Chapter 6

cardigan walked into Timon of Athens to find sierra charles waiting just inside the doorway. "what'd you find out?"

"patience, cardigan. you gotta wine & dine me if you want the info. come on, let's get a table."

the scent of garlic and lemon greeting them as them walked into the dining area, taking the edge off cardigan's mood. they quickly settled on fried calamari two glasses of ouzo to start with. "okay, charles. what can you tell me about livermore?"

"i can't find him." she dipped her calimari in the aioli. "i think he's missing."

"brilliant deduction, angel." cardigan glared at her, grinding his teeth against the crispy, chewy squid. "who does he know? where is he from? where is is family? i've got nothing on this guy, and i doubt he's who he says he is."

she nods, sipping her ouzo. "i think you're right about that, but i don't know for sure. i wasn't investigating him, i was working for him." she looks at her menu again. "what are you ordering?"

"the basil shrimp with feta and orzo," he replied promptly.

"shrimp with cheese? yuck." she made a face at him. "i'm getting the swordfish. wanna get a bottle of white?"

"sure, that'll work. and normally, i'd agree with you about fish and cheese, but this particular dish is an exception. trust me."

after the waiter leaves with their order, cardigan puts his elbows on the table and leans forward. "i'm listening."

"there's not a lot i can tell you, cardigan." she cuts him off when he starts to retort. "i'm serious; i'm not playing games with you. james hired me to find somebody and confirm that person's identity. i did that. there's not much more i can tell you about that situation that would help you, other than that i was able to verify today that james has not contacted that individual." she shrugged. "i'm at the same dead end that you are."

cardigan contemplates this as the waiter pours the wine. "not quite. you know livermore. what's he like? where is he from? where did he work before Verona? how did you contact him since he didn't have a phone?"

"i'd leave a message with his landlord and he'd call me. i know he doesn't have a car. he never mentioned living or working anywhere else. he always paid with a money order, which makes me suspect he doesn't have a bank account and strengthens my conviction that he's hiding from something or someone." she samples the wine. "i like this. grassy, not too oaky."

cardigan drums his fingers on the table. "did you ever meet him at Verona?"

she nods. "once. he was working in the kitchen, and entertaining the customers. he's a marvelous impersonator--he can do do all kinds of voices."

"that's what i hear. who did he do?"

"oh, gosh. let's see--the president, all those old cartoon characters like bugs bunny and porky pig and pepe le pew. elvis. garth brooks."

"garth brooks?" cardigan looked disgusted. "how could you tell? i don't think i've ever heard him talk."

she shook her head. "no, he sang like garth brooks--that song about having friends in low places. sounded just like him. he did a great elvis, too."

their food arrived and they broke off the conversation to dig in. cardigan appreciated the fact that sierra charles was a good eater, and didn't object at all when she stuck a fork into his plate for a sample. "mmm, that is good. you've got a good palate, cardigan."


he poured more wine for both of them. "this person you found for him....does he or she know livermore?"

"maybe. i don't know." she starts pushing her food around in her plate. "there is something, cardigan. it might be a stretch, but..."

he raises an eyebrow at her over his wine glass as he drains it. "i'll take anything at this point."

"this...person i located used to live in vegas. given james' talents, it's possible that he may have tried performing in vegas. he's certainly good enough." she shrugs. "like i say, it's a stretch."

"hmmm....true, but plausible all the same. i think i'll follow up on it." he finishes his plate and meets her eyes. "how about dessert?"

"hmmm...."