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Homage part 2
Homage part 1
My office isn’t much.
There is a small anti room, where clients
can sit and wait and read my certification that hangs in a gilt frame on one
wall; or they can choose one of the magazines from the table that is the only
other furniture, except the three chairs on which they can sit. I’ve never had
three clients in there at the same time so I don’t know what would happen if I
did. There’s a water cooler in the corner if you are feeling thirsty.
Mabel was thirsty, I heard the bubbles
break on the surface and I gave her enough time to quench her thirst before I
walked in through the connecting door from my office.
“Mrs Peters, it’s quite a surprise, please
come in”, I gestured through the open door into my office.
She walked past me as if I didn’t exist and
left me looking dumb as I struggled not to drown in the trail of perfume that
followed her.
She would have been about five foot tall in
her stocking feet but she was wearing a pair of heels that would have made a
stilt walker jealous. She had a matching skirt and jacket that looked like it
was painted on her and she carried a small red purse in her left hand. Her
shoes were red too, I liked them a whole lot more than her husband’s.
Once she was comfortable I walked around to
my side of the desk and looked at her.
She was about twenty-six as far as I could
tell but her face told me that she was a lot wiser. Her dark hair was held
together at the back with a clip that had probably been stolen from the circus
and her eyes were green. She looked like trouble.
“How can I help you?” I tried not to growl.
“I’m not one to beat about the bush Mr
Marlowe so I’ll speak frankly. My husband came here to ask you to find me and I
don’t want to be found. I’m willing to pay you twice what he paid you to ensure
this.” I could see why they were a couple, if they still were.
I leaned back in my chair and smiled. There
was no need to say anything.
“How much did he pay you?”
“What makes you so sure he paid me anything?”
She laughed. Her teeth showed a little and
I could see that that they were pointed.
“Let’s not play games Mr Marlowe, if you
want me to pay you twice of nothing so be it, just leave me alone and tell my
husband that you are unable to work for him.”
“Why don’t you tell him? Here, you can use
my phone.” I offered her the receiver.
Her green eyes widened and stared back at
me. They looked like two pools inviting me to dive in. Probably many had, I
wouldn’t be the first and no one would blame me if I did, but there was
something else lurking in those depths and it didn’t look like seaweed.
“Have it your way”, I said, trying to sound
in control.
“Mr Marlowe, it’s very simple,” she opened
her red purse and took out a 500 dollar bill, placing it on the table between
us. “You are unable to find me”.
Then she closed the purse, stood up and
walked out of my office leaving a trail of perfume, intrigue and more money than
I had made in a month. I hoped never to see her again.
What did I know?
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