Old Friends

by Angus McLean

  Chapter Two

  The lady sitting on the red fabric sofa in the corner of the office was well dressed and smelt of expensive perfume. She appeared uncomfortable, as if she were waiting for the dentist or a mammogram. She was middle aged and had perfectly styled hair and flawless make up.

  The man sitting on the matching chair at right angles to her was twenty years younger, with broad shoulders and a confident air about him. He had dark eyes and dark hair with a hint of grey at the temples, a full moustache, and was dressed in casual chinos and an open necked shirt.

  He looked up from the notes he’d made on the pad on his knee and smiled at her. It was a calm reassuring smile, and it eased her discomfort a degree or two. He had a direct gaze and intelligent eyes, the sort of face that was more interesting than handsome. A faint scar showed at his chin, a patch where no stubble could grow.

  ‘Okay Mrs MacNamara,’ he said, ‘is there anything else you can tell me that may help? Any particular routine that your husband follows that may help me narrow it down a bit?’

  She thought for a moment.

  ‘He plays squash every Monday and Thursday night right after work. He always starts work by seven and usually gets home about six.’ She frowned. ‘That’s it I’m afraid. I can’t think of anything else.’

  ‘No problem.’ He jotted it down, got the name of the squash club from her, and smiled again. ‘That’s it, Mrs MacNamara. We’ll get onto it right away, and give you an update as soon as we know anything, okay?’

  ‘How long will it take?’ she asked, and for the first time her voice quavered. She paused to re-gather herself before continuing. ‘I mean, will I hear from you this week?’

  ‘It really depends on what your husband does and what we find, Mrs MacNamara.’

  He stood and she followed suit, allowing herself to be ushered over to the desk by the door. ‘We’ll be in touch as soon as we can, hopefully in the next few days.’

  She nodded and he gave her that reassuring smile again.

  ‘If you can give your deposit to Molly I’ll quickly print off a contract for you.’

  He moved to the second desk in the office, which faced the first one across the floor space. Mrs MacNamara turned to the woman at the first desk-Molly-and passed her a gold Visa.

  Molly took it and used it to take an electronic deposit of ten hours work. She was a striking woman of classical beauty, with wavy dark hair and sparkling, friendly green eyes. She had full red lips and wore little make up-mainly because she didn’t need to. She had the sort of look that defied pigeonholing. She could pass for a European or a country girl, depending on what she wore. Today she wore a simple black skirt and silver blouse, elegant and understated.

  Mrs MacNamara cast a furtive look at the man as he printed out a contract for her. He seemed like a nice person but she sensed he was not the sort to mess with. She glanced back at Molly, who was smiling at her and holding her card and receipt out for her. Her eyes smiled as well as her mouth, and Mrs MacNamara felt herself smile in return.

  The man came over and gave her a copy of the contract and had her sign his copy. She folded it and put it in her bag with her card and receipt. Then he handed her a business card and smiled again. Molly smiled again too, and Mrs MacNamara felt a little better. She thanked them and allowed him to hold the door for her.

  ‘We’ll be in touch,’ he told her, and closed the door behind her.

  Mrs MacNamara walked towards the stairs down to the street. She could hear the motorway behind her on the other side of the building, and the main street of Ellerslie village was in front of her. She looked at the card in her hand.

  Chase Investigations, it said. Dan Crowley, Director. It was a plain white card with blue lettering, the company’s name in italicised lettering across the top as if it really was chasing something, his name and title below it in smaller letters. Address and contact details at the bottom.

  She tucked it into her bag with the rest of the stuff, and checked her watch. It was 930am. Nearly time for her manicure.

  Dan Crowley passed the notes and contract to his wife and went to the kitchenette off the office.

  ‘What do you think?’ he asked as he poured a coffee for himself and a green tea for her. ‘If we could get a few more Mrs MacNamaras in here with their Remuera cheque books, I’d be happy.’

  ‘If we get a few more Mrs MacNamaras in here, ‘Molly replied, ‘there won’t be room to move. You’ve got a full week already, honey, and now this as well.’

  ‘I’ll give it to old Neil,’ he told her, handing her a tea cup and perching on the corner of her desk.

  ‘He’s already got a full week as well.’ She clicked open the weekly planner on her desktop and opened up the tab for Neil. ‘He’s in court for the Shelby theft case today, he’s got the Parker and Philips fraud, four accident reports due in and he’s got five processes.’ She took a sip of tea and gave him a plaintive look. ‘What, no biscuits this morning?’

  Dan went to the kitchenette and brought back the cookie jar.

  ‘How about you, could you squeeze it in?’ He bit into a ginger crunch and showered crumbs down his front. He didn’t seem to notice.

  ‘I’ll have to, won’t I?’ Molly sighed and frowned at him. He didn’t seem to notice that either.

  ‘We need to take someone else on though, honey. Neil’s as slow as a wet week.’

  ‘He is officially retired.’

  ‘So he should retire properly then. I’m supposed to be part time but I’m practically full time and you did sixty hours last week.’ She pouted at him. ‘You need to get someone in.’

  He sipped his coffee and nodded.

