“Junior, it’s me, Jack.” He could hear Ross fumbling with the phone.
“What time is it?”
“It’s lunchtime.” Jack heard Ross clear his throat and get a drink of water.
“Are you awake now?” Jack asked.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Somebody’s messing with you, Junior, and we need to find out who and why. I was in the lab his morning with the geeks; they don’t sleep. I have some good news and some bad news. First, your credit is shot. Somebody messed with your credit cards, your credit rating, and your bank accounts. Your finances are a mess and it’ll be a major headache to get it all fixed.”
“They got everything?”
“Yep, they pretty much wiped you out.”
“Well, what’s the good news? There wasn’t that much money. They assumed my debt too?”
“No, what I told you was the good news.”
“Great.”
“And we found where the Gov ditched the truck and the phone.”
Ross yawned. “Sorry, I’m not awake. Did you tell me the bad news yet?”
“Junior, this guy didn’t just come across you on the road. He followed you from somewhere. Where were you coming from? Who knew where you were going to be or where you were going?”
“I worked out at the gym in the morning with Sandy.”
“And?”
“And nothing. I had some follow up questions for her and this morning was a good time for them. She’s been a little stressed out so I thought if she felt comfortable talking to me at the gym I should take advantage of it.”
Jack shook his head. “And you wanted to see her again and seeing her in her gym clothes was a bonus.”
Ross didn’t argue. “That’s about right.”
There was silence on the line and then Ross yawned again. “Junior, stay with me a little while longer and then you can get some sleep,” Jack said. “OK. Somebody either followed you or knew where you were going to be. You went straight to the gym this morning?”
“Yeah. Got up. Went to the gym to meet Sandy and work out.”
“You didn’t see anybody follow you. What do you remember?”
Ross took a deep breath. “I talked with Sandy while we worked out. Didn’t learn much. I left the gym. Decided to take the scenic route back by Lake Calhoun, the phone rings and boom, I’m here.” He yawned again.
“Well, I told you we found the truck. It was parked behind Sandy’s apartment building. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
“You think she’s involved?”
“Yes, look at the facts. She worked at the bank, you worked out with her and got attacked, and we found the truck behind her apartment. What do your investigative skills tell you from that?”
“Oh man, Jack. Just a second.”
Jack listened to the silence.
“Since we don’t know who the Governor is, I guess I need to start with Sandy. See what she can tell us.” Ross took a deep breath and puffed it out. “I have her number in my phone.”
“I called her and it went straight to voicemail. Her phone’s off. We can’t geotrack her.” Jack paused. “She’s working tonight. I was thinking, if you’re up to it, we should go visit her.”
“Working? There’s a bank open?” Ross asked.
“Um, no. She’s got a second job.”
“What is it?”
“Junior, she’s a stripper, or exotic dancer. She works at Sheiks.”
“What?” Ross asked. “No way.”
“We’re at her building. We found the truck that hit you parked in back with the Governor’s phone under the seat. The super for her building said that’s what she does and she’s working tonight.”
There was silence on the phone.
“Junior, you still there?” Jack asked.
“Yeah. When are we going?”
“I’m going back to the lab with the truck and phone to see what we can learn. Then I have a dinner date with my wife. I can’t miss it. I’ll pick you up after that. Get some rest.”
“Anything?” Jack asked.
Two men and a woman dressed in white coveralls were examining the vehicle inside and out.
“Nothing so far. Looks like he wore gloves. No fingerprints on the door handle or steering wheel or keys. We’ve swabbed the windshield and steering wheel for DNA in case he sneezed on them.”
Sure Thing walked over to join them. “Nothing on the phone, Jack. It’s a throw away. Made a couple of calls.”
“He left it there to taunt us,” Jack said. “He could’ve just as easily taken it with him. The only reason he left it was so we’d find the vehicle. He’s feeling pretty superior right now.”
Jack and Sure Thing stood in the garage, looking at the side of the truck with its scratches and dents. “Any ideas?” Jack asked.
“Nothing comes to mind, but we’ll keep working.”
“If Sandy’s phone comes on, locate it and call me. I’ll be having dinner with my wife.”