Chapter 7 Your Best Bet

Hildy and Kami were seated five minutes before they expected Dexter to arrive at Cipriani's restaurant. They ordered some non alcoholic drinks as they waited. In the time between leaving Dexter's office and now, Hildy contacted their team of investigators and filled them in on who Dexter was, and the possible connection to the dirty law enforcement officers. Terry and the guys began checking out everything they could about Dexter Phillip Matthews even though the computer already supplied Hildy and Kami with the basic facts.

As the ladies sat together Kami leaned into her lover and asked, "Hildy, are you OK", because she knew that meeting Dexter today was not easy for her fiancé.

Hildy was going to respond with her usual 'I am good, am OK.' but the honest enquiry by her lady made her pause in her automatic response. "I am …a bit torn. A big part of me is hoping Dexter is clean, as he was an upstanding guy in the past. But if I am completely honest with you Kams…. there is a little part of me that wants to hand him over to Barbara to throw his tail in jail". Hildy said this with a sheepish expression on her face.

Kami looked at her lover and the expression on her face. She knew that Hildy was doing her best to be professional and not let her resentment of Dexter dominate her emotions, and she loved her for it. Kami could not help admiring how adorable her lady look as Hildy tried not to look embarrassed by the words she had just uttered.

"You look adorable in trying not to look sheepish", Kami blurted out as she gave a hearty laugh.

"Adorable? Adorable? Me look adorable? Kams, I am a former police inspector. A decorated one to boot, that is not the image I want to display, especially in public". Hildy mumbled but the twinkle in her dark green eyes belied her attempt at speaking seriously.

"Yes, you do…. look adorable I mean" Kami repeated as she gave Hildy a few pokes to her side that turned into a tickle. Hildy could not maintain a serious look in that moment if she tried. It was this scene that Dexter observed as he crossed the threshold of the restaurant.

He saw the smiles and heard the laughter but could not hear their conversation. He stood still as he watched how happy they looked together. Kami's entire face glowed as she kept speaking to Hildy. It was obvious that his former fiancé loved her partner very much. Try as he might, Dexter could not remember ever sharing such carefree banter with Kami while they went out on dates. He recalled that they had lots of laughter in the early months of their friendship but the laughter slowly dried up as the friendship turned into a serious relationship, and the months went by. Yet here was Kami looking so relaxed and jovial with the private detective that it made his heart feel emotions he did not expect.

He felt a longing deep in his soul to experience being on the receiving end of love like what was being shared before his eyes. He felt regret that his marriage to Elizabeth was not a happy one. And finally, he felt resentment, a resentment that was fueled by jealousy.

"Why did she have to be a lesbian? Some women were bi-sexual and could live a happy life married to a man. Why couldn't Kami be like that? But no, she had to go waste all that good looks, all that genius of a brain on a private investigator. It does not make sense! We could have had a good life together. Kami would have been a better wife for me than Elizabeth. Her computer talents have made her a wealthy woman. I would never have had to file for bankruptcy if I was married to her. What a waste."

These thoughts moved through Dexter's mind in rapid succession as he stood just inside the entrance of the restaurant. Just then the Hostess approached him and ask if he wished to be directed to a seat. He thanked her, told her that he saw his luncheon party towards the far-left hand side of the restaurant and walked towards the ladies' table. Just then Hildy turned her head in his direction and the happy expression on her face instantly became a guarded unreadable poker face. Dexter immediately knew that she was not someone to play with especially considering the CIA execution of the search warrant at his office a few hours ago.

As Dexter sat down, Hildy decided to get to the heart of the matter, and without any preamble she said; "Dexter, I am going to lay my cards on the table because I am not about to waste time. As you are aware the Congressman is being looked at as a person of interest in an ongoing case involving some crooked law enforcement officers. Believe me when I say, IF the Congressman or anyof his employees are involved with the crooked officers, my firm of investigators in conjunction with the police sergeant leading the investigation will find out and bring the full weight of the law on him and anyone else involved".

