The Summons by John Grisham

Author:John Grisham [Grisham, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3, pdf
ISBN: 978-0-307-57609-5
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2002-03-23T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

When Vicki fled and moved in with the Liquidator, a professor friend recommended Axel Sullivan as a divorce specialist. Axel proved to be a fine lawyer, but there wasn’t much he could do on the legal front. Vicki was gone, she wasn’t coming back, and she didn’t want anything from Ray. Axel supervised the paperwork, recommended a good shrink, and did a commendable job of getting Ray through the ordeal. According to Axel, the best private investigator in town was Corey Crawford, a black ex-cop who’d pulled time for a beating.

Crawford’s office was above a bar his brother owned near the campus. It was a nice bar, with a menu and unpainted windows, live music on the weekends, no unseemly traffic other than a bookie who worked the college crowd. But Ray parked three blocks away just the same. He did not want to be seen entering the premises. A sign that read CRAWFORD INVESTIGATIONS pointed to stairs on one side of the building.

There was no secretary, or at least none was present. He was ten minutes early but Crawford was waiting. He was in his late thirties with a shaved head and handsome face, no smile whatsoever. He was tall and lean and his expensive clothes were well fitted. A large pistol was strapped to his waist in a black leather holster.

“I think I’m being followed,” Ray began.

“This is not a divorce?” They were on opposite sides of a small table in a small office that overlooked the street.

“No.”

“Who would want to follow you?”

He had rehearsed a story about family trouble back in Mississippi, a dead father, some inheritances that may or may not happen, jealous siblings, a rather vague tale that Crawford seemed to buy none of. Before he could ask questions, Ray told him about Dolph at the airport and gave him his description.

“Sounds like Rusty Wattle,” Crawford said.

“And who’s that?”

“Private eye from Richmond, not very good. Does some work around here. Based on what you’ve said, I don’t think your family would hire someone from Charlottesville. It’s a small town.”

The name of Rusty Wattle was duly recorded and locked away forever in Ray’s memory.

“Is there a chance that these bad guys back in Mississippi would want you to know that you’re being followed?” Crawford asked.

Ray looked completely baffled, so Crawford continued. “Sometimes we get hired to intimidate, to frighten. Sounds like Wattle or whoever it was wanted your buddies at the airport to give you a good description. Maybe he left a trail.”

“I guess it’s possible.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Determine if someone is following me. If so, who is it, and who’s paying for it.”

“The first two might be easy. The third might be impossible.”

“Let’s give it a try.”

Crawford opened a thin file. “I charge a hundred bucks an hour,” he said, his eyes staring right through Ray’s, looking for indecision. “Plus expenses. And a retainer of two thousand.”

“I prefer to deal in cash,” Ray said, staring right back. “If that’s acceptable.”

The first hint of a smile.

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.