Lethal: an Off-Book Novel

down shelters, even going after staff. A mutual friend had intro-
duced us in the hopes that I could help where the police had been
unable to. As it turned out I was able to do just that, with a little as-
sistance from some other friends.

After solving that problem I became kind of a personal defense
consultant to the mission, pro-bono of course. From time to time I
advised Kim on security upgrades and taught personal defense
classes to her members so they could defend themselves on the
streets if they had to. Over the years Kim and I had become quite
good friends. I liked her, she made me laugh with her wicked sense
of humor and easy manner.

Recently she had let slip that she and her husband Michael were
having problems in their marriage again. They had been together for
almost twenty years and she thought that perhaps the relationship
was getting a little stale. They had separated a few times in the past,
but always seemed to find their way back to one another. But Kim
wasn’t so sure that would be the case this time. I got the sense that
she wasn’t even sure she wanted it to be the case this time.

I had called her at home last night to let her know that I would be
accompanying Kory Levin to their meeting. This seemed to excite
her quite a lot. We talked for a while and I could tell there was
something going on with her, and eventually she confessed that she
and Michael were filing for a formal separation. Not a divorce yet,
but it might likely head in that direction soon.

I told her I was sorry for her. Which was largely the truth. And I
was a little sorry for me as well. I had always had an attraction to
Kim, had seriously thought about making a move despite the fact
that she was married—it had never stopped me in the past—but I
had resisted for some reason. Still, the desire had never gone away.

But I was with Traci now, and very happy. Sadly my chance with
Kim had come and gone. Too bad.

I got out of the SUV after parking on the side of the building at the
corner of 25th Street and 1st Avenue North downtown, a large golf
umbrella over my head. I held the door for my client and he stepped
out under the umbrella. Rockford was on his own with his own um-
brella.

We walked around to the front of the building and went inside.
There was a large circular reception desk in the middle of the en-
trance hallway and a uniformed security guard sat behind it.

The guard was a thick black man in his mid-fifties. Not the most
impressive I’ve ever seen, but at least his uniform was neat and
clean.

I identified myself to the guard and told him Ms. Sutton was ex-
pecting us. He nodded, saying that Mrs. Sutton had instructed him
to send us back right away, then he lifted the receiver on the desk
telephone and made a call as we walked off.

There was not too much activity in the halls this morning, which I
found kind of surprising. Usually when I came here there was al-
ways a buzz. Maybe the weather had caused a temporary slow down.

I knew the way to Kim’s office with my eyes closed so the other
two followed behind me.

When we turned into the last corridor I saw the slender, long-
haired, long-legged brunette standing outside her office door with a
big grin on her thin face.

She unfolded her arms as I approached and put them around my
neck, squeezing tightly.

“God you look good, baby,” she whispered in my ear. “You just get
younger and younger looking all the time.”

I grinned, squeezing her back, enjoying it far more than I should
have under the circumstances.

We pulled back a little and stared at one another intently, then
Kim kissed me gently on the lips, glancing past my shoulder.

I made the introductions, and was about to step back so the trio
could enter the office and converse in private, but Kim took hold of
my arm and pulled me inside as well.

“I don’t get to see you often enough as it is, Derrick,” she said to
me. “So you aren’t waiting outside. Come on in and have a seat. Not
to worry, there are plenty of places to sit today.”

I smiled and nodded, then followed her into the office and shut
the door.

Chapter 10

Since I had last been to the mission Kim had made some changes in
her office. The most notable was the small two-person sofa in the
front corner. Some might call it a loveseat in different circum-
stances, but seeing as how this was a business setting, I did not.

Sam Rockford and Kory Levin sat in two reasonably comfortable
chairs across from the sofa. The chairs were new as well. Before
there had only been a couple of metal folding chairs that were any-
thing but comfortable. Prisoners at Gitmo would probably give up
their mothers after a few hours sitting in them.

Kim and I sat on the sofa, very close to one another, which was the
only way possible. I had to admit that I liked the intimacy, but once
again wished I had done something about it before now.

“So from the email Sam sent to me, Kory, I get the feeling you’re
planning on shooting several different stories in different cities
around the country?”

Kory Levin nodded.
“Exactly. Right now we have ten planned, but the final product
will probably be half that. I’m thinking about showcasing different
regions of the country, and from everything I’ve read about Birm-
ingham over the years I’d say it’s a pretty good representation of the
southeast.”
Kim nodded enthusiastically.

“Yes, I’d say it is. Very much so. And I should tell you that I find
your story idea very compelling. One that sorely needs to be told, to
have a spotlight on it. Everybody is always talking about how the
economy is affecting big business—banks, insurance companies, car
manufacturers—but they never seem to spend all that much time
talking about the people who’ve lost everything. Families that once
had good incomes and good homes in safe neighborhoods who have
been turned out onto the streets in recent years due to circum-
stances beyond their control. Circumstances that were not of their
creation either. It’s a national disgrace, and one that should get
more attention.”

“I agree fully,” Levin said eagerly, a note of conviction in his
slightly nasally voice. “And I should admit now that up until re-
cently I didn’t know much about the subject myself. Too caught up
in my own life and all. But then I was talking to a cousin of mine
back home in Michigan and she was telling me about all the people
in her neighborhood who were losing their homes after losing their
jobs, many of them ending up living in their cars—if they were lucky
—some finding themselves in shelters, others on the streets. I just
had no idea how bad things had become for so many people. Like I
said, I was so caught up in my own life and didn’t pay attention. But
then I started doing research, talking to people, ordinary people I
mean, and I got an earful; my eyes opened. I did a lot more research
while I was trying to come up with a way to help. Then this idea
came to me and I talked to some money people. There wasn’t much
interest at first, but I can be a real persistent pain in the ass when I
need to be. Eventually I found a few people who would listen and
support me. And now here we are.”

“Well however it came about,” Kim said. “I’m just glad it did. Any-
thing that can be done to help is a worthy cause and one I will do all
in my power to assist with. My staff and I are at your disposal at any
time, anything you want to ask, anything you want to see, just say
the word.”

“Thank you, Kim,” Levin said. “I appreciate this. Really. Sam and I
are going to be in town for maybe another week and a half and will
want to see all of your shelters, talking to some of your residents if
they will agree. Especially any who fit into the category we’re dis-
cussing. I want to use real people as a basis for the fictionalized ac-
counts I’m going to put in the movie. Tell them that if they don’t
want to be on camera nor have their names credited it won’t be a
problem. I’ll respect their privacy; I just want to hear their stories.”

