Wild Rose
Logan was in a supermarket when his mobile rang.
“What?! No!” – It was his long-awaited day-off so obviously he didn't feel happy to see his boss's number.
“Where are you? I need you!”
“I bet any girl would kill to hear such words at 9 a.m. on her day-off!”
“What?” – Idaho seemed confused. “Are you at home? I'll pick you up!”
“I'm at the cash desk trying to pay for food!” – Logan smiled to the cashier and gave her his credit card.
“Steven started talking!”
“Err… Pick me up at the coffee shop two blocks from my house!” – The news was too important to fool around. Logan took his shopping bags and hurried to the meeting place.
***
“I'm not going to ask you how you did it but what did he say?” - was the first question when he finally reached the cafe.
“Not much. He lost her.”
“Hell, no! What are we going to do?”
“Well, he gave us a name. Joseph Binet. Come! I'll tell you everything on the way.” Idaho stood up and a young waitress came up with a bill.
“ Keep the change!” – He said giving her a twenty-dollar banknote.
***
“Doctor, you must understand! We are talking about a dangerous criminal!”
“Stella? A criminal! No! There must be a mistake! We have the best reputation in the city! Our clients are respected and reliable people! No, no! There must be a mistake, young man!” – Doctor Link was repeating the same things for the third time. He was terrified of the thought that his clinic could be involved in a scandal.
“Listen, doc! If I don't get the information here and now, I will leave but I doubt that you will like something that happens next! The other option is: I get the information now and you will never see me again!”
The offer seemed too enticing while the threat – too real so Dr. Link gave up.
“Ok, what do you want to know?”
***
When Idaho left the clinic Logan was waiting for him in the car.
“She always paid by cash, never by cheque. She never signed any documents… There isn't a single paper left, not even a receipt! Who the hell is this Joseph Binet?”
“No idea. But she never visited him.” – Logan replied.
“Really? That's interesting. What else have you got?”
“Well, I've walked around and I've seen several wards, his too. And there's nothing in it!”
“What do you mean?”
“No photos, or flowers, no pathetic teddy bear from a toy store on the corner. She paid huge sums of money so she cared for him but she never visited him… That's… I don't know… strange… What's going to happen to him now?”
“She has paid for the next two months. Doctor Link is still sure she will continue to pay… I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about it.”
“But Mr. Jacobson…”
“Steven has returned the sum so he is not that interested in this case. It turns our friend has stolen enough to pay back something he stole this time.”
“What's going to happen to him now?”
“Well, Old Jackal has emptied his accounts. Steven hasn't got a penny! ”
“Wait! It has just occurred to me… If Mr. Jacobson is not interested… why the hell am I here on my goddamn day-off? Couldn't it wait?”
“Logan, I… I must find her!” – Idaho looked determined and… desperate? The rest of the way to Logan's home both kept silent.
“How are your folks?” – Logan finally asked.
“They are coming back from Paris tomorrow. I'm going to meet them at the airport. I need to buy something for my Mom. She is still sulking because I didn't see them off to Paris. And didn't get acquainted with that girl who flew to Prague…”
“A girl? Was she attractive?”
“Hmm… glasses, two pigtails, a student type, although there was something about her… Ah, skip it! So, what should I give my Mom?”
“There is a good gift shop near our office. Or you can always go to the florist. Women will forgive you anything for a bouquet of flowers.”
“Thanks, man. See you tomorrow!”
Logan went home; so did Idaho. He didn't know what to do so he decided to check his e-mail. He found no new messages except for that press publication about Steven that Logan had sent him. The story happened in North Dakota. The farmer's family died in the fire. Idaho smiled sadly. He knew this story. And he knew the reasons. Mr. Jacobson wanted to buy their land because he thought there was oil there. But Bobby Blues, the farmer, refused to sell it. So Mr. Jacobson found another way. Idaho knew that he had found a worker from the farm to set fire. What he didn't know was the fact that the worker was Steven. Well, that would explain a lot… Idaho looked at the photo of the family: Bobby and his wife and their three kids: Jackson, 8, Virginia, 10 and Dakota, 12. The girls looked alike: glasses and pigtails… Idaho's mood spoilt. He thought about other people who had suffered because of money and power. Was he doing the right thing? Walking around the room he switched on the radio:
“Wish you were here” – sang the Rednex and after the song a pleasant voice started to break the news.
“And at the end of our program as usual some bits and pieces about US states. Today it is North Dakota or Sioux State in the west of the US. So the state flower is wild prairie rose. The big cities are…”
But Idaho wasn't listening, a sudden thought crossed his mind.
“Wild prairie rose, wild rose…” He looked at the photo of the family…
“Oh, my God… Rose Wild! Glasses, two pigtails, a student type… But of course! Well, well, well, nice to meet you, Miss Dakota Blues!” – Idaho smiled and dialed the number.
