Diners, Dives & Dead Ends by Terri L. Austin Page B

shrugged.  “Could be. 
These are wealthy people.  Could be donations for all we know.”
    Minutes lapsed as we
contemplated the list.  With a sigh, I finally stood.  “Eric, would you make a
copy of this for me?”
    “Sure.”  He punched a couple
of keys and the printer next to him spit out a copy of the list.
    I folded the paper and
tucked it in my purse.  “Thanks.  And thanks for breaking the code.”
    “Anytime, kid.”
    “Oh, there’s one other
thing.”  I told them both about BJ’s latest nocturnal visit.  “And I’m about to
meet with Sheila Graystone.  Hopefully she’ll have information that will help.”
    Steve had been pretty quiet
until now.  “Whatever you’re doing, it’s dangerous if it’s getting the
attention of this BJ character.”
    Eric nodded in agreement. 
“He’s right.  You have to let the police handle this.”
    “I can’t.  The police think
Ax is just some stoner who’s run off and I don’t have any real evidence—about
anything.  I need to find Ax and I can’t count on anybody else to do it for
me.”
    Eric scrubbed at the stubble
on his cheeks and sighed.  “I’m worried about him, too.  And I’ve been covering
for him with the administration, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep it
up.  Since he got busted last year, he’s skating on thin ice.”
    “I’m going to find him.”  I
wondered if my expression was a fierce as my voice.
    Eric nodded.  “All right,
kid, but let me help.”
    “You just told me how
dangerous it was to keep looking.” 
    “Yeah, well, I kind of miss
him.  But if you repeat that, I’ll deny it.”
    I smiled.  “I need to find
out everything I can about NorthStar Inc.  Not just a list of the businesses,
but the owner.  And how BJ fits in to all this.”
    “Okay, I’ll get to work,”
Eric said.
    Steve stood.  “I’ll walk you
out.”
    “Thanks, but I’m fine.”
    He ignored me and placed his
hand on my arm.  “I’d like to talk to you for a minute.” 
    We walked up the stairs and
out of the building.  The day was warm, the afternoon sun blazing low in the
sky. 
    With his hand still on my
arm, he turned to me.  “I’ll do anything I can to help you find Ax.  But
please, don’t let this guy into your apartment again.”  His eyes, the color of
dark chocolate, were filled with concern.
    “You’re really sweet,
Steve.  And I don’t plan on letting him in again.”
    “Good.  Look I know you’re worried
about Axton, but you have to eat.  There’s this Thai place off the Boulevard—”
    “Maybe once I get Axton back?” 
I had too many men to deal with right now.  I waved over my shoulder and jogged
to my car. 
     
    When I walked into
Starbucks, the sharp smell of coffee hit me.  I loved that smell—comforting and
mouthwatering at the same time.  Sheila sat at a two-person table in the corner
and waved when she saw me. 
    “Aren’t you going to get
some coffee?” she asked.
    Unfortunately, I couldn’t
afford the Frappuccino I so richly deserved.  I pulled out a chair and sat
across from her.  “No, I’m good.”
    “Thanks for meeting me.”
    “Has Packard heard from
Axton again?”
    “No, I’m sorry.”
    “Oh.”  I blinked at her. 
“If you don’t have information on Ax, why did you call?” 
    She looked down at the
table.  “This is hard,” she said, more to herself than to me.  She glanced back
up.  “Pack has been acting strange since Axton’s disappearance.”
    “How?”
    “I don’t know, really.  He’s
been on edge, secretive.”
    “Secretive?”
    She gestured with one hand. 
“He’ll get phone calls and walk out of the room to take them.  Even in the
middle of dinner.  He won’t talk in front of me.  I know my husband and
something is wrong.”
    The thought crossed my mind
that maybe Packard was having an affair.  Call me Captain Obvious.
    “Have you checked his phone
history?”
    “I don’t feel right doing
that.”
    “And