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Hunter and Andre had time to begin processing Jean Claude as his attorney sat and watched, but that was all. A half dozen Justice Department Attorneys came into the room, as did four FBI Agents, two CGIS Investigators from the Coast Guard, the two Fort Lauderdale Homicide Detectives, Rahinsky and Bustamante, and, on their way as fast as they could drive, were the two Miami Homicide Detectives, Jesse Coda and the young one, Jason Hale.
Bob Redus pushed through the crowd and told Hunter and Andre, “News teams are on the way, too.”
“Which ones?” Andre asked.
“All of ‘em.” He winked and squeezed back through the crowd.
Andre looked at Hunter, “You ever have anything like this before?”
Hunter laughed, “I live in a town with a population of eighteen-hundred, and the nearest town with a population over ten thousand is two-hundred miles away, what do you think?” She shook her head. “I don’t think we’ll have to worry. Looks like the suits are already sprucing up for their on air interviews. Let’s get our part done and get out of here.”
Andre said, “Let’s.”
They didn’t make it without being interviewed by several of the news teams, but there was always someone they turned it over to, so they weren’t in front of the cameras nearly as long as the others.
~*~
By the time Hunter ended her shift, John and Randall were peppering her phone with texts and images of what the news teams were showing on the network stations. Underneath one image of Hunter they texted, “I know her! I know her!”, and on a second, “How come u r not wearing yur bikini uniform?”. The last one was, “Randall’s. Steaks. Mangoes. Beers. Be There or be a Trapezoid.” Those guys, she thought.
Hunter didn’t bother changing, just went straight there. Randall handed her a Dos Equis as John put the steaks on the grill. She said, ‘Glad you’re back. How was the Land of Enchantment?”
“Enchanting as always.”
John said over his shoulder, “Says he’s got some things to tell us.”
Hunter looked at Randall, “That you learned in New Mexico?”
Randall said, “After we eat.”
She asked, “How’s your grandfather?”
“Good. The doctor said he’s healthy, just had an old person moment. The hospital released him to be at home. I’ve got a cousin lives nearby, he’s gonna check on Grandfather every couple days or so.”
John pulled out a chair and sat down, “Tell me what this Ringo Bazin guy looks like again.”
Hunter said, “Why?”
“I think he was there today.”
“At Villard’s?”
“When I first saw him, I thought he was a mannequin propped between two bushes, but then I realized it was a man.”
Hunter felt her neck hairs prickle. “I saw you in the rear view mirror, looking around some oleanders.”
“That’s where he was. I was in the car watching you for a second, and when I looked back he was gone. Like, poof. What does he look like?”
“He’s about six-five, athletic looking. It’s hard to judge weight because he wears tailored suits, but I would guess him at around two-twenty. His skin’s light, coffee with cream.”
“And?”
“He’s very still. I don’t know any other way to put it.”
“That’s him. I’m going to do some checking around.”
Hunter took a sip, “You find something, let me know. He spooks me.” John tipped his Dos Equis at her in acknowledgement, and then rose to work the grill.
The steaks were done to medium rare perfection, and John had also grilled fresh asparagus. Earlier, Randall had prepared mango salsa, borracho beans, and fried plantains, and when the three friends placed everything on the patio table, it looked like enough food to feed eight. Randall said, “Don’t wait on me.”
