Chapter 32
A cosmo flirting with a pumpkins blossom
Hidden Secrets
Leona Palmer Haag
Chapter 32
Matthew Jensen looked up from his computer. Monica was
curling her thick blond hair. "What's on your agenda today?" she was
asking.
He looked back and began typing as he said, "I
might be pulled from your case. They've put Jenn in hiding again."
"You're kidding. What now?"
"A guy named Ivan Saymore approached her when she
arrived in Dallas yesterday."
"I'm not familiar with that name."
"I'm not either. I've got the briefs here. Want
to take a look?"
"Just give me the highlights." Monica turned
back to the mirror and uncurled one thick strand and began winding up the next.
"He's associated with a Mr. Carratix and…"
Monica gasped and spun around, her big blue eyes
filling her face.
"What?" Matt said, looking up and seeing the
shocked expression. "Who is Mr. Carratix?"
"I'm not sure, but I'll bet my life he's really
Mr. R—the devil himself."
Matt pushed his laptop aside and leaned on the table
and watched Monica as she unrolled the curl and separated hair for the next
one. His wife had a good head. If she'd just put two puzzle pieces together
that would help solve a long time problem, he'd listen without distraction.
"The island Natalie and Nick were on. The cabana.
The boss. Mr. Carratix. Three R's. Ricardo Rosato Rolando Carratix. Mr. R. But
if you add up all the R's, it totals six in his name. Does that sound
logical?"
Matt nodded. "It could be, but it's too easy. Too
simple."
"Exactly." Monica turned away to finish her
hair.
"Let's let the thought smolder a little bit to
see if it lights a fire."
"A fire?" Monica said, peering at him
through the mirror. She spun around to face him. "The fires of hell?"
Matt stared at his wife as something clicked in his
brain. "Monica, could Mr. R really be the Red Devil? Rosato sounds like
rosa, or red. Six is a sinister number to people who are superstitious
and…"
"I think you've hit on something. Send it to
Kevin to analyze." Monica turned back to the mirror and began combing her
hair.
Matt fired off a message to Kevin, then waited. A slow
heat spread up his feet and settled in his ribcage around his heart. Was Mr. R
targeting Jenn? Why?
"Where is Jenn?" Monica said as if bored.
Matt shrugged. "Safe, I assume. Kevin's got her
locked up this time."
"Lucky guy." Monica giggled. "It's good
for him until she unpicks the lock and makes her escape. What will you bet me
she does it?"
"Nothing. I agree with you on that."
Monica was silent for a moment as she adjusted each
hair into its proper place. She refreshed her lipstick and blotted it on a
tissue. "Matt, I'm giving her five days max. Either you can email Kevin
and warn him, or I will. By day six she'll be so stir crazy she'll have burned
down the safe house. How long do you think it will take Kevin to catch up with
her once she'd running? Two days?"
"Tops," Matt murmured.
Monica examined herself from head to toe in a
full-length mirror. "I've got an appointment. Wish me well."
Matt jumped up and grabbed his wife in a huge hug and
bent her over backwards for a long kiss. "Tonight, baby," he murmured
when he finished.
Monica pretended she was wrinkled beyond repair when
he released her. She smoothed unseen creases, but smiled. "Tonight, Mr.
Jensen."
Matt walked his wife to the door and opened it for
her. Monica exited, then turned back. "Keep out of trouble today if you
can."
He grinned. "I think you really meant, don't get
into trouble you can't get out of."
Monica laughed, filling the air with sweet music. She
leaned forward and kissed his chin. "As usual, you read my mind
perfectly."
"Only because you read mine first."
She nodded and laughed again. "Yes, I heard your
gray cells plotting mischief. Enjoy it, but don't let it run away with
you."
"Never," Matt chuckled.
Monica pressed a beautiful finger to his lips.
"Tonight."
Matt grinned and nodded, kissing her fingertips.
End Chapter 32
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