See "An Introduction to Detective Monica" for Full Disclaimers.
Part Four
Needless to say -- but I'll say it anyway -- I didn't get much done Monday. Except that report Monday night, when Duncan was out grocery shopping. He got a phone call late Monday afternoon from his friend Joe (hey, it's a loft apartment, all one big room, except for the bathroom; I couldn't help overhearing! Besides, he took it on the phone by the bed). That seemed to make him nervous, and then he asked me if I minded staying a couple of days instead of just overnight? Naturally, I said yes. What, you think I'm crazy? Even if I don't have any clothes other than what I'm wearing. It's not like Duncan's T-shirts don't fit or anything. And I'm not worried about getting germs from his toothbrush, it's a little late for that.
I even very carefully didn't ask why he wanted me to stay. Well, yeah, it could be the obvious; but somehow I think it was more connected with that phone call . . . If it was, then maybe I have a chance of finding out what the hell he's involved in! Because he is involved in something. I can recognize antiques; just because my place is furnished with second hand chic doesn't mean I don't know the Finer Things. You should see this French tapestry he has hanging on the wall at the head of his bed!!! Possibly a Gobelin, I'm not sure; but I am sure it cost a pretty penny!! And a very old kimono on another wall -- the style isn't modern, and it's not a court kimono or anything, just a regular one with the family crest embroidered on it -- but it's really heavy quality silk, and it's not a merchant's type of family crest; more like an old samurai family or something. Not the sort of thing you can find just anywhere. And all those swords downstairs -- I remembered Green Robe and the catalogs, and something inside me got nervous.
The man just has too damned much money, considering everything else. Remember I mentioned something about the equipment at the gym?? Hah! Some weird sort of dummy, a wooden rack (that for the life of me I can't figure out what might be for; tying people up or hanging your hand washables to dry is all I can think of; somehow I don't think that's the real purpose), a high bar, a couple punching bags, assorted weights, a few benches, mats, several Japanese swords on the wall . . . and that's it, pretty much. Ok, so it's actually a dojo. Big deal. He ain't making money from it, I think it's purely a cover and a tax write-off! Oh, yeah -- he does workouts there. So far, he's the only one I've seen in the place! Serious ones, it made me exhausted just to look at him! You should have seen the sword kata he performed Monday . . . *sigh* (Yes, I said sword. Uh-huh!) The man looks gorgeous even all hot and sweaty.
One more very odd thing -- when he was doing that sweaty sword kata? I could have sworn I saw the Groucho redhead peering in one of the windows and drooling!!! Which is impossible, because those windows are darned high up -- the second floor, really -- and there isn't anything outside to balance on that high, I automatically checked last Wednesday. Detective habit; we just naturally do things like that. So how on earth did she get up that high?! I mean, it's not like you can just roll a scaffolding down the street, set it up, climb up there and calmly start observing people inside any ol' building, you know! And it is a woman; even with the Groucho glasses disguise, you can tell. Not many guys around with red hair that long. Besides, she's got curves in the right places. But geeze -- what is it about this bunch of guys that attracts strange women??? Except me, of course. I'm perfectly normal. But I can see why they might want to sort of hang around together, like they were doing at Joe's Friday night. If I were a guy and had weird characters popping up everywhere, several of them women, I'd stay in a group too!
Anyway, back to Monday -- Duncan did ask me if I wanted to go shopping with him, but I told him I'd better take a nap and rest a bit, considering. He grinned at that, and I nearly fell down. Dang that man is gorgeous!! Not to mention has certain natural talents that should go in the Guinness Book of Records -- ditto assets. All natural, too. He must qualify in the Top 10 for something. Several somethings.
So it was while he was out shopping that I did that quickie report, on this very notebook computer. I probably would've put everything off until I got back over to my place, but Prof. Karoly was extremely insistent that I submit a report every day, with full particulars. Including Duncan's movements that I observed. Which has been pretty easy, obviously; even more so now. Duncan was very nervous that I wanted to get my car and go do some stuff today, for some reason; insisted I get back ASAP when I finally persuaded him I had to go out. And he was jumpy as a cat before I left, too; kept jerking his head up and going to look out the window.
