Pyramid Deception Read Free

your girlfriend? And you didn’t tell me?”
    Cindy started forward and Jason recoiled with fear in his eyes, but Hannibal grabbed the girl’s arm and pulled her back to her chair. When she plopped down on the seat he turned and pointed a gloved finger at her face.
    â€œBe still. This all just got a good deal simpler than I expected it to be. We might be able to trace her source right back to the con artist who took you.” Then he turned to Jason. “Have you spoken to this Irene since you found out your investment has evaporated?” Jason shook his head. “Then get her on the phone.”
    â€œI can’t.”
    Cindy glared. Hannibal focused on the scent of the lilies to stay calm. “You do know your lover’s phone number, don’t you?”
    â€œI can’t just call in the middle of the day,” Jason said. “She’s watched.” When Hannibal raised an eyebrow, Jason added, “Her husband.”
    â€œShe’s married?” Cindy almost shrieked, her Cuban accent getting stronger with her anger. “You take investment advice from a bitch who’s cheating on her husband?”
    â€œWe needed the money,” Jason said, standing and staring into Cindy’s anger. “I had to raise enough so we could take off for Mexico.”
    Cindy took a menacing step closer. “Not just doing another man’s wife,” she said, accenting every word with her hands, “butbreaking up their marriage. I thought I knew you, Jason.” Then she turned to Hannibal. “Honest to God, honey, he told me he got this tip from a trusted friend but never hinted even for a second that he was involved with this mystery source.”
    â€œJust give me the number,” Hannibal said, turning a palm to Cindy. “I’ll make the call. And put that thing on speaker.”
    Hannibal sat on the desk and punched in the numbers. After four rings a woman answered.
    â€œJason? What’s wrong? You know we can’t talk during the day.” From the voice, Hannibal was prepared to believe that Jason was dating Dixie Carter or Paula Dean. This woman would be older than Jason, although she was still preserving her Southern belle accent.
    â€œMa’am, this is Hannibal Jones. I’m a private investigator and as you can see I’m calling from Jason Moore’s office.”
    â€œIs he there? Is Jason all right?”
    Hannibal held up a finger to stop Jason from answering. “Yes, ma’am, Jason is right here, but he’s had a bad shock and we thought you might be able to help.”
    â€œIt’s about the money, isn’t it?” Irene asked. “Oh Jason, if you’re there, I’m so sorry, hon. Mine is all gone too. But I know what happened and I know who’s to blame and I swear we going to make him pay.”
    Hannibal saw Cindy’s face light up, but he knew it was too soon for celebrating. “You know who’s responsible?” Hannibal asked the phone. “If that’s true I might be able to help.”
    â€œI can’t,” Irene said. Then in a whisper she added, “Not over the phone. He might be listening, or recording or something.”
    â€œThen meet with me and if you’ve taken a loss I promise to help you get your money back.”
    â€œCan you help me get my life back?”
    What did that mean? “I’ll try. Where are you?” And why, he wondered, was she so paranoid?
    â€œGreat Falls,” she replied, still whispering. “I’ll look for Jason at eleven o’clock in front of the Safeway.”
    The line went dead.

-3-
    Silence gripped the room. Hannibal was considering the conversation, trying to mentally milk all the meaning out of Irene’s words and her tone.
    â€œI don’t think there’s much chance it’s a trap,” Hannibal said. “She sounds spooked and angry. This might turn out to be easier than I