Part 34 (1/2)
Ann elbowed him. ”We'd like access to some public records.”
”Sure, what of?” He set down his book and stood.
”The building where The Sail & Compa.s.s restaurant is.”
The clerk frowned but trudged off and came back six minutes later with blueprints of the building.
”Be careful with those, please. That's Taylor-” The clerk stopped himself as if he'd been caught taking a cookie out of a kid's lunch box.
”We know Taylor Stone owns the building.” Cameron spread the blueprints out on the counter and studied them.
”Do you know him?”
”What?” Cameron looked up.
”Do you know Taylor Stone?”
”Yes.” He turned back to the plans. ”We both do.” He glanced at Ann who had a look of intense concentration on her face. ”Are you seeing what I'm seeing? It looks like the bas.e.m.e.nt has-”
”Does he know you're looking at the plans?” The clerk leaned in almost close enough for his head to touch Cameron's.
”I don't think so. I didn't think we had to ask permission to see items of public record.”
The clerk leaned back and tapped his foot. ”No, I suppose you're right. But don't you think it would nice if you asked? I do.”
”We will next time. I promise. Now do you mind if we take a quick look at these without interruption? And then we won't bother you anymore.”
”You're not bothering me.” The clerk cleared his throat. ”Much.”
”We just need a few more minutes, thanks.” Cameron smoothed out the plans and scanned them again. He looked at Ann and found her staring at him with a little smile on her face. She had to be thinking the same thing. The plans showed a bas.e.m.e.nt with two levels with a number of large rooms.
The perfect place to hide a Book of Days.
”Could we make a copy of these plans?” Cameron said.
The clerk's face paled. ”No.”
”Why not? They're public record.”
The clerk smacked his lips with a series of rapid pops, as if it would help him make up a story as to why not. ”The copier's busted.”
”Really? I used to work on them,” Cameron said. ”I bet I could-”
”It's, uh, time for you two to leave.”
Ann puffed out a breath. ”The sign says you close at 3:00 and it's only 2:20.”
”I have a lot to do to close up.”
”But this is a government building. You can't lock the doors until the hour stated on your sign.”
”Oh yes, yes, yes I can. If I have a government errand to run, which I do, I can lock up early.”
”I could get the copier fixed in a few minutes.”
The clerk waved his hand at Cameron, as if shooing away a hornet. ”You have to leave. Right now.”
”We'd really like to get a copy.”
As the clerk kept shooing them away with his hand, Ann whispered, ”We don't need a copy, trust me.”
”Why?”
”I'll tell you later. Let's get out of here before the clerk has a coronary.”
Cameron smiled. The bees didn't buzz unless you whacked the hive. And he wouldn't stop till he and Ann found the honey.
The clerk picked up his phone on the first ring.
”What did they want?”
”The layout of Taylor's restaurant.” The clerk squeezed the tip of his pencil as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
”Interesting. I was right.” The phone hummed. ”And did you make it seem like Taylor wouldn't want them to see those plans?”
”Yes. I think I convinced them.”
”Good.” The line went silent. ”You've been an extremely loyal disciple, and that means a great deal to me. Thank you.”
”You're welcome.”
”But just so we're clear, if you tell anyone anything about the, uh, observing you've been doing for me-and I mean anyone-I will slit your throat. Will that work for you?”
”Yes. We're clear.”
”Excellent. I appreciate you.”
The line went dead.
”Taylor has influence in this town, I'll give him that,” Cameron said as they walked out the courthouse doors.
”Considerable influence.” Ann batted him on the arm. ”Did you really work on copiers at one time?”
”No.”
Ann smiled. ”So what's our next step?”