from the novel
Frank O’Hara – The Last PI
By D. Michael Pain
[In Chapter 3, published here on April 18, Frank O’Hara received a telephone call from a woman named Kim Dawson. The woman murdered in Chapter 1 was her friend Brenda, and Kim “knew some things” and was afraid on account of some files she had that Brenda had taken from work. Frank agreed to meet with Kim to look at the files.]
He straightened his red-and-blue striped tie and walked into the coffee shop. He saw her in her red sweater immediately and walked confidently to her booth. Making sure his shoulders were erect, he smiled and said, “Kim?”
She was younger than she sounded on the phone, maybe early 30’s, and she filled out the red sweater nicely. He held out his hand. She had long dark hair in a ponytail. Her face, though recently dusted with make-up, revealed the tears as well as her beauty – and also her fear. Her eyes were a stunning light blue. They would make it difficult for Frank to stay focused.
Before he sat down he noticed she would continually glance out the window next to the booth. It was as if she were making sure he wasn’t followed. She clutched her hands and rubbed her fingers back and forth.
Frank casually pushed his hand through his hair and held the fleeting thought that he hoped he looked okay, as most men do when sitting across from an attractive woman.
“Yes, so glad you could come so soon.” She was holding a large manila legal envelope.
He pushed the paper napkin with the place setting to the side, turned over the up-side-down coffee mug, and said. “Let’s start at the top.”
His mindset at this point was to get this meeting over and get out of here as soon as possible. As good as she looked, he knew this was not the time or place for anything other than business. Age had finally taught the lesson.
The waiter poured the coffee, and as she left Kim started speaking.
Her eyes were misty as she told him how she had first met Brenda four years ago at a Jazzersize class.
“We were instant friends, I mean. We just connected. Started having lunch and then sometimes meet after work for a drink and she slowly started confiding in me and I told her all about me too. It was like a perfect friendship.
“Well, I knew she was seeing this guy. But I’m sure no one else did. I think she was somewhat embarrassed to think she was falling for him. He was totally different from anyone she had ever dated. From what she told me, I thought he was too smooth and too fast, but to Brenda he was just hiding an insecure child inside…Those were her words.
“Brenda liked stray cats and was always looking out for the underdog. I m sure she saw something in him she liked...and like many of us thought she could change the things she didn’t.”
She looked around before continuing, as if the mention of his name would bring instant trouble.
“When she talked about him I was always sworn to secrecy. I always agreed...just thought it was girl stuff.” She wiped her eyes with the napkin.
“Towards the end I started sensing some real fear in her…not physical fear…I can t explain it, fear of something unknown...unsaid…but she always denied it. If I mentioned it, she would say, ‘Oh it will be ok’...and apologize for having me worry. But in the last weeks she seemed more tense and upset – ” Her voice trailed off in mid sentence. She took a sip of her coffee before starting again.
“She never introduced him to me or any of her other friends...it was very hushed. I think I was really the only one who knew, but I’m not sure. If I didn’t know better it would be easy to believe she just made him up. Sometimes it just seemed so weird.”
“How did she meet him?” Frank asked.
“Dominic,” she paused, and then continued. “They met at a happy hour bar close to where she worked. She worked for Lewis and Johnson, the big law firm. She was a secretary, but she worked for one of the head attorneys, Mr. Lewis himself.”
“She was in the commercial real estate department. That’s what she called it. Anyway it was legal work for some land developers. They also locally represented at least one of the Indian tribes and their casino. She wasn’t fond of the work.
“She and Dominic – his last name was Serrano – began spending a lot of time together. I knew it was getting serious, because I didn’t see her as often as before. He was taking up all of her time. When I did speak to her she still managed to keep me in the dark about who he was and what he did. She was extremely evasive about it and grew more protective of their relationship. The day before she was murdered, she called me late – it was after 10, I know as I go to bed right after the news…She was frantic and said she needed to see me right away, and she was on her way over.
“She hung up before I could ask why...then she’s there, and I let her in. She was scared and said she had to give me something and I had to hold it for her. She said she had no one else to trust, no one else to turn too. She mentioned something about taking it from her office and had to get it back, something about a search warrant, and she gave me this envelope. Insisted I tell no one about it. She was very positive about that part and told me either she or Dominic would pick it up from me the next day. None of it made any sense to me. I gathered that no one from her law office knew she had taken it. Then I heard nothing.
“I waited for Dominic or Brenda. It would be the first time I would meet him. But he never came and Brenda never came or called.”
She slid the manila envelope towards Frank.
“The next day I tried calling her all day long…no answer, just her machine. I left four or five messages. I was concerned. It was very upsetting.
“I tried later in the day to locate Dominic...but I couldn’t find a phone number. I called the happy hour bar where they met. She told me he knew everyone there, but the bartender said he didn’t know anything, hadn’t seen him, and hung up...real abrupt.”
Again pointing at the envelope, Kim said, “She told me not to open it but just hide it. She said she couldn’t keep it at her house. She was afraid her house might be searched...and she could lose her job. It was all so fast and made no sense. She told me that Dominic’s family was depending on her and he had called and told her to get it out of the house right away and give it to someone she could trust. She promised he or she would get it back the next day. She said she couldn’t explain now, but under no circumstances to call the police.”
She took a Kleenex from her purse and wiped her eyes.
“I wasn’t happy about that either. But she said she would explain everything to me. She thanked me, gave me a hug, and was gone.”
Kim sipped her coffee, then looked down and put her hands over her eyes.
