Knight s name, time, and date.

The clerk gave them the key. "Thank you, for staying here." He smiled at them.

They left the office, and Derrick went to get their bags. Chloe went to the room and unlock the door, as Derrick was right behind her. He shut the door and locked it.

Chloe walked around studying the room searching for clues.

"Brr. It's cold in here," he said, turning on the heat.

"I didn't notice."

"Yeah, because you're too busy looking for magical clues that don't exist."

She stood and glared at him. "I am doing my job, mate."

"We are on a fairytale goose chase just going to find this Knight person is guilty."

"One thing that you're going to learn when the Boss Lady has one of her feelings, you will learn to pay attention, and do your job."

"You and the others trust her that much?" He sat on the bed.

"Yes, with my life." Chloe grabbed her bag. "I'm going to take a shower."

Chloe took her bag into the bathroom. Derrick lay on the bed, and went to sleep.

#

Nevada

The early morning sunlight peeked over the top of the mountains, and the crisp air settled over the valley. Chloe and Derrick sat in a booth at a local diner, finishing up their breakfast, and to find Amy. The waitress brought them their bill, pouring a refill of coffee into the cups.

Chloe pulled out a picture of Knight to show the waitress. "Has he been around lately?" She asked.

"That's Amy's boyfriend at the moment. He was here about day ago because she asked me to cover her shifts. They are out of town I believe. When he comes, she goes out of town to do exciting things. She will have some amazing tales when she returns. The new comers have all the luck. I thought he was interested in me. But Amy turned on her charm. Then it was over," the waitress said.

"Sometimes, men don't see a good thing..."

"Some men do," Derrick said, and grinned.

Chloe patted his hand. "You are a smart besides sexy." She winked at him.

The waitress giggled. Derrick looked at Chloe, and she motioned for him to pay the bill. He scooted out of the seat leaving her alone with the waitress.

"You two make a cute couple. I hope this is helpful." The waitress put a small piece of paper on the table.

She looked at it, and read the paper. Chloe had an address.

"Maybe, they have returned," the waitress said, and shrugged.

"Thank you, you've been very helpful." Chloe stood, giving her a nice tip, and left the table.

They stepped into the morning chilly air; Chloe pulled her jacket tighter around her body, and Derrick put his arm around her.

"You better not kiss me. We haven't had our first date yet." She laughed.

"whose fault is that?" He chuckled.

"Our waitress gave us this." She handed the paper.

"I see our waitress doesn't like her co-worker."

"How do you know that?"

"I got that vibe from her. Growing up with three sisters, I learned women's vibes. They believed that Amy is gone with Knight. And we know she is not with him," Derrick stated.

Chloe stopped at the car. "Something is not right here."

"Amy is in trouble, or she is a plant to frame Knight."

They got into the cramp compact car and drove to Amy's home that she was renting.

In a few minutes they found the house. It was hidden away from the street near the woods. Chloe looked out to admire the open space, tapping her fingers on the hood of the car.

Derrick zipped up his jacket to keep out the cold air. He looked around to see they were alone in the less populated neighborhood. He closed the car door, starting at her.

"I don't like it here," he said.

She raised her right eyebrow. "Why?"

"Someone could be watching," he said.

They walked to the small yellow house with peeling blue shutters. Derrick put his hands on the window trying to peek inside. Chloe looked around, as she spotted a flower pot. She used her fingers to dig in the dry soil, searching the dirt for the key.

"Bingo! I found it," she said, and displayed the key in her dirty fingers.

"Good. I don't think no one is home," he said.

Chloe opened the door. Derrick motioned for her to stay there. He went into the house. She entered and closed the door. Sheets lay over the furniture to protect them from the dust. She moved a sheet up and down as very little dust was in the air.

"I told you to wait outside," he told her.

"I know you did. There is no one here." She smiled.

"You are right. There's no evidence of Amy ever lived here."

"I noticed that." She walked into the kitchen. "It looks to clean."

"It is a kitchen. What it is suppose to look like? He asked.

"That's a man's answer." She laughed, and wiped the counter with a couple of her fingers. "It has been cleaned with bleach to destroy any evidence that Amy or Michael was here."

He found a closet, opening the door. "Bingo, mate," He said, and held up the waitress' uniform. "She forgot this. And it has her name tag on it."

"Was there anything else?" she asked.

"This was the only item." He put it back, and closed the door. "There's a bedroom back here."

They walked to the bedroom searching for more clues. Derrick checked the dresser drawers. Chloe looked through the closet, and then she went to the bathroom. Something caught her eye that was lying on the floor. She bent down, pulling it out behind the waste basket.

"What did you find?"

She stared at him. "I found this crinkle paper with the name of Wade." She stood. "Does the phone work?"

"No. I checked it," he said, adding, "That name sounds familiar to me."

She leaned on the vanity. "It should. About a year ago, our team busted a smuggling operation that was setting up overseas connections. Our boss couldn t prove it that Wade was the mastermind, and he vowed to make her pay."

"How is Knight and the Foundation involve?"

"Maybe Wade is helping someone else. Right now, I need to get to a phone."

"Let's go," he said.

They dashed out of the bathroom, heading to the car to find a phone.