Tek Net Read Free Page B

extremely upset when you phoned to inform me that Jill may’ve been kidnapped tonight, Cardigan,” Illsworth said in his small, high-pitched voice. “Particularly if it might have something to do with information that I supplied her.”
    Jake asked, “Would she come here to your place?”
    â€œYes, frequently. I consider her, truly, a dear friend as well as a valued client,” answered the fat man. “Jill, of course, always remained out there where you are.”
    â€œWhen did you talk to her last?”
    â€œShe dropped down here just yesterday afternoon to discuss some of the new material I’d unearthed relating to Sonny Hokori and his Tek activities. By the way, I’d very much like to interview you someday soon, Cardigan, about how the late Sonny attempted to destroy you and frame—”
    â€œLet’s get back to Jill,” cut in Jake as he stood up and moved close to the giant image on the wall. “Did she mention being worried or talk about something she’d discovered in the course of her digging into the history of the Hokori Tek operations?”
    Illsworth shook his massive head. “No, there was nothing like that, Cardigan,” he answered. “She did seem a bit depressed, but …”
    â€œWell, what?”
    â€œOh, it occurs to me that Jill did make a rather odd remark yesterday,” said the fat man. “She and I were, as I’ve explained, dear buddies and sometimes we’d just talk about our personal lives and problems.”
    â€œShe was seeing somebody?”
    The researcher’s immense body quivered when he sighed. “You know, then, about her unfortunate habit?”
    â€œShe tends to sleep around, yeah.”
    â€œCan’t help it really.” Illsworth sighed once more. “At any rate—Jill made this remark. She said something along the lines of, ‘Maybe I didn’t need you after all, Merv dear. I’ve just now found out I’ve been involved with somebody who knows more about this whole damn business than you do.’”
    â€œWho would that be?”
    â€œI really haven’t even a vague idea.”
    â€œDidn’t she confide the names of her boyfriends?”
    â€œNot actually, no. She’d simply say, ‘I saw the professor again last night,’ or, ‘I think it’s time to drop the artist.’”
    â€œAre those actual designations—there really was a professor and an artist?”
    Illsworth gave a jiggling affirmative nod. “Yes, but I believe she did jettison the artist, whoever the devil he is, over three weeks ago,” he piped. “The professor, she was still seeing on the sly.”
    â€œYou don’t know which of these guys has a possible Tek link?”
    â€œNo, I don’t,” he said apologetically. “With most of the research I do, while it’s not always orthodox and strictly kosher, I try not to do anything that’ll annoy active crooks and criminals. However, if Jill continues missing—well, I intend to do some very intrusive digging.”
    â€œYou come up with anything, contact me at the Cosmos Detective Agency,” requested Jake.
    â€œI will,” promised the fat man. “You don’t, do you, suspect that the poor dear might already be dead?”
    â€œThat’s just one,” answered Jake, “of several unpleasant possibilities.”

4
    The huge litesign that floated above the bright-lit pastel blue dome-restaurant proclaimed: The Kafeteria Welcomes the Friends of the Starvation Center!
    Gomez went striding up the wide, slanting pastel pink ramp to the high arched entryway of the huge Altadena Sector restaurant.
    Just inside the large crowded lobby a beautiful blonde young woman in a skin-tone sinsilk gown beckoned to him. “Where the bloody hell do you think you’re going, Pancho?” she inquired in a throaty voice.
    â€œBeg