Page 31 of Mission: Possible

I nodded.

"Do you feel okay about going there? If you'd rather skip it..."

I shrugged. "Nope. I've gotten past much worse experiences."

"Unfortunately, this is true." Solomon signaled the waitress and gestured for the check. When she brought it over, he handed her the cash, grabbing his jacket as he got to his feet. "We really need to start shopping for cars. I had to walk here," he said, "Have you thought about what brand of car you want?"

"A Ferrari," I said, my lips twitching as I held back a smile.

"Perhaps something a little less flashy?"

"Then no, I haven't decided."

"As soon as these cases are solved, we’ll go shopping for a new car." Solomon kissed me and I watched him walk out of the diner. Then I observed several other patrons watching him walk across the parking lot to the sidewalk. One of them loudly sighed. With a roll of my eyes, I followed my husband outside.

In the car, I dialed the number Austen gave me for Zach Gallo. Since he was Sophie Takahashi's only relative, I wanted to talk to him about his sister and get a feel for the kind of man he was. Austen's suspicions still puzzled me. I couldn't quite work out how someone with a supposedly hidden past could also have a very visible brother. Surely anyone who changed their identity or intended to hide something about their past wouldn't appear to have anyone? It was far more likely that someone in hiding would create a story about a family who died or abandoned them; people that could never be traced or contacted. I needed to corroborate their identities as a primary measure, and then get Zach's take on his sister's accident, gleaning whatever I could about his personality. Austen gave me the impression Sophie wasn't as close to Zach as she once was, and I wanted to know if Zach agreed with that assessment. If something was driving a wedge between them, could that same something be the source of Sophie's attack?

Zach didn't answer my call and a generic voice invited me to leave a message. Instead, I disconnected.

A dozen ideas whipped through my mind as I drove to the police station, each more fanciful than the last. Did Sophie have a secret gambling addiction and owe money to the wrong people? Had she witnessed a terrible crime only to be silenced? Was she having an affair and her lover tried to kill her when she wouldn't leave Austen for him? Was her attack a message to Austen from a disgruntled employee at one of his businesses? By the time I parked near the police department, the only thing I knew was: I had to keep an open mind and explore all avenues.

I picked up a visitor's badge from the desk sergeant and headed to Garrett's office, a route that usually took me a long time. I was almost certain to bump into several serving family members. This time took even longer since they'd all heard about the bank robbery and that I was present. By the time I reached Garrett, I was ready to get a coffee, sit down and let him tell me everything.

"I’ve got nothing for you," said Garrett when I stepped through the doorway. A stack of paperwork covered a large portion of his desk and he paused his typing on the computer.

"You don't even know why I'm here," I said.

"The bank robbery."

"Okay, so you do know but you don't know what I'm going to ask."

"It's not my case."

"Why the hell not?" I sighed as I dropped into the chair opposite his desk.

"Make yourself at home," grumbled Garrett, reluctantly giving me his attention as he rested his forearms on his desk and leaned forwards.

"Thanks. Can I have a coffee, please? I just ran into three of our uncles and seven cousins."

"Hah," said Garrett. "I got grilled by seventeen relatives, but thankfully, I outrank them all, so they only get thirty seconds before they have to leave me alone."

"It's nice they're so concerned about me."

"Mostly surprised you didn't get shot."

"So little faith." Garrett grunted and I decided not to question his apparent agreement with them. "How's Officer Andersen doing?" I asked.

"Fine. He was released from the hospital last night. It was a clean shot so he got a complete check-up and stitches but required no surgery. He's home now resting. The chief will probably award him a medal for bravery."

"Seriously?"

"And a promotion too, no doubt."

"He shouldn't have taken them on. He was pretty reckless."

"I agree, given how outgunned he was and all, but he still emerged a hero. You might get a nice handshake from the chief for admirably performing emergency aid."

"I'd like a set of new clothes. It's tough getting blood stains out."