Kim nodded.
“I’ll do what I can, Kory. I’m sure you understand that a lot of
these people are proud, but are embarrassed at the circumstances
they find themselves in. Many of them are having the most difficult
time of their lives and might not want the publicity, no matter how
good the cause. I will try to assure them that you will respect their
privacy, and I’m sure that a number of them will be willing to talk to
you. If for no other reason than they get to talk to a big Hollywood
star.”
Kory Levin smiled deprecatingly, showing a mouth full of even
white teeth.
“Also, if you could,” he continued, “I would like your help finding
some of the areas around the city that the homeless gather. Not the
shelters, the unofficial places they gather and live. I know this will
be a bit tricky and there will be more resistance in those places, but
I’d like to see them, visit them if possible.”

Kim glanced at me.
“Well you will be accompanied by the best bodyguard in the city—
actually the region—so your safety probably won’t be an issue. But I
should warn you, if you do go to these places, you will see some very
ugly things there.”
“I have no doubt of that,” Kory Levin responded earnestly. “And
that is precisely why I must go there. I have to see it, all of it. That’s
the only way that I’ll be able to accurately tell the story.”
Kim nodded after a time.
“Then I’ll see what I can arrange. This may take a few days. But I
can arrange the shelter visits as soon as you like. In fact, if you have
time today I can give you a tour of this place.”
“That would be great,” Kory said. “We have time.”
Kim nodded and stood. Kory and Sam Rockford stood as well. I
decided to remain seated. I can be as much of a gentleman as the
next guy, but sometimes bowing to peer pressure needs to be
avoided. This was one of those times. And I knew Kim wouldn’t
care.

She went over to her desk and picked up the phone, pressing two
buttons. She asked the person on the other end of the line to come
to her office and then hung up the receiver, turning to face us.

“I’ll have one of my case workers come and start the tour and I’ll
join you shortly.”

Kory and Sam nodded and then there was a knock at the door. A
moment later it opened and a petite woman with long jet black hair
and near porcelain skin walked in.

I smiled, and stood now.

Bridgett Lemons looked at me and smiled as well, her dark eyes
lighting up.

“Derrick!” she exclaimed, and came over and gave me a fierce hug.
Bridgett Lemons had been a client of mine nearly a decade ago
when she was a graduate student at Samford University and being
stalked by an ex-boyfriend fresh from the battlefields in the Middle
East. Today she was in her early thirties, married to a decent (and
mentally stable) man, and mother of a beautiful three year old little
girl. She was also a counselor at the mission, one of Kim’s rising
stars. And now all seemed right with her world. Another Derrick
Olin success story.
Kim made the introductions and then Bridgett, a little star-struck
by Kory Levin, led the way out to begin the tour. Kim caught my arm
before I could leave and pulled me to the side, closing the door to
the office.
“Not you, dearheart,” she said with an impish grin. “Thought we
could talk first.”
I stood staring into Kim’s mischievous brown eyes and could not
resist the urge to smile.
“Why do I feel like I need a bodyguard of my own right now?” I
said.
Kim giggled and pulled me back over to the sofa.
“Get back over here and sit down,” she demanded.
We sat.
Kim crossed her legs left over right and turned toward me, her
knee pressing into my leg.
I looked at her for a few seconds, the grin still in place on her thin
lips. This could be very dangerous, I thought, then remembered that
I was supposed to be keeping an eye on Kory Levin. Oh well, I was

pretty sure he was in good hands while inside the mission. Probably
a lot safer than I was right now.

Kim Sutton got sexier and sexier every time I saw her. But there
was no way I was going to betray my relationship with Traci Bren-
ner. There was a time in the not too distant past when having multi-
ple relationships with multiple women at the same time would have
been no problem for me. As a matter of fact, when I had met Traci
this had been the case. And she was still married at the time.

But those days were behind me now. Hopefully.
So no matter how much a certain part of me wanted to get up and
lock the door to the office… then come back and strip this cute,
long-legged brunette naked… it just could not happen.
Later I’d be kicking the shit out of myself for this, but that’s life.
Still, it would be so easy…
And so fucking good!
And NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

Chapter 11

Before joining the tour, Kim stopped by the education center on the
second floor where some of her members were working on résumés
and other job preparation tasks and asked if any of them would be
interested in talking with Kory Levin while he was here today. Sev-
eral were not, but a few were, all of them women. Kim had smiled
and said she’d let Kory know. Which she did a short time later as
Bridgett was showing him around on the first floor.

Kim arranged for the members to speak with Kory in her office, in
private, an additional treat for the ladies. While this was taking
place, Sam Rockford went up front to the reception area to make
some calls on his mobile. Kim had to have a quick meeting with an-
other case worker so she left Bridgett and me alone outside the door
to her office.

Bridgett smiled at me and shook her head.
“What?” I said.
“Oh nothing,” my former client replied slyly. “It’s just good to see
you again, Derrick.”
“You saw me a few weeks ago, Bridgett,” I told her. “Remember?
When I was here teaching that PD class.”
“Yeah,” she said, still smiling. “But that was more like a month
and a half ago.”

“Okay,” I said. “A month and a half. And I’ll bet that during that
time your daughter has grown a lot.”

Now I was talking to a proud young parent. She told me every-
thing that her daughter had been up to recently, and as I watched
her I had a brief image of the young woman she was when we had
first met years ago in her academic advisor’s office at Samford. She
was very different today. More confident, stronger, self-assured,
even assertive. Quite a change. And a welcomed one.

After a few minutes Bridgett stopped talking.
“I’m boring you, aren’t I?” she said.
I touched her arm.
“Not at all. I love hearing about pleasant things for a change. Ac-
tually I was just thinking about how much has changed in your life
since our first encounter.”
Bridgett was solemn for a moment, nodding.
“Yeah,” she said. “A long time ago, and a lot of changes. Mostly for
the better. Kurt and Sasha have had a lot to do with that. Meeting
Kurt, getting married to him, and then having Sasha… the best
things I’ve ever done.”
“Actually I believe a lot of the credit goes to you, my dear,” I told
her. “You put the work in. You faced up to your demons and became
stronger in the process. And now look at you.”
She grinned again.
“Here I am, in all my glory.”
We both laughed.
“And I still owe you for what you helped me through… back then.”
I shook my head.
“You owe me nothing, luv,” I told her. “Just doing what I was
hired to do.”

Bridgett shook her head and touched my arm.
“Far more than that, Derrick, and you know it.”
We stood staring into one another’s eyes for several moments, and
then Kim came back.
“You two look so serious,” she said with a grin. “Not plotting a way
to overthrow the queen, are we?”
I turned to look at her as she took up a position next to me against
the wall.
“And who might the queen be?” I asked.
She grinned wider, bumping her arm against mine.
“Why isn’t that obvious, babe?” she teased. “Me!”
The three of us laughed.
Sam Rockford came back a few minutes later, saying that he had
just spoken to some studio people out in LA who wanted to know
how things were going with Kory Levin. Bridgett started talking to
him, asking him what it was like to be in show business. This
seemed to be a subject that Rockford really liked talking about, but
not one I really cared to listen to.
I nodded at Kim and she and I moved further down the hall.
“I’d rather have another root canal than listen to that crap,” Kim
whispered.
“Think I’d rather get shot again myself.”
Again we laughed, and again she bumped her arm against mine.
It was something that I was beginning to like a lot.
But it was also something that I had no plans to do anything
about.
At least I hoped I didn’t!

