Free Naked Tao by Robert Grant

him killed? If so, I might be next. 
    Up until this point, loss had defined me. I wasn’t about to lose my freedom too.  I had made some bad decisions on this day, but opening up to my friend was not one of them. I told Eric everything and together we conspired to save my sorry ass.
     

 
     
     
CHAPTER 8
     
     
    “…strip away everything and start fresh, like a newborn.”- Padma
     
     
    What a day. My biggest victory morphs into a nightmare and costs me my job. A miracle cure that will heal my mother appears, and is just as quickly taken away.  I’m served with divorce papers. My boss is dead and the police suspect me. My best friend turns out to be a sex freak. Ch’ing, who is a father to me, disappears without a word. Ginny appears after ten years and then disappears. Oh, and let’s not forget the small matter of needing to save the world from a villainous drug company. Have I left anything out? I couldn’t imagine it getting any worse, but of course it does. 
    “This is a huge mess,” said Kinsey. “Grant, when did you last see Ginny?” 
    “What difference does it make?” I growled. 
    “Why do you say that?” asked Kinsey. 
    “She left the party with another guy,” I answered. 
    “Is that true?” asked Kinsey. “Can you say for certain that is true?” 
    “I saw her talking to some guy,” I said. “I assume they left together.” 
    Kinsey let out a disgusted growl. “I thought you were a Taoist,” she said. “Would Ch’ing let you get away with such sloppy thinking?” 
    Ch’ing focuses on the facts.  He only considers data acquired directly from his senses and carves away any assumptions. One of his favorite internal arts is called Marrow Washing Chi Kung. While it has a physical component, the internal aspect of the practice contains the hidden secrets of the art. It is used to scrub the mind of self-deception. Ch’ing insists it is the shortest path to clarity. 
    I could certainly use a little clarity at the moment. Kinsey was right. I needed to wait and see what had really happened to Ginny. In the meantime, it was time to do something positive, so I suggested we see if the stalker was still outside. 
    We searched the street for any sign of Pony Tail. While there were several white vehicles parked out front, none of them were occupied. Eric grabbed Mr. Bear and his wife, but they only confirmed that the car had left. To be on the safe side we searched the house and yard for any sign of him. As expected, we did not find him. 
    “Do you think something bad has happened to Ginny?” I asked. 
    Kinsey didn’t answer. Instead she chewed on her lower lip. 
    “Should we call the police?” I asked. 
    “And tell them what…that the C.E.O. of a large corporation disappeared from a sex party,” said Kinsey.  “A sex party hosted by the principles of a security company entrusted with the safety of others. It will destroy our credibility, Grant. It might destroy our business.” 
    “Sooner or later I will have to talk to them about John’s murder,” I said. “Maybe I could downplay the sex party stuff.” 
    “Let’s wait until we know more,” suggested Kinsey. “In the meantime, let’s see what we can find out on our own. It’s time to see the rest of these guests off.” 
    I nodded and added, “Eric, I’m sorry I called you a liar. You know…about the swinging thing. Discretion was the right thing under the circumstances. You owe it to Kinsey to keep a low profile about this strange lifestyle you’re into.” 
    Eric slapped me on the back as we made our way to the truck. “Get some rest and we will sort this out tomorrow,” he said. “Are you headed home to the Highlands?” 
    I nodded. 
    “Be careful, Grant,” he said. “Are you good to drive?” 
    “Yes, I’m good to drive,” I answered. “Eric, I’ve got a bad feeling about all of this. I feel like time’s running out for me. If John was murdered, then we need to find out who did it.