Minnesota

Reunion

Restaurant Bardolino was empty this early in the evening. A few seniors sat at the other side of the restaurant, enjoying the early bird special. Steve and Regina occupied a booth in the far corner, away from everyone else.

            The waiter brought an antipasti platter. “Is something wrong with the wine?” He asked Steve, glancing at the still full bottle. They had been here for half an hour and hadn’t touched it.

            “No, were just not in the mood.”

            The waiter nodded but didn’t offer to take it away. He shuffled for a moment, then left.

            “You’re making him nervous.” Regina accused Steve.

            “Not my problem.” Steve stabbed his fork into the prosciutto and shook it on his plate. He ripped open a piece of bread.

            “Tell you what is my problem.”

            Regina sighed. I know what your problem is. It’s Mark not doing what you want him to do. Despite Steve’s hair-raising drive to the stash house, they hadn’t been fast enough. The BMW was gone. And with no way of tracing it, so was Mark. At least we now know that Mark is in Minneapolis, that’s something. She didn’t say this to Steve, though.

            Steve dropped the bread. “I just don’t understand how you can’t see the issue. It’s this kind of uncontrolled situation that’ll get us. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in prison. And the alternative is a hot, uncivilized country that has only one positive attribute; they don’t extradite.”

            “We locked all his cards, froze his accounts, all the cash in the stash house has been removed and there’s nothing he can sell. If he tries to contact any of our people, they’re so afraid of you, they’ll call.” Regina reasoned. “And he can’t sell the BMW without triggering the notice. Zee put creepies on the internet with the VIN number.”

            Steve scuffed. “And you’re thinking that’s a good thing?” He shook his head.

            The restaurant began filling. Steve continued playing with his food. “Happy to see you haven’t lost your appetite.”

            Regina buttered a slice of bread. “I haven’t eaten since yesterday. If you want to leave, I’ll order take out.” She paused the knife and stared at a couple walking in. “I’ll be damned.”

            She stared at the couple. Both tall, the man chubby with dark blonde hair. The women brunette, slim. Constantina Morrigan. What is she doing here? With a cop?

            Steve glanced over. “Ah, the other problem.”

Regina glared at him. She was about to tell him that the man was the detective that stopped by the office the other day. But she didn’t get the chance.

“Well, Regina, we keep running into each other.” Connie had spotted her and strolled over, police detective in tow.

Regina looked past Connie, ignoring her. “Detective Burrows. Did you get the tapes?” Steve sat up straighter when he heard the name. His eyebrows went up. Regina turned to her partner. “That’s the detective that came by the other day, asking for information regarding the poor girl’s abduction.”

Connie, bemused rather than insulted by Regina’s rebuff, chimed in. “And imprisonment and rape.”

Now it was Regina’s turn to raise eyebrows. “You know her?”

Connie nodded. “We’re friends.” Regina opened her mouth to say something, but her phone chimed, interrupting her.

            Regina sighed, relieved. “Mark, hang on a minute.” Steve tensed, getting Thomas’ attention.

            Steve reached for the phone. “I’ll talk to him.”

            Thomas, sensing the awkwardness, took Connie by the arm. “Let’s leave this reunion for some other time.” He nodded toward Regina. “Good seeing you. If I need anything else, I’ll let you know.”

            Thomas led Connie toward a table at the other end of the restaurant.