The Dead and the Dreamer

Inside his office was dark. He moved around until he found his desk lamp and then switched it on. He was not in the mood for the bright overhead fluorescent lights. Out of habit he looked down at the answering machine.

He pulled a Pepsi from the refrigerator and sat down behind his desk to wait for Tammy to arrive. They had agreed earlier to meet there after her dinner with Hank. It was her idea because she wanted to know how she did with her questioning. John smiled at the way she was so nervously cute.

After an hour of looking over old bills and paying a few of them, someone lightly tapped on the back door. "Open," John called.

For a second he held his breath as whoever it was twisted the doorknob and pushed open the door. He wondered if he had let his guard down, leaving himself open to another assault.

He was relieved to see Tammy's face. His heart slowed back down to normal. "Glad it's you," he said.

"Thank you," she said as she dropped her purse on the floor and sat down in the chair across from his desk. "How'd I do?"

"Couldn't have done it better myself."

"I bet you say that to all your clients."

"Just the pretty ones."

She smiled and crossed her legs. "Did you get anything recorded?"

John smiled back at her, only his was more forced. "Well, yes and no."

"What do you mean?"

"We picked up everything. It was great. You were great. We couldn't have asked for a better confession. It was clear and to the point. No names were mentioned, but I think that was good enough."

"What's wrong then?" she asked.

"Frank wants to drop it."

Her jaw dropped.

"That's right."

"Why? Did he say?"

"I think I might know why. I've been thinking about this while I've been sitting here. I think I have it figured out but I can't quite bring myself to believe it."

Tammy was interested and leaned forward as if John might start speaking more softly to avoid being heard by some unseen microphone hidden under the stapler.

"I never told you this, but two days ago I got a call from a Jason Taylor."

She had her chin resting in the palm of her hand. "Who is he?"

"Hank's older brother."

"Really? Why'd he call you?"