The Legend of Joe Moran

Chapter 2

The lunch with Audrey Moran was delightful. Besides being beautiful she was bright and witty. She and Stuart discussed her marriage, but Stu could find nothing that would cause her husband to vanish. He learned they'd been married three years, had two Pekinese terriers named Emily and David, played bridge on Thursday nights and supported two different charities. She drank Rusty Nails and Martinis, worked out regularly and loved the ocean. When they were finished they walked back to Stu's office and she took his hand in hers. "It was lovely to meet you, Stuart. Please stay in touch. I want to know everything you find out."

He withdrew his hand slowly. "I will, Audrey. Good, bad or indifferent."

Less than five minutes after she'd left, the door between their offices opened and Jeff walked in and sat down. "Potential client?"

"Yes."

"I saw her. Yes is all you have to say?" Stu shook his head and lit a cigarette, offering one to Jeff, who accepted. Stu handed him the lighter. Once Jeff's was lit he stared at his partner, who was uncharacteristically quiet. "Stu?"

"Uh, yes. Yes is all I have to say." How could he convey the trepidation he felt to Jeff without sounding, quite frankly . . . daft.

Jeff shrugged his shoulders. If that was all Stu had to say, it was all he had to say. "What does she want you to do?"

"Find her husband."

"She's got a husband and he left that?" From the look of Audrey Moran, that seemed like the most ridiculous thing Jeff had heard in a while.

"Vanished, to use her phrase." Stu removed the cigarette from his lips and blew out a ring of smoke. "Something's odd about this whole thing, Jeff."

"Why do you say that?" Stu wasn't given to making pronouncements like that without a myriad of facts to back up his feelings.

Once again Stu hesitated to explain what he was thinking. "I don't know. It just is."

"You feeling alright?" Jeff wondered if maybe Stu had come back to work too soon. He knew his partner well, though, and if Stu Bailey had been restricted to his apartment much longer he might have committed murder.

"Feeling fine. It has nothing to do with . . . shoot, she made the hair on the back of my neck stand up."

That was a potentially severe reaction. "Did you take the case?"

Stu pulled Audrey's check out of his desk drawer and handed it to Jeff. Jeff whistled. "I guess you did. What does Mrs. Moran want?"

"She wants me to find Mr. Moran."

Jeff smiled. Audrey Moran was quite a looker, and he couldn't imagine anyone disappearing on her. "Need any help?"

Stu finally laughed. "You would ask. What did Mr. Higgins want?"

Jeff shrugged again. "Nothing exciting. Another bread-and-butter case that pays the rent. Potential insurance fraud with a jewelry store robbery. It will wait if you need me."

"Let me see how it goes. I'll be out of the office the rest of the afternoon. But I'll call in if you've got anything that won't wait until tonight."

"Nope. Paperwork is the order of business until Higgins gets me the data. Are we still on for dinner?" Jeff and Stu had a standing agreement that if neither one had a date, they'd meet at Dino's at seven o'clock to go over the days business.

Stu nodded. One of the things that he loved about Jeff was his resilience to bounce back from anything. "Unless something I can't control comes up."

"Like Audrey Moran?" Jeff almost giggled.

"Strictly a client, Jefferson."

We'll see how long that lasts, Jeff thought. "Okay, Stuart."

Stu wadded up a piece of paper and threw it at Jeff. His partner was laughing as he returned to his office.

XXXXXXXX

After Kookie brought Stu his convertible, Bailey headed for Zippy Dry-Cleaning on LaCienega. It was easy enough to find; it occupied almost an entire block. Stu parked and stood in the parking lot for just a minute, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine. He needed to get out and play some golf. Tennis was still too difficult, given that his right wrist had deflected a bullet some two months back. But on a day like today he'd enjoy nothing as much as being on a golf course. Any golf course. He sighed and headed for the front door.

A cute little blonde thing sat at the receptionist's desk. "Can I help you, sir?"

Stu handed her his business card. "Stu Bailey to see Harry LaMar."

"Just a moment, Mr. Bailey. I'll tell Mr. LaMar you're here."

Less than a minute later the blonde looked up and smiled. "Go on back, Mr. Bailey. Have you been here before?"

"No, I haven't."

Once again he got the smile. She pointed at the door to her right. "Take this door all the way down the hall and turn right at the third office. That's Mr. LaMar's."

"Thank you."

He did as instructed and turned right at the third door. The sound of the dry-cleaning machines could be heard everywhere. A middle-aged man with little hair and a pair of glasses looked up. Then he stood and extended his hand. "Mr. Bailey, I'm Harry LaMar. Mrs. Moran told me you would come to see us." They shook hands and Stu sat down. LaMar did the same. "Tell me how I can help you."

"Tell me about last Wednesday morning, Mr. LaMar."

"Harry, please. That's what everyone calls me. I came in early, as usual, and Mr. Moran got here about nine-thirty. Dave Debauchery said he saw Mr. Moran and everything seemed normal. Dave's our plant manager. Mr. Moran stuck his head in here and said hello, and that was the last I saw of him."

"He didn't say anything to you when he left?"

LaMar shook his head. "I didn't even know he was gone, Mr. Bailey. I thought he was still in his office. I was supposed to have lunch with him to go over the quarterly reports and I was just as surprised as the next man when Mallory told me he was gone."

"Mallory is the receptionist?"

"Yes, sir. You'll want to talk to both her and Dave. They can give you more information."

Stu pulled out a cigarette and his lighter. "Do you mind if I smoke?"

"Go right ahead."

The P.I. lit his cigarette before asking, "What kind of a boss was Moran?"

Harry looked pleased. "Just the best. Mr. Moran was the kind of man that we all hope to work for. Generous to a fault, he gave good raises, bonuses at Christmas, birthday parties, a Christmas party, and if there was anything you needed, Mr. Moran would give it to you if he could. He was always pleasant and easy to get along with."

"And Mrs. Moran?" That was a loaded question, and Stu knew it. But he needed somebody's opinion besides his own.

"She's the sweetest lady. And you could see how much they loved each other. I don't think you'll find a single soul who would have a bad word to say about her."

Stu finished his cigarette and stood. "Thanks for your help, Harry."

"Anything else you need, Mr. Bailey, just let me know." They shook hands and Stu left, wending his way back up the hall. He stopped at the receptionist's desk again.

"Mallory?"

"Yes, sir."

"What can you tell me about last Wednesday?"

She gave him that smile again. "Wait just a moment, Mr. Bailey. I'll get my backup here and we can talk in the break room." Mallory made a phone call and in just a minute a petite brunette took over the desk. "Follow me, please," and she led the way in another door and down another hallway. The break room didn't look like anything Stu had ever seen. Colorful walls with Zippy Dry-Cleaning posters hung around the room, there were two full-size refrigerators, an oven, a sink, and individual wall lockers. The chairs were cushioned and the room was spotless. "Have a seat, Mr. Bailey."

Stu complied. He had the feeling this was going to be an interesting interview.