Chapter 12

We didn’t leave the mission until well-past noon and Kory Levin
was both pleased and sad as we went. He said that he had learned a
lot during his talks with the members, gotten some great insights,
but he also said that the stories he heard were heartbreaking, which
I had no doubt they were.

He and Sam Rockford sat in the back of the SUV as I pulled away
from the building, the rain having slackened considerably. I glanced
in the rearview mirror and saw the grim expression on my client’s
face. It was obvious that he had been moved by what he had heard,
and I could tell by the frustration in his eyes that he was upset at not
being able to do something to ease the suffering of the people he had
met.

Sam suggested lunch and Kory nodded, but said nothing. Sam
asked if I knew of any suitable places in the area and I thought
about it for a few minutes. The choices in this section of downtown
were not all that great, but over on Southside they were plentiful.
The only problem was with the likelihood that Kory would be recog-
nized in an afternoon lunch crowd. And especially on the Southside.

Kory spoke up then and said that didn’t matter much to him right
now. I didn’t like this development, preferring to maintain his
anonymity for as long as possible, but nodded assent and turned
onto Twenty-Second Street. There’s a pretty good Italian place on

Highland Avenue South called Bottega Italian Restaurant, not very
original, but the food is surprisingly good.

I found a parking space just down from the restaurant and asked
my client and his manager to wait while I went inside to check the
place out and get a table. The lunch crowd was pretty heavy at the
moment but I did see a couple of booths in back.

A quick word with the manager on duty, during which a few large
bills changed hands, and I was able to secure one of the booths. I
was also granted permission to bring my client in through the ser-
vice entrance, which I did.

Levin and Rockford sat on the same side, with Levin closest to the
wall. I sat across from them where I could watch the front entrance
and most of the restaurant.

A waitress came over and asked what we wanted to drink. Levin
and Rockford both ordered alcohol, I asked for iced tea. Rockford
opened his menu and glanced around.

“Not a bad spot,” he said. “This is the area of town called South-
side, right?”

I nodded.
“Yep. Actually you’re in Five Points South right now. Probably the
most liberal area of the city you’re likely to find. Artists, musicians,
quasi-intellectuals, this is where you’ll find them.”
Rockford smiled, glancing down at his menu.
Kory Levin was still not smiling. He finished his drink and then
glanced around for the waitress. She came back to take our lunch
orders but he asked for another drink instead. When she left to get it
Rockford turned to him.
“Don’t start, Sam,” Kory said forcefully. “I need this right now. I
tell you I just wanted to break down and cry this morning when…”

Rockford put his hand on his client’s arm.
“I know, Kory,” he said softly. “I know. But you can’t let it eat you
up like this. This is only the first couple of days. We still have an-
other week and a half to go. You’re going to have to keep it together.
And not with booze.”
Levin looked at Rockford very hard for a few moments, then
sighed and nodded. The waitress brought the second drink and
Levin took it, giving the waitress a winning smile. And that’s when
she recognized him.
I put a hand on her arm and looked directly into her eyes. Then I
whispered something to her and she nodded gravely, but it did
nothing to dissolve the smile on her young face.
She took our orders and went to put them in.
Next she came back and as covertly as possible passed a notepad
to Kory Levin, asking for his autograph. He smiled graciously and
granted her request. I could tell he did more than write his name,
and when the waitress took the pad back she glanced at it and
started to blush. She went away a very happy woman.
By the time lunch was over half the restaurant knew who my
client was.
The manager said that our meals were on the house and I thanked
him, once again taking my client out through the back, only this
time there was quite a crowd gathered around, all restaurant staff.
More autographs were signed, as well as a few photos taken with
camera-phones, and then we were back outside and getting into the
SUV.
I climbed behind the wheel and just managed to get the door
closed before a gaggle of people rushed out of the front of the
restaurant glancing all around.

“Time to fly,” I said under my breath, slipping the selector into
drive.

They spotted us.
I pressed the accelerator and away we went.
And not a moment too soon.

Chapter 13

Kory had two afternoon meetings and once they were done he
wanted to head back to his hotel. We arrived around four-thirty and
the rain had stopped completely, however it was still very cloudy
and overcast.

Sam Rockford said he was going up to his room first and would be
back to see Kory later. We got off on four and he continued up
alone.

I took the key to the suite and entered first, glancing around.
Housekeeping had been in already and the room was clean. I had
Kory remain in the front room near the door while I checked the
rest of the suite. The bedroom looked okay and I turned for the
bathroom. As soon as I walked in I knew something was wrong.
There were red rose petals arrayed all along the tub and unlit
scented candles placed on the sink.

I turned immediately and went back to my client.
“You didn’t order anything special for this evening, did you?”
He frowned.
“What do you mean?”
I took him into the bathroom and his frown became deeper.
“What the hell is this?” he said.
“My question exactly,” I said. “So you didn’t order this?”

“Of course not,” Kory Levin said. “I’m not planning on a romantic
evening alone.”

“All right then,” I said. “Let’s go.”
“Go?” he said, glancing at me. “Go where?”
“Come on,” I told him firmly, taking hold of his left arm. “We’re
leaving until I find out just what’s going on. Maybe this was a mis-
take, or maybe not. But until I get to the bottom of it you’re not stay-
ing in this room.”
He wanted to argue but I gave him no chance. I’m a lot stronger
than he is.
Before opening the door I checked the peephole. The corridor ap-
peared clear but I was cautious before stepping out. It was clear.
Bypassing the elevators, I took my client over to the stairs and we
ascended quickly. When we reached the eighth floor Kory was a lit-
tle winded but I wouldn’t let him stop, pulling him along the corri-
dor until we reached the room occupied by his business manager.
There was a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door but I ignored it,
knocking loudly and telling Rockford to open up. He did a few mo-
ments later, already undressed and wearing a hotel robe.
The expression on his face was a mixture of irritation and confu-
sion. I shoved his client into the room without explanation and
closed the door, locking it.
“What’s going on?” Rockford demanded, tying the belt of his robe.
“I was just about to get in the shower.”
“Something happened in Kory’s room,” I told him, walking over to
the phone beside the bed.
“What?” Rockford said, glancing from Kory to me. “What hap-
pened?”

“In a minute,” I told him, then spoke into the receiver. “Connect
me with hotel security please. Thank you.” There was a delay of a
few seconds and then I was speaking to the duty officer in the hotel
security department. I asked that the head of hotel security come to
Rockford’s room. The duty officer asked me if there was a problem
that he could help me with. I told him no, once again requesting that
the head of security come up to this room immediately. This per-
plexed the duty officer and he tried once again to discover what the
problem might be.

