F Is for Fugitive

himself until he sees the files, but I want to make sure he has all the help he can get. There's no such thing as a private detective up in Floral Beach, which is why we came to you. We need someone to go to work, dig in and see if there's anything left. Couple witnesses died and some have moved away. The whole thing's a damn mess and I want it straightened out."
    "How soon would you need me?"
    Royce shifted in his chair. "Let's talk money first."
    "Fine with me," I said. I pulled out a standard contract and passed it across the desk to him. "Thirty dollars an hour, plus expenses. I'd want an advance."
    "I bet you would," he said tartly, but the look in his eyes indicated no offense. "What do I get?"
    "I don't know yet. I can't work miracles. I guess it depends on how cooperative the county, sheriff's department is."
    "I wouldn't count on them. Sheriff's department doesn't like Bailey. They never liked him much, and his escape didn't warm any hearts. Made all those people look like idiots."
    "Where's he being held?"
    "L.A. County Jail. He's being moved up to San Luis tomorrow is what we heard."
    "Have you talked to him?"
    "Just briefly yesterday."
    "Must have been a shock."
    "I thought I was hearing things. Thought I'd had a stroke."
    Ann spoke up. "Bailey always told Pop he was innocent."
    "Well, he is!" Royce snapped. "I said that from the first. He never would have killed Jean under any circumstance."
    "I'm not arguing, Pop. I'm just telling her."
    Royce didn't bother to apologize, but his tone underwent a change. "I don't have long," he went on. "I want this squared away before I go. You find out who killed her and I'll see there's a bonus."
    "That's not necessary," I said. "You'll get a written report once a week and we can talk as often as you like."
    "All right, then. I own a motel up in Floral Beach. You can stay free of charge for as long as you need. Take your meals with us. Ann here cooks."
    She flashed a look at him. "She might not want to take her meals with us."
    "Let her say so, if that's the case. Nobody's forcing her to do anything."
    She colored up at that but said nothing more.
    Nice family, I thought. I couldn't wait to meet the rest. Ordinarily, I don't take on clients sight unseen, but I was intrigued by the situation and I needed the work, not for the money so much as my mental health. "What's the timetable here?"
    "You can drive up tomorrow. The attorney's in San Luis. He'll tell you what he wants."
    I filled out the contract and watched Royce Fowler sign. I added my signature, gave him one copy, and kept the other for my files. The check he took from his wallet was already made out to me in the amount of two grand. The man had confidence, I had to give him that. I glanced at the clock as the two of them left. The entire transaction hadn't taken more than twenty minutes.
    I closed the office early and dropped my car off at the mechanic's for a tune-up. I drive a fifteen-year-old VW, one of those homely beige models with assorted dents. It rattles and it's rusty, but it's paid for, it runs fine, and it's cheap on gas. I walked home from the garage through a perfect February afternoon – sunny and clear, with the temperature hovering in the sixties. Winter storms had been blowing through at intervals since Christmas and the mountains were dark green, the fire danger laid to rest until summer rolled around again.
    I live near the beach on a narrow side street that parallels Cabana Boulevard. My garage apartment, flattened by a bomb during the Christmas holidays, had now been refrained, though Henry was being coy about the plans he'd drawn up. He and the contractor had had their heads bent together for weeks, but so far he'd declined to let me see the blueprints.
    I don't spend a lot of time at home, so I didn't much care what the place looked like. My real worry was that Henry would make it too large or too opulent and I'd feel obliged to pay him accordingly. My current rent is only two hundred bucks a month, unheard-of these days. With my car paid for and my office space underwritten by California Fidelity, I can live very well on a modest monthly sum. I don't want an apartment too fancy for my pocketbook. Still, the property is his and he can do with it as he pleases. Altogether, I thought it best to mind my own business and let him do what suited him.

Chapter 2
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    I let myself in through the gate and circled the new construction to Henry's patio in the rear. He was standing near the back