Birth Marks Read Online Free PDF

few questions.’
    â€˜I’m busy.’
    â€˜So I’ll wait.’
    â€˜Look, I don’t know who you are, but…’ He was standing with his back to the wall, a group of prepubescent girls on one side jostling him for autographs. You could see this was not a conversation he wanted to be having, but I was blocking his path, and ruining his image. He sighed. ‘All right.’
    The dressing-room, which belonged to him and a few other cats, was cramped and heavy with the scent of bodies and aftershave. Under the bank of wall lights the eyes beneath the wonderful eyelashes looked just a touch bloodshot. Not serious enough to mar the beauty though, which was a pleasure to look at. Evidently he thought so too. As I settled myself his gaze went past me into the mirror behind my head. He flicked a lock of hair back into position, a casual gesture, born as much out of habit as vanity. Who knows, if I was that gorgeous maybe I’d do the same thing. Even without being told you kind of knew that this was probably not the type of man to take advantage of the women he danced with.
    â€˜I knew you weren’t her long-lost friend the minute I saw you,’ he said, handing me back my card. ‘So who’s paying your wages?’
    â€˜Her name is Augusta Patrick, she’s Carolyn’s guardian.’
    â€˜Of course, the old bat herself. What happened, did Carrie forget her monthly postcard?’
    â€˜Why, did you used to help her write them?’
    He raised an eyebrow. ‘Well, a regular Samantha Spade, I see. Far be it from me to teach a private dick how to suck eggs, but if you’re planning this to be a conversation—you know, as in between two people—I’d recommend a slightly softer approach.’
    â€˜Augusta Patrick hasn’t heard from her for almost two months. She’s worried.’
    â€˜Shame.’
    â€˜She thought her friends might be able to help.’
    â€˜Correction. You thought her friends might be able to help. Well, you’re out of luck, aren’t you?’
    It’s one of the important things about this game, knowing when you’re beaten. ‘Listen, I’ve got an idea. Why don’t I go out the door and we’ll start this whole thing again, right? I’ll come in, ask for your autograph, tell you what a fabulous dancer you are and then beg you to put aside your dazzling future for a few moments to dredge up memories of a less than glorious past.’ I paused and watched as a ghost of a smile appeared, flashed itself into the mirror behind me and then settled, waiting for more. ‘I’ve been to her flat. No one’s seen her for months. She hasn’t been in touch with any of her family and the Pink Vision at Cherubim couldn’t care less if she’d fallen under a tube at Warren Street station. Which means as of now you are the only one who seems to have spoken more than six words to her. And even that’s a hunch. So. Will you help me?’
    He pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and spent some time lighting one. People always have a little ritual to get them started. It struck me that the best dancers probably didn’t smoke, but presumably he knew that.
    â€˜Maybe she doesn’t want to be found. You thought of that?’
    â€˜I’ve thought of it. Yes.’
    He shrugged his shoulders. ‘Or maybe she’s having so much fun she just forgot to write.’
    â€˜But you don’t believe that.’
    â€˜Listen, all I know is that she went and didn’t leave a forwarding address.’
    â€˜But you did know her?’
    â€˜Yeah, we hung around a bit. Partners in adversity.’
    â€˜What kind of adversity?’
    He laughed, ‘Come on, you’ve seen Cherubim. Nobody works there unless they have to.’
    â€˜I don’t understand. Miss Patrick told me that she could have any job she wanted.’
    â€˜Yeah, well, she would,