“I understand you have a job to do, sir,” I said calmly, but with a
dark tone to my voice. “But if you don’t get your boss up to this
room in the next five minutes I can pretty much guarantee the both
of you will be looking for new jobs in the very near future.”

I hung up and turned to face Rockford and Levin.
Rockford looked at his client, who suddenly appeared to be very
pale. Rockford put a hand on his shoulder and told him to sit down
on the bed. Levin did.
Rockford came over to me and began to speak in a low whisper.
“What the hell’s going on, Derrick?” he said.
I glanced at Levin, then turned to Rockford and explained.

Chapter 14

The head of security was officially referred to as the Chief of Loss
Prevention. She arrived at Sam Rockford’s room three minutes after
I hung up on the duty officer, accompanied by two uniformed offi-
cers from her section.

Her name was Patty Grace and she was in her mid-thirties, tall,
blond, attractive in a cop-with-an-attitude kind of way, and as soon
as I opened the door I could see that she was not happy to have been
summoned by threat. Her eyes were cool, the smile on her lips
forced.

I quickly identified myself and explained the situation. Upon
hearing my story, Ms. Grace’s body language softened just a bit. She
now understood just how important this was, and even more to the
point, understood that the threat to her job was quite real. The first
thing she did was order one of the uniformed officers to go down to
Kory’s suite and to stand guard in the hallway, allowing no one in
without her approval. Then she called down to the duty office and
asked that the security recordings for the last eight hours be sec-
tioned off and held.

“There aren’t cameras in the section of the floor where your
client’s suite is located,” she informed me. “Actually only on the sec-
tion by the elevators.”

“What about the stairs?” I asked.

She shook her head.
“I would like to have that, but so far the GM says it’s not in the
budget. Maybe this will change her mind.”
“I don’t want to tell you how to do your job,” I said carefully. “But
I take it you’ll be talking to Housekeeping?”
Grace stared at me for a moment, considering. Then she nodded.
“Already on it,” she said. “I’m having my assistant chief find out
who cleaned the suite and who else worked the floor today. Also go-
ing to talk to the people who refresh the mini-bar. As well as Main-
tenance and anybody else who has a key. Security staff included.
And we’ll run the lock, find out exactly how many people opened
that door while you were out. Don’t worry, Mr. Olin, my team and I
know how to do this. Most of them are ex-law enforcement. Myself
included.”
I nodded.
“Good to know,” I told her. “And you understand the implications
of this, I take it?”
She nodded.
“I do,” she said. “I used to be a cop in Atlanta. I dealt with a few
stalking cases during my time. I know how determined these people
can be. You do realize that if you had told us about your client in the
first place I could’ve assigned a guard to watch the room. Maybe this
wouldn’t have happened.”
I sighed, nodding, knowing she was right.
“I know,” I said. “But we were trying to keep this low-key. The
room wasn’t in his name so I figured it would be enough to suffice.
Apparently I was wrong. Apparently his stalker is better than I
thought.”

“Assuming it is his stalker?” Grace pointed out. “Maybe some
other nut-job did this. Or maybe it was a mistake. Someone else or-
dered the setup for their romantic evening.”

“Maybe,” I said, not believing this at all.
A half hour later it was confirmed that no one else in the hotel had
made such a request. Grace and her staff interviewed everyone who
worked on the floor that day, everyone who entered the room. And
while that was taking place a security technician ran the lock on the
door. It showed no unauthorized entries.
Grace asked me to step into the hallway outside Sam Rockford’s
room at a couple minutes past eight. We moved down the corridor
and she glanced around before speaking.
“I know what happened,” she said in a low tone.
“Okay,” I said.
“Mini-bar attendant. Went in the room around two-thirty to re-
fresh the mini-bar, left the door open. As she was getting ready to
leave a man walked in. Said he was the occupant of the room. Gave
the name of Sam Rockford. She was going to ask for ID as the rules
say she should, but he gave her a fifty as a tip and she didn’t bother.”
“Great,” I said. “She remember what the guy looked like?”
“Her description is fuzzy,” Grace said.
I nodded, reaching into my pocket and pulling out a picture of
Max Bandini.
“Show her this.”
Grace took the photo.
“Your stalker?”
“My client’s,” I told her. “See if she can ID him.”
“Will do,” Patty Grace said. “I’ll also check the security footage
again and see if we can spot him coming off the elevators. He could

have used the stairs though. Could’ve gotten to the room easily from
there without being picked up.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Question is how did he know which room my
client was in? And what hotel for that matter?”

“Stalkers are determined,” Grace put in.
“Yeah,” I said. “And since he’s been on my client’s tail for a couple
years now he probably knows that his business manager books his
rooms for him. Probably knew to look for the name Sam Rockford.”
“Yeah,” Grace said. “But even if he did know Rockford was staying
here, and Levin was using a room under his name, how did he find
out which room? The desk won’t give that information out.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Plus there are two rooms under Rockford’s name.
I suppose he would figure the suite was for Levin though. Shit.”
Patty Grace was about to say something else when her mobile
phone rang. She took it off her belt and answered, speaking for a few
moments before putting it away once more.
“My people are finished speaking to everyone,” she told me.
“They’re satisfied that everyone else is clean. The mini-bar atten-
dant is going to be suspended. She should have known better but we
don’t think she did anything wrong intentionally.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Just stupidly.”
Grace sighed, squeezing the bridge of her nose between her thumb
and forefinger.
“Yeah. Anyway, I’ve still got a guard on your client’s suite. I’ll
leave one there all night just in case.”
I shook my head.
“That won’t be necessary,” I told the Chief of Loss Prevention.
“We’re not staying.”

Before she could respond I stepped around her and headed back
to Sam Rockford’s room.

Time for Plan B.

Chapter 15

As a contingency plan in the event it became necessary to move my
client quickly—as was now the case—I had arranged to have an open
reservation at the Embassy Suites hotel in Homewood. It was
booked under an alias of mine, and when I called Tuesday night the
manager on duty told me that he would be glad to receive me at any
time I was ready.

We arrived at ten-forty and I went inside to secure the room. A
two bedroom suite actually. After getting keys I asked the manager
if I could speak with the security supervisor on duty. A slight frown
came to the man’s face, but he complied with my request.

The security supervisor was a retired Birmingham cop named
Henderson and I quickly explained the situation. Henderson lis-
tened without interruption and I suspected that he was not happy to
have this problem dumped in his lap this evening. I requested a
guard be posted at my client’s door but Henderson explained that he
didn’t have the manpower for that, however he did say that he could
arrange for a regular security patrol of the floor.

“Plus we got cameras that cover all the floors. My guy in the con-
trol room can watch everything from there.”

Well that was an improvement over the Marriott, I thought.
“That’ll be good then,” I told him.

I went and got my client and Rockford and escorted them to the
second floor suite, accompanied by Henderson. Once I got them set-
tled I stepped back into the corridor.

