Part 7 (1/2)
ChaPter siX.
New York Chase and Jack were still several miles from their Manhattan destination when Chase's cell rang. The caller ID told her it was Reno, so she put him on speakerphone. ”We're listening.”
”It turns out the IP we tracked belongs to a building, that in turn belongs to a company.”
”Okay. So?” Jack replied.
”Thing is...” Reno stopped and sucked on what had to be a straw. ”The company is a front for an escort service called Direct Connect, owned and run by a Margaret Lewis.” He sucked again and swallowed loudly.
”Can you put your beverage down for the duration of this phone call? It's highly annoying,” Chase said.
”Cola. Sorry about that.” Reno sounded embarra.s.sed. ”I've been working on this all day without a break. I need the sugar.”
”Talk,” Jack said.
”I don't have much more at the moment, but somebody who was there that night had to make the money transfer.”
”How many working girls do you know who can make a fifty-thousand-dollar transaction?” Jack asked.
”Could be a wealthy client. Or the owner of the agency?” Chase mused.
”Maybe. Give me the agency's digits,” Jack said, and wrote them down.
* 65 *
”Anything else, Reno?” Chase asked.
”Nope.”
Chase disconnected.
”I'd forgotten how easy you guys have it,” Jack said.
”Easy?”
”Guys like Reno do all the homework and send you on your way.””Is that why you faked your death? Was working for the organization not challenging enough?” Chase asked.
”You're hilarious.”
”Anyway,” Chase said, ”I say we call the agency and see where that gets us.”
Jack started to dial the number.
”What are you doing?” Chase asked, surprised.
”Calling Direct Connect. I doubt they're closed. Night time is the right time for this kind of business.”
”Have you done this before?”
”I've never had to pay for it and never would, so no.”
”Because that would have interfered with your otherwise n.o.ble existence,” Chase shot back.
Jack put the call on speakerphone. ”Hi. I'd like to make an appointment with you to talk about-”
”I'm sorry that's not the way we work,” the woman on the other end said.
”I see. Well, then, can we-”
”Oh, for Christ's sake. Give me that, Neanderthal,” Chase muttered in a low voice as she grabbed the cell from Jack's hand.
”Please, excuse my friend,” she said into the phone. ”She's new at this. An acquaintance gave me your number. He happens to be a very satisfied customer.”
”We do aim to please all sorts,” the woman said. ”What are you looking for?”
”He recommended the woman he saw last Tuesday, but he wasn't certain your employee met with same-s.e.x customers.”
”Tuesday,” the madam repeated. ”And what is your friend's name?”
* 66 *
”I doubt he uses his real name, and I was remiss in asking his alias,” Chase replied, oozing charm. ”He was with her at an address on West 76th around seven o'clock.”
”Aha. Hold on, please.”
”Of course. Take your time.”
The madam came back on. ”It was either Amber or Priscilla.
Priscilla does girl-on-girl and is available tonight.”
”And Amber?”
”Her availability is limited, I'm afraid.”
”Then I'd like to make an appointment with Priscilla,” Chase said. ”Half an hour from now?”
”Your name?”
”Jaclyn.” Chase smiled when Jack shot her a look of death.
”That won't be a problem. Payment is made beforehand. Two hundred and fifty dollars for an hour.”
”Very reasonable.”
”Please go to the rear entrance.”
”I will. Thank you.” Chase hung up.