Read Online Foul Deeds: A Rosalind Mystery by Linda Moore - Free Book Online

drawings?”
    â€œI’m Denise,” she said. “And you are?”
    â€œCall me McBride,” he said with spirited volume, prompting a number of people to look in his direction.
    â€œUnfortunately Mr. Spiegle is not here. The treatment plants are under his supervision—but I’d be happy to get you some brochures.” She disappeared down a hall, and McBride looked around. There were several library-style tables with maps and drawings on them. The room was open design with blue and grey padded baffles separating desks from one another. There was a large filing area with oversize blueprint drawers. The individuals in the office had quickly lost interest in him and gone back to whatever they were doing. Just behind him, the main office door opened and a young man who looked to be of Middle-Eastern descent entered with a large carton full of files. McBride stepped back to the door and held it open for him. At the same time, Denise reappeared with some brochures. He heard her say, “Here you are Mr. McBride.” He purposely remained turned away from her and it had the desired effect. She raised her voice and called to him more loudly—“Mr. McBride!”
    Once again everyone in the office turned and looked in his direction.
    â€œOh, thanks very much Denise. But can’t I see some models of the treatment plants as well? I’m preparing a course for the community college and I want to get a good grasp of how it all works,” he lied, rather well he thought.
    â€œI believe all the models and plans would be with the engineering firm now—the project is well underway, you know.”
    â€œAnd I’ve forgotten which engineering firm the Mayor said the project was with.”
    â€œLook, Mr. McBride, these are all details that our Planning Head, Carl Spiegle, would be able to talk to you about. He’s been working on this project for quite some time now. So I suggest you come back next month when he returns from vacation.”
    â€œCould I have Mr. Spiegle’s business card?”
    â€œI’ll get you one.” Now clearly impatient with him, Denise headed back down the corridor. The young man who had entered with the box was busy in the filing area. He looked directly at McBride, and nodded quite obviously.
    McBride’s pulse began to race. Could this be the contact?
    Suddenly Denise was there, handing him the requested card. “You know the best thing to do is check out our website—there’s tons of information there.”
    â€œThanks. Great idea, Denise. I’ll do that.” He took a moment to stand reading the card while Denise walked away from him. McBride glanced at the young man, who hastily threw some empty folders into his carton, pushed past McBride and quickly exited out the door ahead of him. When McBride entered the hallway the man was waiting by the elevator.
    McBride had been intending to make his next stop the City Staff office farther down the hall, where he would ask for a copy of King’s report. Instead he went and stood by the young man at the elevator.
    â€œHi,” he said. The young man nodded as before. “So, you must work here—for the City, do you?” He nodded again. God, thought McBride, maybe he isn’t the contact after all. Maybe he’s just a nodder. Or has a tic. Or doesn’t understand me. Or maybe he is the contact and he’s downright scared. McBride tried again, as the empty elevator arrived. “My name’s McBride. I was just getting some information on the Sewage Treatment Plants. You don’t know of any information other than what’s in these pamphlets Denise gave me, do you?” Unbelievably, he nodded again the same way. “Well great—I’d like to get it,” McBride said, as they stepped into the elevator.
    Just as they arrived at the main level, the young man tapped McBride’s shoulder and pointed down. “The archives,”