The Private Eye (14 page)

“Is that so?” Josh looked thoughtful.

Maggie smiled. “Look, forget Dwight. There's no way he
could be behind the kinds of things that have been happening at the manor. He
has his talents, but, to be honest, I don't think he's capable of the sort of
devious cleverness that it would take to plot an entire series of harassing
incidents. And what possible motive could he have, even if he were smart enough
to dream up such a scheme? What made you suspect him?”

“Maggie, let me explain something here. You're my
client. By definition, that makes everyone else a suspect. That’s how I work.”

She stared at him in amazement. “Everyone else?”

“Everyone else,” he confirmed.

“Come on, Josh. Even the Colonel and Odessa and
Shirley?”

“Yeah. Even them.” Josh took another sip of wine and
turned his head to look out into the darkness.

“You can't be serious? What possible motive would my
three tenants have?”

Josh swung his gaze back to hers, his eyes cold and
intent. “You want some possibilities? I'll give you possibilities. We'll start
with the Colonel. He's told everyone that he's a genius and that he's on the brink
of perfecting a new and unlimited fuel for the world. What if, deep down, he
knows his experiments are a joke and he's begun to fear he'll be found out?”

Maggie frowned. “You think he might be trying to
destroy his own files before someone exposes him as a fraud?”

“A lot of the incidents you've described to me have
originated in the basement of the manor where the Colonel keeps his papers. If
he staged the destruction of his own files and made it look like the work of
fuel industry spies or malicious vandals, he could tell everyone that his
experiments had been seriously setback, perhaps for years.”

“You think the Colonel would risk destroying the manor
just to protect his own illusions? I don't believe it,” Maggie stated.

Josh smiled wryly. “That only goes to show how naive
you are, Maggie.”

“I am not naive. It's just that I've known the Colonel
for years and I don't believe he would do anything potentially violent or
harmful.”

“He was a career military man,” Josh reminded her
gently. “He spent years studying and learning violent ways. For all we know, he
was trained in sabotage. But if you don't like him for the bad guy, try Shirley.”

“Shirley?”

“Uh-huh. She's been living with an illusion for years.

She thinks the great love of her life, Ricky 'The
Wrecker’ Ring, abandoned her because he thought she ratted on him. Believing
that he left her because of that and not just because he found another girlfriend
might be comforting for her. She might have gone over the edge mentally and
decided to stage the incidents at the manor to convince her friends that Ricky
still cares enough to seek vengeance.”

“I see what you're saying. But I'm sorry. Josh. I don't
buy that one, either.”

He nodded obligingly. “Okay, try this one on for size. Odessa
wants you to sell the manor but she knows that everyone else, including her
lover, the Colonel wants to hang on to it.”

“Her lover? The colonel?” Maggie was stunned.. “But
they're just good friends.”

“You think people their age don't enjoy sex as much as
everyone else? Trust me, Maggie, they're more than just good friends.”

“But they have different bedrooms. They don’t sleep
together.” Maggie was flustered.

“That generation still tends to be discreet. Especially
in front of the younger generation.”

“Yes, but-”

“Never mind. My point is that it's possible, because
other feelings for the Colonel, that Odessa doesn't want to openly encourage
you to sell. But maybe because she realizes they'd be financially better off if
you did, she's staging the incidents, hoping you'll eventually decide the
manor's more trouble than it's worth.”

Maggie groaned. “Now you're really clutching at straws,
Mr. Private Investigator.”

“I've got news for you, sweetheart. I've seen cases
where people have killed other people for far less cause than any of the three
motives I've just given you.”

Maggie studied him for a moment. “I can understand how
the business you're in would have a tendency to turn a person extremely cynical,”
she said gently. “No wonder your eyes look so cold sometimes. You are well
named, aren't you?”

His eyes narrowed. “The business I'm in hasn't made me
cynical, Maggie. It's made me realistic. I've seen enough of human nature to
know that it's unreliable, untrustworthy and capable of incredible cruelty and
greed.”

“So you formed your motto based on experience, is that
it?”

He scowled at her. “What motto?”

“It Never Pays To Flay Hero.” Her mouth curved faintly.
“Poor Josh. It must be a constant battle for you.”

“What's a constant battle?”

“Trying not to play hero. Unfortunately for you, I have
a hunch the role is a natural one.”

“The hell it is,” he shot back. “I abandoned it long
ago.”

“I'm not so sure about that.” She leaned forward. “You
gave motives for everyone else at the manor, but what about me?”

“I told you, you're the client,” he growled.

“That doesn't make me innocent.”

“I don't think you're behind the incidents, Maggie,”
Josh told her, sounding annoyed. “Let's change the subject.”

“All right. If that's what you want-There's a little
something I've been wondering about all day,” she said. “A professional
question.”

He gave her a hooded glance. “What's that?”

“Do you make love to all your female clients?”

“No. damn it. As a matter of fact. I have a strict
policy against it. Extremely unprofessional. Getting emotionally involved with
a client is about the stupidest thing a PI can do.”

“I see.” Maggie suddenly felt immensely more cheerful.
Josh wasn't the kind of man who would break his own rules easily. The fact that
he was breaking one of them with her warmed Maggie to her soul.

A MUTED MURMUR of voices from the study greeted Maggie
and Josh when they walked back in the front door of the manor a few hours
later. Josh swore softly but without any real heat.

“Hell. The television's on. Sounds like our three
chaperons have waited up for us.” He slipped Maggie's coat from her shoulders
and hung it in the hall closet.

Laughter twinkled in her eyes. “How sweet. Just like
you did the night Clay took me out to dinner. I don't know what I'd do without
so many people looking out for my moral welfare.”