“I appreciate your help tonight, Mr. Henderson,” I said as sin-
cerely as I could manage. “I don’t mean to put you out, but the situa-
tion with my client is potentially volatile.”

Henderson nodded gravely.
“Yeah. I don’t recognize neither of them,” he said. “Which one of
them supposed to be the movie star?”
Not the most relevant conversation to be having right now, but I
needed his help, so I relented.
It still didn’t matter. He had never heard of Kory Levin either.
Small world.
“Well my guys and I will keep an eye out tonight. Exterior doors
automatically lock at ten and you can’t get in without a key, less you
come through the front. And like I said, we got cameras on all floors
and the entry points as well.”
“Good to know,” I said. “And thank you once again. Don’t know
how long my client will stay here, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t
share his identity with anyone else. I know you’ll have to tell your
boss, and maybe the GM…”
Henderson nodded.
“I’ll be discreet,” he said. “Don’t want no trouble while your guy’s
here, and the best way to make sure of that is to keep it quiet. Got
it.”
We shook hands and I watched him walk away.
I knocked on the door to the suite and Sam Rockford let me in.
“So was it Max Bandini or not?” he asked as I locked the door.
I nodded, glancing around.

“The mini-bar attendant confirmed it from the picture. Where’s
Kory?”

“In his bedroom,” Rockford said to me. “Probably drinking, too.”
I turned to Rockford.
“Is this a problem for him?”
The business manager was silent for a long while, looking any-
where but in my direction. Finally he sighed and moved past me,
heading over to the sofa in the corner and sitting down heavily.
“Only when he’s under stress. He’s fine usually. But when he
starts feeling pressure…”
“Then you’re going to need to get control of him, Sam,” I said
pointedly. “I can protect him from a stalker, but I can’t protect him
from himself. Maybe he should consider dropping out of sight for a
while, maybe go some place.”
“You mean like rehab?” Rockford said. “He won’t go for that. And
I really don’t think he needs it. He just needs to learn to relax more
and not let shit get to him. Kind of hard with this Bandini guy on his
ass. The good news is he doesn’t do drugs. Hates ‘em. Booze is an-
other story. He can go weeks without it, I’ve seen him do it, but then
he gets in these moods… It’s been worse in the last year. Usually he
starts heavy when Bandini makes another move. I really wish we
could find a way to get that guy out of Kory’s life for good.”
I exhaled audibly and then glanced at my watch.
“What about tomorrow, Sam?” I said.
Rockford looked over at me, his eyes heavy with concern for his
client, and his friend.
“I’d say we should cancel everything for tomorrow and stay here.
But I know Kory. He won’t want to do that. This project is too im-
portant to him. Regardless whether Bandini is here or not. He’ll

want to go out and do what he has to. Probably more determined
than ever.”

“Okay,” I sighed again. “Then I suppose that means I’ll need to do
some prep work tonight. You think you two will be all right on your
own?”

“Should be,” he said. “You taking off?”
“I think so,” I told him. “But you have my number on speed-dial. I
don’t live all that far away; one of the reasons I moved you here. If
you feel you need to, don’t hesitate to call. Hotel security will be
keeping an eye on you as well. Just press zero on the phone to get
connected.”
Sam followed me to the door and I stood in the corridor and
waited until I heard the deadbolt turn and the latch slide into place.
I went back outside and had a quick look around the parking lot.
Driving up from the Marriott I had taken extensive countersurveil-
lance countermeasures to ensure that we weren’t followed. Begin-
ning with a switch of vehicles. I had actually rented two and kept
one on the back lot of the Marriott. A second SUV. Just in case
someone had planted a tracker on the first. Different make, model,
and color.
It was unlikely that Bandini had been able to pursue us, even if he
had remained in the area after leaving is gifts in Kory’s suite. But he
had proven to be rather cunning and resourceful already, so I wasn’t
taking any chances.
A part of me thought about staying here tonight, to be close just in
case, but then I decided better of that idea. I would go home, make
some plans, get a little rest, then come back tomorrow and be ready.
I got into the backup SUV and started the engine, my mind rolling
over several thoughts. Tomorrow I would also pay a visit to an old

friend and see if I could get their help in dealing with the increas-
ingly intrusive Mr. Max Bandini.

I was smiling when I backed out of the parking space. It had been
a while since I had seen this old friend as well, and I was looking
forward to it.

Again, probably more than I should.

Chapter 16

Wednesday morning the sun rose early, as did the temperature. I
decided to opt for blue jeans, a short sleeve green polo, and comfort-
able black half-boots. Also, because I was wearing a weapon—sev-
eral actually—I added a lightweight blue blazer to my ensemble.

After a quick breakfast of cereal and a pear, I got into the SUV and
drove back to the Embassy Suites. I had called Sam Rockford before
leaving my place and he said that both he and Kory were awake,
having breakfast in the room. They’d be ready to depart by nine-
thirty.

I got to the hotel at nine and went inside to have a look around.
There was a different manager on duty and I spoke with him briefly,
being as vague as possible, and asked if the head of hotel security
had arrived yet. Again I received a frown of concern, but once again
my request was granted.

Henderson had briefed his boss on the situation regarding my
client and I was happy to learn that the boss had decided to be more
helpful. Apparently he had heard of Kory Levin; and was a fan. An
autograph signing was most likely in the near future.

As I had previously requested, a guard was assigned to my client’s
suite and the security director gave me his personal mobile number,
telling me that if there was anything I required, day or night, I

should call him immediately. Yep, probably an autographed photo
of him with Kory was what he was after.

Well this wasn’t too high a price to pay, I suppose. And it would
make my job a heck of a lot easier.

I found my client and his manager ready and waiting in their
suite. Sam Rockford seemed himself, but Kory Levin did not. He
was out of sorts, brooding. But the good news was he did not appear
to be hung over.

Sam said that Kory wanted to continue with his meeting schedule
and I nodded. There were three on tap for this morning.

“And after we’re done I want to go back to see Kim Sutton,” Kory
said as he stood and put on his jacket. “She said we could stop by
any time and I want to see if I can talk with some more of her peo-
ple. And see if maybe she’s made some progress on what we dis-
cussed yesterday.”

I stared at him for a few seconds. He would not meet my gaze.
“Kory, are you all right?” I asked.
Still he would not look at me, but he nodded brusquely.
“Sure.”
I continued to stare at him.
Sam Rockford glanced at his client, and then at me.
“Well, Derrick, we should be going,” he said, looking at his watch.
“Our first meeting is in just over half an hour.”
I looked at him and nodded slowly.
“Of course,” I said, then led the way out.

Chapter 17

In the afternoon I took my client to the Homeless Outreach Mission.
Kim Sutton was delighted to see us again; I got the feeling that she
was probably more delighted to see me than my client, but I kept
that to myself.

