Read Online Life Struggles (Life Stories Book 1) by Mark Treble - Free Book Online

with no success. But there's a weak link. They have a common auditor that has nothing to do with the business. Maybe you think that's strange, but the industry is moving toward emulating best practice all around. An independent auditor helps. And, the auditors only see what the businesses want them to see.
    “Weecham, Weecham and Klotzbaumer is the audit firm. I have no idea how you're going to use that, but it's the weak link. No, you can't take that to the police. That is only a starting place. If you get two other sources who will go public, of course use it. But this is what they call ‘deep background.’ It's just to get you started.” Jerry reached for my hand, and I gave it to him.
    “Ethan, I ain't got no kids, but my sister does. I'd be going nuts if one of her kids was missing. And my gang wouldn't be doing nothin' passive about it. If you need anything, just ask.” Inside the drug-dealing murdering extortionist there was a heart. Maybe stone overlaid with a speck of gold.
    Herb and I said our good-byes. I asked him to send his invoice to my house along with the diagram.
    “No charge, Ethan. I'm Jerry's attorney, and he got a hell of a lot of value out of this meeting. If you need to see him again, call me.” We shook hands and parted.
    On the way back south I called Danny.
    “Where the fuck have you been? It's been three goddamned hours and I don't know if you've found Alex, or gotten killed, or what. You said every hour, asswipe.” I think he was a little peeved.
    “I got nothing about Alex, but I do have a lead to start a new line of inquiry. Sorry about the delay, Danny, it was unavoidable. Next stop is about the same industry. And, I've got something that I need to work on before I can give it to you. It should help do major damage to an industry of concern to your employer.” I sounded smug. For a while.
    “I got nothing about Alex, either.” Danny sounded almost as disappointed as I felt.
    “Ethan, there is an “observe and report” out on your car. You can't expect us to throw you into the lion's den and look the other way. Nobody's going to try and I.D. your sources, we just want a head start if you push the panic button.
    “Well, we finally got a report. It's in your fucking driveway . And nobody's home at your house. How the fuck did you do that, Houdini?” I think Danny was more curious than upset. I think.
    “Danny, I've got to keep a couple of tricks up my sleeve. Just wait until you see me on top of Christ Church Cathedral waving your underwear in the air.” Levity, got to keep up the levity.
    “I don't wear underwear,” the detective deadpanned.
    “Danny, this phone is done for. Gotta go. Bye.”
    I had an hour before having to call in again. I pulled out another burner phone and called Luke's house.
    “Morehouse College. Or Whorehouse College, I can never remember which. How can I help you?” It was fucking Marcus.
    “Just the guy I wanted to talk to. Marcus, can you house sit for me for a couple of hours? I'll get someone straight to relieve you for the evening. I know it's Decadence.” I was trying to be kind.
    “I haven't had a straight guy relieve me in a couple of years, Ethan. This should be fun.” Marcus was always a smart ass. “Yeah, I can work from there as easily as here. I'll sit on the place until relieved.”
    Next call was to Barbara, the paper's executive administrator. “Barb, it's Ethan. No time to explain. Do you have an intern smarter than an aardvark who can babysit my place from mid-afternoon on? There's a guy already there, but he has urgent business tonight.” I didn't want to know about Marcus's urgent business, I'd seen his “Fuck Me Hard” T-shirt.
    “I'll send Lucy.” Barb was one of my favorite people. “She was supposed to shadow Xavier today but he called in sick. Can I tell her what it's about?”
    “Tell her I'm working on a big story with the police, but nobody besides the two of you can know it at the paper. If we can publish,