6.30pm Delaney's ----------------
Delaney's was a moderately sized dining place. The place was brightly lit, and had a casual atmosphere. It seemed to be the type of place where people meet to eat and talk. Separating each booth was a painted glass pane, matching the maroon coloured seat cushions and the dark tables. The glass panes reminded Jim of Vanessa's house, but he did not mention it. She does not seem to notice it though.
They were the last to turn up, and by then, all of them were relatively hungry. They decided to place their orders first, and this was done quickly by a cheerful waitress.
"So you found anything at the funeral?" Leo asked Jordan and Zenya.
Zenya recounted her meeting with Rebecca Cross, for the third time that day.
"I did meet a police officer in charge of the old cases, Joe Gantry, and he did mention something about a profile of the murderer. " Jordan added.
"Joe Gantry? I think we had a copy of the profile. But it was quite vague, if I did not remember wrongly." Jim mentioned.
"If that is so, we would have to pay Mr Gantry a visit tommorrow. I'm sure he would cooperate fully with us."
Next in turn was Jim. He told the rest of the group about their visit to the Smith's, leaving out the part about the old woman. Vanessa raised her eyebrow in surprise. No one noticed.
"The sheriff lent you his car?" Jordan was surprised.
"Well, he does not seem to be eager to go home and see his wife's relatives. I am sure that he will try to borrow the most rotten car in the police dept. Perferably one with a potential punctured tyre or two. "
"From what you say, Mary seemed to be both scared of, and attracted to him. This Ted must be somebody." Zenya said.
"Don't forget the casette and the diary we got." Jordan reminded her.
"You had not heard the most interesting part yet." Leo chipped in.
Just then, the waitress came with their food. As she was about to leave, Leo stopped her.
"Excuse me...errr...(tried to look at her small name tag)...Peggy. May I know where is the Santa Fe Hilton?"
"Santa Fe Hilton? Its just 15 minutes away. " She said, pointing at the a generally west direction. "You just drove down this street, then turned left at the post office and you will be there."
Leo grimaced. He was sure that he would not be able to find any post office, and perhaps no left turn as well. Still he put on a smile and thanked Peggy.
"What is the interest in Hilton? We are not staying there, are we?" Jim said, casting a glance at Jordan. The latter gave a its-not-my-fault-we-don't-have-a-large-budget look.
Leo smiled, a genuine one this time, and told them about the Mr Ted who was staying at the hotel.
"Hilton 315."
"Five weeks ago. Most probably he would have left by now." Vanessa predicted.
"No harm trying though. You'll never know what you're gonna find."
"I would like to check on the hotel after dinner." Leo volunteered, unwilling to let the trail grow cold.
"Great idea. But I think I would prefer to have a early night. I would like to recover from the flight. " Zenya informed the group, shuddering as she recalled the flight earlier that day.
"I think I will do the same too. Its been a busy day. Funerals always make me depressed." Jordan added, then turned to Jim and Vanessa.
"As for you two, I suggest that you better returned the car to Sheriff Jackson as soon as possible. Budget is tight, but we still can rent one more car. "
"We'll do that immediately after dinner." Jim said, as he planned to get the car then go on his secret pursuit of the old woman.
We? Vanessa thought, then she remembered that she had promised Jim to go back in search of the old woman at night. Darn.
After dinner, the group split again, promising one another that they would meet for breakfast the next morning at the motel.
8pm Santa Fe Hilton -------------------
SA Leo Jones was right. There was no 'post office', and there were too many left turnings for him to make a wise decision. In the end, it had taken him 45 minutes and stopping for 3 times asking for directions before he reached the Hilton.
Running two steps at one time, he raced up the steps to the hotel.
Here I come, Mr Ted.
The entrance of the hotel led way into the lobby. It was after dinner time, and there were alot of people still hanging around, talking, drinking, relaxing.
Leo made his way to the registration counter. A handsome, well-tan blonde man in his twenties was attending to a newly wedded couple, and he smiled in Leo's directions to let him know that his arrival was noted. After waiting behind the couple for about a decade, as they registrated and told the smiling man about their meeting, courtship, and wedding, it was his turn.
"May I help you?" The man, still smiling, asked Leo.
Leo looked at his name tag. He was half expecting to see the name California Sunshine Boy, but saw instead 'John T. Goodman'
"May I help you?" CSB asked again.
Leo thought for a while, then lied.
"I am here to meet a friend. I believe that he is staying at Room 315. May I know is he in?"
"He?"
"Yes. He. I don't know what name does he register in, but its a he all right."
CSB smiled.
"I'm afraid that Room 315's occupant is not your friend, sir. In fact, you just met them."
"Just?" Leo was surprised.
"Yes, the newly weds in front of you just now? They stayed in Room 315."
Damn.
Then, "FBI." with the now-familiar flash-ID action.
"FBI? Is anything the matter?" CSB asked, starting to sweat.
"May I have a record of the past and current occupants staying in Room 315 for the past 2 months?"
"Excuse me, sir. But may I ask why?"
"You may not." Leo was abrupt, blunt.
CSB turned a shade paler, and shook a degree more obviously.
"Please wait, sir, while I go and get the manager."
And as CSB left the counter in search of the hotel's manager, Leo stood there and sweared.
Regards, Lee Sau Woon aka SA Vanessa Lee