Double Trouble (Dev Haskell - Private Investigator Book 10) Read Online Free PDF Page A

took another giant gulp of wine. She was curled into the corner of her living room couch. She’d kicked her heels off at the door, tossed her earrings on the coffee table and had begun to unwind.
    “Well, thanks for passing my name on. I don’t even know what the guy does,” I said and fished out his business card from my coat pocket. There were actually two cards in there, the one from Royal Baker and another from Andy. I didn’t recall Andy ever giving me a card. Royal Baker’s listed him as President and CEO of Tri-Cort Services, Limited.
    “What the hell does Tri-Cort Services stand for?”
    “I’m not exactly sure, it’s some sort of internet subscription service.”
    “You mean like a newspaper?”
    “No, they’re into more of a security sort of thing.”
    “Like guys in parking lots?”
    “Yeah, that’s what they do, Dev, they collect parking fees in parking lots. No, it’s more like online security. He has a bunch of different web sites, I guess the things are all over the world, very successful. Anyway, it lets you conduct business anonymously or something.”
    “What are you trying to do with him?”
    “The company is sitting on a pile of cash. They had a huge increase in cash balance in the first quarter versus fourth quarter last year, something like twenty-five percent of revenue. I’ve got some ideas on making that work and beating the tax man at the same time.”
    Before my eyes glazed over I asked, “Is he going to go for it?”
    “Well, he hasn’t said no, yet. But I’d kill for the response you got tonight.”
    “Your work might be just a little more involved. He probably just wants me to make sure everyone has a current driver’s license. He must be interested, Heidi, he spent a good part of the night talking to you. Well, unless he’s making a play?”
    “A play, for me? No, don’t be stupid.”
    “It’s a logical question, but if he’s not then wouldn’t it stand to reason that he’s interested in what you have to say, maybe listen to your opinion?”
    “I suppose,” she said and took a sip. I could see she was thinking.
    “Were you talking mostly business, your usual finance and investment shit?”
    “Yeah, we talked all business from that standpoint.”
    “And you talked to him for what, an hour? Longer?”
    “I suppose.”
    “I’d say you just had your first appointment, it wasn’t in his office, but he was sounding you out, and you were probably doing the same to him.”
    Heidi raised her near empty glass and smiled. “I think a refill is in order and I could use a back rub,” she said.
    I gave her a look.
    “Oh, God, just do it and things are likely to go your way,” she said then took a healthy sip.
    I called Royal Baker the following morning about half past ten. Heidi was still asleep with a smile on her face. I was at her kitchen counter on my second cup of coffee.
    “And who may I say is calling?” the receptionist said.
    “My name is Dev Haskell, I met with Mr. Baker last night and he asked me to call him today.”
    “One moment please.”
    Some sort of highbrow symphony music flooded over the line for a couple of minutes. Then the receptionist came back on and said, “Thank you for waiting, I’ll connect you now.”
    There were a couple of clicks and then a woman answered. “Mr. Baker’s office.”
    “My name is Dev Haskell. I’m calling for Mr. Baker.”
    “Mr. Baker is in a meeting right now, he wondered if you could meet him this afternoon at 1:30.”
    “I can do that.”
    “I’m putting you on his schedule, Mr. Haskell. My name is Marilynn. I’ll alert the security desk that you’ll be arriving early this afternoon. When you arrive, if you would please have them contact me I’ll escort you up to our office once you’ve received your visitor’s badge.”
    “I’ll see you this afternoon.”
    “Please be on time,” she said and hung up.
    I suppose I could have made breakfast, gotten dressed, and gone to my office or maybe