  ‘You’re right.’ He smiled at her and patted her cheek affectionately. ‘No worries gorgeous, I’ll sort it out. I’ll talk to Buck and see if he knows of anyone wanting to get out.’

  The door opened and an elderly man with grey hair and a beer pot entered, a battered briefcase in one hand and a copy of the Racing Times in the other.

  ‘Morning all,’ he said cordially, kicking the door closed behind him, ‘how are we?’

  ‘We be fine,’ Dan replied with an amused smile. ‘How are ye?’

  ‘Ye be good,’ Neil replied, taking a seat at the third desk, the one in the corner with the empty file tray. He opened his briefcase and removed a thick manila folder. He carried it over to Molly’s desk and put it down with a flourish.

  ‘Here you go, my dear lady,’ he said grandly, shooting the cuffs of his dark suit and smoothing his tie. ‘All my files, up to date and complete.’

  He looked across at Dan, who was coming from the kitchenette with a coffee for him.

  ‘I’m retiring,’ he announced, drinking in their surprised looks. ‘Yep, I thought it was about time. I don’t need to work; I’ve got my pension and not long left to spend it. June’s found a place in Tauranga and put an offer in, it got accepted over the weekend and we move this week.’

  ‘That soon?’ Molly looked stunned.

  ‘That soon,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry to drop it on you like this, but we got the word on Friday night. I cleaned up my files over the weekend, all the documents are served, the crash reports are done and photos on the disk, and I’ve done the preliminary work on the Parker and Philips job.’ He glanced back to Dan. ‘You’ll just need to finish it off, Daniel.’

  ‘Uh-huh.’ Dan nodded and went to his desk. ‘You’re still in court today, I take it?’

  ‘Indeed, indeed. The last time I’ll be giving evidence, I should imagine.’ He nodded solemnly. ‘No more running round playing private eye for old Neil, it’s time for fishing and golf.’

  ‘And spending quality time with June,’ Molly reminded him.

  ‘Yeah, that too,’ he conceded.

  There was an awkward silence for a moment. Nobody seemed to know what to say. Molly looked to her husband, but he remained silent. She felt her cheeks flush.

  ‘Anyway, I better get to court,’ Neil said eventually, �
��justice waits for no man.’

  ‘I think you mean time,’ Dan told him.

  ‘Don’t I know it.’

  Neil grabbed his briefcase, took a quick slurp of coffee and was gone, banging the door behind him again as he left.

  Dan and Molly looked across the office at each other.

  ‘Be careful what you wish for,’ he said.

  ‘D’you think he heard me?’ she frowned.

  ‘Probably.’ He groaned and rubbed his face. ‘Now we really need someone. Better book dinner for four at Luigi’s, I guess.’

  ‘Ooh, are you taking your wife out for dinner?’ she cooed, making eyes at him across the room.

  ‘Hmm, something like that.’ He grinned. ‘In company, of course, so you don’t get any fancy ideas.’

  ‘Typical. Where’s the romance gone?’

  ‘He could’ve given us more notice than a day,’ Dan grumbled. He leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the edge of the desk.

  ‘That’s what you get for taking on a contractor,’ she told him, ‘all care, no responsibility. I think we should take on a permanent employee this time.’

  ‘Then I’d have to pay them holidays and sick and whatever else they can think of.’ He shook his head in despair. ‘Just can’t get the staff.’

  ‘You’ve gotta try first. What about Buck?’

  ‘What, Buck himself? Na, he’s got it too cushy where he is, why would he give that up?’

  ‘Being the Ellerslie community cop can hardly be stimulating,’ Molly opined.

  ‘Not too taxing either, though. He hasn’t got himself in trouble since…well…’

  ‘Since he stopped working with you?’

  ‘Exactly.’

  His mobile bleeped on the desk with an incoming message. He smiled as he checked it.

  ‘Mike,’ he said, ‘wants to meet for a coffee urgently.’

  ‘Wonder who he’s in love with now?’ Molly speculated.

  ‘You’re such a cynic.’

  ‘You know it’s true. Ten to one it’s a drama about some woman.’ She gave him a challenging look. ‘Go on, bet against me.’

  Dan shook his head and got up.

  ‘That’s a sucker’s bet.’ He bent over her desk and kissed her softly on the cheek. ‘And I’m no sucker.’

  ‘No, you’re a hot shot private eye.’ Her eyes twinkled at him. ‘But you know what it’ll be.’

  ‘Maybe.’ He kissed her firmly on the mouth now. ‘I’ll shoot down and see Buck first, then go see him then head off and do the Parker and Philips case.’

  ‘Hey.’ Molly caught him by the sleeve. ‘Maybe Mike wants a job?’

  ‘You think?’ He considered it for a second then shook his head. ‘Na, can you really see him as a PI? Doubt it. We don’t do debt collection.’

  ‘You used to,’ she reminded him, and he shrugged.

  ‘Yeah, but now we’re chasing better money than that. Any port in a storm I guess, but I’d rather Mrs MacNamara brought her friends to see us. At least you know you won’t get your head stoved in investigating a cheating husband or corporate fraud.’

  He leaned down and kissed her again.

  ‘I’ll call you later.’

  He left the office, wondering what it was that Mike had got himself into now.