Til Debt Do Us Part

Chapter 7

Rodney stared at the woman who opened the door, peering over her shoulder to see inside. What he saw had him pushing her aside and striding to the inert form of Humphrey Borden.

"What happened here? Who are you?"

"I'm Lillian Patton and I might ask you the same thing." Rodney's size and glasses didn't intimidate her one bit.

"Did you call an ambulance?"

"I-- uh-- no-- I called Per-- Mr. Rudman . . ."

Rodney went straight to the phone and had the desk clerk call for an ambulance immediately. He turned back and looked at Lillian.

"So what happened?"

"He was like that when I arrived." She moved to a chair a decent distance from Humphrey's slumped form. "You never told me who you are."

"I work for Humphrey. I was looking for your husband."

"That's why I'm here! Did you find him? Where is he? Humphrey said you were bringing him here." She tried to avoid another look at their host.

'He managed to slip away just as I was ready to pick him up." Rodney removed his shades and bent down to the room bar. "Care for something while we wait?"

"Wait! I'm not waiting. I don't want anything to do with-- with . . ." She waved a tentative hand.

Another knock at the door and Rodney went to open it. "Paramedics," he said.

Another impatient knock and Percy nearly fell into the room as the door opened.

"What th-- who the hell are you? Lillian? What's going on here?"

A big hand settled with authority on Percy's shoulder and he tilted under the pressure.

"Suppose you tell me just who you are." Rodney' base reverberated in Percy's ear.

Before Percy could reply the paramedics shoved into the room with their gurney, issuing commands and asking questions. Humphrey was examined and found to be still breathing. They plopped him on the gurney, hooked him up to an oxygen tank and left as quickly as they arrived.

"He'll be at the Polyclinic Hospital."

Percy moved behind Lillian and then demanded an explanation from Rodney.

"Just who the hell are you?"

"I'm a professional skip tracer. I work for Mr. Borden and my name is Rodney Riddler."

"Oh, that's a nice na--"

"Be quiet, Lillian. You the guy he has looking for Patton? Did you find him?"

"I did but he slipped away."

"Slipped away! From you? He's nearly sixty for Pete's sake!"

"He's only fifty-seven, Percy." Lillian ruffled.

"He was in a car. I was on foot and while we're at this, just who the hell are you?"

"I'm Borden's employer and by extension I am now yours so get out there and find Patton. There is less than two days now before the whole thing is academic." Percy tugged at his lapels and glared at Rodney.

"Do you think Humphrey will be alright?" Lillian asked after Rodney left.

"Forget Humphrey, you called me on my private line, Lillian."

"Yes I know. You told me to always--"

"You gave my private number to a hotel desk clerk."

"Well all calls have to go through the hotel switchboard, Percy. I don't see--"