Code words
933 Words
*Zac*
Amir and I are sitting at a party, keeping an eye on Casper. It is flashy and loud. A rich people party.
“You were totally right, you know. This isn’t a great idea”. Amir says shaking his head lightly. “What if something happens to the C-man ?”
I turn my head to look at him with surprise. “Are you serious ?”
“No, if he dies he dies”. Amir says with a shrug, then he grins.
“So it’s a win win”. I grin back at him.
We watch as Casper walks over to go past Jan, our target, but he pushes his drink making him spil down himself, and starts to desperately try to dry it off. “Sorry, so sorry”.
“Stop that”. Jan says, talking a step back, looking at him like he is something the cat dragged. “What is the matter with you ?”
Casper walks around the pool, coming over to hand me what he just picked from Jan’s pocket.
“Well done”. I tell him, pocketing the little book.
The guy leans closer to Amir. “Hey man, are we cool now ?”
Amir glares up at him. “Not now, not ever”.
“Get out of here C-man”. I tell him. “And with here I mean the country”.
At least the kid is smart enough to hurry off.
We get up too, moving to a corner with less notice and no people around, and I pull out the little black book. “Okay let's see here … Avalon, Birdie, Samson”.
“What the hell does that mean ?” Amir says staring at the words on the page.
“The names are all coded”. I say, shaking my head, dammit, this I did not expect. “The girls too”.
Amir sounds annoyed. “So we just risked our shirleys for a book we can’t even read ?”
I look over at Jan, I really do not like that guy, he gives off a foul stench. “I know someone who might be able to help … come on”.
An hour later I knock impatiently on Rayna’s door and she opens. “Hey Zac”.
“Hi, may I ?” I make a motion with my hand, indicating that I would like to come inside.
She nods and moves aside, letting me into her home.
“So Jan was at the hotel as you said”. I say walking inside. “And just so I am understanding this completely, he hosts these parties like the one at the Ashton manor. Pretty girls, not so pretty guys, and you just what ? Just happened to be there ?”
“What are you getting at, Zac ?” She asks, my sensitive ears detecting a slight tremor in her voice.
I hold up the little black book. “This is Jan’s, it holds all the names of his clients, and the names of the girls who are paid to book up with them. Guess who’s name is in here ?”
“Give me the book”. She stalks up and grabs it from my hand, starting to look through it. “All these names are coded. How did you even know I am … you didn’t know, I just told you”.
“Look, I am not judging you”. I say softly, walking closer to her.
She huffs. “You are not judging me ? Are you kidding ? You should see your face … you totally manipulated me … get out”.
“I am sorry”. I tell her. “Look I know how hard this is for you. It is not easy for me either … You were Madison’s friend …”.
“Yes I was”. She half yells, tears in her eyes, I have clearly upset her. “You were not the only one who lost her”.
I feel the wolf roar in my head. “Raya this is not about us. These people, they killed someone, so I need to understand what is in this book. Are you gonna help me or not ?”
She just stares at me for a long moment and I start to wonder what to do if She refuses to help. “Jan comes up with the nicknames … he picks something that reminds him of the person”.
“What’s yours ?” I ask her, it might help me figure out others.
“Texana, because I am from Texas”. She says. “I don’t know the names of everyone else”.
I nod. “Thank you … now I just need to figure out what Denton Ashton is calle, so I can prove he was with Nina the night she was killed”.
When I turn to leave she calls out after me, resignation in her voice. “He wasn’t”.
I stop and turn back to look at her. “How do you know ?”
“Because he was with me”. She says in a choker up voice, throwing out her arms with a frustrated motion. “All night”. She swallows. “Just leave … please”.
I turn and walk out of there, not knowing what else to do.
- Writer
