Jigsaw Lovers Read Free Page B

situation that might arise, anywhere in the world. It had proved to be very useful for their main-line business activities.
    One of James’s operatives would make an appointment for a massage or sauna or whatever was being offered, and afterwards file an in-depth report on the visit. The report would cover such aspects as how attractive the person was, hygiene of the establishment and the person, drug use, intelligence, character traits, discreteness, tastes catered for, and the likelihood of the company being able to recruit the individual, and if so, for what particular activities.
    If these initial criteria were satisfactorily met, then James would pay a visit to the person in question, and make an assessment of them himself. Depending on the outcome of this and his own report was whether they would be asked to work for the company or not.
    Diana’s advertisement had appeared three weeks earlier in an evening newspaper. It had been spotted as a matter of routine, and someone had been dispatched to sample the services on offer. As soon as James’s operative had met Diana he knew that he had found an exceptional young lady. She was obviously new at this business and her modesty was an unexpected bonus. His report had been acted upon immediately. People had been assigned to follow and observe her every movement, whilst others found out everything there was to know about her from the day she was born. This information was then condensed to one page and sent to James for his final decision. He had been very interested and had arranged the meeting that was now taking place.
    ‘We are a firm of private investigators.’ He saw her look of disdain as he continued. ‘You look as though you disapprove. That’s interesting considering your chosen profession.’
    A flash of anger crossed her eyes. She was about to speak but suddenly gained control of herself.
    ‘I understand what you’re thinking. You assume, like many people, that private investigators are rather unsavoury individuals.’
    ‘I don’t think I’ve ever met one before, but yes, you’re right. The image I have of them is that they are rather unpleasant nosey people. They have a pretty low reputation, only just below that of lawyers and accountants,’ she said.
    ‘They only exist to fulfill a need. Person A needs information about person B. He can’t find it out himself without being compromised. Therefore, he employs person C to get that information.’
    ‘So you want me to go around snooping on people?’ she asked.
    ‘No. My particular company doesn’t deal with the seedy side of the business. By that I mean the small-time stuff of getting the dirt on cheating husbands, or wayward wives. Many people do that, and the rewards are not very high. The company I represent specialises in doing work for the corporate business sector, and, in exceptional circumstances, for very wealthy individuals.’
    ‘Industrial espionage?’
    ‘It forms part of what we do, yes. There have been occasions when we have been asked to gather that type of information,’ answered James.
    ‘I imagine its a much more highly paid area,’ she commented.
    ‘The fees we charge are very high, but the service we offer is unique, and of the highest quality. Our clients are always satisfied with the results we achieve for them.’ He sounded very sincere, and she found herself beginning to listen to him with a growing curiosity. He had a certain charm, and certainly didn’t fit the stereotyped image she had of a private eye.
    ‘So what would you want me to do for your company? I assume you would have told me its name by now, if you were going to.’
    He paused to light a cigarette and to observe her.
    ‘There’s no reason for you to know its name. Does that worry you?’
    ‘No. Just curious, that’s all. But perhaps its better if I’m not,’ she answered.
    ‘To return to your other question. Often, we find that we have a need for someone who is able to offer the type of