Kim had managed to persuade several more of her members to
speak with Kory privately, and they once again met with him in her
office one-on-one. When they were settled, Kim suggested that she
and I go into the empty office just down the hall to wait, but I told
her I couldn’t. While Kory was having his talks and Sam Rockford
was off making more phone calls, I had something else that I needed
to go take care of. I asked if she could keep an eye out while I was
away and Kim said she could and would, adding that she’d make
sure the security guard up front knew the situation and was on alert.
I thanked her and then took my leave.

I didn’t plan on going far, and was reasonably sure my client
would be safe until my return. Fingers crossed; if I did that sort of
thing.

The headquarters of the Birmingham Police Department is also on
1st Avenue North, just six blocks west of the mission. I drove di-
rectly there and managed to find a parking space on a meter around
the corner from the main entrance to the building.

I went inside, checked in with the officer at reception, and then
waited for an escort to take me up to the eighth floor. This is the sec-
tion of the building that houses the department’s Criminal Intelli-
gence Unit. I was shown into the unit by a young uniformed officer
and then turned over to a heavyset detective named Carlyle, a man
that I didn’t know well, but with whom I was slightly familiar. We
shook hands.

“I know who you’re here to see,” he said. “Come on, I’ll take you to
Sarge’s office.”

I followed the detective down a short corridor, then down a longer
one. He stopped outside a closed office door and then knocked. A
slightly irritated female voice said come in and he opened the door,
standing aside to permit me to enter.

The woman seated behind the cluttered gray metal desk was in
her late forties, dark blond shoulder length hair, and a deep scowl
on her slightly lined, yet still very attractive face.

Paige Palmer glanced up to see who had entered her office and
when she saw me she did two things at once. The first was to remove
her glasses and drop them on a pile of folders on her desk. The sec-
ond was to smile beautifully, sitting back in her squeaking govern-
ment-issue roller desk chair.

“Well, Derrick Olin, as I live and breathe. I was beginning to think
that you had forgotten where I worked, maybe lost my number,
too.”

I smiled as Carlyle closed the door behind me. He did not come
into the office himself.

“Hey, babe,” I said, coming to stand directly in front of her desk.
“It’s good to see you.”

“Really?” Paige said, her head cocked to the side. “I haven’t seen
you in so long I can’t be sure. You don’t call, you don’t stop by, you
don’t even email. I guess your new lady takes up all of your attention
these days.”

I smiled again, glancing down at Paige’s body, my mind suddenly
recalling everything about it, everything about the woman. The
surge to my loins was not long in coming. I was about to look back
into her smoldering brown eyes when I noticed something new
about her.

“Nice ring,” I said inquiringly. “New fashion accessory?”
Paige grinned, glancing down at the diamond engagement ring on
her left hand.
“Oh, this old thing,” she teased, still grinning.
“Anybody I know?” I said, sitting down in the only chair in front
of her desk.
“Don’t think so,” Paige said. “Considering you haven’t been
around in so long.”
I held up my hands in surrender.
Paige waved a hand at me and leaned forward on the back of her
desk.
“His name is Geoff and he’s an engineering consultant in Atlanta.
We’ve been seeing each other for nearly a year now. He’s a really
good guy. Never thought I’d want to get married again after twenty
years with my first husband. But Geoff is so wonderful, so sweet.
And I love him.”
She was beaming and it was a wonderful thing to see. I was happy
for her, and told her so.
“When did he propose?” I asked.

“Two weeks ago,” she said. “Out of the blue. I wasn’t expecting it,
hadn’t even given the idea of another marriage any serious thought.
But Geoff says he’s been thinking about it for months now. Shocked
the hell out of me, let me tell you.”

“Has he met your boys yet?”
“Yeah,” Paige said. “And they get along pretty well. My twins have
really taken to him because they’re studying engineering too.”
“You said he lives in Atlanta. Does that mean you’ll be moving
once you’re married?”
Paige shook her head.
“Nope. Geoff is going to move here and we’re going to get a place.
He’s based in Atlanta but he travels a lot, too. Since Birmingham
and Atlanta are so close he can commute when he needs to. He says
he likes Birmingham better anyway. Probably a lie, but I love him
for it.”
“Well seeing as how you just made sergeant less than a year ago it
would make sense for you to hang around a while longer, maybe
make lieutenant before you retire.”
Paige grinned.
“To be honest with you, Derrick, I wasn’t planning on sergeant.
Took the test, never thought I’d do all that well, but here I am. More
work, a little more money, and I spend a good bit of my time these
days on my ass instead of out in the field.”
I grinned and sat back, crossing my ankles.
“Well it is a very nice ass,” I said.
Paige cast a smirk my way, then started giggling.
“And who would know better than you?” she said.
“Hopefully Geoff,” I said.
Paige grinned wider, now blushing.

“There are some things, baby, that Geoff will never get to know,
no matter how much I love him. Things that only a certain unnamed
hardnosed private bodyguard will ever know.”

I smiled, nodding.
We sat silently for a few moments, staring at one another, remem-
bering. Then Paige pushed back and crossed her legs.
“So, I know you didn’t come here today because you wanted to
play catch up. And since you didn’t come in and try to jump my
bones right off, I take it you’re still with Traci.”
“I am,” I said.
“So that means you need something,” she said.
“I do,” I said.
After a few more silent moments Paige gave an exaggerated sigh.
“So then, Mr. Olin, what the fuck is it that you want?”
I chuckled, sat up, and told her my situation.

Chapter 18

Paige hung up her desk phone, pulled off her glasses once more, and
then glanced over at me.

“That was Detective Mike Edwards with the LAPD’s Threat Man-
agement Unit,” Paige told me. “He and I met about five years ago at
an FBI seminar on stalking at Quantico. He’s familiar with your
client’s case and with this Max Bandini guy.”

“Anything interesting to add beyond what I’ve told you?” I asked.
“Not really,” Paige said, glancing at the pad she had made notes
on. “Pretty much the same stuff. He did tell me that they do periodic
check-ins and surveillance on him. So far they haven’t been able to
catch him violating the restraining order, although they know he
has.”
“Definitely,” I said. “Woman at the Marriott places him inside
Levin’s room.”
“Yeah,” Paige said. “But there could be some technical issues
there.”
I frowned, then nodded as realization sunk in.
“Shit!”
“Yeah,” Paige said. “The room was not registered in Levin’s name,
but rather this Sam Rockford’s. And Levin wasn’t there. I suppose
we could get him for trespassing anyway, if we find him, but not for

violating the restraining order. And it will be tough to prove he left
the flowers and candles too.”

