Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 42

Striding through the bar, “Where is she? Angelo, have you seen her?”

Palms held placatingly upwards, “Hey, Larry calm down. I ain’t done nothing. Yes, I’ve seen her. Cops came sniffing after her. Said she was pushing…”

“That’s crap and you know it…”

“You know it. I know it, but they came asking.”

Something in his manner doesn’t sit well. “What did you tell them?”

His face drops.

“What did you tell them?”

“Hey, they had me in an awkward spot. Got me by the curlies…”

He backs away as I step around the bar, standing close to look down on him. “What did you tell them?”

“They wanted her address and…” He crunches up as my fist sinks into his abs.

“Anything else you told them?”

“No… just that. It’s all the cop wanted…”

Gathering up his shirt in one hand, I haul him upright again, pulling him up and off-balance. “And have you seen her since?”

“Two days ago. She was with Frank. She was pretty upset.”

“She left with him?”

“Yes.”

“Is that all you want to tell me?”

“Yes, that’s it, Larry. Honest.”

I release him and he drops, arms clutched to his stomach. “If I hear that you missed anything, I’ll be back. Understand me?”

Speechlessly, still wheezing, he nods.

*****

Frank?

Where to find him?

… Them…

Office…

I dial his works number. “Hello, I’d like to speak with Mr Conners, please. It’s Larry Klempner.”

“I’m sorry, sir. Mr Conners isn’t here today. Can I take a message?”

“Yes, tell him to call me as soon as possible. He’ll know what it’s about.”

“I’ll do that, sir.”

I put the receiver down. Something in the receptionist’s tone sounded a little too rehearsed.

Was he there?

I call Bech again. This time he’s there. “Get my car to me would you, to my hotel. ASAP. And I need some information.”

He keeps his voice low, the sound of office clatter in the background. “Of course, sir. And welcome back. A good trip?”

“It was until I got back. I need to know about an arrest made on a young woman. Probably the drug squad. Michelle Kimberley. You met her briefly.”

Bech’s voice hangs. “There was, sir, an incident.”

?

Something in his tone doesn’t sit right…

“What kind of incident?”

“I’ll bring your car myself, sir. I think this would be better face to face.”

Hanging the receiver up again…. What the fuck’s he talking about?

*****

“So, what’s been happening, Bech?”

“Sir, the Kimberley woman was found leaving Blessingmoors after spending an unknown period roaming inside.”

Shit… NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

“How the fuck did that happen? Who let her in? The place should be sealed down tight.”

“That guard concerned will not be committing any similar faux pas, sir. And I believe the example made of him will discourage any further laxity in the staff. Repairs have already been made where necessary.”

“And the girl?”

“Helga called me immediately. Had it been any other intruder I would have taken steps to eliminate them. However, since I know of your interest in this woman, instead I decided it would be best to discredit and silence her. At least until your return.”

My temperature rises. Bech backs away a step.

“You took it upon yourself to…”

His chin lifts. “Sir, you were not here. Someone had to take charge of the situation.”

“Did you try to contact me?”

He swallows, licking at dry lips. “Sir, this woman is dangerous. I realise you are... attracted to her but try to be objective for a moment. A prostitute, albeit a high-class prostitute, has drawn your attention, perhaps persuaded to spend money on her. She knows too much and what is more, she is spilling what she knows.”

“Who to?”

“Her lawyer for one.”

“And what have you done about that?”

His normal bland tone returns. “The lawyer will not be a problem again, sir.”

“Who else has she spoken to? The police?”

“She had the sense not to speak during her interview, other than to claim she was innocent of the charges. She was not believed…” He hesitates. “From the information I have obtained, it seems she has some very interesting clients.”

“Such as?”

“The Commissioner of Police for one.”

“You think she went to him for help?”

“I think not, sir. Or if she did, she would have been turned away.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because the Commissioner will have opened his mail by now. In a letter marked ‘Personal’, he will find enclosed a list of dates in which he… indulged… in this woman along with the sums he paid her.”

“You aim to blackmail him?”

“No, I aim to make him think she is blackmailing him. In any case, I doubt he will be interested in either supporting her or using her services any further. Should I detect any movement in that area, his wife will receive a copy of the same information.”

Classic Bech technique…

He frowns. “What I don’t know, sir…” He speaks warily… “Is where she is now. Or who she might be with…”

My head pounds. I feel dull, lethargic…

Mitch…

“She’s with Conners.”

“Conners? Frank Conners? The real estate agent?”

“Yes, him.”

Bech claps hands together, rubs the palms. “Obvious really. Should have thought of that myself. She has you and him linked in her records…”

His words send shockwaves through my thoughts. “What? What records?”

“She keeps… kept… a client file. All of her customers, listed with personal details, dates, times and monies paid. It’s a gold mine.” He casts an eye to me. “You were in there too… part of her client list…”

Is that all I ever was?

A client…

Bech keeps talking. “Anyway, that should make her easy to track down.”

“Why? You know Conners’ private address?”

There’s a touch a condescension in Bech’s tone…

Don’t push it…

“He runs his own company. He’s a director. A lot of his personal details are public information. How hard can he be to find?”

*****