me to file suit papers and serve subpoenas for him. My monthly bill is cheaper than a full-time employee or a divorce.
“Listen, Stella, I’ve got something else for you. A little more interesting than filing.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“Estate stuff. I need you to do an asset search. The widow is very merry and wants everything she married the old guy for.” He watched me closely as I scanned the documents.
It took me a minute, but then I jerked my head up. “Uh, it looks like there’s a few things missing.”
“Yeah,” Barry scoffed. “Just a few. As the estate’s Personal Representative, I can engage experts to ascertain the value of the assets. I already got letters of administration for you. We just need to do a retainer agreement.”
After signing some forms and making copies of what Barry had in his file, I shoved the papers into my backpack and told him I’d get something for him as soon as I could.
“I appreciate this, Stella. Come back when you have more time. I’ll tell you my plan for the twins’ birthday party.”
Nodding politely, I decided I’d rather hear about dental surgery. “Sure, Barry.”
I left his office and walked across the parking lot, thinking about the other attorney I needed to visit soon. Although Douglas Holbrook was one of the most successful, well-respected lawyers in Nevada, my hopes for righting an old wrong faded with each passing year.
Or maybe it was my resolve that was weakening. The cost of my mistake had been higher than I could have imagined. Trying to correct it would cost me everything I had left.
With difficulty, I shook off that line of thought and started the Harley. Seeing a break in the traffic, I pulled out onto Paradise and headed north. When the road ended, I drove up the Strip for a mile or so before making a left on Lewis Avenue. I parked in the public garage and walked the block down to the Regional Justice Center.
As soon as I entered the building, two overweight and overly eager security guards went on high alert.
“Hold it!”
“Stop right there, miss!”
I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes. “Do we have to do this every time, you guys?”
Not until the metal detector, handheld scanner and manual search of my backpack failed to reveal any incendiary devices was I allowed inside. One of these days I’ll start carrying a purse and briefcase and avoid the hassle.
After waiting in line for ten minutes, I filed Barry’s papers with the District Court on the third floor. I slipped the timestamped receipts into a folder in my backpack and headed back out into the heat. I think Walter and Ted were glad to see me go. Must have been the bitchy T-shirt and black eye that set them off.
As I bounded down the steps, the opening notes of Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” began to play. I dug out my cell phone.
“Midnight.”
I love saying that. Cool, succinct and kind of mysterious. But wasted on my secretary.
“It’s Jon. Mrs. Cavanaugh just called with the schedule she said you wanted. She also gave me the tag number for the Mercedes.”
“Great. Hang on while I get a pen.” I planted myself on one of the concrete benches and found a notepad. “Okay, just give me the next twenty-four hours.”
“She said he’s working from eight tonight until four in the morning, then he’s off the rest of the day. He’s supposed to play golf at the Red Rock course. Tee-off is at eleven. I’ll leave the rest of it on your desk.”
“Fax it to the house, too, will you?”
I scribbled down a few more messages and reminded Jon to turn off the espresso machine before he left. After we disconnected, I bounced the phone in my hand, procrastinating. I didn’t have to make the call. Cavanaugh was an average, everyday infidelity case….
Except for the missing four hundred grand. Nothing ordinary about that. Reaching into the zippered pocket of my backpack, I pulled out Stone’s business card. Three phone numbers, but no address.
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. I’m a private eye; I’m supposed to have access to all sorts of data. So why hadn’t I tracked him down before now? Why hadn’t I located him through vehicle registration, income or property tax records or something?
Because there hadn’t been any records to find. Stone’s not a U.S. citizen. Apparently he didn’t live, work or drive here. The guy was a ghost. So, not wanting to pass up an opportunity, instead of dialing Stone’s cell phone or paging him for a call back, I punched in the number for his answering service.
“Canongate Consultants.”
Hmm. This might be promising. I decided to pretend not to know where I was calling. “Can I talk to Cameron Stone, please?”
“I’m sorry, he’s not available. May I take a message?” The girl sounded young, with just enough of an accent to let me know she was originally from the East Coast.
“When will he back?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t have that information.”
I leaned back on the bench, adjusted my sunglasses and pushed a little. “Well, maybe I can drop by. I have something for him. Where’s his office?”
“Like I said, he’s not in right now.” She was starting to get an attitude, but I gave her points for control.
“Will he be there tomorrow?”
“I’m sorry. Mr. Stone is not available. I’d be happy to take a message.” She didn’t sound either sorry or happy, and her East Coast roots were showing.
I wasn’t getting anywhere nor was I likely to. I stood up and grabbed my bag, ready to leave. “Fine, just tell him Steele called and—”
“Oh! Is this Ms. Mez-zuh-knot?”
I frowned and answered cautiously, not knowing what to expect. “It’s pronounced Met-suh-no-teh.”
“If you’ll give me your message, I’ll use the emergency access.”
She acted like Stone was some kind of government agent. I could just imagine her punching codes into a red hotline phone. “I just want to give him some information. You don’t have to—”
“Yes, Ms. Mezzanotte, my instructions are to contact Mr. Stone immediately anytime you call.”
What the hell was this about? I felt both flattered and pissed off. Did Stone really think he’d be forgiven just because he made a show of his current—and, I was certain, temporary—availability? I tried not to be impressed.
“The message is, ‘I have Cavanaugh’s schedule.’”
“Okay. You have Cavanaugh’s schedule. I’ve got it. Is there anything else, Ms. Mezzanotte?”
Yeah,
