Dream Town

Chapter 12

After a filling meal, and with his face shaved and his clothes reasonably cleaned and his head bandaged, and aspirin taken, Archer called Connie Morrison at Willie Dash’s office in Bay Town. He told her what had happened and asked her to find out whatever she could on Cedric Bender. He also told her about what he had seen on the beach and his struggle with the man there.

“Should I tell Willie?” Morrison asked.

“Even if I say no, you’re going to.”

“These last three years haven’t been wasted on you at all, Archer.”

After that he phoned the offices of Green and Ransome. It rang and rang.

Next, he called the LA County Sheriff’s Department. His contact there, Barry Drews, knew all about the dead man in Las Flores Canyon. Archer said nothing about the boat and the men on the beach, because he didn’t want to get pulled into an unrelated case. That was, thankfully, someone else’s headache.

“How’d you find out so fast about the dead guy?” Drews wanted to know.

“Friend of a friend. Who’s running the investigation?”

“Phil Oldham.”

“I know Phil. Would it be a problem if I went up there?”

“Why? What’s your interest in all this?”

“The lady who owns that house is a client of mine.”

Drews said, “Any idea where she is? Because Phil and his boys can’t find her.”

“I might be able to help. Can you call them about me coming up?”

“I’m not too sure about this, Archer.”

“Come on, Barry. We’re both on the same team here.”

“But you keep things close to the vest.”

“If I didn’t I wouldn’t be in business. My clients expect confidentiality. So will you make the call?”

He heard the man sigh. “Just share whatever you find.”

“I’ll do all I can on that score.”

“You going out soon?”

“Soon as I hang up with you.”

He put the phone down and looked at Callahan, who was sitting across from him.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” she asked in a worried tone.

“I’ll find out.”

“But Ellie never even wrote you a check. So she’s not really your client.”

“A guy’s dead and it looks like Lamb has vanished. And someone tried to push my brain into the rest of me. I’ll figure the business end out later.”

“You’re more of a Boy Scout than you’ll admit.”

He gingerly put on his hat. “That’s just what this town needs, more damn Boy Scouts.”

“Will you please be careful?” she asked.

“More careful than I was last night.”

She kissed him, not on the cheek, but on the lips.

“What was that for?” he said, giving her a questioning look.

“Luck. Doesn’t take a genius to see that you’re going to need it.” Her words were joking; the rest of the lady was not.