Текст книги "Dead Breath"

Автор книги: Melody Jade Allen

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“You know, I want to look around if you don’t mind?” Mireya said. “I don’t think I will be carried away by your police interrogation.”

Adrianna shrugged her shoulders. “Okay if you want so. But be where I could find you.”

“Of course I will.”

When Adrianna disappeared into the Ice Tea, Mireya confidently headed for the Hot Moon. She came in. The Hot Moon was a game club – billiard tables, tables for card games, a stand with the game “Happy Rabbit”, several other machines, and three computers for the tournament for some online game filled the entire room, the interior of the establishment was decorated in a space theme and the expected bright Moon, The shrouded in flames lit up the whole room in the company of the stars and the Solar System. “It’s original,” Mireya thought and took a few steps forward, but someone stopped her, taking her hand, she turned around – a young guy in a business black suit was standing behind her, reproachfully looking into her eyes.

“You can’t be here right now.” He said. “Hot Moon will be open after 9 pm.”

“Oh…” Mireya hesitated, looking at his badge with the inscription “Brandon. Security”. “Excuse me, just my friend works here and I thought…”

“It’s okay, Brandon!” The same guy that ran away from Mireya approached them. He wore a white T-shirt and classic jeans; his brown short hair was slightly dishevelled. “She is my friend, I asked her to come here. I’m sorry I didn’t warn you.”

“All right.” Brandon let go of Mireya hand. “I hope the Boss doesn’t know.”

“Don’t worry.” The guy waved his hand.

Brandon nodded satisfactorily and left them, heading for some distance.

“Who are you?” Mireya finally asked. “How do you know me?”

“Where is Leandra?” The Stranger asked in a low voice.

“She was killed.” Mireya blurted out. “Now tell me, who are you?”

“Come with me.”

They entered a small room, where there were many monitors that shot every inch of the Hot Moon. The Stranger sat down in front of them and after taking a walkie-talkie, he said something to the unknown into it and offered Mireya to take a seat beside him; he leaned back.

“You will keep silent, right?” Mireya said irritably. “Who are you?”

“My name is Dennis.” He said. “Leandra showed me your photos together. You know, I liked you.” He grinned. “I even asked her when I could see you in the flesh, and she answered, “Only when I leave the world of the living.” I did not think she was speaking literally.”

“Dennis, here is the detective who is investigating Leandra’s case, she is from Los Angeles. Leandra was killed there at the hotel.” Mireya told him everything that had happened.

Dennis ran a hand over his chin. “I would not like to deal with the police.”

Mireya rolled her eyes. “I already heard that from another guy… What are you guys doing in this city?”

“Hey, take it easy!” Dennis giggled. “We don’t need to suspect us of… something bad, in the sense that our activities are like amateur espionage behind the Boss who only visits us just once every few weeks. Leandra worked with us, but her profile was tracking phones and bank cards, but more phones.”

Mireya was animated. “Listen, if the phone has built-in anti-tracking system, are there ways to find it?”

Dennis shrugged his shoulders. “If you really want to…”

“Someone is calling me from her phone and…” Mireya stopped, but continued to tell Dennis about the calls on behalf of Leandra.

“Well, if that’s the strange case…” Dennis took a deep breath. “I will try, but I’m sorry, I do not give any guarantees.”

Mireya nodded. “But thank you for agreeing.”

“So, are you going to tell your friend the cop?” Dennis smiled maliciously.

“I must. But she doesn’t have power in Las Vegas, don’t worry – she will not arrest you.” Mireya winked and got up. “What about Tom Walt? Is he working here?”

“No.” Dennis answered. “Tom is her ex-boyfriend.”

***

“So he lied.” Adrianna said, moving the red car along Las Vegas streets.

“Well, at least one of them did.” Mireya looked through the window at the copy of the Eiffel Tower.

“But Mireya, I don’t like it.”

“What?” Mireya looked at Adrianna.

“Well, what are you doing? You’re talking to those who might have been involved in her death. This is my job.”

