Identity Crisis (Sam McRae Mystery 1)

I shook my head.

“Not to impose, but could you possibly recheck your file?” Something seemed to catch in his throat, and he began to cough.

“No need,” I said. “I’ve been trying to find Melanie myself. Believe me, if I had a lead in my file, I would know about it.”

Drake coughed harder. “Excuse me,” he said. “Got a ... bit of a tickle. Have any water?”

I inclined my head. “There’s a water cooler down the hall. Help yourself.”

He got up and left, hacking loudly. Maybe he really did have a tickle. Or maybe it was an old trick. It was a short hallway, but it still gave a person time to get something from your desk or off your Rolodex. I had two people pull that on me, using different ruses—a reporter who was looking for a name and phone number, and a prospective client who lifted my wallet. Fool me twice, shame on me all over. Maybe I was being paranoid. Still, something wasn’t right with this guy, although I wondered what he could be looking for that he’d be able to find in that little bit of time.

I decided to meet him at the door on his way back.

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to cut this short,” I said. “I have plans.”

“That’s quite all right. I appreciate your time.” I don’t think he believed me any more than I did him.

“Perhaps if you gave me a phone number,” I said. “If I hear anything, I could call you.”

His expression was neutral, but the eyes still seemed amused. “Good idea.” He felt his shirt pocket. “I’m afraid I don’t have anything to write with.”

I got a pad and pen from my desk and he wrote a number down. After he left, I waited at the window until I saw him heading down the front walk. Then I got on the phone to Donna.

“John Drake?” she said. “Never heard of him.”

“This guy says he’s known Melanie since they were kids.”

“That’s news to me.”

“And you never told him that I was Melanie’s attorney?”

“I’ve never even met him. Oh, Sam.” She paused. “You don’t suppose that could be ... that couldn’t be the one the police were talking about, could it? The dangerous man?”

“I don’t

know.” I didn’t think so, but my pulse had quickened. Could that really be Stavos?

“He didn’t seem dangerous,” I said, “but that doesn’t mean a thing, does it?”

“Sam, did you have a chance to run by Melanie’s?”

I paused. “Oh, yeah. She wasn’t home.” I decided to leave it at that.

“I’m so worried.”

So was I. If this was the man Jergins was talking about, he’d managed to find out I was Melanie’s attorney. And if he was that dangerous, would he be satisfied asking a few questions? I didn’t think so. I just wondered what his next move would be.

Chapter SIX

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Detective Derry stopped by the office the next day. Jergins was with him, looking sullen and officious.

“Things aren’t looking good for your client,” Derry said.

“Now what?”

“Garvey’s body was found in his apartment. A witness says Ms. Hayes was there that weekend, the weekend he was shot.”