Parnell Hall: The Underground Man

“Oh yeah,” Tracy said. Her eyes were gleaming. “Well now, I think you’re being a little naive.”

Steve looked at her. “Now what the hell does that mean?”

“I don’t know about you, but I don’t think finding him would be all that hard.”

Steve frowned. “What the hell are you saying?”

Tracy smiled. “You’ll forgive me if I take a little bit of satisfaction out of this. It feels good to be a step ahead of you for once.” Tracy pushed the hair out of her eyes. “You really can’t figure out where Jack Walsh is? After all the work you had Mark Taylor do?”

“Me?” Taylor said.

“What are you talking about?” Steve said.

“I’m talking about Julie Creston. With the boyfriend in the shower. The boyfriend she was so anxious to get the detective out of her apartment so they wouldn’t have a chance to meet. The rich boyfriend who was taking her to Rio.”

Steve stared at her. “Are you telling me-”

Tracy held up her hands. “Hey,” she said. “I can’t take any credit for this. After all, I’m no big hand at deductions. I just happen to be young, and I happen to be romantic,’ and that’s why I think what I think.”

Tracy smiled. “That and the fact that I’m not the big lawyer who reads the contracts, I’m just the secretary who opens the mail.”

Steve frowned. “The mail? What are you talking about?”

Tracy jerked her thumb at the envelope on Steve’s desk. “The mail.”

Steve looked. The envelope was lying face down next to the letter and the will.

Steve gave Tracy a look. Then he picked up the envelope and turned it over.

It was postmarked Rio.