out a smile, but she felt her emotions unraveling.
“You’re looking at him.” He declared.
“No, that’s not possible. I met him once before and I’ve been paying him to work on a case for a Ms. Leah Price.”
“Ma’am, I’ve been in business for fifteen years and I never forget a pretty face. I’ve been working overseas. I had my cousin Marvin watching the place, but he didn’t mention any new clients stopping by.”
Rachel felt her knees buckle. “I need to sit down.” He helped her over to the sofa and examined her. Rashonda sat next to her, feeling even more confused.
He went over to his desk drawer and pulled out a photo. It had a group of men posing at Lake Allatoona. “Can you see if you can point out the guy pretending to be me?” Rachel instantly recognized him.
After a long discussion about Leah’s case, she went to tell him about the missing money. Was it possible that Marvin embezzled the money? She did write him several checks and if he was criminal enough to pretend to be his cousin, she knew he could be the prime suspect. She felt sorry for Leah; knowing that this man really wasn’t looking for her biological mother. The real P.I. offered to investigate the Margaret Belmont case as well as return some of her funds.
He told her to keep the visit confidential until he could gather further information. “Please don’t give Ms. Price another dime for that rascal. I’ll take over the case.”
Rachel agreed. Her and Rashonda headed to a mojito filled lunched as she clued her in on the details of Leah and swore her to secrecy. Rachel decided to act normal and still go on her trip to LA with Mike. She was kind of nervous leaving her kids with everything that was happening, but knew she had to play it cool. She couldn’t afford to let anything get out and ruin her investigation.
Once at home, she played a board game with her kids while Leah prepared them dinner. Rachel was still full from her lunch and appeared to be in a different world. She played a few rounds with them and left Christina in charge, joining Leah in the kitchen.
“How’s everything working out with you and Marvin?” Rachel started up a conversation while Leah broke spaghetti noodles in half, throwing them into the boiling pot of water.
“Oh, it’s going good. He’s a nice man and I’m learning a lot.” Leah tried not to avoid making eye contact, but Rachel didn’t even notice how uncomfortable her roommate was.
“I’m glad to hear that. Listen, I’m going to LA for the weekend, do you think you’ll be okay with the kids?” Rachel was reluctant to ask, but she couldn’t let her know something was troubling her.
“Of course. Christina is such a big help. She is so mature. Go and enjoy yourself. Maybe one day I’ll get to visit Cali.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Rachel smiled and returned to the children.
Chapter Seventeen: A New Beginning
Mike was even smoother than Rachel presumed. Instead of allowing her to drive to his home, he sent a car to pick her up. They flew first class, sipped champagne, and enjoyed a movie until their flight landed in LA.
A limo picked them up and brought them to the Four Seasons Hotel located between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. They were coming up on their six month anniversary; although, Rachel tried not admit it, they were indeed a couple. It was too early to check into their room, so the two did a little shopping before the event. Rachel found the cutest little souvenirs for all of the
“You’re looking at him.” He declared.
“No, that’s not possible. I met him once before and I’ve been paying him to work on a case for a Ms. Leah Price.”
“Ma’am, I’ve been in business for fifteen years and I never forget a pretty face. I’ve been working overseas. I had my cousin Marvin watching the place, but he didn’t mention any new clients stopping by.”
Rachel felt her knees buckle. “I need to sit down.” He helped her over to the sofa and examined her. Rashonda sat next to her, feeling even more confused.
He went over to his desk drawer and pulled out a photo. It had a group of men posing at Lake Allatoona. “Can you see if you can point out the guy pretending to be me?” Rachel instantly recognized him.
After a long discussion about Leah’s case, she went to tell him about the missing money. Was it possible that Marvin embezzled the money? She did write him several checks and if he was criminal enough to pretend to be his cousin, she knew he could be the prime suspect. She felt sorry for Leah; knowing that this man really wasn’t looking for her biological mother. The real P.I. offered to investigate the Margaret Belmont case as well as return some of her funds.
He told her to keep the visit confidential until he could gather further information. “Please don’t give Ms. Price another dime for that rascal. I’ll take over the case.”
Rachel agreed. Her and Rashonda headed to a mojito filled lunched as she clued her in on the details of Leah and swore her to secrecy. Rachel decided to act normal and still go on her trip to LA with Mike. She was kind of nervous leaving her kids with everything that was happening, but knew she had to play it cool. She couldn’t afford to let anything get out and ruin her investigation.
Once at home, she played a board game with her kids while Leah prepared them dinner. Rachel was still full from her lunch and appeared to be in a different world. She played a few rounds with them and left Christina in charge, joining Leah in the kitchen.
“How’s everything working out with you and Marvin?” Rachel started up a conversation while Leah broke spaghetti noodles in half, throwing them into the boiling pot of water.
“Oh, it’s going good. He’s a nice man and I’m learning a lot.” Leah tried not to avoid making eye contact, but Rachel didn’t even notice how uncomfortable her roommate was.
“I’m glad to hear that. Listen, I’m going to LA for the weekend, do you think you’ll be okay with the kids?” Rachel was reluctant to ask, but she couldn’t let her know something was troubling her.
“Of course. Christina is such a big help. She is so mature. Go and enjoy yourself. Maybe one day I’ll get to visit Cali.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Rachel smiled and returned to the children.
Chapter Seventeen: A New Beginning
Mike was even smoother than Rachel presumed. Instead of allowing her to drive to his home, he sent a car to pick her up. They flew first class, sipped champagne, and enjoyed a movie until their flight landed in LA.
A limo picked them up and brought them to the Four Seasons Hotel located between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. They were coming up on their six month anniversary; although, Rachel tried not admit it, they were indeed a couple. It was too early to check into their room, so the two did a little shopping before the event. Rachel found the cutest little souvenirs for all of the
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