Kookaburra Gambit by Claire McNab

Author:Claire McNab
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Women Private Investigators
ISBN: 9781555839048
Publisher: Alyson Books
Published: 2005-04-01T03:00:00+00:00

"Another shipment of Oz Mob toys has arrived," said Bob, coming into my office and folding himself up like a paint easel into a chair. "Chicka called in a panic. You weren't here, so I spoke to him."

"More opals?"

Bob nodded. "The Kelvin Kookaburras are loaded with them. Same as before, Chicka says. Good quality black opals."

At our advice, the Hartnidge brothers had rented a unit in a self-storage facility and were keeping all the toys shipped to them in that secure location. We had some of the smuggled gems in our safe in the offices, but it was more than likely that undetected stones were still concealed in the little bodies of other toys.

"I've been thinking," I said to Bob. "Maybe we should set a trap. Get Alf and Chicka to bring some of the Kelvin Kookas into the Burbank office and leave them there. Then see who acts suspiciously. Lonnie could set up a concealed video camera, couldn't he?"

"Nanny cams," said Bob. "Parents install them to check that the nanny minding their children isn't abusing the kids when no one's watching. We've handled a couple of cases recently." He grimaced. "Very upsetting."

"Crikey," I said, "people can be gross, can't they? Anyone who touches a kid should be shot."

My phone rang. It was Alf Hartnidge. "All set, love? I'll be picking you up in forty minutes, OK?"

We'd arranged for me to meet the Burbank Oz Mob staff this afternoon as Alf's girlfriend. He'd be playing the successful entrepreneur, mega keen to impress me with his business.

"How do I look?" I said to Bob. "Do I impress you as the sort Alf would have as a girlfriend?"

Bob gave me a long, critical examination. "Higher heels," he said. "And more makeup."

When I'd been shopping with Harriet a few weeks back, she'd persuaded me to buy one pair of really high heels, but so far I'd avoided wearing them, figuring I needed practice if I wasn't to sustain a serious ankle injury.

"High heels? You sure, Bob?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. A girlfriend of Alf Hartnidge's would wear high heels."

I rarely wore much makeup, so I was no expert, but I knew someone who was. I made for the reception desk.

"Melodie, I need some help with my makeup."

"Makeup?" She seemed astonished I'd need assistance in this area. "You don't wear makeup, Kylie. You should, of course, but you don't."

"I'm pretending to be Alf's girlfriend this afternoon, when I meet his staff. I need to look like she would look."

"How much time have I got?" said Melodie, hauling one of her voluminous makeup bags from under her desk.

I checked my watch. "About twenty-five minutes." Melodie rolled her eyes. "That's cutting it fine, but you've come to the right person." She peered at my face. "Twenty-five minutes?" she said. "Even for me, it'll be a challenge."

Alf arrived five minutes early, just as Melodie was putting the last touches to my face. I left them talking about Chicka and the movie and bolted back to my room to grab the high heels.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.