Easy Money

PROPOSITIONED

"Name's Donald."

Kyle scrunched up his face and looked up from the West Hollywood Park bench where he'd been sleeping. The old codger towered over him but looked harmless enough. "Am I supposed to know you?"

"Nope. But I know you. I've got a proposition for you."

"Look. Let's cut to the chase. I don't do guys. I do chicks. I dig women."

"That's rich. Me too. You give me a moment of your time and I'll tell you how you can make some easy money."

"Buy me breakfast?"

"Breakfast?" Donald said, looking at his watch. "How about a late lunch."

Kyle wouldn't let Donald say a word until he'd almost finished. Donald didn't seem to mind, fascinated by the way Kyle inhaled his grits and eggs.

"When's the last time you ate son?" Donald asked.

"Can't," he chomped. "Remember."

"Is that why you're such a runt?"

"Okay. You talk. Tell me about the easy money."

"Did you ever hear of Francis Evans?"

"No. Is it in important?"

"More important that you haven't then that you have."

"So, who is he?"

"Used to be a big shot lawyer. Thanks to him a lot of bad guys walked.

"And now?"

"Rich, perverted and ancient."

"Too a lot of girls that sounds like Mr. Right."

"Women are not his problem — an heir is. Seems he misplaced his only daughter and granddaughter. Everyone else is dead."

"Careless of him."

"It's the granddaughter he's after. Mercedes."

"You seem to know a lot."

"I should. I'm a private detective. One of many hired by his man to find the girl. I find her I get a tidy little nest egg to see me through my Golden Years. The girl gets the mansion, the Rolls and the cash."

"Lucky girl. Do you mind if I smoke?"

"Not at all."

Kyle was surprised. The guy was a born yarn spinner. "What makes you think you'll find her?"

"A couple of things. I'm the best. I got to the mother just before she croaked. Natural causes, if you call drowning yourself in the bottle natural. She talked lots. I got letters, photographs, and personal effects. I know more about the father, mother and daughter than anyone living."

"Thanks for the breakfast." Kyle said with a burp.

"What's your hurry?"

"A smart codger like you must already know where the girl is."

"I do. She's dead, freak traffic accident."

"Too bad."

"Here's the last picture her mother had of her, about two years ago."

It was a nice picture. Mercedes had been good looking, blonde, blue eyed and a waif.

"Not my type."

"Look again."

There was something about her face he didn't care for. She looked tough but he could see she was one of the walking wounded. He hated suckers.

"Seem familiar?"

There was something creepy about her. "Yeah. I've see her before, but where?"

"How about in the mirror this morning?"

"What?"

"You two could be fraternal twins. A little help — nothing you can't undo— you're identical twins."

"What's the deal?"

"I've got a little saved, enough for a grubstake. You go into hiding, get ready for your coming out party, then we spring Mercedes on Francis."

"Go on."

"I get the reward — I'm gone."

"That's all you want?"

"You're welcome to the rest with my blessings."

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"Best insurance going. Either of us talk, we both go directly to jail without passing go. Only you come out, I die there."

"I'll have to think about it."

"Don't think too long. I figure we got maybe four months before somebody else finds out she's dead. If we pull in off before that we're home free."

"How do you figure?"

"Easy. Because once you've found something you're looking for, you stop looking."

Kyle took a deep breath. "Who am I kidding. I don't have to think about it. I'm in."