Read Online 01. Labyrinth of Dreams by Jack L. Chalker - Free Book Online

local gay community, but also had been a refuge for the social misfits from other areas. It had those kinds of shops that sold incense and handmade leather goods, and had others that sold bean curd by the pound. It was more picturesque and quaint than raunchy, which is why it survived. The raunchy areas weren't far away, but Sansom was safe. These blue bloods sure had more interesting lives than the folks I hung out with.
    The trouble was, while this narrowed down the area and gave us someplace to look, it also vastly complicated matters. We didn't really know what he looked like dressed as a woman, and Minnie had said that the album had vanished and was never seen again after that one time. Hell, he could be wearing a wig in any style, made-up, wearing a padded bra under a dress, high heels, and come right up to us and ask us to buy him a drink. Worse, he'd walk right past the feds at the airport or train station, laughing all the way out, carrying the money in checked luggage.
    Maybe Little Jimmy did simply need all the help he could get.
     
    3.
    The Path to G.O.D.
     
    I have to admit that I'd really underestimated Martin Whitlock, just like the feds and the mob had. It took some kind of brains to steal two and a quarter million bucks from the mob, get exposed in a drug-laundry scheme, and vanish for three days without a trace while not moving more than six blocks from his office. The only amateur's slip he made was calling his wife. That was the crazy thing. I think they still loved each other, in a way. She wasn't just protecting him for image's sake; this stuff was bound to hit the papers in a big way sooner or later—his disappearance already had, and the reporters had no problems tying it to federal bank examiners moving in at Tri-State. Hell, Minnie might well sell the sordid stuff for the right price if nothing else happened. No, his wife was protecting him because, in spite of everything, she still loved him. And he had risked a farewell phone call to her, too. And I thought we had problems! Just goes to show that millions of bucks and two Mercedes mean less than you think. Of course, I'll still take his money and my marriage any day.
    The trouble was, this new situation had made me fall back on resources I really didn't like to use. I called Little Jimmy and briefed him on the case to date, and he seemed really excited about it. I also told him about Agent Kennedy, something he took in stride, and his taking it in stride made me very upset.
    "Listen, Nkrumah, I'm not doing any stretch because I was hung out to dry for a measly few grand and a charge account. You want me to lead them away, you tell me, and I'll lead them away instead of pressing this. No more games, though, huh?"
    "Why, Samuel! I wouldn't dream of hanging you out to dry on this! In fact, those people are why I cannot move through normal channels. They have everything sewed up tight. I can't breathe without them noticing and in their ham-handed way notifying certain parties of my, ah, problem. In fact, if it makes you feel any better, give this Kennedy a call and brief him from time to time. Just be certain it's the second call you make."
    "That won't give you much breathing room," I noted.
    "Oh, that's all right. I have resources in high places."
    "Seems to me you're thinking that your own bosses are mighty dumb," I couldn't help but point out. "I mean, this guy's vanishing act hasn't hit the front pages yet, but it will sooner or later."
    "Oh, they won't care about him. Idon't mind if they do think he took a powder just ahead of the bank examiners and the narcs. It's my money, not theirs, that is at stake, and they are getting things exactly as they expect. Don't worry. I can keep things under control—if you can on your end. It might be best if we arranged a different number to use. I really don't mind them discovering who you're working for—they probably already know— but I really would mind if they overheard something and queered it.