“So we got smoke,” I said.
“Pretty much,” Paige said. “But you know I don’t like the fact that
this Bandini guy flies all the way across the country to Birmingham
to break into your client’s hotel room and dress it up with flowers
and scented candles. That’s pretty risky, not to mention nuts. And
he could have been waiting in the room when your client returned.”
“I wish he had been,” I said. “Then this would be over.”
Paige nodded.
“Yeah. Maybe he knew Levin had a bodyguard. You say that he al-
ways has one when he travels?”
“Yes,” I said. “And from time to time at home as well. But still this
Bandini guy keeps coming. Seems like he’s getting bolder, too. That
worries me.”
“And me,” Paige said. She glanced at her notes for a few more mo-
ments and then put them aside. “You know, part of our job in CIU is
tracking dangerous individuals. And I’d say stalkers fit into that cat-
egory rather neatly. Especially with someone like Kory Levin in-
volved. I can make this a CIU case. Being a supervisor does have its
perks.”
“I’m sure,” I replied.
Paige stared at me for a few moments, her hands folded together
on her desk.
“And I’m sure you knew this already when you came to see me,
Mr. Olin.”
I didn’t reply.
Paige grinned.

“Of course you did. Tell you what, I’m going to put the word out to
find Bandini. He’s not familiar with the area so he probably won’t
have some special bolt-hole that he can hide in. Probably in a hotel
somewhere. I’ll get detectives to start a canvas, even contact neigh-
boring jurisdictions and ask for their help. Since this is a high-pro-
file case I’m sure I won’t get too much static. Oh, and by the way,
I’m a fan of your client’s. At the least I want an autographed picture.
Preferably of him in his birthday suit.”

I shook my head and pushed up out of the chair.
“God, woman, you are insatiable.”
“Well who should know better than you?” she said.
I nodded.
“Yeah. I’ll see what I can do. And I really appreciate this, Paige.
Thanks.”
She nodded and stood, walking around to the front of her desk.
“Sure,” she said. “What are friends and ex-booty calls for?”
“Oh, I can think of a lot of things they’re for,” I quipped.
Paige grinned and put her arms around me. We stood very close
and hugged fiercely for a very long time.
Paige eventually pulled back and took my face in her hands.
“So can I, lover,” she said, then kissed me full on the mouth.
“I’ll call you if we get something,” she said as I turned to leave.
“Thanks, luv,” I said, then left, a feeling of profound regret settling
into the pit of my stomach.
Then I thought of Traci Brenner, and the feeling was gone.
Well mostly gone.
Ninety-five percent.
Maybe ninety-six.

Chapter 19

Sam Rockford was sitting in reception up front when I returned to
the mission at two o’clock. His phone was still attached to his right
ear and he appeared to be having a very animated conversation with
someone. I walked past him and nodded at the guard on duty, then
headed down toward Kim Sutton’s office.

Bridgett Lemons was coming out of the break room on my left and
she stopped when she saw me, smiling.

“Well hello, Derrick,” she said. “You made it back.”
“I did,” I said. “How are things here?”
“They’re great,” she said, taking my arm and escorting me. “Kory
is still meeting with members. It seems that since word has gotten
out about what he’s doing there are more and more people willing to
meet with him. Mostly women, but a few guys, too. He’s a very
charming man.”
“And good looking, too, huh?”
Bridgett grinned and glanced up at me.
“Well there is that,” she said. “But what is most attractive about
him is his depth of feeling on the subject of homelessness. He’s very
passionate about doing something to help, Derrick. And beyond do-
nating money. I think the film project he is proposing will do a lot to
help a lot of people. And help with fundraising, too.”
“You might be right,” I said absently as we turned a corner.

Bridgett glanced up at me again.
“You sound skeptical, Derrick,” she said.
“Maybe just practical,” I said. “Sweetie, this problem has been go-
ing on in this country for decades, and has only gotten worse. Peo-
ple know about it, people say how horrible they think it is and that
something ought to be done, but what has really been done? A few
token donations, a few charity benefits, a lot of politicians and
celebrities talking, and still every year millions and millions go hun-
gry and homeless in this country. I believe it’s a problem that could
be solved, and rather easily, if people were truly serious about solv-
ing it. I just don’t see it, though. Not yet, anyway.”
Bridgett was silent for a few moments as we walked.
“You might be right, Derrick,” she said evenly, her voice strong.
“But I hope you aren’t. And as long as people like Kory Levin and
Kim Sutton are around, I know there will be a good fight.”
I nodded, forcing a small smile.
“And don’t forget to add yourself in there, luv,” I said.
She looked at me, smiling once more.
We reached the door to Kim’s office. No one was in the hallway
and Bridgett glanced around again.
“Kim might be using Claire Clarke’s old office down the hall
again,” she said. “She was out here a little while ago talking to one of
the members.”
“Okay,” I said, glancing around myself.
At that moment the door to the office opened and Kim Sutton
stuck her head out.
“Well, Derrick, you’re back,” she said with a grin. “Good. We were
just making some plans.”

Bridgett released my arm and said she had some work to go and
take care of.

Kim took my arm and pulled me inside and the three of us sat and
talked.

Chapter 20

I finished up with my client at nine-thirty and left him and his busi-
ness manager at the Embassy Suites in Homewood, a hotel guard
posted outside their door. I had a quick conversation with the super-
visor, once again Mr. Henderson, made sure he still had my contact
information and told him not to hesitate to call if something hap-
pened, and then I went home.

As I pulled into a space just outside the door to my apartment I
noticed a familiar gray sports car parked a few spaces away. Sud-
denly I felt a surge of warmth in the pit of my stomach; and lower…

I climbed out of the rented backup SUV and stretched my back for
a few minutes, letting the anticipation build.

I went to the door and unlocked it, then stepped inside. The lights
were on in the front room and in the kitchen beyond, and I could
smell something delicious cooking. I locked the door, removed my
jacket, tossing it down on the sofa where a large brown purse set.

Slowly walking into the kitchen, I untucked my polo shirt from my
jeans and let it fall on the outside, covering the Glock compact pistol
on my right hip.

Traci was standing at the stove stirring something in a pot. I stood
in the doorway staring at her for several moments. She was wearing
a short sleeve white top and blue jeans. Her frame was slender but

her features had always been striking to me. Especially her cute lit-
tle behind. I felt that surge in full now.

“Are you just going to stand there and stare at my ass all evening
or are you going to come give me a kiss?”

I grinned.
“Well I’m kind of torn,” I replied seriously. “Your ass is really
worth staring at all evening.”
Traci snickered and glanced at me over her right shoulder.
I walked into the kitchen and put my arms around her from be-
hind, squeezing her tightly and kissing her on the neck.
“Hey, babe,” I whispered in her ear. “Good to see you. Glad you’re
here.”
She moaned and pressed her back against my chest, and her
butt…
“Thought you could probably use a good meal tonight,” Traci said,
closing the lid on the pot and setting the spoon she had been using
down on the sink counter to her right. She turned around in my
arms and kissed me on the mouth.
It lasted for more than three minutes, leaving both of us breath-
less.
There was lust in her eyes, her skin flushed. I could tell she was
wet, feel the heat from her loins.
No doubt she could feel the same from mine.
She reached back and turned the stove off, then came to me. I
picked her up and kissed her again, then carried her out of the
kitchen and down to the bedroom…
When I exploded an hour later we were both covered in perspira-
tion and breathing erratically. The backs of Traci’s long, slender legs
were folded against my chest and I pressed all the way inside her as

my loins emptied and poured into her. She screamed and I groaned,
my hips pushing down harder and harder, my skin slick against
hers, making little sucking and squishing noises each time contact
was made and broken.

