Martini, Steve - - The Simeon Chamber by Martini Steve

Author:Martini, Steve [Martini, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: San Francisco (Calif.), Mystery & Detective, General, California, Large Type Books, Fiction
ISBN: 9781568955384
Published: 1988-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

“You could, but you won’t. It would take too long. By the time you got to court I’d have the answers I’m looking for and you’d have the parchments back.”

“Damn sure of yourself, aren’t you? I could go to the police with what I know.”

“In that case you can take their chuckles and the ride down the steps by yourself.”

“Where are the parchments?” she asked.

“In a safe place,” Sam replied.

“I want them back.”

“When I’m finished.”

“No now.”

Nick picked up his menu. “Well, shall we order? I don’t know about the rest of you but there’s nothing like a good argument to whet my appetite.”

Jennifer realized that she was getting nowhere.

“What are you going to do now?” she asked.

“Well, that depends on you.” Sam engaged her eyes directly in the flickering light of the candle. “Will you help?”

“It doesn’t look like I have a great deal of choice.” Jennifer had been backed into a corner, and from the look in her eyes she didn’t like it.

She summoned up every ounce of authority that her voice could muster. “On two conditions. The first is that you keep me informed of everything you discover.”

“Agreed. And the second?” asked Sam.

“That I be permitted to accompany you at any time I choose whenever you are searching for information concerning my father or the parchments.” She waited for a howl of protest, but Sam said nothing.

Bogardus was in a box. She might go to the police; and while it was probable that they would dismiss any story about Drake, if she kept it simple and told them merely that Sam had stolen the parchments from her, they would have to investigate the complaint. He didn’t need any more complications. Besides, he had no intention of honoring her terms unconditionally—only until he found out what she knew about Raymond Slade.

“I suppose I can live with that.” He spoke in a grudging tone.

“The first time I find out you haven’t told me everything, I will go straight to the police with what I know,” said Jennifer.

“Hey listen, if we’re gonna be partners we should start our relationship on a basis of trust.” His face lit up with a smile 239

that would have shamed the Cheshire Cat.

It was nearly ten o’clock by the time the trio finished eating. The conversation centered on Arthur Symington, the only apparent link to “the Committee.” Symington was the key to the entire puzzle. It was a slim lead. After all these years Arthur Symington could be dead. People at the newspaper might not even remember him. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was all they had.

The waitress appeared and removed the empty dishes from the table. Nick had just swallowed a last morsel of chutney and rice and tugged the linen napkin free from the top button of his shirt.

“Tomorrow morning I want you to call my office.” Sam looked at Jennifer. “The answering service will put you through to me. I’ll see if we can find this guy Symington. In the

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