It's definitely strange; especially since he doesn't really know me that well!! So, gee -- why is he so worried about me being out by myself? No, I don't mean it that way; it's as plain as day that there's something serious going down, and he doesn't want me to get hurt or caught in the middle. But why so concerned about me this fast, huh? I mean, I'm just a casual date that turned into an overnighter!! After all, he could simply tell me to go home, right? Problem solved! Not that I'm complaining, it just seems awfully strange that he's so bloody protective toward someone he barely knows! Especially when he was all suspicious just a day or so ago. You'd think he was born in the age of chivalry or something. How many guys do you know would be that worried about someone they'd only been out with twice, huh? Tell me that!! Like, geeze, he's so blasted perfect it's suspicious!
I don't even think he would've let me go out of his loft, if not for two reasons. One, even a slightly dingy (I mean nutty, not dirt-wise) woman would get suspicious at some guy she hardly knew getting that protective -- or she'd conclude he was some kind of nut himself and want to get outta the place as fast as she could, maybe calling the police on the way. Of course, I have my own reasons -- but when I realized how nervous he was, I started acting like said woman, and he cut it out -- presumably not to make me more suspicious than I might be already. And two, I told him I needed to go to an appointment I couldn't miss, I wouldn't be able to get one for another year and my doctor told me I'd better not put it off any longer. So Duncan asks what's so important about this one . . . Well, I came up with the perfect excuse, especially with a man. I told him it was my gynecologist.
He didn't make any more protests after that.
So here I am, in my car, parked in a busy mall parking lot, with lots of people around for safety's sake, doing a report on a computer that I 'borrowed' and hope to God I can sneak back in without him noticing -- and worrying about all sorts of things myself. Like the lack of that Self Defense chapter work. Not to mention something more easily come by and handy, like a gun. Or even a sword, like good ol' Green Robe has -- only a real one. Although I suppose I could borrow one of those from the walls downstairs in the gym -- sorry, dojo . . . oh, sure, and cut my own head off, probably! Or cut Duncan's head off, now wouldn't that be a nice development!! That would solve all our problems, it would! Although sorta deprive me of a (hopefully) boyfriend.
Yeah, I know, so much for professionalism. But I can't help it, the man is just too- too- Well, something! Even with all these mysterious goings-on and the questions and everything else . . . something about him still makes me want to trust him. Stupid, huh? Well, no one ever said I was logical about emotions. Just deductions.
And right now I dunno what I've deduced, exactly. Except that it's time for me to get back to the loft. And sneaking the notebook back is gonna be real fun; especially if he needed to use it while I was gone, but I had to make a report to Prof. Karoly!!! He's been positively pouncing on my mail -- I'll go check it and find he's replied something like 5 minutes after he's got it!!! Obviously he's very impressed with my work. Which is nice, but- I dunno. Something about that makes me uneasy too!!!
Geeze, premonitions now. Hunches. Maybe I've been reading too many detective books, ya think? C'mon, I'm just worrying about what sort of test Karoly's going to give me on this portion of my class work.
The funny thing is, I don't feel nearly that uneasy about Duncan . . . and he's the mysterious one! Maybe it's just because I actually know him. (And boy, do I know him . . . in one way, anyway. The man is positively tireless!)
Enough, already. I'll send you guys more tomorrow; keep your fingers crossed for me, huh? On sneaking the computer back, that is. I'm gonna close now and get back before Duncan starts sending detectives out to find me.
[Save]
[Close File]
[Open]
[dm6.doc]
Sorry for the rather inconclusive report, Professor, but I'm working under tricky conditions here with a borrowed computer. I won't be able to get back to you all that regularly -- I'll file reports as often as I can, I promise. Thanks for being so patient, and for giving me the opportunity to get the extra 4 credit hours -- I never thought it would be that much! I really appreciate it.
