I had thought that Jodi Taylor might be pleased when I agreed to take the job, but she wasn't. Yet she still wanted to hire me, still wanted me to uncover the elements of her past. Since my own history was known to me, it held no fear. I thought about how I might feel if the corridor of my birth held only closed doors. Maybe, like Jodi Taylor, I would be afraid.
By the time I turned away from the water toward my office, a dark anvil of clouds had formed on the horizon and the ocean had grown to be the color of raw steel.
A storm was raging, and I thought that it might find its way to shore.
CHAPTER 2
I t was just after two when I pulled my car into the parking garage on Santa Monica Boulevard and climbed the four flights to my office there in the heart of West Hollywood. The office was empty, exactly as I had left it two hours and forty minutes ago. I had wanted to burst through the door and tell my employees that I was working for a major national television star, only I had no employees. I have a partner named Joe Pike, but he's rarely around. Even when he is, conversation is not his forte.
I took out Lucille Chenier's business card and dialed her office. A bright southern voice said, "Ms. Chenier's office. This is Darlene."
I told her who I was and asked if Ms. Chenier was available.
Darlene said, "Oh, Mr. Cole. Mr. Markowitz phoned us about you."
"There goes the element of surprise."
She said, "Ms. Chenier's in court this afternoon. May I help?"
I told her that I would be flying in tomorrow, and asked if we might set a time for me to meet with Ms. Chenier.
"Absolutely. Would three o'clock do?"
"Sounds good."
"If you like, I can book you into the Riverfront Howard Johnson. It's very nice." She sounded happy to do it.
"That would be great. Thank you."
She said, "Would you like someone to meet you at the airport? We'd be happy to send a car."
"Thanks, but I think I can manage."
"Well, you have a fine flight and we'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow." I could feel her smiling across the phone, happy to be of service, happy to help, and happy to speak with me. Maybe Louisiana was the Land of Happy People.
I said, "Darlene?"
"Yes, Mr. Cole?"
"Is this what they mean by southern hospitality?"
"Why, we're just happy to help."
I said, "Darlene, you sound the way magnolias smell."
She laughed. "Oh, Mr. Cole. Aren't you the one."
Some people just naturally make you smile.
I dialed Joe Pike's condo and got his answering machine. It answered on the first ring and Joe's voice said, "Speak." You see what I mean about the conversation?
I told him who we were working for and where I would be, and I left both Sid Markowitz's and Lucille Chenier's office numbers. Then I hung up and went out onto the little balcony I have and leaned across to look into the office next door. A woman named Cindy runs a beauty distribution outlet there, and we often meet on the balcony to talk. I wanted to tell her that I would be gone for a few days, but her office was dark. Nobody home. I went back inside and phoned my friend Patricia Kyle who works on the Paramount lot, but she was in a casting meeting and couldn't be disturbed. Great. Next I called this cop I know named Lou Poitras who works detectives out of the North Hollywood division, but he wasn't in, either. I put down the phone, leaned back in my chair, and looked around the office. The only thing moving besides me was this Pinocchio clock I've got. It has eyes that tock side-to-side and it's nice to look at because it's always smiling, but, like Pike, it isn't much when you're trying to work up a two-way conversation. I have figurines of Jiminy Cricket and Mickey Mouse, but they aren't much in the conversing department, either. My office was neat, clean, and in order. All bills were paid and all mail was answered. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of preparation necessary for my departure, and I found that depressing. Some big-time private detective. Can't even scare up a friend.
I shut the lights, locked the door, and stopped at a liquor store on the way home. I bought a six-pack of Falstaff beer from a