Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

~ John W. Howell

 

Twiggy and Lucy
“This grass smells good.”
“Don’t you miss the snow, Little One?”
“It’s 70 degrees and Hump Day. I don’t miss it at all.”

It is Wednesday Storytime again, and last week, we were there when the tech felt he could get a court order and intercept calls that were being made from Stennis, the lawyer, to phones which had numbers that had been previously assigned to three dead undertakers. (you still with me?) The reason the numbers needed to be live is Stennis was involved in some kind of deal that the other side wanted him to believe they were real people with identities. (You still with me?). So Stennis has made calls to the numbers, and we will be able to find out what was discussed. The tech said it would take about a week, and the week is up. Oh, look, he is coming back into Pricilla’s office. Let’s not miss a thing he says.”

 

“Ah, Agent Moore. You are back with the information, I hope.”

“Yes, Agent Thomas, I am. Afternoon detectives.”

“Good afternoon.”

“Okay, so what have you found out?”
“No big surprise on the fact that the three phones had different conversations.”

“Okay, so what were they?”

“Well, I’ll call them to phone one, two, and three.”

“So far, I’m following you.”

“Phone one carries the most conversation. Phones two and three were just verification calls as I had previously believed.”

“So tell me about phone one.”

“really interesting. It appears Mr. Stennis is actually working for Cortez’speople.”

“How do you know that?”

“One of the conversations was about his fee.”

“His fee? Like he was hired by them.”

“Exactly. I must say his fee is pretty high too.”

“Can I butt in here?”

“Certainly, Mr. Dunfee. What is it?”

“I know we think this is a Cortez-run operation. Is there any proof he’s involved in any of these conversations?”

“I think so.”

“Hold on, agent Moore. What do you mean I think so?”

“Well, Agent Thomas on the call, Cortez’s name was not mentioned, but they kept referring to Mr. C. That has to be him.”

“No direct evidence, though.”

“No direct evidence.”

“So that means we still need Lazar.”

“I’m just a tech, ma’am. I wouldn’t know.”

“I was speaking out loud, Agent Moore. I don’t expect you to know.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Anything said about anyone else?”

“Stennis did mention the local DA.”

“In what context?”

“He asked if there would be any legal problems with Spenser Taggett. I looked him up, and he’s the city attorney.”

“He mentioned him by name.”

“Oh, yes, he did.”

“So what are these people up to?”

“It looks like they are going to exchange Lazar’s daughter for Lazar.”

“Any reasons were given?”

“Other than keeping him quiet. None.”

“Okay, so everything we guessed would happen is going to happen. We need to formulate a plan.”

“One more thing.”

“Yes, Agent Moore.”

“Your name came up.”

“And what was said?”

“Not so much what was said but the context in which it was said.”

“Enlighten me.”

“Well, Stennis asked about what is going to be done about the investigation that you are conducting.”

“And?”

“He was told you would be taken care of.”

 

60 thoughts on “Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day”

  2. I wonder if the final revelation will alter the investigation approach. One step forward and… I love the photo of the girls, John, and the dialogue exchange is perfect. Hope you have a sunny day! 🌞

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Well, isn’t that nice? Pricilla is going to be taken care of. That means they’ll take her out on the town: dinner, a show and perhaps an intimate club or lounge afterwards then perhaps put her up in a nice hotel – maybe even a spa treatment. It’s so good to know that Cortez and his people know how to treat a lady properly.
    I assume that’s what it means, anyway.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Uh oh. You just moved from doing your job to bring a target. And your dragging our two buddies with you. This looks like it’s going to get more interesting, John. Is it just me, or are we all on board with the DA getting his?

    I’m glad to see the weather returning to normal. Quite a bounce in one week’s time.

    Take care.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Hi John,
    I haven’t had time the whole week, but I didn’t want to miss this.
    1. So, Stennis’s phone has been tapped and Stennis bought into the story that the people he was talking to were the three dead undertakers but they were three other people instead.
    2. Now the tech man is saying that one of phone call number one indicated that Stennis is working for Cortez because they talked about the fee. In my mind, that doesn’t have to be. Mr. C could be anyone. It could stand for Mr. Chocolate or Mr. Cloud. 🙂 He’s going on a lot of assumptions that I’m not buying.
    3. I like Mr. Dunfee’s question. Whoever said that this is an operation run by Cortez. Maybe, I miss this in the earlier part of the story when I wasn’t participating.
    And now we have two more people. The local DA and Agent Thomas herself. I still believe Agent Thomas is playing both sides of the street so her being taken care of could mean she’s marked to die or she’s going to get a nice big money reward.
    I am enjoying this story. It is one I don’t like missing.
    Have a nice weekend.
    Shalom aleichem

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much Pat. I’m glad you like the story. You are very right about the Mr. C reference. It could be anyone. The local DA was involved earlier but it has little significance. You are all caught up and I am on notice that I better make this thing work or one Pat Garcia will be all over any omissions. 😁Shalom

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Hi John,

    Sorry I’m late to story time! Anyway, that ending is threatening, indeed. I don’t think I trust anyone. 🙂 Glad you’re enjoying that warm weather and what a contrast! Have a good weekend, too!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. To answer your question … NO … I am not still with you, but am left scratching my head and wondering what the heck I missed last week! That said … the plot once again thickens! Frankly, I wouldn’t mind if they (the ‘they’ being the bad guys, Stennis, Cortez, et al) got Priscilla, for she seems a bit arrogant to me, but … well … let me just bite my nails some more …

    Liked by 2 people

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