“Sorry. I didn’t want to act behind you, but it happened. By the way, Dennis will call me. You will have the opportunity to talk to him.”

“I will. But here is what about Tom… I got in touch with the local department. People named Tom Walt are only a 56-year-old man, 11th school student from England and the other one is African American. So he’s the one who lied to you.”

“Damn…” Mireya rubbed her eyes, thinking what a mistake she had made. Although she didn’t understand the sequence of her actions – she had never been able to trust strangers, but with Tom and Dennis she was as open as possible. She didn’t want to think she was becoming vulnerable in some way because it was already such once… only once.

It was almost three years ago, when she and Leandra were at college parties after the last exams. There was one guy named Aron, with whom they played that popular student game among their students “Drink or True” – two players drink spirits or speak the innermost truth of life, although some have come up with this “truth” on the go even not always successfully. It was just a game… But the rules were not a game. Aron handed Mireya a strong whiskey and sitting in front of an artificial fireplace, they started,

“So… what’s your most stupid thing?” Aron asked with a sneer.

Mireya whistled. “Where do I begin?” She laughed. “Although, perhaps it is worth highlighting one – I had a bet with Leandra and losing to her, I was forced to steal a police car.”

“No!” Aron laughed, clapping his hands. “And you could?”

Mireya nodded. “Damn yes! The stupidest thing is the criminal was in that car. Well, he was a thief who pawned stuff from the shopping centre, where Leandra and I used to go. I was given 60 days of public works for all of this and… Now, I am under strict control in that shopping centre. Even when I go to the dressing room, someone has to watch me.”

“God…” Aron laughed again and took a few sips of his mojito.

“Now it’s your turn!” Mireya snapped her fingers and slapped her leg. “What is your… the most frightening secret, Aron?”

Aron paused for a few seconds. “I heard the words of a dead man.”

“What?” Mireya raised her eyebrows. “Explain?”

“It was during the winter holidays.” Aron looked at the fire. “My brother and I travelled to neighbouring states and eventually ended up in Colorado, there is an abandoned radio station. And we, of course, went there and to our surprise, the equipment was still working. So we went in there and started some radio wave… and then I heard it. It was Josh, my friend who died in a car accident.”

“Did you hear him?”

“I did. It was like in White Noise movie, but not so literally. I heard a whisper between pauses between this noise and silence.”

“And what did he tell you?”

Aron glared at the fire. “He said, “Stay away from Lene-Genie-Len”.” He drank his drink.

Mireya was waiting for another explanation.

Aron noticed her inquiring look. “Lene-Genie-Len was a girl I liked, she was from another college, and Josh introduced me to her. Her nickname was coined by the two of us and we swore to each other that it would only be between us. I did not tell anyone and I’m sure that he didn’t, too. Her name was Helene, Genie is from her image – she was like that Eastern girl from the cartoon and tried to please everyone like Genie from lamp, and her last name was Lenners. She seemed good, she was the best at school and in college after, but then, after Josh… It turned out that this girl was working with the drug dealers and their killer.” Aron shrugged his shoulders. “That’s the whole story.”

Mireya was silent, looking at the fire being impressed. “Do you really believe that these were words from another world?”

“I do believe. I have no doubt that they can contact us from there. And you must believe it, Mireya.”

***

“Mireya, it’s none of your business!” Leandra screamed at her friend, chaotically collecting her clothes in a sky-blue suitcase.

“And what the hell are you going to do? You don’t even know what you’re going for, damn, stop at least once!”

Leandra stopped. “Everything I’m trying to do is not just for myself.”

“Oh, it’s really not?”

“But why, do you think I called you?”

“That’s maybe because I’ve always been a girl for errands for you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You do know…”

… Mireya opened her eyes. She fell asleep in the car, Adrianna left. She looked out the window – it was the Sunset. She was on a busy street, closer to the copy of the Eiffel Tower, past the tourists, one of them winked at her. Mireya rubbed her eyes.

“What was it?” She asked herself. “Just a dream or… a forgotten memory?” It involuntarily reminded her of that forgotten night, of that night of Leandra’s murder, which she had completely forgotten.

