“That was exactly my read. Well, to make a long story short, since the guy said he was going to be around awhile, I thought it probable that he was renting someplace hereabouts, instead of sacking out at a hotel. That gets to be expensive after a while, especially if you’re living scam to scam.”
“And you want to know if I can find out where he might be staying?”
“Exactly. I wouldn’t ask it if it weren’t real important. With things like this I’m never too careful. I want to know who I’m dealing with in case he shows up again.”
“Of course, of course.” Pemberton let out a shallow breath and sipped at his tea. “I’ll certainly look into it for you. My sympathies lie with you and Ms. Savage.”
“And we will be very grateful for any assistance you can give us. I’ve mentioned several of the other charities you head up to Ms. Savage and she spoke very positively about all of them and your work with them.”
Pemberton was glowing now. “Why don’t you give me a description of the man? I have the morning free and I can start my own little investigation. If he’s within fifty miles of here, with my connections, I’m certain I can find him.”
Charlie described the man, laid some cash on the table for the meal, and stood up. “We really appreciate it, John.”
Chapter twenty-nine
Thomas Donovan scanned the city streets for a parking spot. Georgetown was not known for its abundance of places to leave one’s vehicle. He was driving a new rental car, a late model Chrysler. He turned right from M Street onto Wisconsin Avenue, and finally managed to snag a spot on a side street not too far from where he was heading. A light rain began to fall as he walked down the street. The quiet area he soon found himself in harbored an elite neighborhood of towering brick and clapboard residences which were home to high-ranking businessmen and political types. He eyed some of the homes as he walked along. In the lights visible through intricately designed windows Donovan could make out well-dressed owners settling down in front of warm fires, coddling drinks and exchanging light kisses as they went through their rituals of relaxation after another day of perhaps changing the world, or merely adding to their already hefty investment portfolios.
So much wealth and power rested in this area that an energy seemed to wash up from the brick sidewalks and hurtle Donovan along at a furious clip. Money and power had never been overriding ambitions of his. Despite that, his occupation often placed him in close proximity to those who held the attainment of one or both of these prizes above all else. It was a wonderful position from which to play the altruistic cynic and Donovan often played that role to the fullest for the simple reason that he genuinely believed in what he did for a living. The irony of this was not lost on him. For without the rich and powerful and their evil ways, at whom would he throw his sharp-edged stones?
Donovan finally stopped at one formidable residence: a one-hundred-year-old three-story brick townhouse sitting behind a waist-high brick wall topped by black steel wrought-iron fencing of a style found throughout the area. He inserted a key into the gate’s lock and went up the sidewalk. Another key allowed him entry through the massive wooden front door and he shook off his coat.
The housekeeper appeared immediately and took the wet coat from him. She wore a traditional maid’s uniform and spoke with a practiced degree of deference.
“I’ll tell the missus you’re here, Mr. Donovan.”
He nodded quickly and moved past her into the drawing room where he took a moment to warm himself before the blazing fire and then looked around with contentment. His upbringing had been decidedly blue collar but he did not attempt to hide his pleasure at occasionally dabbling in luxury. It was an incongruity in his nature that had bothered him greatly in his youth, but much less so now. Some things did become better as one aged, he mused, including layers of personal guilt that one ended up shedding like peeling an onion.
By the time he had mixed himself a drink from the stock housed behind a cabinet in one corner of the drawing room, the woman had appeared.
She moved quickly to him and gave him a deep kiss. He took her hand and caressed it lightly.
“I missed you,” she said.
He led her over to the large sofa against one wall. Their knees touched as they sat close together.
Alicia Crane was petite, in her mid-thirties, with long hair that was looking more ash than blond with each passing day. Her dress was costly and the jewelry clinging to her wrists and ears easily matched the richness of the garment; however, the image was one of quiet wealth and sophistication. Her features were delicate, the nose so small as to be barely noticeable between the deep luster of the dark brown eyes. While she was not a traditional beauty, her obvious wealth and refinement had inspired a certain look that was pleasant enough. On her best days she would be described as very well put together.
Her cheek trembled slightly as he stroked it.
“I missed you too, Alicia. A lot.”
“I don’t like it when you have to be away.” Her voice was cultured and dignified, its cadence slow and exact. It was a voice seemingly too formal for a relatively young woman.
“Well, it’s part of the job.” He smiled at her. “But you’re making that job a lot more difficult to do.” He was attracted to Alicia Crane. While not the brightest star in the universe, she was a good person, without the pretenses and airs that her level of wealth usually stamped on its possessors.
With a start, she stared. “Why in the world did you shave off your beard?”
Donovan rubbed his hand across the smooth skin. “Change of pace,” he said quickly. “You know men go through their own form of menopause. I think it took about ten years off the mug. What do you think?”
“I think you’re just as handsome without it as you were with it. In fact, you remind me a little of Father. When he was a younger man, of course.”
“Thanks for lying to an old man.” He smiled. “But being compared to him, well that’s high praise.”
“I can have Maggie put on some supper. You must be starved.” She gripped his hand with both of hers.
“Thank you, Alicia. And maybe a hot bath after that.”
“Of course, the rain is so chilling this time of year.” She hesitated for a moment. “Will you have to leave again soon? I was thinking we could go down to the islands. It’s so beautiful this time of year.”
“That sounds wonderful, but I’m afraid it’ll have to keep. I have to leave tomorrow.”
Her disappointment shone through on her face before her gaze dropped. “Oh, I see.”
He tucked one hand under her chin and stared into her eyes. “Alicia, I had a breakthrough today. A breakthrough that I wasn’t sure would happen. It was a risk on my part, but sometimes you have to take risks if you want the payoff.” He remembered from that morning, the haunted look in LuAnn Tyler’s eyes. “All that sniffing around, never sure if anything’s going to turn up. But that’s all part of the game.”
“That’s wonderful, Thomas, I’m so happy for you. But I hope you didn’t place yourself in personal danger. I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you.”
He sat back as he contemplated his daredevil morning. “I can take care of myself. But I don’t take unnecessary risks. I leave that for the kiddies coming up.” His voice was calming.
He glanced over at her; the look on her face was that of a child listening to her favorite hero recount a past adventure. Donovan finished his drink. A hero. He liked the feeling. Who wouldn’t? Who didn’t need that kind of unadulterated admiration every now and then? He smiled deeply and gripped Alicia’s small hand in his.