12 Watch Your Back! by Donald E Westlake

Author:Donald E Westlake [Westlake, Donald E]
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Alan Pinkleton shared his lunch instead. There was no point playing fart buzzer with a paid companion, so the simple humor machine remained in Preston’s pocket as he collected food from the serving tables and joined Alan at a half-occupied table. Lunch was always the least-attended meal, since so many of the residents were off doing physical things here and there around the island.

Preston settled himself and his tray, settled his napkin onto his lap, and said, “A good afternoon to you, Alan. Did you have a lovely morning?”

“No,” Alan said. He seemed out of sorts. “I can’t find her,” he said.

Polite, Preston raised an eyebrow. “Can’t find whom?”

“Your new one,” Alan said. “This Pamela Broussard. Not a trace.”

One of Alan’s jobs, as Preston’s paid companion, was to do background checks on the women Preston chose to pal around with on this island. But this one he couldn’t find? “Oh, well, Alan,” Preston said, “all these women have so many different last names, you know. Like Indians with scalps on their belts.”

“Yes, but they still have to have a background,” Alan insisted. “They have to have those scalps. Pamela Broussard has nothing, no history, nothing.”

“Alan, that’s impossible,” Preston pointed out. “She can’t be paying cash for her room here.”

“No, that’s all right,” Alan said, “I’ve got that much. Pam Broussard’s bills are paid by I.T.L. Holdings of Evanston, Indiana, which is very near Chicago.”

“And what,” Preston asked, “is I.T.L. Holdings?”

“The financial investment arm,” Alan said, “of Roper-Hasty Detergent, a Chicago conglomerate with a base business in home-cleaning products.”

Preston considered this information. He also considered his lunch and ate some omelet. Delicious. “I wonder,” he said, “if she’s too rich for me.”

Alan didn’t understand. “Too rich? Preston?”

“I know Roper-Hasty,” Preston told him. “It’s no longer entirely family held, but the Roper family still maintains a commanding interest. If Pam Broussard is related to the Ropers, it’s perfectly logical the company will pay her expenses, to turn them into something tax-creditable farther down the line. But that would mean that Pam would be far too rich for me to play with. The only reason these women put up with me is because they want my money. If Pam Broussard is a Roper, she’s already at least as rich as me, and all my little witticisms will fall quite flat. In fact, I could be quite extensively humiliated. Before we do anything else, Alan, find out for me for sure and certain just who Pam Broussard is when she’s at home.”

“I signed on to this death ship as a paid companion,” Alan pointed out, “but it seems to me you’re converting me into a private eye.”

“Let’s hope,” Preston said, “you’re good at it.”

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