Cross-Over Murders by Frank F. Atanacio Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Janet stared incredulously at Nick Barnum. “You must be out of your mind!”
Nick looked up from his desk. “I assume you’re referring to me taking that case that Captain Roque offered?”
“Yes!”
“It’s a case,” Nick said.
“He wanted to come down and explain the details, and you just jumped on it without hearing him out!” She continued. “Who does that? And since when do you go under cover as an illegal alien?”
“You know mom, I’d rather have a spanking.”
“You keep that shit up and you’ll get one!”
Janet worked for Nick Barnum for almost eight years. She started when she was sixteen and worked for him even during her college years. She was a thin, very attractive Puerto Rican girl with short black hair. She had a nose ring, and an eye-brow ring, but that didn’t take away from her professionalism, and her detail to duties. She had become a well respected assistant, and also sought after by many attorneys and other private investigators who just liked her style.
“Janet, just relax.”
“He’s sending you in where those Mexicans were killed.”
“Cubans,” he corrected.
“Illegal, nevertheless.”
“I have to know what’s going on,” Nick said.
“I’m sure you do,” she shot back. “But know the details! Find out what you’re getting your fat ass into.”
“Damn, that hurts.”
“The truth should always hurt!”
“One of the murdered boys has a brother who tried to commit suicide,” he explained. “I guess I’m doing it for him too.”
She shook her head from side to side.
“Listen,” Nick continued. “If it were your brother, wouldn’t you want someone to investigate right away. Knowing the captain, he’ll come by here in three days, and he’ll take ten hours explaining the entire situation. I already know what’s going on, and I think I can help. Is that kind of clear, Janet?”
“Point taken,” said Janet reluctantly. “But do you have any reason to believe that this is a serial killer doing the murdering?”
“I can’t say.”
“And are you up to manual labor?”
“What?”
“If they hire you to paint, patch, clean up yards, you’re gonna have to do it. It’s simple as that,” said Janet. “And like it.”
“Manual labor?”
Janet laughed. “And like it!”
“I didn’t think about that,” said Nick.
“That’s why meeting with Roque was important,” she said. “All of that would have come up.”
Nick nodded.
“Don’t get lazy on me,” she giggled.
“You’re enjoying this?”
“You bet your damn ass!”
“Yeah, I bet,” Nick observed. “In any event, I said I’d do it, and I have to keep my word.”
“Hey, just look on the clear side.”
“I’m helping in stopping a murderer?”
“No,” she smiled sheepishly. “You’re going to get paid under the table. I think ten bucks an hour.”
“How is that a clear side?” Nick quizzed. “And don’t you mean... aw forget it.”
“You’ll have fun doing it,” she said. “But how do you know what you’re looking for?”
“You’re right,” He said. “I’ll know it when I see it, I guess.”
“Again, I’m right,” she continued. “That’s why having the meeting with Captain Roque would have benefitted you so much you dumb ass.”
“I’ll just to got the hospital and pay Mr. Deharte a visit,” he said. “He’ll be my guiding light.”
“Doesn’t that doctor work there now?” Janet asked. “Dr. Peres?”
“The mean one that hates me?”
Janet nodded.
“The one who hates me for no reason at all?”
That’s the one.”
“Oh yeah...”
“Don’t start anything with her, Nick.,” Janet pleaded. “She hates you very much, and there has to be a reason. Maybe it’s just the way you handle yourself. You would have made a hell of a nice woman. Ugly one, but very nice.”
He smiled.
“I’m serious.”
“Just go do... what I think you call work.”
“Kiss my ass!”
“I don’t do boys.”
“I know, you just do men.”
Nick’s chin dropped.
“Just leave her alone, that’s all I’m asking you to do,” she said. “Is that clear?”
“Yes master.”
“Don’t be stupid,” she said. “Oh yeah, wait.. That’s going to be very difficult for you to do. So if you have to be stupid, tame it down.”
Janet walked out of his office, but she was still laughing loud enough for Nick to hear. It was very annoying, but she did it on purpose.
“I gotta do something about that secretary,” he said.
“I heard that!”
Nick smiled dejectedly.
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