Read Online The Easy Sin by Jon Cleary - Free Book Online

disembodied voices. They will never be friends, thought Malone, but they'll defend Magee if only because they want to get to him before we do. And he began to wonder if the women, separately, knew more than they were telling.
    Then the computer on the table behind Cragg began to print out a message. Malone stepped round Cragg and read it: There’s a call for you, Jared. They won’t speak to anyone but you .
    He looked towards the far end of the room. Louise had sat back from the computer on her desk and was looking towards them. Crumbs, he thought, they even talk to each other on the screens. “It's for you, Mr. Cragg. The phone.”
    â€œ Thanks,” said Cragg sarcastically and picked up one of the three phones on the table. “Put them through, Louise.”
    Then: “Yes, this is Jared Cragg. Who's that? Who?”
    Then he looked at Malone, nodded at a second phone and reached across and pressed a button. Malone picked up the second phone.
    â€œLook—” Cragg was showing no agitation; Malone, watching him, had to admire him. “How do we know you've got Mr. Magee?”
    â€œHe was the one who gave us your name,” said the woman at the other end of the line. It was an Australian voice, Malone remarked, no accent. Over the past few years the police had started to divide crims up into ethnic groups, much to the loud disapproval of ethnic groups. “He's all right, Mr. Cragg. He hasn't been harmed—not so far. He said you'd be able to raise the money we're asking. Five million dollars, US.”
    Cragg raised his eyebrows at Malone, who gestured at him to keep talking. “US? Why US?”
    â€œYou know what the Aussie dollar is like, Mr. Cragg. Up and down like a yo-yo. Five million, American.”
    â€œMr. Magee knows we don't have that sort of money right now, US or Aussie. He would've told you that, right?” There was silence at the other end. “Right? Well, I'm confirming it. Name a reasonable sum and I'll see what we can raise.”
    â€œYou can raise the five million. Try your partners, the Kunishima Bank. I'll call back at five this evening. Have the money by then.”
    â€œJust a moment,” said Malone, cutting in. “This is Detective-Inspector Malone, of Homicide. Put Mr. Magee himself on.”
    The woman laughed, a pleasant laugh. “You're kidding, aren't you? Get lost, copper. This is between us and Magee's company.”
    â€œDid you kill the Magee maid? That puts it between you and me.”
    There was a moment's silence, then the phone went dead.
    Cragg said, “Can you trace that call?”
    â€œMaybe the area, but not the actual phone. Sheryl, get them started on that.”
    â€œRight away, sir.” She checked the number of I-Saw, then went quickly down to the reception desk.
    â€œDid you recognize the woman's voice?” Malone asked Cragg.
    â€œA woman ?” Kylie's voice rose. “Holy shit, he's got another woman?”
    â€œIt's getting crowded,” said Caroline Magee and there was just a hint of a smile around her lips.
    Malone ignored them both. “If they're demanding ransom for Magee, if they do have him, why the pantomime of the ransom notes on the computers for Miss Doolan?” But he was talking to himself; he wasn't looking for an answer from the others. “Could the woman on the phone be someone who works here?”
    â€œI didn't recognize the voice,” said Cragg. “You still think someone from here organized all this?”
    â€œI don't know. We consider every possibility and then start eliminating them. I still think the strongest possibility is that Errol organized his own kidnapping and it all went wrong when the maid was killed. Maybe the woman is in on the scam with him—”
    â€œBastard!” said Kylie.
    Malone had been thinking aloud, something no cop should ever do. He realized it and tried to get his thoughts and his tongue under control. He