Disclaimer: I don't own these people.
Author's Note: Here's another one. You guys should know by now that I go in spurts. .
CHAPTER 10
Lindsay Monroe
It's 8 a.m., and the beginning of a new day … a new life, one in which Danny Messer does not exist except as a coworker. I'm going to be direct and professional. I look up to see him sauntering in wearing a thin blue sweater that accents his eyes. Stop it! He's a coworker! Who cares about his beautiful blue - I shake my head almost violently,erasing the thought.
"You okay, Montana?" I wish he'd stop calling me that.
With a courteous smile, I answer. "Sure, Danny. Hey, I found a notation in Helen Geddy's date book for a Richmond Cauffield, III. Apparently he was her attorney and was supposed to meet with her today at 9 a.m."
Danny glances at his watch. "Hmm. Midtown Manhattan. If we hurry, we might get there on time."
An hour and five minutes later, we are seated in the waiting area of Cauffield's office. It's a nice office - tastefully decorated, with current magazines and an attractive receptionist.
"Richmond Cauffield, III. Sounds like a real knob to me," Danny grumbles. We didn't stop for coffee, and he's grumpy.
"Ssshhh! Here comes his assistant."
"Detectives? Mr. Cauffield will see you now. It's so terrible about Mrs. Geddy! She was such a sweet woman!"
We are led back to a large office dominated by a large window overlooking the skyline. Despite the stuffiness of his name, Cauffield's about 35, with thick dark hair, intelligent hazel eyes and warm smile.
"Detective Messer? Detective Monroe?" He shakes both our hands. "I'm pleased to meet you, although sorry it's under these circumstances. How can I help?"
"How 'bout tellin' us what you were meetin' bout today?" Cauffield frowns slightly at Danny's mildly belligerent tone. I decide to step in.
"Mr. Cauffield, we suspect Mrs. Geddy's death may have been staged to look like a robbery, and we're looking for someone who may have a more personal motive. Perhaps you can help?"
He smiles sadly at me. "Of course. Unfortunately, I have an idea that may help you." He walks to his desk and glances in a file. "Mrs. Geddy's health was failing, and her estate was meant to be divided between her two grandchildren. Then, last year, her granddaughter Elizabeth was killed in a car accident in Pennsylvania, where she was attending college. That left Ben."
"Ben?" Danny asks.
"Benjamin Robert Geddy. Anyway, Mrs. Geddy had been recently very upset about Ben's behavior. He's 22, hasn't done anything with his life. She was already considering cutting him out of the will when she found some valuable jewelry missing. Mrs. Geddy wasn't so upset about the monetary loss, but the sentimental value," Cauffield's eyes never leave mine, and that's not a bad thing - he's cute. "The pieces stolen included her late husband's wedding band and a diamond watch her son gave her several years ago. She told me it was the last straw - she said she knew Ben stole the items to buy drugs."
Danny clears his throat. "So, she was meetin' with you this morning to cut junior out of the will?"
"I believe so."
"Do you have any idea where this Ben might be, Mr. Cauffield?" I ask.
He smiles at me - nice smile, great teeth. "Please call me Rich." I see Danny roll his eyes. "I heard he was doing some work at an apartment complex off 53rd and Vine, repairing drywall."
We get the information and take our leave, but not before exchanging business cards. Mr. Cauffield - Rich - shakes my hand, meeting my gaze. "Please call if you need anything, Det. Monroe."
We leave, heading down the elevator. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I ask.
"That Cauffield has the hots for you? Yeah, that's what I'm thinkin'."
"Actually I was thinking that about the fact that the dust we found on Mrs. Geddy's dress was gypsum, which is what drywall's made of."
Sheldon Hawkes
I shake my head as I watch Danny slam around the break room. "Hawkes, you drink all the coffee?"
"Nope. Always get my special brew from Starbucks on the way in."
He grumbles something about me being high maintenance and stomps off. I hope he and Lindsay find some happy medium - this is getting annoying. I head toward the elevator and see Lindsay at her desk.
"Of course Mr. Cau- I mean, Rich. We will notify you if we need further assistance." A pause, Lindsay smiles. "Well, yes, it was nice to meet you, too. Drinks? Um, not while the case is ongoing …" Another pause. "I guess we could see about that. Okay. Yeah, you, too. Bye."
"What was that all about?"
Lindsay grins at me. "Hot guy. Likes me. Asked me out for drinks. He's a witness right now, but later …"
I chuckle. "Now are you truly interested or just trying to get at Danny?"
Lindsay looks offended. "This has nothing to do with Danny! I'm done with him, Sheldon, done!"
She stomps off. I take a quick sniff under my arm. Do I smell? I proceed down the hall and get in the elevator. It stops on the second floor and I smile warmly when Nicole Tucker steps aboard. Dressed in a beautifully-cut gray suit with a deep purple blouse, she's quietly stunning.
"Good morning, Detective."
"Good morning. What are you up to?"
"Just finished a sketch for a 4-year-old that saw his mother mugged on the way home from the park. Amazing memory, it turned out better than I expected. As for later … that all depends on you."
"Me?" We step out into the lobby.
She smiles. "In this day and age, sometimes it doesn't pay to be subtle. Sheldon, would you like to have dinner with me?"
I'm truly charmed, and shocked that I didn't make the first move with this lovely woman. Just then, my cell phone rings. "Excuse me … I'm sorry." She doesn't mind - she knows the nature of my job.
"Faith" my caller ID reads. I groan inwardly.
"Is it important?" Nicole breaks my reverie. My eyes meet hers, and I stuff my phone back in my pocket. Not this time, Faith.
"You know what? It's not. About tonight - were you thinking Italian?"
"Actually, if you're feeling adventurous, there's this new Greek place I discovered …"
I relax as we plan our evening, enjoying a normal conversation with a beautiful woman.
TBC