Oh, I won't be able to check my mail that often, either -- and will be signing on as a guest at another location. So please don't worry if I don't answer more than every day or so, I'm just sort of deep undercover at the moment.
(Well, you could say that, couldn't you? Huh? I mean, Duncan's bed does have lots of nice, thick blankets . . .)
Monica
Student ID#0000000.01
Congratulate me, I managed to sneak the notebook back inside with no problems! Yeah, easy as pie; Duncan wasn't home when I got back! Talk about heaving a sigh of relief . . .
And he's out now; it's early Wednesday evening, btw. Which is good -- Duncan being out, that is -- as I've got an appointment to go to in a bit -- you'll never guess, Prof. Karoly's in town!!! Yeeeeup, he flew all the way out from Pennsylvania, just to observe my work closer!! Can you believe it?? Boy, is ICSSB/ACME a great correspondence school or what?
Well, I didn't believe it either. Didn't find out until just now, too -- Duncan left about ten minutes ago. I waited just in case, then snagged the computer again to check my mail and do another report -- a rather brief one. Duncan hasn't even looked at the notebook the last couple of days, so no problems; but I'll still be careful, of course, trust me for that!
I'll be glad to see the Professor -- I'm getting really worried, I need some advice. So is Duncan; worried, that is, over whatever is going down. He has a meeting today too. He looked positively grim when he went out! All my instincts are yelling at me that something really big is coming up, and they yelled even louder when he kissed me good-bye -- leaving for just a few hours, and he kisses me like he's on his way to a firing squad? (This is the guy I've only been seeing for five days, remember? Either he falls in love really fast -- doubtful -- or he's doing something awfully dangerous, and I'm a stand-in for everything he might be kissing good-bye. Like life.) And he was wearing this long black duster, and looked like Death himself . . . well, let's just say it did not make me easy in my mind. Not at all! And I do like the guy, y'know -- a lot!! And for more than his talents; he is a real sweetheart, I wasn't wrong about that . . .
Which makes it all the more suspicious that he's involved in something that can be so dangerous. Whatever the hell it is!! It's driving me totally nuts, and I can't do anything, which is even worse! So I was incredibly relieved to find that Karoly was in town, and wanted to meet me down in the warehouse district around 8 pm.
Especially when I haven't been able to really get any work done. Well, you know -- Duncan was hanging around and jittering most of the day -- despite me doing my best to get him to relax a little. Oh, he relaxed all right; relaxed so often I thought I was going to have more bruises, just from sheer repetition -- but it didn't seem to relieve any worries he had. Although he did enjoy himself! (Hey, what can I say; so did I!) And you should have seen him pounce on me yesterday, when he came back after I'd gotten in from my 'doctor's appointment.' [gg] Incredible. You'd think he'd been practicing for centuries, too, with how good he is at . . . oh well, you know. And if you don't, you're too young to be reading this! Probably.
I was able to snoop around a little yesterday, but didn't do too much of it. I mean, I got a funny feeling; guilty, y'know? Which is a major handicap for a detective -- I'll have to work on it -- but it seems a bit much to search the guy's apartment when I'm staying here 'cause he's trying to keep me safe. From something. Now, if it was just simply a matter of mutual attraction . . . no, that would be worse. Damn! My first real practice case, and professionalism goes right out the window! I just hope I can hide it from Karoly, I'm sure he'd get ticked and knock off a few grade points for that. Wouldn't you? Oh well, if he does find out, it's not like it's a life or death matter, right? Yeah, sure -- my professor's gonna get so upset over a flub on a practice assignment that he'll kill me!! LOL.