“She left before I could even think of anything to say. Her last words to me were how thankful she was to have me as a friend and repeated not to say anything about it, not to anyone. I thought it was all so weird, but at the time she seemed frantic and I didn’t question her....I put the envelope under my bed. I had trouble sleeping, and the next morning I started calling her. But, nothing...I never spoke to her again. The police got my messages on her phone. That’s how they found me and came to the bank.
“I asked them if she was okay and to have her call me.”
Kim looked out the window before continuing.
“The police asked me some questions. Why I called Brenda? Why I wondered if she was okay. They were interviewing all of Brenda’s friends, and when I asked why, I was told she had been murdered. I started crying hysterically. I couldn’t believe it. Sometimes I still don t. I was so upset they broke off the interview and said to call them if I thought of anything...and someone would get back to me.
“I didn’t have time and didn’t even think of saying anything about the envelope or Dominic. Something, I don’t know what – But even after they left, something told me to keep quiet about it. Brenda was so positive about her last instruction to me. I know it makes no sense at all.”
Kim looked away and stared out the window again then quickly looked up and faced Frank.
“Except I promised her I wouldn’t. When I was told she had been murdered, it stunned me and I just closed up and now I don’t know why I didn’t say anything about it. But I didn’t. “Am I in big trouble?” She looked Frank in the eyes, wanting the answer she needed to hear.
“Don’t know,” he said. “What’s in the envelope?” He knew by now that she had opened it.
“I did open it. It’s just a bunch of legal documents and a computer disc...it doesn’t mean a thing to me, but I do recognize the signatures, or at least the names, and they are in ink, originals. Some of the names I have seen in the newspaper – you know, society page, Phoenix names, lots of money-type people. One is Mr. Lewis from the law firm Brenda worked. for…I think a Congressman and some other political local names I’ve heard or read about...and someone from Costa Rica…maybe it was Cuba…something about gambling casinos...I was so upset I didn’t pay much attention...had numbers beside the names...like percentages.
“I was thinking last night I was going to call the police this morning and tell them about it when – and this is where it really frightened me...around midnight...I got a phone call…and the entire message left on my answering machine was about giving the envelope back that Brenda gave me – they knew I had it! They said they were friends of Dominic. And I was to leave it outside my door under the doormat and it would be picked up. They said they were watching me …the voice said they hoped it was still sealed and told me to forget I ever saw it...said it might cause me some harm...and if I wondered why, I should ask how Brenda died...and hung up.
“I tried to immediately trace the call...but it went to a pay phone…no record.
“The voice was so firm and repeated not to tell anyone. They would know if I did and I could have a problem if it wasn’t there…it scared me, really scared me. I decided to call the police as soon as I got to work but I still wasn’t sure if I should leave it. I couldn’t sleep.
“I left for work real early…5 a.m. and went to an all-night McDonalds...I took the envelope and locked it in my trunk...I was so scared...I was hoping a policeman would come by and I could grab him and tell him...none came, so I went to work at 8...I guess you know the rest.”
Frank looked straight into Kim’s blue eyes. “Lady, not to be overly blunt...but I still have no idea what the hell any of this means.”
“Will you still help me…please…please.” She grabbed his hand.
Her plea and her hand on his hooked Frank, though he didn’t like it.
“Yeah I’m going to do some checking around for you, but we do need to turn this envelope over to homicide…I have a very good friend there. I’ll contact him this morning and set something up for you. You might need to go into protective custody or it might be all a bunch of nothing.”
Kim was quick with her reply. “These people are serious and Brenda even told me not to trust the police...Can you be sure?...I knew whoever called was serious…I know it all sounds incredible and stupid…You will go with me to the police?”
Frank was stunned at both Kim’s story and how his ex-wife still referred him a case. The guilt in his stomach rolled over. He had heard lots of strange stories in his 30-year career, and this one was quickly screaming towards the “don’t touch this” list.
Kim said, “I also should also mention in one of my last conversations with Brenda before the night she came over with the file to hide...she said that Dominic was in some kind of trouble, something to do with his family…Brenda said she was helping him and if anyone knew how she was helping him it could really hurt her and Dominic.
“She said that Dominic was being pushed to get some real estate information and he needed her to help him…for his family. That’s about it, that’s all I can remember. Except I don’t know how anyone got my phone number. I’m not even listed.”
Frank took a few seconds before responding. He took a sip of coffee and decided that if her story was true she was in serious need of help. She was right about this maybe being big trouble – maybe too big for him.
A second brain wave was also sending him a message. Or is it totally all bullshit? Regardless of which brain message told him what to think of her story, both levels agreed…there was no question she thought it was real.
“When did that last conversation with Brenda take place?”
“The same day at lunch before she came over to my house that night.”
She again pushed towards his side of the table the thick envelope, with cash paper-clipped to the outside.
He was finishing counting it when she said again, “Please help me. What should I do?”
Frank was impressed. She had given him $1,200 – more than he asked for. He grabbed the bill for the coffee from the side of the table and, taking the envelope with her cash in his other hand, he stood and said, “I ll see what I can do...I’ll take a look at this and I need to make a couple of calls.”
He gave her two of his business cards, and had her write two phone numbers on the back of one where she could receive a message.
“I’ll call you within 24 hours.”
“Thank you.” Still sitting at the table, she took his hand. “Your ex-wife was right. I know you will help me.”
Frank turned and felt the sudden rush of pressure erupt in his brain, followed by a fleeting thought of handing her money back and wishing her good luck. But he didn’t.
She stood up with him, still holding his hand and thanking him. They left for the parking lot together.
| Copyright © 2015 by D. Michael Pain |
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