Double Doublecross Read Online Free PDF Page A

another blind alley,’ Rick thought. ‘Maybe I should try something different.’
    â€œWell, I’d better get back to the office and see what we can dig up. Why don’t you give me a call Monday evening and we’ll take it from there. One way or another, your problem will be solved,” he said as they were getting up to leave.
    He leaned over to give her a kiss, but all he met was an offered cheek. He pecked her lightly and opened the door for her to leave. It was now raining a lot harder and was coming down in a torrent of silver streaks. Sara put up her umbrella, and told Rick she would make a dash for it as her car was only a short distance from the door.
    Rick stood there. She hadn’t even offered to escort him to his car under the shelter of her umbrella. Running toward his Lincoln, he decided it was time to discover where she lived by following her out of the parking lot.
    But Sara just sat in her car waiting for Rick to leave first. After two or three minutes, he decided to make a move. It was quite obvious she was determined to let him leave first.
    Rick was feeling irritated by this. He pulled out of the lotin a hurry, then made a right turn and merged into the traffic. He made his way quickly along the avenue for a hundred yards or so. Then he pulled into a strip mall to a spot well off the road where he could see the parking lot of the restaurant.
    Through the rain he watched her pull out and then turn left. Quickly he drove to the strip mall exit and was fortunate to have a clear road in front of him. Following her red Monte Carlo would be easy.
    She was heading toward the freeway. She signaled a right turn at the underpass, then headed south. Rick kept two or three cars behind her and the rain helped him to shadow her, offering a shimmering cover from her vision. Rick wondered where she was headed.
    After a few miles she slowed down and took an off ramp, then turned left heading east. Rick followed her at a distance, thankful that the traffic lights were showing green in his favor.
    She drove steadily for about two miles and then made a left. When Rick made the same left turn, he saw her car pass through the security gate of a fashionable apartment block. He pulled up to the gate. He knew this place well. It was the very expensive Casa Diablo condominium complex.
    These were two and three bedroom dwellings luxuriously equipped with all the expensive appliances plus access to community tennis courts, a swimming pool, spa and a gymnasium.
    He knew these places sold for at least half a million, and a rented establishment went for three thousand dollars minimum per month usually for a lease period of no less than six months.
    â€˜How could she afford this?’ Rick wondered? This was big league living quarters. Who knows, maybe the rent was too much for her, forcing her to find a cheaper place to live.
    Rick looked at his watch. It was fifteen minutes past three. Stan would be wondering what had happened to him. Turning around, he made his way back to the office, determined to find out more about Sara’s circumstances and why she had to leave her apartment at such short notice.
    Stan was waiting for Rick when he returned.
    â€œI’m glad you decided to come back. I was starting to suffer from acute malnutrition,” he said jokingly. “Do you mind if I grab a bite to eat? I haven’t had lunch yet.”
    â€œSorry about that, Stan. We got caught up in a conversation about renting apartments. Sara’s in a bit of a bind. She has to find somewhere to live for a month or two in the next seven days. There seems to be some degree of urgency. I told her we’d look around for her.”
    â€œFine,” said Stan. “We don’t have much going on so far this week. After I get back from lunch, we can do a search together, although I doubt very much if we will find anything at such short notice with a month to month lease. They’re hard to come