Greg said the picture was in Steve's possession. Why?
Truth was, I knew very little about Steve. He was cute, liked to read, got bad headaches, was a bit of an asshole, and had loads of disposable income. I figured the money is Barbra's, but the smartest thing to do at this point was not to assume anything.
It was time to have a serious heart-to-heart with my partner-- even if I had to resist smashing in his face.
Within minutes of walking into the back office of Mocha Daze, my temper got the best of me and suddenly Steve found himself laying on the carpet.
He put a hand to his mouth and looked at it, noting the blood on his fingers.
He suddenly looked like Lestat in Interview with a Vampire, right after he'd put the bite on someone.
He was lucky I didn't have a stake handy.
"I was waiting for you to take this step, old man," he said, grinning. "Took you long enough."
He scrambled about on the floor, trying to get up. I moved forward and pulled back my fist to hit him again when he stayed where he was.
"Give it up, Hugo," he sighed. "It's beneath you."
If I kicked him from where I was standing, he wouldn't be cute for a long time.
"You missed your chance when I was young," he said. "You could have hit me all you wanted then and gotten away with it. Now it's called assault and battery-- just ask your detective boyfriend."
I wasn't about to let him take control. "Tell me who you are and why you had this in your possession," I demanded, handing him the Xerox.
His eyes narrowed and he scooted himself up to a sitting position, unfolding the letter.
A smile came over his face as his hand smoothed out the picture. "Consider it karma."
"Cut the double-talk!" I shouted.
"You're developing quite a spine, Hugo. I'm proud of you. For once." He wiped at the blood trickling from his nose. "You're so young in those yearbook pictures. Such innocence. And yet DeeAnn Reynolds..."
"What the hell are you getting at?"
"You really haven't figured it out?" He took a breath and watched me carefully. "Or is it that you just don't care?"
I took a step back, confused and disoriented. "I haven't seen DeeAnn since I left for college."
"That's what my grandmother said."
"Your grandmother? Who..."
"DeeAnn Reynolds-- your high school sweetheart-- was my mother, Hugo. Want to take a guess what that makes you?"
