Ecuperating - Chapter 6

The two men stood outside McNabb Investigations at 8:30 in the morning. It was damn cold. Neither was dressed for the weather in the far north. Their low cut oxfords just didn’t cut it in the ankle deep snow that had fallen the night before. Their thin gloves and thin black overcoats didn’t help a lot with the wind coming out of the north, as it was this morning. It cut right through to the bone.

They plodded back to their rental and climbed in, turned on the engine and cranked the heater up on high. By 9 they had it figured that the place probably wouldn’t open until ten, so went off to find some coffee and doughnuts. They found it at a Mr. Donuts place and took some for take out. They went back to Washington Street and waited for the McNabb crowd to show up.

About 9:45 a bundled up young lady stopped in front of the door, fumbled in her purse and came up with a set of keys. She opened the door and walked inside. The two men looked at one another, nodded, and left the rental one more time. They looked like the Bobsy twins in their black trench coats and low black hats.

They went over to the office door and walked in just as the young lady was hanging up her coat. She turned and glanced over her shoulder.

“Go ahead and sit down, gentlemen!” she smiled. “I’ll be right with you as soon as I put the coffee on. If it isn’t ready when the boss gets in, I’ll catch hell! You guys want some?”

They both nodded and she went into another office off the main reception room. In a moment she reappeared, rubbing her hands on a paper napkin.

“Now. What can I do for you guys besides a cup of coffee and a doughnut?” She smiled again. “I’m Shirley Johnson, Mr. McNabb’s secretary, by the way.”

They both stood and reached in their coats, coming up with identification. They passed them to her.

“Oh, my! Agent James Perry and Agent Josh Carver! Goodness! To what do we owe a visit from the FBI? Did Carl forget to file his income tax or something?” She smiled as she handed their ID’s back to them.

Agent Perry smiled back. “No. Not that I know of. We are here for another matter. We’d like to talk to Mr. McNabb concerning one of his clients. When do you expect him to come in?”

Shirley looked at her watch. She sighed. “Well..In about a half hour. He always comes in late. Sorry, but that’s the way it is.”

“That’s ok,” Perry said, “We can wait.” They both sat back down.

“Hey! How about somebody going to get some more doughnuts?” Shirley asked brightly.

“We don’t have enough for all of us, and I’ve GOT to have one for the boss.” Perry looked at Carver. “Josh? How about you go back to Mr. Donuts place? My treat!” He reached for money and gave Josh a five spot.

Josh wasn’t too crazy about going back into the cold, but he took the money with a frown and headed for the door.

“Make mine a jelly filled bismark!” Jim hollered to Josh’s back. Josh raised his hand in a wave without looking back.

Shirley was somewhat flustered. She wasn’t used to being alone in the office with a good-looking federal agent. She brought him coffee.

“Want anything in it?” she asked him, almost spilling it on his lap.

“Looks good just the way it is.” Jim caught her arm before she dropped the hot coffee on his lap.

Shirley went back behind her desk. “What client are you interested in?” she asked Jim.

“That’s what we want to ask Mr. McNabb. We don’t know the name of the person, but your boss has been making certain inquiries that point to an investigation about a person of interest to us.”

“Oh. Well. I’m sure you realize this is privileged information. I’m not sure he can tell you without permission from the client.”

“I’m sure that’s true,” Jim agreed, taking a sip from the hot coffee. “Has he picked up new clients in the last week or so?”

“Now, Mr. Perry, you know better than to ask me that! ” Shirley chided. “I couldn’t tell you if I knew. Which I don’t, of course.” “Of course,” Jim agreed again.

What a cute little liar she is. She probably knows more about McNabb’s business than he does.

The door banged open and Josh came in with a bag of goodies, followed by a middle aged man about 5 feet 10 in height. The man looked over the two men as he took off his overcoat.

“So, what does the FBI want today?” He correctly identified the two without an introduction. They began to take out their ID’s again. “Never mind, gentlemen. I’m sure my secretary has checked you out quite well. Come back to my office. And bring the doughnuts! Shirley, bring me my coffee.”

He went back without another glance.

“I’m agent Perry, and this is Agent Carver. We are out of the Detroit office.” Jim introduced them.

“What’s the problem?” Carl asked, resting his fists on his desk and leaning across. Shirley placed his coffee on his desk and winked at him. Damn girl! She just loves to flirt with these guys.

“We were sent up here to check on why you were investigating one Eric Tanner and Lodge 16. He is a person of interest to us, and we are curious as to why he’s of interest to you.”

“My sources tell me that he was killed on Pan Am flight 103 back in 1988. How can a dead man be a ‘person of interest’ to the FBI?” Carl sat back and reached for his coffee, taking a long sip.

“What are your sources, sir?” Josh asked, surprised at the information Carl had.

“I don’t think I’m ready to answer that. I may never be ready to answer that. I will tell you this much: All the sources in the United States have absolutely nothing on the man. It’s as if you guys have him in a witness protection program or something.”