He wasnt sure when hed decided that protecting her was his job. All he knew was that if something happened to her, he would feel directly responsible.
She might not know it, but he was on the job, whether or not she wanted to pay him. After what hed done to Gavin, he figured he owed her and her family. The Schuylers and Clarendons had been the prevailing influence on his youth. Lord knew his own family hadnt done much for him. His mother had died when he was three and his father had spent the next fifteen years drinking himself into a premature grave.
Lori offered to take over little Christopher, return him to his father and collect the reward on Beaus behalf, and he was happy to let her. Ace was paying her a small salary to handle bureaucratic details, something all of the First Strike agents appreciated. But once Lori was earning enough of her own fees to make a living, theyd all have to do their own grunt work.
That wasintense, Aubrey commented once they were alone again. It was getting close to five oclock, and they sat in his car at a Sonic Drive-In. I cant believe were just sitting here, drinking root beer. You seem so casual about it.
Its my job. And that was an easy extraction. Shelley and her aunt took one look at me and crumbled. No guns, no chasing.
Will Shelley get in trouble?
Beau shrugged. Not my problem. If my client wants to press charges, thats his business. Hey, its almost five oclock, he said, changing the subject. Did you say Patti had a job?
She works for an insurance agent, answering the phone. Aubrey was glad to refocus her energies on her own problems.
Why dont we pay this agent a visit? We can probably catch him before he goes home for the day. He might be able to tell us if Pattis had any strange visitors at work, or phone calls. She might have even confided the problem to him, asked him to advance her salary or something.
Its worth a shot, though I doubt she would confide anything in him. She thinks hes a jerk.
They arrived at the Greg Holmes Insurance Agency at five minutes to five. It was a small, one-agent operation, affiliated with one of the less prestigious national firms. The office was a bit run-down, but Beau couldnt exactly criticize the man for his decorating taste, given where he worked.
A plump young woman with a discreet tattoo on her wrist looked as if she were about to leave. She stood behind her desk, putting a yellow camp shirt on over her sleeveless blouse. Her skirt was a bit too short for office wear. In fact, with her brassy bleach job and eye makeup à la Tammy Faye, she could have hung out with Jodie and Erin and looked right at home.
Can I help you? she asked, not particularly friendly.
Im a friend of Patti Clarendon, Beau said.
Shes not here. She lit out of here this morning, no explanation, stuck me with answering the phone when I could be out making calls. Hey, are you cops or something?
Im Pattis cousin, Aubrey said. Were roommates. Im a little bit worried about her.
Beau silently applauded her. She seemed to know just the right tone to strike with this slightly hostile young woman.
Youre Summer, right? Aubrey continued. Patti talks about you all the time. She says youre really good at handling people when they come in all upset.
That earned a slight smile from Summer. People get real wacko sometimes. Usually its because theyre embarrassed theyve wrecked their car.
Beau found a chair and picked up a magazine. Aubrey was handling Summer just fine. Hed let her keep going.
When Patti left this morning, she didnt give you any indication of what was wrong?
She got a phone call. Shes not supposed to take personal calls, but shes got that phone glued to her ear all day. Anyway, after this call, she said she had to go and shed be gone the rest of the day. Oh, wait, I remember now. She said something about her kid being sick or something, and she had to pick her up from the baby-sitter.
I thought you said she didnt give an explanation, Beau couldnt help asking.
I forgot, okay? I got better things to do than keep track of Pattis soap-opera life.
Why do you think her lifes a soap opera? Aubrey asked.
What, are you kidding? You live with her. Shes got that gross-out ex-husband, CharlieI think hes a serial killer in trainingand she works in a topless bar and she bangs her boss. Summer covered her mouth. Oops, Im not supposed to know that. But if that isnt a soap opera, what is?
Beau tensed as Aubreys eyes got bigger with every word Summer spoke. Come on, babe, dont blow it now. Summer was spilling her guts to a perfect stranger. Aubrey really did have a knack for this. But she was going to blow it if she freaked out now.
To her credit, Aubrey managed a smile. I guess my cousin is a bit colorful. But shes not as tough as she pretends. Shes in trouble, but I dont want to call the cops if I dont have to.
At the mention of cops, Summers expression closed up. Hey, I dont know anything. But you might ask Greg. He knows Patti better than I do. Way better, if you catch my meaning.
The girl was as subtle as an army boot.
I gotta go. Gregs in his office, she said, nodding to a closed door. Hes got a client with him, and he doesnt like to be interrupted. But he has to come out eventually.
Without any further ado, Summer pulled her purse out of a drawer and left.
Aubrey sank into the only other chair in the waiting room. She was sleeping with her boss? she said in a low voice, sounding appalled.
