"John E. Stith - All for Naught" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stith John E)

out a big loan, buy a gun, take out insurance? Anything at all
out of the ordinary that you know about?"
"Nothing. It's just been business as usual." She
hesitated. "His wife is in the hospital, but I really don't see
how that would relate to Ed being kidnapped--or to anyone coming
after me."
"Anything else you can think of?"
"No, nothing. I put some of the things you might need in
this envelope. His home address, things like that. And I wrote
down descriptions of the two guys. Will you help?"
Nick sighed softly, not asking any of the questions he most
wanted to ask. "Yeah. I've got a friend down at K-S-M-Y. Maybe
he knows something that can get me started. I'll call him as
soon as we're done talking."
Annette nodded. She seemed to have a hard time meeting
Nick's gaze now. She glanced at the wall poster. "It looks so
peaceful."
"Yes, it does. Which reminds me. My fee is a thousand a
day, plus expenses. How about if you give me a retainer for a
couple of days?"
Annette nodded again. She pulled out a credit card.
Nick took a charge card setup from a desk drawer. As he ran
his company card and her card through, the machine spit his card
across the room, where it landed in an in-box placed there to
catch it. Nick walked over and retrieved the card. He handed
her a receipt. "You still save your carbons?"
"Yes, please."
Nick started tearing out the little sheets of carbon paper.
There must have been nearly twenty of them in the stack. Annette
put them in a small card file she kept in her purse.
 She managed to give him a level gaze. "Thanks, Nick."
"Where can I reach you?"
"You can't. I'm not about to go home now. I'll find a
hotel and call you later."
Nick nodded. Annette rose and walked to the door. As she
closed the door behind her, Nick looked up and sighed.
He shook his head, as if doing that would clear away the old
thoughts, then picked up the phone. He dialed a long number.
"Thank you for using AT&T," said a voice on the line.
Then, "Thank you for using Sprint."
"Thank you for using MCI."
"Thank you for using U.S. West."
"I'm sorry. Your call cannot be completed. Please check
the number and dial again."
"It must be some problem with AT&T."
"Correction. It must be some problem with Sprint.
Nick slapped his forehead. He felt tired. He put the
receiver down, and tried again.
"Thank you for using AT&T."
"Thank you for using Sprint."