I was bracing myself above her, hands pressed into the mattress,
but finding this very difficult to maintain in my current state of ex-
haustion. Traci’s eyes had rolled back into her head when she came,
but now they were again focused and looking up at me, the expres-
sion intense, wanton. It made me want to come again, but I knew
right now that just wasn’t possible. Thank the universe!

I leaned down and kissed her, then collapsed to the side, unable to
catch my breath for several seconds.

Traci dropped her legs to the bed and exhaled sharply. She
reached over and took my hand, squeezing it.

Neither of us could speak at first, and that was okay, there was re-
ally nothing left to say. Then suddenly I realized that I was really
quite hungry, but had no energy to get up, so I just lay there some
more.

“Okay, maybe I didn’t come over here just because I thought you
could use a good meal,” Traci said. “Maybe I came over here because
I needed a good fuck.”

I chuckled, turning on my side with some effort.
“Well I hope I was able to provide that for you,” I said.
Traci grinned, and with effort, managed to turn on her side, too.
“I think you hit the mark very well, Mr. Olin,” she said. “And more
than once.”
I kissed her, put my arms around her and pulled her lithe body
against me.
“We aim to please, little lady,” I said.

We both washed up and put on terrycloth robes, then Traci man-
aged to salvage dinner and we ate in the front room, sitting side by
side at the dining table.

“So you think the police will be able to help you find Bandini?”
Traci said after swallowing a mouthful of rice.

“That’s the plan,” I told her, chewing a piece of smoked turkey
sausage.

“And when you find him?” Traci said.
“That’s a good question,” I said. “Still working on the plan. Per-
haps we’ll have a conversation.”
Traci glanced sideways at me.
“And will this conversation involve violence?” she said. “As in you
beating the shit out of him and telling him to leave your client
alone?”
I smiled and put my right hand on her knee for a moment.
“Would if it were only that simple, luv. Unfortunately, with seri-
ous stalkers, threats rarely work. Even those delivered with a painful
beating. They are, for lack of a better term, nut-jobs, and they abso-
lutely believe that the object of their obsession is in love with them.
Regardless of protestations to the contrary. They don’t take no for
an answer, they keep coming regardless. The law doesn’t matter to
them, threats don’t matter, not even ass-kickings. They’re relent-
less.”
“So are you saying that Kory Levin will have to live with this guy
in his life until the day he dies?”
“A possibility,” I said. “Or at least until he gets caught violating
the order of protection and goes away for a few years.”
“But when he gets out he’ll go right back to stalking, won’t he?”

“Maybe. Something might change while he’s in jail. He might get a
new hobby, or a boyfriend. Who knows? Or you could be right, he
might go right back to what he knows. Stalking Kory Levin. And ab-
sence might just make his heart grow fonder.”

Traci shook her head, taking a sip from her glass of wine.
“The high price of fame,” she said. “Glad I don’t have to worry
about that kind of thing.”
I drank some water and set the glass back on the table.
“Well you know, the vast majority of stalking victims aren’t
celebrities,” I told her. “Most are just ordinary people, and so are
their stalkers. Beautiful women are most often the targets. And I’m
afraid, dearheart, that you fall into that category. Actually, you may
be in a category all to yourself.”
Traci grinned at me.
“Are you trying to get me on my knees again before we finish din-
ner, Mr. Olin?”
I grinned.
“Now there’s a thought,” I said.
She put the last bit of her smoked turkey sausage into her mouth
and chewed slowly, watching me the entire time.
Odd how this aroused me.
I leaned over and kissed her as she chewed. She reached inside my
robe and stroked my erection.
“Should I bite off a piece?” she said.
I kissed her again.
“Probably shouldn’t do that,” I said. “But not to worry, you’ll be
getting another big piece of it inside you very soon. Maybe even the
whole thing.”
Traci kissed me.

“Can’t wait,” she said.
And she didn’t have to for very long.

Chapter 21

Friday the weather was good and Kim Sutton had made arrange-
ments to show Kory Levin some of her other shelters, as well as
some of the places around the city where many homeless people
gathered and tried to survive without official assistance.

Sam Rockford was not feeling well and he decided to remain at
the hotel and rest. That was fine by me, one less person to be con-
cerned about and to get in the way.

We picked Kim up at the mission at eight-thirty and she told me
to drive over to the Norwood area, a few miles to the north. When I
was a kid this was a thriving community with nice houses, nice cars,
intact families, hope and prosperity. That was not the case today. It
was all decay and rot. Really rather depressing. The only up side was
that it wasn’t raining. Bad weather would have made it even worse.
It that was possible.

As I drove through the area, all around us there were old houses
falling down, unkempt yards, broken down cars, and people out
walking around who didn’t seem to have any place they needed to
be. No job, no school, no direction.

Kim and Kory discussed this analytically as I drove and I tried to
shut the conversation out. I knew they meant well, but they didn’t
have any idea just how conceited they sounded. They were talking
about people’s lives as if it were a school project or something. That

was the problem with trying to understand a problem that you your-
self had not lived through, it was all academic. At least for you. For
the people involved it was anything but.

The address Kim had given me was to a three story old house on
32nd Street North, just around the corner from what had once been
Norwood School, now also closed and abandoned and falling down.

The house was one of Kim’s rooming shelters. It housed ten fami-
lies in pretty tight conditions, but at least it had a roof—recently re-
paired by a group of volunteers—and the utilities were working. I
pulled up in front and shut off the engine.

“Now as I explained already,” Kim was saying, “all of the families
housed here fall into the spectrum you’re most interested in. Middle
income people who’ve lost pretty much everything except each
other. You’re going to see some very unpleasant things here, some
very disturbing things, but you’ll also see some pretty amazing stuff,
too. The people in there are simply resilient. They’ll make you laugh,
and later you’ll cry because of it. Every time I come here I’m filled
with joy; later I sob like a baby because I can’t do more. And when I
think of all of those out there that I can’t even help this much…”

Kim teared up for a moment and Kory reached over and touched
her arm.

She took a deep breath.
“And here I am warning you.”
“I understand what you’re saying, Kim,” he told her. “And I’m
ready.”
“I hope you are,” Kim told him, reaching for the handle to the
door on her side.
“Just a minute, Kim,” I told her, climbing out first and having a
look around. Once I was satisfied that the area was clear, I went and