I take it you didnt know that.
Surely Patti would have told me if she had a new boyfriend. Anyway, she thinks Greg is a jerk. And what was that garbage about a topless bar?
Some of the waitresses at Kink go topless. Or almost.
But she doesnt work there anymore.
Does she spend all her evenings at home?
Aubrey said nothing for a few moments. I wonder what else she hasnt told me.
Beau stood up and moved behind the desk Summer had just abandoned. Im gonna see if Patti left anything helpful in her desk. This is where she usually works, right?
Beau! Aubrey sounded panicky. You cant just search her desk. What if Greg Holmes comes out here and catches you?
Beau already had the desk drawer open. Hell yell. Big deal.
The desk drawer held the usual office suppliespens and pencils, stamps, rubber bands, paper clips. There were a couple of snapshots of a baby, which Beau assumed was Sara. He tucked these in his pocket. Might be useful later.
The file drawer held an array of untidy hanging folders. None of the labels sounded promising. They seemed to contain client policies. A drawer on the other side of the desk held more personal items. Beau examined and set aside a box of tissue, a bottle of antacid tablets, a couple of alternative rock CDsand a brown envelope. He pulled out the paper inside.
What is it? Aubrey asked nervously.
Looks like a copy of the document Pattis boyfriend signed, giving up his parental rights. Was she having trouble with him?
Not recently. Besides, that voice on the phone didnt sound like Charlie, althoughI guess he could have been disguising it. The voice was kind of hoarse and whispery.
Not recently. Besides, that voice on the phone didnt sound like Charlie, althoughI guess he could have been disguising it. The voice was kind of hoarse and whispery.
The murmured voices inside the office got louder, and the doorknob rattled. Beau quickly closed the drawer and scooted out from behind the desk. He pretended to study a picture on the wall of a clown when Greg Holmess office door opened.
Ill call you tomorrow and let you know, said the older of the two men who emerged from the inner office. He wore a suitcheap and ill-fittingand sported a determined five-oclock shadow. His thinning hair was styled in a comb-over.
He vigorously pumped the hand of the other man, who was younger and kind of punk-looking, with ratty clothes and a scraggly beard.
The older man, whom Beau assumed was Greg Holmes, stopped suddenly. Who are you? he asked in a startled voice, his beady eyes focusing on Beau.
Summer told us we could wait here, Beau said affably.
The punk looked a little nervous. He made for the exit, as if he didnt want to prolong any conversation with strangers.
Summer knows better than to let customers sit in here unattended, he muttered angrily. Beau thought he was rather inhospitable for an insurance agent. For all Holmes knew, they could be in the market for millions of dollars worth of life insurance.
Im Pattis cousin, Aubrey Schuyler, Aubrey said with a smile, extending her hand. Shes told me so much about you, Mr. Holmes.
Holmes softened a bit. Who could blame him? When Aubrey turned those liquid green eyes on a man, he couldnt help but fall in line with her wishes. He gave Aubreys extended hand a grudging squeeze. Is something wrong? he asked. Shes been gone all day. I was starting to get worried about her.
We dont know where she is, Beau said, extending his hand. He introduced himself as a friend of the family. We were hoping you might shed some light on the situation.
Why would I know anything? Holmes asked, suddenly defensive. Shes just an employee. I dont know anything about her personal life.
Beau thought the mans reaction was just a bit too emphatic. People who work together all day long often know more about each other than their own families, Beau said.
Look, she answers my phones and does a little typing. I dont spend significant time with her. Im much too busy with clients to socialize with the receptionist.
Beau thought Greg Holmes had just taken a giant step back from I was starting to get worried about her. Maybe he wanted to hide the fact hed been sleeping with her. He wore a wedding ring.
She apparently got a phone call this morning that alarmed her, Aubrey said gently. We wondered if you knew who
Why would I know who? Holmes said, even more agitated. I dont listen in on my receptionists phone calls.
Do you have a caller ID? Beau asked.
No. What right do you have
Beau held up his hands to slow Holmess rampage of words. Easy, easy. We dont have any right at all. Were just asking, and of course you can refuse us. But the sooner we locate Patti, the less likely the cops will come here looking for the same thing we are. Only, theyll have a warrant.
Aubrey gripped his arm. She obviously didnt like the sudden escalation of hostility.
Holmes backed down slightly. I dont have any way of knowing who called.
Aubrey handed Holmes a card. That has my cell number on it. Will you let me know if you think of anything, or if anyone else calls or comes by looking for Patti?
Holmes took the card and stuck it in his jacket pocket. Now, if you dont mind, I need to get home. My wife isnt feeling well. He ushered them out, then watched until they got into their car and left.