Lethal Attachments

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Kord

Kord saw Brandon was scribbling furiously on the legal pad just where they’d left him. Five sheets of paper splayed out on the coffee table were covered with his writing and two more sheets were still attached to the pad.

“Doing your homework. That’s what I like to see,” Kord said and smiled. If Brandon was not exactly on the up and up, he made a good show of not holding back. Of course, Kord was aware the papers could contain only some of what Brandon knew. They’d find out eventually.

“You’re the boss, right? You say get it done and I get it done.” Brandon glanced up as he spoke and Kord saw the flash of emotion in the bright brown eyes peering through the large square glasses. But he couldn’t tell whether it was anger, fear, or something else.

“Looks like Brandon’s given you a promotion,” Doyle commented.

“Yeah?” Kord said, watching Brandon adding more and more to the notes. Kord fought against the uneasy feeling he’d had earlier, when he first saw Brandon, but he couldn’t shake it.

Brandon placed the pen on the pad and looked up at them. “You said you wanted everything. You’ve got it. If I remember anything else, I can always send an email.” He smiled and, with the big glasses perched on his nose, his face was the essence of innocence. But Kord wasn’t convinced. He’d encountered too many criminal types who looked just as innocent. Even Doyle suspected the guy was holding back information.

Brandon would have to be their first target in the investigation but Kord didn’t want him to know that until they finished a background check. If Brandon wasn’t exactly who he claimed to be, they needed to know quickly.

Kord picked up the pages and leafed through them. “A lotta names here. Friends, relatives, business associates?”

“Everybody I can think of. Some of them are customers we’ve had problems with and some are suppliers—a few of them have given us trouble. I tried to list everybody. Could be missing some.” He looked at Kord again and this time with the most innocent and vulnerable puppy dog expression Kord had ever seen. He considered it might just be a practiced look.

“Any of these people have a serious beef with your ex?”

“I think a lot of people have some reason to hate Gary.”

“Investigating all these people is gonna take a lot of resources. And then there’s plenty more to do aside from that. This isn’t gonna be cheap.”

“Like I told your boyfriend, I can manage. I just need to know if you two can handle it.”

“You came to us. I think you know we get results,” Doyle said, apparently stung by Brandon’s words.

“You’re right.” Brandon looked down at the yellow pad. “I-I’ve still got to finish that statement you asked for. It’ll only take a minute.”

Kord poured himself more coffee, emptying the pot. “As soon as he’s finished, I’m gonna need some bacon and eggs.” He sat down on the sofa and stared at Doyle, who shrugged and smiled.

“Done,” Brandon announced a few minutes later. “The last time I saw Gary, nothing really went on. He opened up the place then went to work in the office. Later that day he left. We barely said anything to one another. So it’s not a long statement.” He placed the pen on the pad again and gave the pad a gentle shove across the coffee table as if he didn’t want it near him. “What’s the next step? Do I write you a retainer check? Or, what?”

Kord glanced over at Doyle. The nod was subtle but he knew Doyle caught it.

“Give us a little time to consider the case and then we’ll talk fees and retainers. How’s that sound?”

“Sounds good. I can get a check here to you anytime.” Brandon stood, flexing his fingers, obviously tired from his writing assignment.

“If we take the case, we’ll want to see you in the morning. You can bring a check with you then,” Kord said as he stood and walked Brandon to the door.

“You’ll take the case. I know you will.”