Ron Base - Sanibel Sunset Detective 01 - The Sanibel Sunset Detective by Ron Base

Author:Ron Base [Base, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystsery: Thriller - P.I. - Florida
ISBN: 0973695544
Publisher: West-End Books
Published: 2010-11-08T06:00:00+00:00

21

The next morning, still smarting over Marcello’s latest betrayal, Tree drove to his office. A dozen tourists crowded the reception area, poring over maps and asking questions of the three volunteers on duty. Upstairs, there was a voice mail from his oldest son, Christopher.

“Hey dad, Mom called and said she heard something on the news about you. Someone broke into your house? Hope you and Freddie are okay. Let me know. Whatever happened, I hope it isn’t associated with this detective thing. Not sure what that’s all about. For what it’s worth, Mom says you’re the last person in the world who should be a detective. Not sure I don’t agree with her. Call me. Love you.”

Christopher operated an Internet dating service in Chicago in partnership with his second wife, a former Playboy model named Kendra. And he worried about his dad being a private detective? What a curious world Tree now existed in; his son ran an Internet dating service; he was a private detective. Each thought the other crazy.

He called back and got Christopher’s voice mail. Tree told the voice mail he was okay, that three men had broken in but they hadn’t hurt him or Freddie and ran out before they could take anything. He did not comment on his first wife’s observation that he was the last person in the world who should be a detective.

After all, she might be right.

At ten minutes to nine, Tree came down the back stairs and into the parking lot. Tommy Dobbs was just getting out of his car.

“I’ve been trying to get hold of you,” Tommy said.

“Tommy, I don’t have time for this right now,” Tree said.

“Have you seen my story?”

“No.”

“It’s online.”

“I don’t read newspapers online,” Tree said.

“The police have been giving me a hard time.”

“No kidding. I mean what the hell were you doing outside my house at that time of night?”

“An investigative piece.” He sounded defensive.

“An investigative piece? On what?”

“You.”

“Tommy, I’m not some organized crime figure. You don’t have to stake out my house in the middle of the night.”

“Okay, maybe I got carried away, but it’s lucky for you I did. I saved you and your wife, didn’t I?”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“I’ve got to go,” Tree said. He opened his car door and got in.

Tommy leaned in the window. The sunlight glinted off the Ray-Bans and made his acne stand out. A kid, Tree thought. Just a big, skinny kid. He was struck again by the notion that he was staring at himself.

“My editor wants a follow-up,” Tommy said.

“That’s fine,” Tree said, “but I want you to quit following me. You need a quote or something, great. Call me. But don’t get all weird about this and turn into some sort of stalker.”

“I’m not a stalker.” He sounded offended by the notion.

“Then quit acting like one.”

He left Tommy standing in the parking lot, shoulders slumped. Marcello and Tommy. He was surrounded by lost boys.

____

Tree drove along Causeway Road onto Periwinkle Way, keeping his eye on the rearview mirror, half expecting Tommy to follow, relieved when he didn’t.

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