Deadly Quicksilver Lies



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52

A couple of regulars actually lifted welcoming paws when I
drifted into Morley’s place. The attitude didn’t infect
management, though. Puddle scowled like he was trying to remember
where he put that damned rat poison.

Morley was in a good mood, though. He bounced downstairs as my
tea arrived.

I said, “I know that look. You just won big on the water
spider races. Or somebody’s wife tripped and you ravished her
before she could get up.”

He showed me a mouth like a shark’s. “I gather
you’re doing some ravishing yourself.”

“What?”

“You were seen with a stunning blonde in a place way out
of your class.”

“Guilty. How’d you know?”

“You won’t like the answer.”

“Yeah? Hit me with the bad news. I’m
overdue.”

“A couple came in late last night. Slumming. He was mister
Flashy. She was Rose Tate. She’d seen you earlier.”

“Bet she had her nasty smile on.” Rose Tate was the
cousin of my lapsed girlfriend, Tinnie Tate. And Rose had a
grudge.

“She did. You’re going to star in some interesting
girl talk.”

“No doubt. But Tinnie knows Rose. Rose mention who else I
was with?”

“You running a string?”

“Chaz brought her dad.” I told the tale, then asked,
“You ever seen Blaine?”

“No. Why?”

“Wondering about ringers again.”

“You think Chastity is jobbing you, too?”

“It’s paranoia time, Morley. My world has stopped
making sense.”

“When you’re well paid, sense needn’t enter
the equation. Right?”

“But it helps.”

“You’re concerned about coincidence.”

“What are the chances Chaz would work the same place as a
thief that robbed her father?”

“What are the odds you’d get thrown in there where
you could meet her? A lot longer, I’d say.”

“How come?”

“Where would a female doctor have the best chance of
getting started? Where would the imperials set Cleaver up if they
wanted to put him into TunFaire?”

“You figure he’s into something with
them?”

“My guess is they think they are, but he’s only
using them so he can slide in and out of town without being noticed
by people he used to know. You’ll recall he meant nothing to
Chastity at first.”

“And her father?”

“You’ll have to do your homework there.”

“I’ve started. His place was cleaned out. It was one
of the big jobs of the time. He only got back to town day before
yesterday.”

“After this started.”

“And he’s been away for years. Only came home for a
few days each winter.” Winter is the slack season in the war
zone.

Morley looked at me hard, shook his head. “Your real
problem is common sense is nagging you.”

“What?”

“You can’t let this thing alone. You have to keep
picking at it. You set yourself up so you’d find an excuse.
Now that you’ve done that common sense wants to make a
comeback. Forget the Rainmaker, Garrett.”

I jacked one eyebrow way, way up. “Oh?” Did he have
a private line on Cleaver?

“He’s on a traveling bullseye now, Garrett. Not
mine. You get too close you could get hit by the volley that gets
him.” He gestured as though to push me away. “Go.
I’ll find out what I can about your lady’s
father.”



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