In Plain Sight (Sisterhood #25) - Fern Michaels Page 0,50
a minute and think about it. If you were in her shoes, what would you do? Then take that thought a step further and ask yourself who exactly is she afraid of? Does she even know about us? Is she smart enough to be afraid of Lincoln Moss? Goodwin warned her, so that lets him out of the fear category. So why’d she run?”
It was Jack’s turn to shrug. “If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say that the day the picture hit the tabloid, she realized what she’d done and instantly regretted it. According to Goodwin, the two of them had an arrangement. People rat other people out all the time, even their friends, for money, and nothing ever happens to them. The worst thing that happens is they lose a few friends. How do you think all those tabloids get the goods on those movie stars? Cash for scandal. Whatever . . . here we are. Let’s just hope this doesn’t go down badly.”
Off in the distance, a dog barked, then another bark answered the lonely call. The light drizzle of rain that was falling when they started out was now a full rainstorm, coming down steadily. The street took on an eerie feeling, with the drizzle dripping past the yellow light emanating from the lampposts. Both men shivered in their wet clothes even though it was a warm evening.
Jack and Harry, aware of the time, marched up the nine brick steps that led them to a narrow sheltered slab of concrete with an equally narrow overhang. Jack punched the doorbell. A bonging sound could be heard inside. Both men watched through the oval glass in the center of the door as a heavyset woman waddled to the door. Outside, a light came on, illuminating them. Jack held up his gold shield. Harry was a little slower on the draw, but he finally got his out of his pocket. The door opened.
The first words out of Jack’s mouth were, “Do you speak English, mademoiselle?”
“Yes.” She waited, her eyes never leaving the gold shields.
“Vivian François sent us,” Jack said. It wasn’t really a lie, he thought. It was the right thing to say. Some of the tension left the woman’s shoulders.
“How can I help you gentlemen.”
“By taking us to wherever Ms. Petrie is right at this moment.”
“Ah, yes, Mademoiselle Petrie. I sensed she was trouble. I did not want to have her here, but Vivian is a very old and dear friend. She begged me. You understand this, no?”
Jack said nothing. He waited. Harry transferred his weight from one foot to the other. “I do not want any trouble. I operate a respectable rooming house. Follow me, and I will take you to Mademoiselle Petrie. You will not be returning here again, will you?”
“Absolutely not,” Jack said truthfully. He looked down to see a fat tabby cat rubbing against his ankles.
“That is Fefe. She loves it when we have guests, always hoping for a catnip treat. It is the second door on the left. I will leave you now, so you can conduct your business. We are finished, no?”
“We are finished, yes,” Jack said. He watched as the woman bent down to pick up the fat cat. Both he and Harry waited until she was at the bottom of the steps before they knocked on the door.
Jack looked over at Harry, and whispered, “Show time. Hold up that shield. I’m thinking that should be enough to scare the crap out of her.”
Jack knocked softly on the door but loud enough for the occupant to hear and not disturb the other guests on the floor.
“Yes, who is it?” came a muffled response. Jack and Harry remained silent. He rapped again, this time a tad harder. Petrie repeated her response. Jack knocked a third time and mumbled something. The door opened a crack, Harry pushed it, and the woman on the other side was pushed backward.
A ripe curse split the air. Jack closed the door as Harry clamped his hand over Jane Petrie’s mouth.
Jack leaned in close so he could whisper in Petrie’s ear. “Stop the caterwauling. We are not going to hurt you. Unless . . . listen to me . . . you don’t shut up. If you don’t shut up, we will slice off your ears.” He was rewarded with instant silence. “That’s better. Now listen to me very carefully. We want you to pack your things. Do it quickly. We are taking you back to the