Jim McGill 04 The Last Ballot Cast, Part 2 by Joseph Flynn

Author:Joseph Flynn
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fiction & Literature
Publisher: Stray Dog Press, Inc.
Published: 2012-07-24T04:00:00+00:00

Wilson/West Realty — Ottawa, Illinois

Special Agent Vincent Gallo would have kept working his desk job, stir crazy though it made him, if the late winter weather in Chicago had been anything near normal. Cold enough to chill an Eskimo and bleak enough to make Edvard Munch break out his paint brush. But it was sunny and sixty. He’d have liked to go to a ball game or even play catch with his son. Instead, he settled for a drive in the country. He motored down I-55 to the turnoff for Ottawa, where Realtor Deanna Wilson plied her trade.

Gallo always wore his wedding band. Somedays he buffed the ring so it would be impossible to miss. Today was one of those days. He remembered Deanna Wilson’s voice when she’d spoken with him. The lady may have been a cop groupie. She might have liked his voice. She could have been lonely just a bit too long.

In any case, he didn’t want her to think he was anything but a man doing his job.

Turned out, he needn’t have worried. Deanna was spending the week in St. John, USVI.

Her partner, Suzie West, was holding down the fort at Wilson/West Realty when he arrived and identified himself. Suzie couldn’t be more than twenty-five. The smile she gave Gallo was more mischievous than amorous. Still, her expression was unusual enough to make a G-man take notice.

“Is there something I should know, Ms. West?”

“You are cute for an older guy.”

“Thank you. My wife says pretty much the same thing.”

Suzi grinned. “I’m not hitting on you. I’ve got my own hunk. But you’ve made Deanna all moony.”

“I have?”

“Yeah, but it’s harmless. She keeps talking about moving somewhere with more men. Interesting men. But we do a nice business here so she keeps on saving for the day when she can buy a condo somewhere warm and live off her money.”

“Not a bad plan,” Gallo said.

“It’s a good plan, but she gets pretty horny in the meantime. So she goes on her little vacations, looking for fun. I always give her a dozen condoms. Different colors and textures, you know. Tell her not to do the deed unless her knight wears his shining armor.”

“Okay,” Gallo said. “Do you think you could show me the house on Gentleman Road that Ms. Wilson and I discussed?”

“Absolutely, but there’s something else I’ve got to show you first.”

Gallo was about to hold up a hand, but Suzie saw the apprehension on his face and laughed.

“Not me, silly. I really do have my own guy. I’m going to show you what Deanna did for you.”

Suzie opened the file drawer of the unoccupied desk in the office. She withdrew a manila folder and offered it to Gallo.

“Deanna put this together in case you or one of your people came by. She’s gonna kick herself when she finds out she missed you. Aside from being married, you are about the right age for her.”

Gallo chose not to comment. With Suzie’s permission, he sat down at Deanna Wilson’s desk.

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