but agreed to keep his presence here a secret provided I hospitalize him as soon as possible.”
“How is he now?”
“Better. However, each time he has one of these spells it leaves him—lessened. I think you should accelerate your schedule.”
I unlocked and opened the inner door, flipped the keys at my desk, and leaned against the frame facing him. “I’ll do what I can. As it is the timetable on this one is burning up all my best contacts.”
“You’ll be recompensed for the added inconvenience.”
“I never change my rates except when I remit them entirely.”
He showed his good teeth. “Sherlock Holmes. Surely you didn’t expect a born Brit to miss the quotation.”
“I’m still hoping to learn from him. I’ve been busy since we spoke.”
“That was my next question.”
I gave him what I had, up to my interview with Lily Talbot. I was saving that.
He worried his moustache with a thumbnail. “Who is this Grayling person?”
“Local political fixer, with maybe a little English on it, if you’ll pardon the pun. I haven’t confirmed that part, but as a general rule you assume the worst. If he’s connected with Nate Millender and Millender turns out to be the one who faked the photograph, we’re into extra innings. What’s Mr. Furlong’s interest in politics?”
“He hasn’t voted since Roosevelt. He’s fond of saying that his rights as an American have cost too many good lives to waste on anyone fool enough to run for public office.”
“Yeah, I can’t ever find a parking space near the polls either.” I fingered out my soggy pack. “I’ll let you know if I get anything out of Millender. Right now Lynn Arsenault looks like our best candidate.”
“That emergency call he went out on may have been legitimate.”
“It may have. I look for shadows.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Just something someone told me today. Also I want to ask him why he dropped ten thousand dollars at Lily Talbot’s art gallery last year.” I struck a match and watched him over the flame. He’d been scowling at his cane. Now he turned the scowl on me.
“I was there an hour ago.” I got the damp tobacco going and shook out the match. Then I gave him the rest of it.
“I specifically instructed you to tell no one that Jay is in Detroit.”
“Technically he’s not. But a loophole in geography isn’t big enough to stick my neck through. It was a judgment call.”
“Is that what it was.”
“I didn’t know Mr. Furlong when he had his health. Back then I might have bought into his impassive act. It’s got cracks in it now. As much as he wants to know who framed Lily, he wants to square things with her more. The only way to do that is face to face.” I blew smoke and fanned it away from him. “If it means anything, I don’t think she’ll tell anyone. If it doesn’t, I’ll return the retainer, minus a thousand and change for two days’ work and expenses. You’ll get a written report so the next op you hire can hit the ground running.”
“Do you think she’ll see Jay?”
“I’m already in trouble with you for thinking.”
He drummed his fingers on that silver crook. He got more mileage out of a cane than anyone since Chaplin. Finally he gripped it, lowered his foot to the floor, and levered himself upright. A spasm of pain swept across his broad soft face like a sheet of hail. It passed quickly and he adjusted his cuffs. The links were gold, with crests inlaid in enamel.
“I can’t say I approve of the way you’ve handled Jay’s trust. However, if I were familiar with the correct procedure I wouldn’t have needed your services. We’ll keep things as they are for now. In future I insist you consult with me before you change the game plan.”
“Sometimes things break too fast for that. But I’ll keep you posted.”
“I can see you’re a man who’s accustomed to behaving as he pleases.”
“Almost never that. But I’m out there, and you’re not.”
“Well, that’s
“How is he now?”
“Better. However, each time he has one of these spells it leaves him—lessened. I think you should accelerate your schedule.”
I unlocked and opened the inner door, flipped the keys at my desk, and leaned against the frame facing him. “I’ll do what I can. As it is the timetable on this one is burning up all my best contacts.”
“You’ll be recompensed for the added inconvenience.”
“I never change my rates except when I remit them entirely.”
He showed his good teeth. “Sherlock Holmes. Surely you didn’t expect a born Brit to miss the quotation.”
“I’m still hoping to learn from him. I’ve been busy since we spoke.”
“That was my next question.”
I gave him what I had, up to my interview with Lily Talbot. I was saving that.
He worried his moustache with a thumbnail. “Who is this Grayling person?”
“Local political fixer, with maybe a little English on it, if you’ll pardon the pun. I haven’t confirmed that part, but as a general rule you assume the worst. If he’s connected with Nate Millender and Millender turns out to be the one who faked the photograph, we’re into extra innings. What’s Mr. Furlong’s interest in politics?”
“He hasn’t voted since Roosevelt. He’s fond of saying that his rights as an American have cost too many good lives to waste on anyone fool enough to run for public office.”
“Yeah, I can’t ever find a parking space near the polls either.” I fingered out my soggy pack. “I’ll let you know if I get anything out of Millender. Right now Lynn Arsenault looks like our best candidate.”
“That emergency call he went out on may have been legitimate.”
“It may have. I look for shadows.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Just something someone told me today. Also I want to ask him why he dropped ten thousand dollars at Lily Talbot’s art gallery last year.” I struck a match and watched him over the flame. He’d been scowling at his cane. Now he turned the scowl on me.
“I was there an hour ago.” I got the damp tobacco going and shook out the match. Then I gave him the rest of it.
“I specifically instructed you to tell no one that Jay is in Detroit.”
“Technically he’s not. But a loophole in geography isn’t big enough to stick my neck through. It was a judgment call.”
“Is that what it was.”
“I didn’t know Mr. Furlong when he had his health. Back then I might have bought into his impassive act. It’s got cracks in it now. As much as he wants to know who framed Lily, he wants to square things with her more. The only way to do that is face to face.” I blew smoke and fanned it away from him. “If it means anything, I don’t think she’ll tell anyone. If it doesn’t, I’ll return the retainer, minus a thousand and change for two days’ work and expenses. You’ll get a written report so the next op you hire can hit the ground running.”
“Do you think she’ll see Jay?”
“I’m already in trouble with you for thinking.”
He drummed his fingers on that silver crook. He got more mileage out of a cane than anyone since Chaplin. Finally he gripped it, lowered his foot to the floor, and levered himself upright. A spasm of pain swept across his broad soft face like a sheet of hail. It passed quickly and he adjusted his cuffs. The links were gold, with crests inlaid in enamel.
“I can’t say I approve of the way you’ve handled Jay’s trust. However, if I were familiar with the correct procedure I wouldn’t have needed your services. We’ll keep things as they are for now. In future I insist you consult with me before you change the game plan.”
“Sometimes things break too fast for that. But I’ll keep you posted.”
“I can see you’re a man who’s accustomed to behaving as he pleases.”
“Almost never that. But I’m out there, and you’re not.”
“Well, that’s
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