A informative conversation

MD1

>The team waited while the rental papers were signed, then headed out >to the parking lot toward a pair of Tauruses.

>Vanessa and Jim were, unsurprisingly, teamed together. As the security >specialists, their role might not be quite as demanding during this >investigation - at least in that respect. This case was still puzzling to >Jim however. He had studied the criminal mind at University and at Quantico. >Although his degree was a joint honours, his project had managed to involve >the two disciplines. He had built an automated database for containing >information on serial killers. Some of the stuff had been much worse than >this. It was the supposition about the abortion that got to him. He was >still in two minds about his own feelings on that, although he did think a >woman had the right to choose for herself. The question was, if abortion was >the motive, who would have access to the information needed.

>"Vanessa and I will check at the abortion clinics, both here and in Denver. >We'll see if we can get any results there, although I guess people give >false names in some of these places. There's no chance of finding out from >the Denver murder victims if they had an abortion. Not unless the clinics >turn something up."

>"OK Jim. You and Vanessa get on to that. I am going to the funeral. What >about you two?"

"I will be at the scene which they discovered the body. Just to get a feel of things," Leo said.

Zenya spoke up.

"If you don't mind, I would like to go to the funeral. Meet the people, and maybe talk to some of them, unofficially or not. "

After getting the directions from Sheriff Jackson, the group split up. >They headed off to their respective destinations, with Jim and Vanessa >heading to the Sherrif's office in order to get on the 'phones and make >enquiries.

With Jackson's directions, Jordan and Zenya set off for the funeral.

The trip was short, but when the duo reached the church, the service had already started. They went in, making as little noise as possible, and sat on the last row of the benches. Zenya looked around. The place was filled to capacity, with quite a number of youngsters. Mary Ritchie's friends, she supposed.

When the service was reaching the end, the priest asked the family and friends of Mary to pay their last respects to the victim. Mary's family led the way, with her parents and siblings, followed by relatives then friends. Zenya noticed that there was a young woman who was sobbing uncontrollably even as she approached the coffin. As she reached the front of the coffin and looked at the body inside, the woman mumbled something to the victim, and then fled the room.

Zenya followed.

She found her soon, leaning against a big tree, crying her heart out. Zenya did not really know how to console a perfect stranger, and just stood there until the woman noticed her presence.

"Here, " Zenya said, as she passed a piece of tissue paper to her.

The woman thanked her as she accepted the tissue.

"So sorry for making a fool of myself," she said after she had wiped away her tears. "But then I really could not control myself. Mary is so young, so vibrant, and now...."

Zenya nodded her head.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I forget to introduce myself. My name is Rebecca Cross. I'm Mary's friend. "

"Zenya Gorky."

"Zenya Gorky? I don't remember Mary mentioning your name before. "

"Well,"Zenya started to explain "Actually I am not Mary's friend. I am from the FBI. We are here to carry out the investigations. " She showed her ID badge as evidence.

"FBI?"

"Ms Cross, I'm sorry if I intrude on your mourning, but there are a couple of questions that I would like to ask. Are you very close to Mary?"

Rebecca looked at the agent, the tears again filling up her eyes.

"I had known Mary since college. Just a few years, but there is something that make the 2 of us clicked together. I am the only child, and Mary was the sister that I never had. The one that play with me, joke with me, cheer me up when I was down. We can just spend the whole night doing nothing but talking, talking about anything, everything. "

Zenya looked at Rebecca closely. The woman was going to cry again. She did some quick thinking, and then asked another question.

"Ms Cross, I would like to know something. Does Mary ever had a abortion?"

Rebecca looked at the agent, surprise on her face.

3.30pm Santa Fe PD, Sheriff's Office ------------------------------------

Sheriff Jackson had drove Jim and Vanessa to the police department, filling them stories about Santa Fe's stories all the way.

The moment they reached the police department, a few police officers called out to Jackson, trying to get his attention.

"Sheriff, there are a few messages for you."

"Jackson, someone came about the High Street breakins."

"Back so soon, Sheriff?"

"Santa Fe Daily's reporter called again, Sheriff."

Jackson snorted in response to all the shouts, and led the two agents into his office before slamming the door.

"Bad week for all of us. " He explained, "it was as if the Santa Fe was turning crazy with crime. "

Just then, a head popped in.

"Hey Sheriff, your wife just called. She told you to go home early tonight. And not to forget the cheese. "

Jackson shook his head in dismay, not noticing the grins on Jim's and Vanessa's face.

Just then, his phone rang.

"Jackson," he said. He listened for a while, and then mouthed 'my wife' to them.

Their grins grew wider, and the agents automatically move to the other side of the small room, away from the conversation.

At that particular moment, there was a not familiar ringing from one of Vanessa's pockets. She looked at her clothes in surprise. It was the first time her cell phone rang.

"Vanessa," she spoke into the phone. Jim looked at his fellow agent as she listened to the callee, expressionless at first, then started to frown.

"Goodness. Thanks, Zenya. Yes, I will tell Jim about this. We'll meet tonight back at the motel. I'll try to keep you informed. " With that, she slapped her cell phone closed then turned to Jim.

"You won't believe this." She told him.

He raised his eyebrows. Try me.

"Zenya just spoke to Mary Ritchey's best friend. According to her, Mary had never had a abortion before. However, the interesting thing was that she had a pregnancy scare two months ago. Mary thought that she was pregnant, and told her best friend, and no one else. But the conversation took place in a cafe, which means that anyone can overhear it. "

"What do you think?" She asked her partner, his eyebrows still raised.

Regards, 
Lee Sau Woon 
aka SA Vanessa Lee