Read Online Madam of Maple Court by Joan Elizabeth Lloyd - Free Book Online
Authors: Joan Elizabeth Lloyd
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see," he said, looking them over. "Maybe you'd better tell me a little more about why you want to know about them."
She spent the next few minutes telling Gary only the bare minimum, that her husband had been killed in a traffic accident and she'd found these statements about which she'd known nothing before.
"I'm sorry about your husband's death, Pam."
"It's been almost four months and it's not quite as raw as it was."
"Are you afraid he was leading some kind of secret life?"
"I don't know anything more than what I've shown you. I don't know what it means at all. All I know is that, to my calculations, he's charged almost a hundred thousand dollars to this company in the last year or so."
"I doesn't take much to create an identity to make the credit card companies happy. It could be almost anything."
"I know that, but there are a few things at the top of my list."
"Like?"
"Another woman. I thought this might be some real estate venture where he'd set up someone in her own apartment, like that."
"What else?"
"Drugs, gambling, I don't know. How many illegal activities take credit cards?"
"A lot more than one might expect, actually. Why don't you let me put one of my best financial guys on this and I'll get back to you in a day or two?"
"I assume you'll want a retainer."
He grinned. "I take credit cards."
She smiled for the first time since she entered his office. She reached into her purse and withdrew her checkbook. "How much?"
He told her his hourly rate and she wrote a check for five hours of his time. "Of course my associates bill at a slightly lower figure. Don't worry about the money. It will take care of itself, and if there's anything left over when we're done I'll be glad to refund it."
She dropped her chin. "One of the problems since my husband's death is that my funds are limited."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, Pam. Don't be concerned. I promise I won't rack up thousands of dollars of expenses without consulting with you first. This should be pretty straightforward."
"That's fine." She didn't like the idea of coming across as some poor waif, but maybe she should get used to that image. She really didn't want to get into details with this man, but he was so easy to talk to that she almost poured out the entire story. She could see why people trusted him to find out their deepest secrets.
"Good. If we have to go into things more deeply I'll ask for specific authorization and give you estimates. No surprises. For now, let me see what I can find out about CF+Co."
She stood and extended her hand. His grip was firm and his hands were soft. It was the first time she'd noticed anything about anyone since Vin's death, and she felt good about it. "I'll call you when I have anything to report." He'd taken down her name, address, and both her home and cell phone numbers.
"Thanks, Gary. You've made this easier than I expected."
"I'm glad of that."
As the door closed behind Pam, Gary leaned his chair back and steepled his fingers. She was quite a woman, straightforward and seemingly not afraid of what she might find out. She was also very attractive, in a comfortable way. She wore her hair loose and it swung around her face when she moved. Her make-up was understated, as were her clothes. Simple, yet classic.
CF+Co. He wouldn't have to bill her much for actual investigation. He had known immediately what it was, a high-priced brothel. He'd known about Club Fantasy for several years, since a client had wanted them checked out to be sure he wouldn't be blackmailed for indulging in some of his more exotic fantasies. From everything he knew, they were totally honest without any black marks against the character of any of their employees. He knew of the owners, Jenna and Marcy Bryant, both now married. He knew that Jenna lived in upstate New York with her husband and a few children. Several years before, she had left any direct connection to the club, but her twin sister Marcy, also married
She spent the next few minutes telling Gary only the bare minimum, that her husband had been killed in a traffic accident and she'd found these statements about which she'd known nothing before.
"I'm sorry about your husband's death, Pam."
"It's been almost four months and it's not quite as raw as it was."
"Are you afraid he was leading some kind of secret life?"
"I don't know anything more than what I've shown you. I don't know what it means at all. All I know is that, to my calculations, he's charged almost a hundred thousand dollars to this company in the last year or so."
"I doesn't take much to create an identity to make the credit card companies happy. It could be almost anything."
"I know that, but there are a few things at the top of my list."
"Like?"
"Another woman. I thought this might be some real estate venture where he'd set up someone in her own apartment, like that."
"What else?"
"Drugs, gambling, I don't know. How many illegal activities take credit cards?"
"A lot more than one might expect, actually. Why don't you let me put one of my best financial guys on this and I'll get back to you in a day or two?"
"I assume you'll want a retainer."
He grinned. "I take credit cards."
She smiled for the first time since she entered his office. She reached into her purse and withdrew her checkbook. "How much?"
He told her his hourly rate and she wrote a check for five hours of his time. "Of course my associates bill at a slightly lower figure. Don't worry about the money. It will take care of itself, and if there's anything left over when we're done I'll be glad to refund it."
She dropped her chin. "One of the problems since my husband's death is that my funds are limited."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, Pam. Don't be concerned. I promise I won't rack up thousands of dollars of expenses without consulting with you first. This should be pretty straightforward."
"That's fine." She didn't like the idea of coming across as some poor waif, but maybe she should get used to that image. She really didn't want to get into details with this man, but he was so easy to talk to that she almost poured out the entire story. She could see why people trusted him to find out their deepest secrets.
"Good. If we have to go into things more deeply I'll ask for specific authorization and give you estimates. No surprises. For now, let me see what I can find out about CF+Co."
She stood and extended her hand. His grip was firm and his hands were soft. It was the first time she'd noticed anything about anyone since Vin's death, and she felt good about it. "I'll call you when I have anything to report." He'd taken down her name, address, and both her home and cell phone numbers.
"Thanks, Gary. You've made this easier than I expected."
"I'm glad of that."
As the door closed behind Pam, Gary leaned his chair back and steepled his fingers. She was quite a woman, straightforward and seemingly not afraid of what she might find out. She was also very attractive, in a comfortable way. She wore her hair loose and it swung around her face when she moved. Her make-up was understated, as were her clothes. Simple, yet classic.
CF+Co. He wouldn't have to bill her much for actual investigation. He had known immediately what it was, a high-priced brothel. He'd known about Club Fantasy for several years, since a client had wanted them checked out to be sure he wouldn't be blackmailed for indulging in some of his more exotic fantasies. From everything he knew, they were totally honest without any black marks against the character of any of their employees. He knew of the owners, Jenna and Marcy Bryant, both now married. He knew that Jenna lived in upstate New York with her husband and a few children. Several years before, she had left any direct connection to the club, but her twin sister Marcy, also married
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