“You are awake?” The door opened, Adrianna got in.

“Yes… sorry, I should not have fallen asleep.” Mireya looked at Adrianna, who was holding some papers in her hands. “What is it?”

“I was in the computer club to print out new information from the Los Angeles police, they sent me an e-mail.”

“What is there?”

“Well, they still didn’t track her phone. But yours was tracked, Mireya.”

“And…?”

“You said that you don’t remember anything… They don’t believe you anymore.”

“Why not?” Mireya almost screamed.

“Your phone was in the hotel at the moment when Leandra was killed. They asked for information from your mobile operator, there was your correspondence with her… conflicting correspondence. Our Captain is sure it could be in a moment of passion.”

“What?” Mireya squeaked. “Adrianna, I have not written to her for a few months! It’s all trumped up! You do not…”

Adrianna raised her hand, silencing her. “I have to get you back to LA, where you will be arrested.”

Chapter 3

Adrianna and Mireya returned to the hotel to spend the last night before flying to Los Angeles – luckily to Mireya during the tourist activity, all tickets for the next coming flights were sold out. Standing in an empty room alone, Mireya tried to correctly draw up a plan for her further actions, the decision had already been taken. She needed a non-standard way out…

There were video surveillance cameras in the hotel, but it did not matter – they would still know that she had left, but Adrianna wouldn’t worry about her until 6:30am, when she would enter her room to handcuff and take her to the airport. There were several hours left, which gave an advantage.

Mireya took a taxi and drove to the game club Hot Moon; she entered without problems, greeted Brandon, who was still at his workplace like Dennis was. She knocked on his closed room; distracted from the monitors, he got up and opened the door to her.

She said, “I need help.”

***

“Your phone is vulnerable, but I still have several mobile numbers that will not be found by the police or even the FBI.” Dennis, after viewing Mireya’s cell he returned it to her, changing the SIM card.

They were setting in the seats in front of the monitors; Mireya glanced at one of them, sometimes frightened to see a girl who looked like Adrianna, but she was wrong. She was still safe.

“If you’re worried about the police…” Dennis said. “It is not necessary – the police can’t enter here without having a warrant. Did you say that your female friend does not have power here?”

“That’s right.” Mireya looked at her updated phone, it had everything she needed.

“So they are guided only by your fake correspondence?” Dennis asked with his arms crossed.

“Well, I was at the hotel, when she was killed, in part they were enough of this, now in addition, they have what makes me look almost like a devil in the flesh. I’m a killer for them because my alibi is the crime scene. So it’s ironic…”

“Yes. Or it’s cynical… on the part of the murderer. As if he was ready.”

“Did you say “he”?”

“Well yes.” Dennis ran his hand around his neck. “Somebody strangled her, right? I think not every girl is capable of this because it’s pretty cold-bloodedly.”

“You’re right, but who knows what a girl can do being in a moment of passion…” Mireya snorted.

“So? Are you really going to run away all your life? Until they catch the real criminal?”

“Come on, they will not look for someone else. Instead, they will strain all their gyrus to find me. I already feel they will describe me as a particularly dangerous criminal, and my portraits will be on all TV shows in the country. And by the way, my face certainly will be on all the pillars of this city too. Very cute.” Mireya leaned back.

“And how are you going to justify yourself?”

“Dennis, who is Tom?”

“Sorry?”

“Well, Tom? Tom Walt? Adrianna said the local police could not find him in the database. As if he does not exist at all. Then who is he?”

Dennis exhaled. “In fact, he said he is illegally here and his name is a fake. We did not demand anything from him because he was working with something that was not quite legal.”

“Hey, buddy, slow down… You know what that means we don’t know who Tom Walt is? And is this not really his real name? Who is he, Dennis?”

***

After visiting the Hot Moon, Mireya asked herself a question about the car and the new documents, but given her location, it was easy to her to hide in the city among millions of other people and an endless number of tourists. She knew there are quite a few people in Las Vegas, who are here illegally and are engaged in “grey” activities. Maybe she could find some of them to get a new name, new personality and with their help a new life. But she was not a killer and she was going to prove it to everyone. Someone wanted her to disappear… “It will not work, Stranger”.

