But he had been to Boca Raton, Florida, and Williams Beach, Virginia. He’d also visited Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Houston, Texas. But he’d been observed playing tourist in both Florida and Colorado, and actually went to several church services in both Houston and Virginia. There was nothing out of the ordinary in any of it.

Alex felt like screaming. She’d been reading for hours, without a break, and she knew she’d have to stop soon and get lunch. It was already past one o’clock.

She’d just stepped out of her office when the phone rang. With a sigh, she went back to answer it.

“Alex, it’s Jenny. Just finished faxing the last part of the report. Stuff on Perry Watson, mainly.”

“Really? What did you find on him?”

“Bank records. And some fascinating financial transactions. I’d tell you all about it, but I have a meeting in three minutes. Remember you’re buying lunch tomorrow.”

“I remember. Hurry up, and tell everyone I said hello.”

“Will do. Bye, Alex.”

Alex hung up and left, determined to get food.

She swung by the fax machine, and stepped into David’s office. He was on the phone, and could only nod at her. She mimed eating, and he nodded again. Finally, with a hand covering the mouthpiece he whispered, “I’ll meet you down there.” Alex nodded.

She got on the elevator, Jenny’s fax in her hand. She started flipping through the pages, reading bits and pieces. Her eyebrows went a little higher with each passing minute.

It seemed Perry Watson was a rich man. His back account held in excess of $70,000. Regular deposits of between ten and twenty thousand dollars occurred, the money being transferred from an overseas account. But what caught Alex’s eyes and held them was the date. The account had been opened only five months ago.

By then, Perry Watson was supposed to be dead.

With a start, Alex realized she’d missed her floor, and the elevator was on its way back up. She pushed the button for third floor again, and waited.

The doors opened at the floor she’d originally left, and David entered.

“Hey, that was fast. Did you just grab something, or did you forget your wallet?”

“Neither, I got distracted. Have a look at this. This is a record of a bank account in the name of Perry Watson.”

“Wow, looks like the man had some dough. Look at the amount of cash he’d withdraw — nearly ten grand a week.”

“Yeah, but look at this. The last withdrawal was Wednesday, February second. The last deposit went through the Friday before Dabir was killed.”

David looked up, puzzled. “I thought Perry Watson is supposed to be dead.”

“He is.”

“How could a dead man show up at a bank and withdraw money?”

“He couldn’t.”

“Great. I feel like Alice in Wonderland.”

“Why?”

“Things just keep getting curiouser and curiouser.”

*******************************************************

It was, David decided, rather frustrating.

He was trying to reach someone at the Kittredge Clothes Company who could explain their arrangements with Whitley’s Fine Clothes for Men, but no one could tell him. He’d been switched from Sales to Marketing, back to Sales, then to the Promotions department, and back to Marketing. He was getting the feeling that either the company was so disorganized that it couldn’t make any money, or someone was giving him the runaround.

Rick hadn’t seemed to have any problems getting information.

After being ‘accidentally’ hung up on for the second time, David decided there were other ways to go about this. His first call was to Rick Price.

“Rick, who did you talk to at Kittredge?”

“I talked to someone named Anne, in their Sales department. Why?”

“Because I’m getting switched from department to department, and nobody knows who I’m supposed to talk to.”

“What are you trying to find out?”

“They have a unique agreement with a store here in Baltimore, and I wanted to know more about it.”

“Oh. Well, you could use the trick I did.”

“What was that?”

“I told her I was a manager at a a men’s clothing store, and I was interested in possibly having Kittredge Clothes be represented in my store, but I wanted to first check with a few other stores to see how their products sold. She was very helpful.”

“Great. I’ll give a call back, and see if I can find Anne.”

“Let me know if I can do anything.”

David dialed the number for Kittredge again, this time determined to get an answer. When the line was picked up, he asked for Anne, in the Sales department.

“This is Anne White, can I help you?”

“Hi, Anne, a friend of mine here in Baltimore told me I should get in touch with you. His name is Charles Clymes, and he manages a store called Whitley’s Fine Clothes for Men. Do you know who I’m talking about?”

“Oh, yes. I remember Mr. Clymes. And you are?”

“Um, my name is David, uh, Jackson, and I wanted to talk to you about the agreement you have with Whitley’s. It’s rather unique, isn’t it?”

“Well, yes, I suppose it is. But it works out for both us and the store. We don’t have to worry about extra inventory, and he doesn’t have to spend any money on products that might not sell.”

“I see. I understand you have several stores that carry your products?”

“Um, yes, we do. But only Whitley’s in Baltimore.”

“What about Philadelphia?”

“Yes, we have an agreement with a store in Philadelphia, as well.”

“I see. Can you tell me how many stores carry your products?”

“Uh, well, um, I’m sorry, Mr. Jackson, I don’t seem to have that in front of me.”

“Well, can you tell me just what stores carry your line of Klaser coats?”

There was silence for a moment. When Anne spoke again, her voice sounded much friendlier.

“Mr. Jackson, you should have told me from the first that you wanted a Klaser coat. I would have transferred you right away.”

“Well, I’m not sure I do, Ms. White. At this point I just wanted to know how many places carry them.”

“Carry them? Mr. Jackson, the only way you can get a Klaser coat is to order one.”

“So, you don’t sell them in any stores, anywhere.”

“No, of course not.” Ms. White paused. “Mr. Jackson, where did you say you were calling from?”

“I’m calling from Baltimore, ma’am.”

“I see, and your inquiring about our product line, why exactly?”

“Well, as I said, Mr. Clymes is a friend of mine, and he told me about this deal. I work at another store, across town, and I’m trying to reach the manager’s position. So, I’m doing some research. Charles told me that while he didn’t get to examine your products closely, they did seem to be of good quality.” David could feel his nose getting longer with each word.

“He also said that the deal was really beneficial to the store. I was wondering if you sold all your products this way, or if it was just the coats.”

“Well, just the coats are sold this way, and we only have that agreement with four stores. Our other products, including shirts and blazers, are available through our on-line site, and a few local stores in Alabama and North Carolina.”

David looked at his notes and frowned.

“Um, Ms. White, someone told me that your line of shirts was available in hundreds of stores along the east coast.”

“Oh, no, our line is much too exclusive for that.”

“I see. Well, thank you for your time, Ms. White. Have a nice day.”

“You too, Mr. Jackson.”

David hung up the phone, and tapped his pencil against his notes on his desk.

“Something smells very fishy.”

*******************************************************

Alex looked up to find David in her doorway grinning crazily.

“David? Are you all right?”

“Oh, fine. Just fine.”

“Good. Care to tell me why you look like a madman?”

“I’m enjoying the thrill of discovery. Like Columbus.”

“Really.”