The Quarry

Lee knew he looked like a fool, standing by himself, a towel clasped loosely in his hand. He was going to get in the water, he was. He just needed a couple more minutes. It looked inviting enough; the hot spring feeding into the quarry made steam rise off of the water.

"Come on Lee!" Jose yelled. But Lee wasn't listening. He'd caught sight of a women staring at them from the cliffs above. She looked familiar.

He began walking toward her, though he wasn't entirely sure why. She had a desperate look in her eyes that sent the same shiver down his spine as he felt when he saw the van. He was about to call out to her when she started sprinting, an envelope clutched in her hand. His initial curiosity now became a burning interest at her sudden flight. He chased after her.

"STOP!" he yelled. "Wait, I'm not trying to hurt you".

She was fast for her size, brown hair streaming after her. He caught her at the dumpster. She was trying desperately to open it but it was stuck. Only then did he realize why she looked familiar- the same brown hair.

"Hey, what you got there?" Lee asked, trying to sound non-threatening. This women obviously knew something about the murder, something she was desperate to hide. He wasn't sure why he was questioning her, why he was making this case his business. He should walk away now, but it was like choosing between river rapids and a smooth stream: it wasn't a choice at all.

"Nothing," She replied.

"I'm Lee," Lee said holding out his hand. She didn't take it.

"Halle"

"What's in the envelope, Halle?"

"Nothing"

"Does it have to do with Mr. Evans?"

She was silent.

"Look Halle, you can either tell me now or I can call the police and you can tell them."

She looked around, as if to run again, but Lee was between her and her car. Lee wouldn't physically harm her, but she didn't know that.

"Okay," she said, looking resigned and began to talk. Lee listened to her story, expressionless. At first he thought she was crazy or maybe just a bored women trying to make her life interesting. But when she began to talk in fluid Russian, he started to believe. A Russian hacker and an envelope that was the key to Mr. Evans murder. What had he gotten himself into?