TRUSTED LIKE THE FOX

chapter 3

I arrived at the bar a few minutes before midnight. The bar was very long and somewhat crowded. The lights were soft, and the carpet was very thick and springy to the feet. I went over to the barman, ordered two bottles of scotch, and paid.

"Can I get you anything else, sir?" he said.

"Not really, but you would do well to hustle up this, babe Delphina. I got one or two words for her." I said, trying to act casual.

I looked around for an empty table and went over to sit.

Delphina Hudson came from behind the curtained door. When she saw me, her face hardened. She walked over to my table, moving lightly and gracefully.

She was a good-looking babe with curves in the right place and thick, long red hair. "Oh, it's you," she said disdainfully as she pulled the chair and sat down. "What do you want?"

"My name is Carlos."  I lied because the police are still looking for me using my real name, so I wasn't talking any chances.

"I have been making inquiries about you, Miss Hudson."  I said, trying to sound casual, "I hear you are quite a character."

She didn't say anything but waited and wondered just how much I had found out about her.

"You have brains, they say, and you're not overhonest. You're a reckless character, miss Hudson, but you have courage and nerve, and you're tough." I looked at her and smiled.

She still didn't say anything, so I continued.

"They tell me that you have been in San Luis Beach for eighteen months. Before that, you worked for the Central Bonding Agency in New York as one of their detectives. A detective who works for a bonding company has excellent opportunities for blackmail. Perhaps that was why they asked you to resign.

"Some months later, you decided to set up on your own as a private investigator. You obtained a license from the state attorney on a forged affidavit of a character, and you came to Venezuela because it was a wealthy country, and the competition was negligible. You specialized in divorce work, and for a time, you prospered. But there are also opportunities for blackmail, so I understand. Someone complained to the police and there was an investigation. But you are very tricky, and a fluent lier miss Hudson, and you kept out of serious trouble. Now the police want to run you out of town. They are making things difficult for you. They have revoked your license, and to all intents and purposes, they have put you out of business. At least, that's what they think, but you and I know better."

I leaned forward, lifted the glass, and swallowed the last Scotch, she still didn't care to say anything.

"Although you are still trying to operate as a private investigator, you can't advertise nor can you put your name on the door. The police are watching you, and if they find you are still taking commissions, they'll prosecute you. Up to now, although you have passed the word around amongst your friends that you will accept a client without asking questions, no one has hired you, and you're down to your last nickel. That's why you decided to work in this dump just to rise a few bucks and move to another country. Am I right, Miss Hudson?"

"Yeah, you are right." she said and eased herself further back in the chair.

She became curious. But there was a lot more to her than being curious. Her little green eyes warned me she was geared for quick thinking. Although she had a small slender body, she was immensely strong, and I had a feeling that if ever she got her hands around my throat, she could squeeze blood out of my ears.

"Don't waste your talent in this dump of a bar, Miss Hudson," I said. "I have a job for you."

We looked at each other. There was a pause long enough for you to walk down the passage and back.