For several hours, Mireya wandered along the city and at last she found herself on that lonely road that led to the suburbs. There it was always safe – a lot of people, a lot of newbies, and no one would pay attention to her. But something made her nervous… like someone was watching her.

Another phone call… “Well, no.” Mireya thought. No one could know this number, except for Dennis. She looked at the display. It was not Dennis’s number… It was Leandra’s one. She answered.

“… Come on, Mireya. He’s so… carefree. I would not trust him. Never!” Leandra spoke. “Stay away from him!”

Mireya remembered that day.

She and Leandra were in the dorm room, when they were still in the same college. They discussed a guy (whose name Mireya had already forgotten), and Leandra immediately said – stay away from him.

“You know, sometimes people hide their hidden essence. No one ever knows if there is a mask from a person who is so close to you.” She continued to speak from the tube. “And your new so-called potential boyfriend has a lie in every sentence that he says. Beware of such people, Mireya. Stay away.”

The call was interrupted.

Mireya stopped. Leandra was right again – that guy was already married and has wife was pregnant… the second time. Leandra probably somehow found out about it, but didn’t want to upset her friend, infinitely hinting. Mireya listened to her and didn’t regret it. And someone else knew about this all…

Mireya shuddered when she heard the signal from the car behind. She turned around – the dark sedan was approaching her. The headlights hid the driver’s face; the car stopped. The driver got out… it was Tom.

“No…” Mireya tiredly said and stepped back.

“Calm down!” Tom rubbed his hands. “I don’t bite. Don’t be afraid of me.”

“You know, now the only thing that scares me is the police.”

Tom raised his eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

Mireya told him, forgetting the call from Leandra.

“Oh, now we are almost in the same team, my friend.” Tom laughed. “Only I was illegal, but Dennis had already told you that.”

“How did it happen?”

“Well…” Tom ran a hand through his thick hair, exhaling. “I came to the States from England to experience fate. But nothing that I planned worked, then the money ran out and here’s the result.” He smiled. “But I like this feeling of freedom!”

“Are they looking for you?”

Tom shook his head. “No, they are not anymore. A few months ago I hacked the FBI system. I was wanted. But time is up. They stopped hunted after me, knowing that I was illegal and that my activity in their system was not copied and distributed. They are not interested in me.”

“Really?”

Tom smiled maliciously. “If I was on the run, where would I be hiding and what would I say?”

“You would lie and hide in a city, where you can merge with the crowd.” Mireya spread her hands. “Like I do.”

“And what are you…?” Tom looked around, making sure that no one hears them. “Don’t want to escape? Do you want to fight?”

“Of course I will not give up without a fight, Tom. No one should retreat without having to struggle with the last forces.”

“But you can’t do it alone, Lady.”

Mireya smiled condescendingly. “You underestimate me.”

“Maybe.” Tom stepped toward her. “How well can you evaluate your possibilities?”

***

“Adrianna, what the hell?” Los Angeles Police Captain Warner Locke was standing in his spacious office, looking at Adrianna who was standing in front of him, closing her hands.

“Sir…” She said, not looking into his eyes. “I could not even imagine that she could escape. We all discussed it before someone like…”

The Captain interrupted her. “Before giving her the opportunity to be alone? God, Hale, you are a police officer and there can be no reason for you to let the criminal out of your sight! You are acting like a beginner!”

“Yes, Sir.” Adrianna agreed. “Sorry. She must have already left Las Vegas and…”

The Captain interrupted her again. “This is not your concern anymore. I’ll make the call, the police in Las Vegas and the whole of Nevada will be looking for her.”

“I am suspended?”

“No, you’re not for now. But you will work only inside the police department, is that clear?”

Adrianna lowered her eyes.

“Look, if you want to help your friend, don’t stop us from dealing with this case.” The Captain picked up the telephone.

“But Sir… She is not a killer.” Adrianna said, still looking at the floor.

