Death in North Beach Read Free Page A

ago.’
    He wore a blue blazer, a white shirt and Palomino-colored pants, all custom-made, Carly was sure. Loosely draped and elegant. If she had known he was visiting, she would have taken a little more care of her own appearance. However, at the moment, she was working on a more relaxed image.
    â€˜What can I do to help you?’
    â€˜I have some questions for you first. Do you mind?’ William asked.
    â€˜No, it makes sense. What would you like to know?’
    â€˜What is your background?’
    â€˜I worked for more years than I care to mention at Vogel Security – one of the most prestigious investigation firms in the country.’
    â€˜And you went out on your own?’ he asked.
    â€˜Yes. I hit the glass ceiling and the work was becoming routine,’ Carly said.
    â€˜How big a firm is this?’
    â€˜We’re small, just Noah Lang and I for the most part.’
    â€˜And Mr Lang?’
    â€˜He has been here for several years. He has tremendous experience in criminal defense work.’ She waited to see if his expression changed. His blink, longer than usual, confirmed her feeling that he was here about Whitney Warfield. ‘That can be helpful, right?’ she asked.
    William took a deep breath, looked around, started to talk, but stopped. He nodded toward the doorway.
    â€˜Thanh,’ Carly called out.
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Can you hear what we’re saying?’
    â€˜It’d be better if you’d talk a little louder.’
    William smiled, got up, peered around the doorway. ‘Nothing personal,’ he said, closing the door. He returned to his seat.
    â€˜You overheard us at Anselmo’s.’
    â€˜I hoped you’d talk a little louder,’ she said, smiling.
    â€˜The police came to my place early this morning,’ he said.
    â€˜What did you tell them?’
    â€˜Nothing. I went out the back.’
    â€˜Not to drive business away, but maybe you need a lawyer not an investigator.’
    â€˜Look,’ William said, standing, walking to the window. ‘Here’s my take on this. I was with Whitney late the night of his death. We were in a bar in North Beach. We were arguing. It got hot. He was drunk and unreasonable, though he doesn’t have to be drunk to be unreasonable. He stumbled out. I followed. We argued on the street. Not good. Add to this,’ he continued as he moved back toward her, ‘most would not consider me a paragon of virtue. I’m a professional companion.’ He waited. Carly remained quiet. ‘There are other names.’
    â€˜There was a song,’ she said.
    He smiled.
    â€˜Once the police put my career and the argument together, they won’t look anywhere else. And even if they can’t prove I did it and don’t, in fact, indict me, the suspicion alone is a career killer. What I need is for someone to find the killer. That’s the only way I’m safe.’
    â€˜Were you drunk?’
    â€˜No. I never have more than two drinks in public.’
    â€˜What were you arguing about?’
    â€˜Are you working for me?’
    It was clear to Carly he didn’t want to say a whole lot more unless they had an agreement.
    â€˜Yes.’ She explained rates and conditions, which included a retainer. ‘I’ll put it in writing.’
    â€˜I’ll take you at your word. We were arguing over a book he was writing.’
    â€˜You were going to be in it, I bet.’
    â€˜I was, but that wasn’t the worst part. I have had relationships with people to whom I promised absolute discretion. As smart as he is . . . was . . . discretion was not part of his vocabulary.’
    â€˜But if you didn’t tell him anything . . .’
    â€˜He picked up a lot of gossip. Most of it was wrong. But if I corrected him, I was collaborating and going against my word. If I didn’t correct him he was going to take it as a confirmation of his