The Other Side of Sorrow by Peter Corris

of those.
    He filled in a few spaces rapidly, then clicked his pen and looked at me. ‘So what’s our first move?’
    The first move should have shattered any illusions about the romance of the private detective business Geoff might have entertained. We paid a call on Damien Talbot’s mother and got precisely nowhere. According to a neighbour, the police and the media had seen the woman and then she’d packed a bag and left without saying where she was going.
    It wouldn’t have surprised Cyn that the second move I made with her son in tow was to call on a prostitute. I could’ve sent him off on some useless errand but I didn’t see any point in protecting him from the harsh realities, and I had an inkling of a real use I might have for him, so it was better if he was fully in the picture.
    I’d rung Annette and made the arrangement to see her strictly on a business basis—my business, not hers. She chiacked me about it, but agreed to see me. A small piece of information I’d scribbled down had assumed significance.
    Annette opened the door and posed. She wore a white satin blouse with long sleeves and lots of lace on the front, a white skirt, white stockings and shoes. She had a scrap of white silk in her hair.
    â€˜My eleven o’clock gets off on his bride fantasies,’ she said. ‘Who’s your good-looking young friend?’
    We stepped into the room and I nodded to Geoff to close the door. ‘This is is Geoff. He’s learning the ropes.’
    â€˜I could teach him a few tricks. You too, Cliff.’
    â€˜I’m sure. Knock it off, Annette. Just a few questions. I’ll pay for your time.’
    â€˜Two hundred. Three if you keep the groom waiting.’
    â€˜I won’t.’ I gave her the money. We all sat. She rolled the notes tightly, hitched up her skirt and tucked them into the top of her stocking, making sure that we saw the suspenders and the lace panties.
    â€˜Very nice,’ I said. ‘Now, you told me that Talbot was impotent.’
    â€˜Right. It happens a lot. Poor things. But I don’t include him in that.’ She winked at Geoff who blushed furiously.
    â€˜And you gave him the name of a clinic. Which clinic?’
    She adjusted the lace that came down from her wrists over the tops of her hands. She had nice, slender hands and wore a wedding ring. ‘I’m not so sure I can tell you that.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜I’ve got a sort of arrangement with them. I get a spotter’s fee you might call it. I don’t think they’d like the idea of me …’
    â€˜Look,’ I said. ‘I won’t mention you. No chance. You won’t come into it.’
    â€˜I don’t know. I’ve got a good deal there.’
    With that sort of an arrangement it was a sure bet she’d have the name and number written down somewhere, maybe even have a card. I could find it by applying the right pressure and maybe I would have if Geoff hadn’t been there.
    I took out the picture of Eve and held it in my hand. ‘Annette, she’s my daughter. She’s on the run with this Talbot bastard and I need a lead on him. There’s a chance he went to the clinic. I need the information.’
    She studied me for a few very long seconds, then got up and walked out of the room. She came back and handed me a card. ‘If you catch him, give him a fucking good kicking for me.’
    I kissed her cheek. ‘Thanks. I will. And I think you look terrific.’
    â€˜You should’ve seen me when I was Geoff’s age.’ She did a quick, expert bump and grind.
    Geoff looked at me strangely as we left the building.
    â€˜You said she’s your daughter. I thought you had doubts about that.’
    â€˜I do. That was just to get past her objection to telling me about the clinic.’
    â€˜Mm.’
    â€˜What does that mean?’
    â€˜Mum said you could be a bit of a