“If she is not, we are the one who killed that girl. But if it’s her doing, Adrianna… Mireya Rothe will go to jail.”

“But is there anything that might detract her from it?”

“Yes.” The Captain put down the receiver and took a piece of paper, he handed it to Adrianna. “The experts were able to establish only the approximate time of Leandra Ray’s death, and here you see Rothe buying coffee in a coffee shop a few blocks away. Hypothetically, if we assume that Ray was killed an hour or even half an hour later – Mireya is innocent. But she was the last person out of her room, Adrianna. No one else came in and did not go out before the hotel staff arrived, who found Leandra’s body. You know, she’s more close to prison a week away from it.”

Adrianna nodded. “I see. But I must prove her innocence. I must.”

“Then act, according to the rules. There is no need to cross the boundaries to achieve the desired goal – sometimes monotony is the most correct decision.”

***

Motel “The heart of Las Vegas” was a two-story building away from the city. In this place, no one asked for names and, especially, documents, it was an ideal place for runaway criminals.

Tom stopped his car on this almost empty parking lot; Mireya got out and looked around – only two other cars, only in three windows there was a light, a street rat ran somewhere. She grinned. “The heart of Las Vegas?”

Tom got out after hearing her words.

“You know, this place should have called “The bottom of Las Vegas”.” Mireya gloomily looked at the old motel building.

“All right, Lady.” Tom approached her. “The fairy tale is over. Accept the reality as it is.”

“I’m suggesting an option better – creating your own reality.” Mireya winked.

“I don’t mind and I’m ready to help you. But a little later.”

In the motel, its hall they were met by a man about 45-50 years old with mixed tattoos on his hands and a yin-yang pendant around his neck, he was more like a western movie character – he had a checkered blue shirt, worn torn jeans and cowboy boots. It took only a few hours, Mireya noticed her photo with the inscription “WANTED” at his desk, and that man, of course, recognized her, but did not even think to call the police. They got two rooms on the second floor, but until it got dark they settled in Mireya’s room.

Two double beds, TV, refrigerator, microwave, bathroom, and night lamps surrounded them. “Not bad for 50 bucks.” Mireya thought and closed the curtains.

“Okay.” Tom sat on the edge of one of the bed, locking the doors. “The good news is we can hide here for as long as you want because that guy is not interested in working with the police. But the bad news is… you’re already on the wanted list, it makes you more vulnerable.”

“Well, fine. It’s like being on sight.” Mireya leaned her elbows on the wall.

“Yes, but maybe there are answers in Leandra’s apartment, which the cops will not find for anything.”

Mireya looked at him. “Are you kidding? Damn, you do know where her apartment is, Tom?”

“Relax…” Tom exhaled. “Yes, I do know. But we will go there at night when there will be more people on the streets.”

“We will break the door?”

“No. Leandra was my brother’s girlfriend and… Let’s say, for example she invited us there and hypothetically I could make a mold of her key. Sometimes I had no money and then come easy prey.”

“You robbed her?”

“I have tried.” Tom grinned. “There was nothing for that… But I was there only a couple of times.”

“Why did you say that the cops would not find it?”

“Leandra did not live there officially. As you know, there are more illegal immigrants in this city and quite a few landlords don’t even ask names – they just ask for money ahead.”

“But what could she do…” Mireya was interrupted by another call from Leandra. Taking the phone, she apologized to Tom and went out into the corridor. “What should I hear now?” She accepted the call.

“You didn’t listen to me again! And you should leave before it’s too late!” Leandra spoke against a background of some noise, reminiscent of traffic. “Believe me, I know him better than you.”

Mireya smiled involuntarily. That day when she Leandra tried to push Mireya away from the next guy who was, as she said with dark inclinations. It seems that this guy was named Bill or something like that, who was an employee of a car service and was firmly on drugs.

“I’m like your guardian angel, Mireya.” Leandra continued. “You should always listen to my words. Believe me I will always take care of you.”

Mireya disconnected the phone and panting, went down the wall. Leandra never told her these words… Then who the hell just spoke to her? Installation of voice? Or was it really Leandra?