Josh grinned ruefully. “We're just trying to keep you
out of trouble, Maggie.”

“I may have to sell the manor just to gain some
privacy,” she retorted as she started down the hall toward the study.

Josh followed, wondering exactly what she meant by
that. Perhaps Maggie was telling him in her own obscure fashion that she
wouldn't have minded coming home tonight and finding that her chaperons had all
retired for the evening. That thought brightened his mood. “

He watched Maggie come to a halt in the doorway of the
study. She smiled at whatever she saw inside and turned to glance back over her
shoulder. “The TV is on, but will you look at my three faithful guardians?”

Josh looked over her shoulder and saw that the Colonel,
Odessa and Shirley were all sound asleep in front of the blaring television
set. “So much for worrying about a shotgun wedding tonight.”

“I told you not to panic about that.”

“Yeah. You did.” Josh went past Maggie into the study
and switched off the television. Then he turned on the light. “All right,
everyone, rise and shine.”

“What's that? What's that?” The Colonel blinked and sat
up. “Oh, it's you, January. Gave me a start.”

Odessa stirred and opened her eyes. “Oh, dear. What
time is it?” She smiled brightly at Maggie. “You're back. Did you have a good
time, dear?”

“We had a lovely evening,” Maggie assured her.

Shirley yawned and reached for her rhinestone-studded
glasses. She put them on and peered closely at Josh. '“Bout time you two got
home. Enjoy yourselves?”

“Had a great time right up until we walked in the front
door a few minutes ago and realized you three had waited up for us.” Josh
lifted an eyebrow at Shirley. “It wasn't necessary. We're not exactly kids, you
know.”

Shirley harrumphed. “It was the Colonel's idea.”

“I don't see what he was concerned about,” Josh said
smoothly. “I'm being paid to look after Maggie, remember?”

“Yeah, well the Colonel said that was a bit like paying
the fox to watch the henhouse.” Shirley yawned again. “But I guess we've done
our duty. I say we all go to bed.”

“Good idea.” Odessa got to her feet and pulled her
sweater more tightly around her. “Seems a bit chilly in here, doesn't it?”

“I'll check the thermostat,” the Colonel offered. “Come
along, my dear.” He nodded at Josh. “You two will be right up, I imagine, won't
you?”

“I'm not sure,” Josh said. “Haven't quite decided what
I'm going to do for the rest of the evening. I was considering the possibility
of staying down here and ravishing Maggie in front of the television.”

Odessa smiled fondly. “No, do stop teasing everyone,
Josh. It's time we were all in bed.” She started toward the door, making it
quite dear that she expected everyone else to follow.

Josh watched her lead the small parade toward the
stairs. Then he glanced at Maggie. He saw the laughter in her gaze; and beneath
the laughter, he was sure he saw the promise. He stifled a groan. It was tempting,
but he really was getting too old to engage in a lot of hot-and-heavy petting
on a downstairs sofa. He reached out a hand, caught hold of Maggie's and tugged
her close. Then he steered her after the others, who were already halfway up
the stairs. He held her back a few steps. When she turned her head to look at
him with a question in her eyes, he smiled faintly and leaned down to whisper
in her ear.

“The next time we get close, it's going to be in a
bed,” he whispered. He had the satisfaction of seeing her blush very nicely.
Unfortunately, her response only served to make him hungrier for her.

A moment later Josh said a painfully gallant goodnight
to Maggie at her door under the discreetly watchful eyes of the Colonel, Odessa
and Shirley. He saw her safely inside and then reluctantly went next door to
his own room.

He closed the door behind himself, loosened his tie and
eyed the computer sitting on the desk. It was dear he wasn't going to be able
to sleep for a while. He would only succeed in thoroughly frustrating himself
if he went to bed in his present, half-aroused condition.

The book was waiting.

So were a few questions that needed answering. And he
was supposed to be doing a job around here.

Josh glanced at his watch. It was nearly midnight, but
McCray was something of a night owl.

Josh walked over to the phone and dialed his partner's
home number. He sat down on the bed and propped his shoulders against the
headboard.

The phone was answered on the other end at the first
ring. “Yeah?” McCray sounded preoccupied.

“It's January.”

“Not quite,” McCray said. “My calendar says early
December.”

“McCray, when are you going to get tired of weather
jokes?”

“Probably not as long as I've got a partner named
January. Working a little late, aren't you?” McCray chuckled. “The doctor told
you to take it easy. You're supposed to be getting lots of rest and relaxation.
How are the ribs and the ankle?”

“Almost back to normal. How are things going at the
office?” Josh cradled the phone between his shoulder and his ear while he unfastened
the cuffs of his white dress shirt.

“That's right. First things first. Ask about the
office. You know, January, you don't lead a balanced life. That's your problem.
It's time you had a wife and kids, like me. Something to bring you home at night.”

“Just answer the question, okay? I'm not in the mood
for one of your lectures.”

“No sweat, pal. Fact is—and I know it will come as
something of a shock to you—but we're managing to scrape along here without you
quite nicely. Finished the analysis for Coswell, and we've got a new client who
wants us to set up a security system for his electronics firm. What can I say?
Business is booming.”

“Glad to hear it. Listen, I've got a couple more
questions for you.”

“Want me to check out a few more aging gangsters?”

“Forget the gangsters.” Josh stripped off his tie and
tossed it over the back of the nearest chair. “Try a guy named Dwight Wilcox.
He's apparently lived in Peregrine Point for a couple of years. He's the regular
handyman here at the manor-I doubt you'll find anything, but it's worth a
shot.”

“Should be easy. I'll have Carol get on the computer
for you tomorrow morning.”