"P. N. Elrod - Vampire Files 08 - The Dark Sleep" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elrod P N)

"Are you out of your mind accepting a case without knowing the whole story?" I asked, running a hand
over my beard stubble as I leaned toward the mouthpiece of the kitchen phone.

"Miss Sommerfeld's within her rights, Jack," he said lightly. "And it's not as murky as you think. I happen
to have more background on her than you do."

The background being that she was an heiress to a fortune in saltine crackers. No, really. McCallen had
been a foreman in one of the factories or plants or bakeries or whatever it is you call a place that makes
crackers. He'd been romantically linked with Mary for a couple of months, until her parents in Michigan
heard what was going on and packed her off to Europe. A little hobnobbing with other rich kids in the
south of France had done the trick. Mary found herself accepting a marriage proposal from some minor
prince and returned home in triumph.

"It is my opinion," said Escott, "that the diamonds on her engagement ring could easily buy my house
with some considerable change left over for lavish decoration."

"So you do a good job for her and maybe she recommends you to rich friends in need?"

"That's always a possibility." He made no effort to dampen the smug satisfaction in his tone.

"What about the papers? Got any idea what they might be?"

"From her manner I'm assuming they're indiscreet love letters written to McCallen when things were still
amicable between them. She must have gotten them away from him at some point, then he thought better
of it and stole them back. Her royal engagement could go up in smoke if he decides to use them against
her."

"Where do you come by that?" I shifted from one bare foot to the other. He'd caught me just as I'd
opened my eyes for the night. I'd launched straight out of my basement lair to catch the ringing phone and
had only thin pajamas between me and any lurking draft. I don't feel the cold like I used to, but I hate
drafts.

"She's both angered by and frightened of him," he answered. "I also believe there is more than a touch of
guilt involved. You'll see for yourself when you meet her."

Which I did after catching a shower, shave, and dressing according to his suggestion. I arrived at
Escott's office ready to play muscle for him should the need arise during his negotiations. He introduced
me to Miss Sommerfeld as his assistant. She gave me a regal nod, perhaps practicing for her future life
with her prince, then insisted on coming along to supervise. Escott started to object, but bit it off. I could
almost hear him thinking about the hundred she'd dropped on the desk. With that kind of money
involved, the customer is always right.

Earlier that day he'd worked out a money deal with Miss Sommerfeld and arranged a meeting with
McCallen by telling him he would hear something to his advantage. The idea was simply to buy the
envelope and contents back from him. If McCallen decided to be cooperative, all was well and good,
and we could close and tie it up in a bow tonight; if not, then Escott would have to get sneaky and really
put me to work.
 Knowing a thing or two about human nature, I figured McCallen to be a blackmailer. All he had to do
was sell what he had to any of the more jaundiced tabloids and he'd not only rake in a pile of dough for