Dexter looked at Hildy's no nonsense expression and knew she spoke the truth. She continued by saying, "Now let me ask you this… do you think there is any merit in the police investigation of the Congressman? Before you answer bear in mind that everything that is done behind closed doors eventually is exposed when the doors are pried open, and my firm is exceptional at prying open doors". Dexter considered the best way to answer Hildy's question. He did not want to show his hand too soon. He knew the Congressman was involved in questionable activity but he was not sure how deep or wide it went.

Kami looked at the expression in Dexter's eyes as he considered how to respond. "Dexter, I know it was a shock seeing me today after so many years, and then to realize that this is not a social call but one that has criminal overtones…it is a lot of take in". Kami interjected in her soft caring voice. "But please believe me when I say, if you are not involved in what is going on, then your best bet on keeping your good name stain free is Hildy. And if you are involved with what is going on, then your best bet is Hildy for getting you the only deal that will be extended to you by the police sergeant and the CIA agent in charge of the investigation. Dexter, whichever way you look at it you need to trust us if you want to walk away from this tsunami that is coming".

Dexter looked at Kami for long moments as Hildy looked on at him in silence. Then he took a deep breath and gave a small nod of his head as he slowly turned from looking at Kami back to Hildy.

"I am one of the senior analyst in the Congressman's firm. As such I am directly involve in investing money for our top clients. Most of the clientele we have I never met personally. They are just names or numbers to me, just figures on a spreadsheet. Several months ago, I noticed slight discrepancies in some of the investments for a few of our clients. I brought what I observed to the Congressman's attention. He complimented me of my keen observation and told me he would look it into matter". Dexter paused as he considered how to proceed.

"I have been working with money and investments for many, many years. Something about the discrepancies struck me as deliberate, and the way the Congressman's tried to assure me that he would handle it made me feel unsettled. My gut told me to cover myself so I began keeping copies of everything that passed through my hands, every account I was responsible for".

Hildy's went into police officer mode as she leaned forward on the table as she asked, "Where are the copies?"

Dexter looked at her as the wheels in his mind turned "I thought the Congressman was hiding money from the IRS or maybe hiding it for some crook who did not want his wife or ex-wife to know about hidden assets. But if what you and the police suspect the Congressman of being involved in is true then he is more dangerous that I thought. He most likely has friends in high places. I must think of my future, what protection will I get for going up against him? I need to work to clear my debts, I do not need to be blacklisted within the investment industry".

Hildy looked at him and saw the concern in his eyes and her heart softened towards him a little. "I will set up a meeting with the Sergeant and CIA Agent in charge of the case, and they can give you the assurances you need.".

"I do not want to be seen entering the police station Ms Mulligan, you said there are police officers involved", Dexter stated.

Hildy leaned her head a bit to the side as she considered his words. It was true they did not know yet if any other officers where involved with the crooked cops.

Kami turned to Hildy and reached for her hand on the table, a gesture that Dexter immediately noticed. "Hildy, you can set up the meeting at our office. Barbara and Wendell can interview Dexter there and everything will be kept private". Hildy did not particularly like the idea of Dexter coming into what she considered her domain but she saw the wisdom of Kami's suggestion.

"OK, I will organize everything for our offices". She then turned to Dexter as she said;

"Meet us at this address for 5pm this afternoon. I will put things in place for you to get the assurances you need to be protected". Hildy handed him a business card with the firm's name and address on it and said;

"Dexter…. I know today was a traumatic day for your firm but as long as you are honest with my police colleagues you will be protected and you will walk away from this untarnished, but you must be up front with them".

Dexter nodded as he stood taking up the business card. "I will". He turned to Kami and gave her a small smile that was forced and an expression in his eyes that reflected regret, and other emotions that the ladies could not quite identify.

With that Dexter turned and walked away.