Chapter 18:

"We have a copy of the conversation between Brooks and Bellet."

Martin turned to Vivian and Sam and gave them an inviting look.

"Let's hear what the two had to talk about."

Sam announced and Martin started the tape. They all listened fiercely.

"Bellet – private detective, who is this?"

It was the voice of a woman.

"My name is Leeland Brooks, I'm an old friend of Mr. Bellet and I necessarily need to talk to him."

"Alright Sir, I'll see what I can do."

Some more seconds went by until Bellet took the call.

"Laurence Bellet."

"Laury, it's me. Lee. Leeland Brooks."

Another few seconds of surprised silence, until they could hear him answer in disbelief.

"Lee?"

"Yeah, you remember?"

"Lee! Of course I do. That must be half an eternity ago! How are you, what can I do for you?"

"To be honest – I have a pretty serious problem, I need your help with."

"How serious?"

"It's goddamn serious. You could say that my future depends on it..."

"Understood. What kind of a problem?"

"I need to find someone. Someone who knows something about me that's better not made public, who can destroy my future, my life. And I need to find her quickly."

"Her? Mmhhh, I get that. How soon do you need help."

"At best conditions – immediately. I only have this week left."

"Okay, Lee. I want you to meet someone. I can't take care of it myself, but I will send someone who can. He's absolutely professional and you can trust him. You can tell him everything you just told me. I will name you a meeting point and he'll take care of the rest. Apart from this I don't have anything to do with this and I don't want to and I won't hear anything about it ever again. Understood?"

"Yeah, Laury. Whatever you want. Thanks man!"

"It's okay. You will meet him tonight at six in the Avery Bar. He will sit at the counter, drinking a glass of water. He's wearing jeans and a red shirt."

"That's not very much, don't you think ? That could be everybody. What if someone listens to our conversation, they could send an undercover agent or something."

"Don't worry. You will know it is him. He has a pretty big scar on his left cheek. And if that still isn't enough for you, ask him something only we two know about. Like the girl you were after in High School, but who decided someone else should be her boyfriend. You remember?"

You could hear Brooks malicious laughter on the other end of the line.

"Oh yeah, I do remember that very well. That was a really nice move from you. I remember her so well. My god – we had some really good times. Did I ever thank you for this?"

Bellet was laughing too now.

"I don't know. But you definitely enjoyed it more than she did! Whatever – you gonna meet that guy tonight and you can ask him about it as a proof. You can trust him! He will help you!"

"Okay. Thanks, man! I owe you!"

"I will get back to that... oh and Lee, once again that one thing..."

"What?"

"Don't call here again. I don't want to know anything about this stuff."

"Of course, Laury, I will leave you in peace. Thanks once again for your help. I don't know how to ever thank you! If I can ever do anything for you – let me know!"

"Sure, Lee. I wish you all the best. We'll get this straight – believe me."

"Thanks, Laury."

"Goodbye, Lee."

The conversation was over. Vivian looked at Sam and saw her disgusted expression. Martin said out loud, what Sam was thinking.

"Did he mean what I think he did? About that girl?"

Sam nodded without saying a word.

"Obviously Andrea wasn't the first."

Vivian stated.

"That's awful, that's disgusting!"

Sam finally said. Martin tried to lead the conversation into a more constructive direction.

"At last – we have some hints. Brooks actually did talk to Bellet and he was willing to help him. That means one of Bellets' helpers searches for Danny and Andrea and this guy also has taken the picture of Andrea in the mental institution. So Brooks received professional help and he is using it."

Sam nodded again and than had another question to the team.

"How did Brooks seem to you? I think he sounded goddamn decidedly and desperate."

Vivian agreed to that.

"Yeah. I think so, too."

"So that means he's willing to go very far to protect himself. Far enough to let somebody get killed?"

Martin resumed their thoughts, Vivian looked at the tape and back to Martin to answer his question.

"I think so. We need to find this guy – the man Bellet send to Brooks to help him find Andrea."

She looked at Sam, who was shaking her head.

"Alright, Martin – you and I will talk to the bureau in New Orleans once again. Sam you gonna inform Jack – maybe he has found out something else by now."

Vivian ordered and Sam seemed to be content with that. There was the one or other thing she and Jack had to talk about.