As to what I found out, well, isn't much. Just that Duncan used to have a steady girlfriend -- this gorgeous blonde, he looks pretty happy with her in the picture. I wonder what happened? I mean, the pic isn't hidden away like it normally would be if they broke up . . . It's right out there on the shelf, so he can see it whenever he passes by. I get the feeling something bad happened. Poor guy; I don't think he's had all that happy a life, I just have this impression . . . Yeesh, feelings. Well, detectives are supposed to get hunches. But you can go overboard, too! Anyway, guess I'd better not poke into that area much, although I would like to know what happened. Somehow I sense I won't see an angry blonde showing up at the door, though; so I guess it's nothing to worry much about anyway.
All that made me wonder how long it's been since he's had a steady girlfriend. I mean, judging by the frequency we. . . Uh, anyway, I think it's been quite a while, if you catch my drift; you'd think he was storing it up for the winter or something. Although he could simply have an incredible -- really, amazing -- capacity and stamina. But the only trace of a woman I've found -- aside from the picture -- was a scarf stuffed into his bureau. Don't think it's from the blonde, it was black with sequins, had a faint trace of a rather musky perfume left -- just doesn't seem the blonde's style. Although she would have looked good in black, blondes usually do; but that perfume definitely isn't her.
More like a femme fatale would wear. Or someone who thought they were a femme fatale. Oh, and there was one hair I found on it -- very short and black. Now, while Duncan has hair that's more-or-less black -- his hair's longer than this one is. Much longer. And a little curly, not straight. Which seems to point towards a brunette in his life somewhere a bit ago. Maybe she'll be coming back; after all, he kept the scarf, but there aren't any pix of a brunette around. . .which means she's probably not someone who's disappeared from his life totally, and he's planning to give her back the scarf, eventually.
Well, it's nice to know that he doesn't discriminate between brunettes and blondes -- after all, I'm a brunette -- but I'm sure going to keep an eye out for any women with short dark hair who are somewhat dangerous! Yeah, I know, a lot to deduce/assume from a scarf, a hair and a trace of perfume -- but instincts, you know, instincts!! Something tells me this babe is Trouble and should be headed off at the pass if I ever see her. Well, if I stay around Duncan, that is. Which may not happen. Dammit.
Yeah, I know -- so much for professionalism. So sue me! Phooey on it -- this is the kind of guy maybe you meet only once in a lifetime, I am not gonna give up this chance, okay? Whatever he's mixed up in; I can tell he's not one of the bad guys, and believe me, I've known a few. You should have seen the stuff my third-before-last boyfriend did. . .I mean, yeah, you expect a few things going on with a biker, but they're not all involved in drugs and arms sales, c'mon -- so why did I have to get in a relationship with a biker who was heavily into both??? Right. Bit of a sticky wicket there, to put it mildly. Then, of course, there were the three murder raps. . .I knew I shoulda stuck with the Angels or the Gypsy Jokers, but oh no, I had to go for a guy from this oddball fringe club called the Meat Hackers. . .
But enough about my boring past. Although that was what got me interested in investigative work, so I guess I have something to thank Weasel for after all.
I've got to get going. It's almost 7, and I have to get dressed -- fortunately I stopped at a store and got a few clothing items the other day. (Would've been too suspicious to go pick up anything from home, Duncan may have twigged that there was no doctor's appointment.) Then it's off to meet the professor! I'm so excited!! Plus I've got to figure out a nice, innocent note to leave for Duncan so he doesn't worry and come haring after me. If he makes it back. Lord, I hope so. . .Anyway, he's obviously got enough on his mind. I hope he won't try to track me down; he's so sweet, though, I'm sure he will worry, but I can't help it, there's no way to contact Karoly and tell him I can't make it. Besides, I'm supposed to tell him that my subject is worrying about me? Hah! This does not grade averages increase. Trust me on that one.
I'll write more tomorrow -- probably won't have to be in report form, since I'll be telling Karoly everything new I've found out tonight. Although I don't think info on past girlfriends will be much use. But hey, you give the boss what you've got, right?
Laters -- gotta hurry! It's not parking I have to worry about in the warehouse district, but the traffic downtown!
Monica
Student ID#0000000.01
(Read this one already? Want to see the next ones instead?
Here are the second and third stories in the series.)
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