Gene Search: A Collin Carter Mystery

Gene Search:

a Collin Carter Mystery

By Kathleen Steed

Copyright © 2012

All rights reserved

Smashwords Edition

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Cover illustrated by: Christine Ticali @ http://darkroaddesigns.com/

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Chapter One

Collin was sitting in the cold and dark again. He was in his car, waiting. Missus. Holt had been inside the tiny motel for fifteen minutes. Collin ducked down when he saw the Chevy Camaro park. A nice looking thirty-something exited the car, leaned down to check his hair in the side view mirror, glanced around the parking lot then went inside. It was always the same. These two thought nobody knew their secret. But, Doctor Holt had guessed and Collin was here to confirm, Missus Holt was having an affair. Collin waited two more minutes, grabbed his handgun and camera off the seat next to him and quietly got out of his car. He holstered the gun, slung his camera over his neck and snuck up on the motel.

He slipped around the side of the building. The balconies faced the back. He hoped to get a glimpse of the two through a sliver of space between the curtain and the wall. Ever more slowly he approached. As he peeked through the space between the curtain and the wall he could make out a commotion under the covers of the bed. He raised his camera and took a couple of shots of the blankets even though you couldn’t see who was beneath. Then he was startled by the blankets rising toward the ceiling and falling to the floor. There she was facing the camera. Collin could only get shots of the thirty-something’s back but Amy Holt’s face was clearly visible. And clearly she was enjoying the moment.

Collin tiptoed back around the side of the building. He took a shot of the Camaro with the license plate visible and jumped into his sedan. He had an appointment at Holt Genetics Laboratory (HGL) the next day at noon. This time he had the evidence he was being paid to collect.

Twenty minutes later he opened his townhome door and walked inside. The townhome had two bedrooms and a kitchen dining area that lead into a large living room. It was all on one level. It even had a fenced backyard. Collin slid the gun into the drawer of the end table near the couch and locked it. He left the camera on top of the end table with his keys. He was creeping through his living room to the kitchen when Lily spoke from the hallway just outside the bedrooms.

Caught ya!

Lily! You gave me a heart attack. I was trying not to wake you.

Collin Carter was a slender man and only five feet six inches tall. His size allowed him to sneak into and around places in his profession as a private investigator. Lily Post was an inch taller than Collin and out weighed him by twenty pounds. Her extra weight suited her well. She was curvaceous with a slender waist.

Why were you trying not to wake me? Don’t you want to talk to me?

Collin opened the refrigerator and took out a beer. He asked Lily, Want one?

No. Answer my question Colly.

Collin didn’t really like it when she called him that. He said, Lily, it is two a.m. Most people would appreciate not being awakened at two a.m.

He walked past her to the living room and sat on the couch. She sat down on the chaise opposite him. I never got to see you at all today. You were sleeping when I left for the hospital and you were gone when I got home.

He drank some of his beer. Did you by chance make any dinner? I’m starving.

Yes I did. I’ll warm you up a piece of meatloaf.

Could I get a kiss first?

Lily got up and walked over to him. She sat in his lap and smothered him in kisses. She went to the kitchen to get him a plate. She warmed the meatloaf in the microwave and added a small bowl of fruit salad to the plate. He still had some beer left when she brought him the food.

He reached up and kissed her when she handed him the plate. He gobbled down the fruit first.

I’m going to get paid tomorrow.

At last. It took a long time to get the evidence for your client this time.

Yeah. They kept the curtains drawn.

How did you do it?

Remember I told you they were repeating the rendezvous place?

Yes, I remember.

I got the manager to let me in this morning. I stapled the side of the curtain so it didn’t close flat against the wall.

That was clever. The manager didn’t mind?

I did it while he wasn’t looking. I’m really glad this one is over.

Lily was a nurse. Both she and Collin understood the responsibilities of confidentiality. So when they talked about work they never mentioned names. Lily had no idea that Collin had been investigating the wife of wealthy and famous George Holt of Holt Laboratories. Collin finished the meatloaf and his beer.

Thanks, you make the best meatloaf. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to eat dinner with you.

I understand. You go get ready for bed now.

Meet you there.

Lily took his plate and put it into the kitchen sink while Collin prepared for bed.

Chapter Two

HGL was in Rockville in the Route I-270 Technology Corridor. There were lots of laboratories of one sort or another in that area of Montgomery County. Many were research oriented some did clinical testing to diagnose disease. HGL did both. They did genetic testing to diagnose disease and research in hopes of someday developing a cure. George Holt owned and ran HGL. It had started as a one man show. After he had isolated the genetic code for an enzyme thought to slow the aging process and produced pure product through recombinant DNA manufacturing he had struck it rich. He sold the purified enzyme to a skin care product company that added it to their line of face creams. Now he had a huge building, a snazzy high tech laboratory and 800 employees all looking for the next big money maker.

George had married Amy before he became so well known and rich. Now he wanted a divorce but he didn’t want to share. Amy had played right along with his scheme by getting lonely and falling for the advances of a younger man. A man George Holt was secretly paying to romance his wife. The young man was getting paid $20,000 and expenses. George figured that was a savings compared to half of HGL.

Collin entered the building and walked up to the receptionist. She nodded for him to sign in and gave him a badge that indicated in large letters: VISITOR. She called Doctor Holt’s secretary to tell them that Collin had arrived. While Collin was waiting an employee of the lab came up to the desk. She had apparently forgotten her badge when she left home that morning. The receptionist asked for some identification and issued her a badge. She reminded the employee that if she didn’t turn it back in she would be reported. The employee took the badge and went to the elevators. Doctor Holt himself came to get Collin. They didn’t speak until they were in his office with the door closed.

Well? Any luck yet?

Collin pulled a large brown envelope out of his briefcase and handed it to Doctor Holt. Collin had spent the morning developing the pictures in the dark room he had made out of the storage closet in the second bedroom.

George Holt took the envelope from Collin and slowly pulled out the pictures. Collin had included a picture of the bed before the covers came off. George wrinkled his brow when he saw it thinking the pictures would be useless. Then he turned to the next one. The covers were settling to the floor and his wife was holding the young man’s head to her chest with both hands. The following pictures continued to show her infidelity. George put the pictures back inside the envelope. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a checkbook.

Collin said, Sorry it turned out this way Doctor Holt.

Collin always felt guilty about exposing a cheating spouse. He knew it wasn’t his fault but it was a very emotional time for the people involved.

Not at all. Thank you for your excellent work. This should make the divorce go along much more smoothly. George handed him the check.

I know my way out.

Collin left Doctor Holt and his envelope