Chapter 171: Red Hair and Red Eyes

Later that afternoon Lucas called to give me the dates and place for Christine's lockup. She had been in the county jail for just over six months, two years ago. Lucas had no idea why Cheryl might have been in the county lock up. He just didn't know where to start looking.

"Never mind Lucas, I'll just call our buddy Jen," I suggested.

"Yeah, she should know more about the court and prison system than me," he admitted.

"Thanks and start working on your nerdy blackmailer persona," I suggested.

"Oh trust me, I have been giving it a lot of thought," he said with a laugh. It sounded as if they were all looking for kicks, not retribution, but that was okay. If the results were right, I didn't give happy damn what their motivation was. Like the man said, I'm no psychologist.

"Hey Jen," I said after I got past the receptionist. "Why would Cheryl have been moved to country lockup from the state prison for a few days a couple of years ago."

"It would have had to have been to get her before a local judge. Maybe some kind of appeal it wouldn't be normal, but it isn't unheard of. It could also have been to testify in a local case as a jail house snitch. That again is unlikely, but possible," she said.

"I'll see what I can do with that. Just another thread to weave into the story line. So who is the other guy sharing your bed these days?" I asked.

"Oh just the usual suspects. Girl you need a new lover, so I can add more variety to my love life," she said with a laugh.

"Jen, don't you feel any guilt at all that you are screwing my old lovers?" I asked.

"Why should I? You were finished with them. I have better taste in clothes, but you have better taste in cock." She was serious and that bothered me just a little.

"Well most of my men come from out of town," I said.

"The fun ones hang around a little while anyway." she said.

After Jen, I sat at the computer trying to find court cases from Christine's lockup time period. I gave up and called Lucas. "Find me a major trial during Christine's lock up. Something with gang or drug connections," I begged.

"Geese Max, I have explained how to find things a dozen times, you really hate computers don't you." Lucas commented.

"No Lucas they hate me. I finally figured out how to find movies and TV shows, but that other stuff is still a mystery to me. So just find the trail. Besides if I could do all that, I wouldn't need you." I said.

"True, I am going to stop complaining now. I don't want to lose this gig," he laughed as he hung up on me.

Twenty minute later the phone played music again, " Lucas will you for god's sake change this ring tone."

"I might could do that, but I'm not Lucas. Should I be jealous," Earl asked.

"Jealous of what, it's just business with all of us," I replied.

"Too bad, I am just an employee. I could make a mint selling some of that video to the porn houses." he said with a laugh.

"That better be a joke," I said it without the laugh I felt. "So what is it you want?"

"I wanted to tell you the new camera operator has arrived," he said.

"Okay, give me five minutes, then bring him over," I said. After I pushed the kill button, I began throwing dirty clothes into the cardboard box I used as a hamper. The place was a breeze to clean. Since most everything I owned was locked behind the false wall in my closet, I could just hide my dirty clothes and toss my empty pizza boxes and the place was passably clean.

I quickly put on a blouse over the ratty old tee shirt. I buttoned it to hide the grease stains from my last meal. I managed to get all that done in time to answer the door on the first knock. Earl with the black, slicked back hair entered after a petite redhead. My heart melted for just a second. She was almost gorgeous. If it hadn't been for the almost Pinocchio nose, she might have been perfect. The nose made me and probably everyone else want to laugh.

"Maxine, this is Willy," he said.

I put out my hand just as she said, "It's short for Willimena," she said. Then quickly added, "Everyone asks."

"Ah okay, so how old are you Willy?" I asked.

"That's usually the second question. I am 24. I graduated from the Mass. Technical College last year. I know I look young, but I am qualified."

"Sweetie, no offense, but this isn't the housewives of Boston," I said. 'This can get pretty physical." I was thinking of the pirate fire fight and the cameraman, who watched it from the bridge.

"I can take care of the physical parts as well. I was in the army after high school. I did two tours driving a duce and a half in Afghanistan. I think you are familiar with that place."

"Yeah and the truck. Okay, long as you know you might have to defend yourself someday." I said.

"I was told that before I took the job." Willy said.

"So Willy, do you have anything you want to ask or say before we get started?" I asked.

"Just want to say that I am married." she said looking me in the eye.

"And this is supposed to tell me what?" I asked.

"That I am not available. I understand you are a bit of a womanizer," she said smiling.

"Wow, I have never heard it phrased quite like that. I think that term applies to men more than women. I am an equal opportunity slut, if that is what you mean. But you are safe because I don't screw the hired help."

"Oh?" she said.

"I might screw the boss, but I generally stay away from the hired help." I said it as a joke, but she didn't seem to think it was funny. "Moving right along, neither of you has a lot of experience with this job, so let me tell you one thing, then you are on your on. If anyone sees you filming, which causes an operation to get blown, which gets one of my people hurt, being fired will be the very least of your problems. Earl can tell you, sometimes things get a little out of hand, but you still have to keep your cover."