The Reluctant Pinkerton Read Online Free PDF

says you’ll have dinner with us.”
    “That’s right.”
    “Would you mind meeting us at eight? At the Firehouse?”
    Roper had eaten once or twice at the Chicago Firehouse Steakhouse during his time in the city.
    “I’ll be there.”
    “Thank you.”
    Robert turned and hurried after his father’s hearse.
    Roper watched it drive away, after which the crowd dispersed and he was soon standing there alone.
    Or so he thought.

4
    The girl was small, dressed in a suit that was not as expensive as most had been. It was gray, very businesslike, with a skirt length that was more modest than modern. Hemlines were leaning toward daring these days, but this gal—while she had good legs—had not jumped on the bandwagon.
    She was standing across from him, on the other side of the steps, holding her purse in front of her and staring at him.
    At least, he thought she was staring at him. He looked around and there was no one else there, so she must have been staring at him.
    He decided to find out the easy way, by asking.
    He crossed in front of the concrete steps to her side, and she didn’t move.
    “Talbot Roper,” he said, introducing himself.
    “I know,” she said. “I recognize you.”
    “From what?”
    “I’ve seen your picture in the newspapers,” she said.
    “Then you have me at a disadvantage.”
    She had a stern look on her pretty face, and maintained it as she stuck her hand out and said, “I’m Dol.”
    “Doll?”
    “Dol Bennett. Dorothea, that is, but everyone calls me Dol. Spelled D-o-l.”
    Roper shook her hand.
    “Were you waiting here to talk to me?”
    “I was, yes,” she said, “but I admit, I didn’t know how to approach you.”
    “Well,” he said, “this’ll do, I suppose. What’s on your mind?”
    “Lunch, I guess,” she said. “I mean, I’ll buy lunch. That just seems the easiest way to talk. I mean, rather than standing here on the street…”
    He didn’t know if she was normally this chatty, or if she was nervous, but he said, “Lunch is fine. Do you know a place?”
    “I do, yes,” she said. “It’s just down the street. May I lead you there?”
    “Yes,” he said, “you may.”
    She nodded and started walking. Rather than actually allowing her to lead, he walked next to her.
    *   *   *
    The place turned out to be about four blocks away. It was very nondescript, no sign with the name above the door, just a doorway in a brick front. He would have walked right by it, never suspecting it was a café.
    “How did you ever find this place?” he asked as they stopped.
    “Allan used to take me here.”
    Allan? Before he could ask, she opened the door and entered without waiting for him to play the gentleman.
    The inside was dark and cool. Each small table had a lamp with a green shade in the center, and off to one side a mahogany bar ran the length of the room. The bartender wore a white shirt, black vest, and black bow tie. He simplynodded at them as they took a table. There were about ten tables, and only two others were taken, one by a lone man, another by a couple.
    “Did you say Allan Pinkerton showed you this place?” he asked.
    “We used to come here to talk.”
    “We’re talking about Allan Pinkerton, right?” Roper asked. “Brusque, impatient, unpleasant man?”
    She smiled and said, “I’m sorry, but that was not the Allan I knew.”
    The bartender came over and asked, “What can I get you?”
    “Brandy, please,” Dol said.
    “Beer,” Roper said.
    “Comin’ up.”
    “Dol,” Roper said, “I’ve got a lot of questions, starting with who you are and why you had a…relationship with Allan Pinkerton?”
    “First,” she said, “I’m a Pink.”
    “What?”
    “An operative.”
    “For the Pinkertons?” he asked, aware that the question was inane.
    She nodded. “Allan hired me.”
    “When?”
    “Several months ago.”
    “Have you had many assignments since then?”
    “No,” she said. “William runs the Chicago office, and he