Angela Agranoff - Sophia O'Malley 01 - Organized Blackmail Read Online Free Page B

have a friend who worked for the FBI. She’s retired now. I worked for her Uncle who lives in France. We met there while she was taking vacation. It’s been a few years, but I’m sure she will help me.”
     
    ‘What did your friend do with the FBI?” Eleanor asked.
     
    “She worked with the gang task force division. She has lots of experience and I think she may be able to give us some direction,” Sophia explained.
     
    “Oh dear, I never thought it would come to this.  It seems so unreal.”
     
    “We are going to get to the bottom of this.  This isn’t the usual assistance a professional organizer would call for, but I think we need the support,” Sophia said comforting her. “Eleanor, please do not leave your home. And after I leave, set your security system.”
     
    “Where are you going dear,” Eleanor asked alarmed. “I would prefer not to be left alone.”
     
    “I need to run home. You don’t have internet here and I need to use my computer. I won’t be long, I promise. With the grounds workers on the property, I don’t think the man outside would try anything dangerous right now. He seems to only be waiting and watching.”
     
    As if feeling faint, Eleanor sat back down in the old chair. “What will you tell this FBI friend of yours? Will you tell her about my husband’s father and all he’s gone through?”
     
    Sophia quickly knelt down before Eleanor. “No,” she promised. “Your husband’s name will not be disgraced, I promise.”
     
    “Oh, you are a friend,” Eleanor began to cry.
     
    Sophia gently hugged Eleanor with nervous arms. “Let’s hope that I am,” she thought as her eyes drifted back to the dusty paintings. Memories, some bad, some good, but they always remain nonetheless. And every memory, it seemed, held a secret.
     

Chapter 3
     
    Catching a Crook
     
     
    “No Julia,” Sophia spoke as she tucked a cordless white phone in her ear. Sitting behind a modest, but brilliant, chestnut desk holding a large computer screen she waited as her slow internet connection came to life. Down below, Sophia’s two cats roamed around her feet wondering what was upsetting their owner. “I can’t give a name, I’m sorry. What I need to know is who is Lionel Quinn?”
     
    “Sophia you’re asking a lot of me, girl. I’m retired now. I’m living out in the country with the cows like you are,” Julia replied. “This woman isn’t interested in seeing the ugly face of reality again.”
     
    “Please,” Sophia pleaded looking around the den she had made into her office. To the public eye her office appeared intelligent and well designed with light brown carpet, cream colored walls, and light green shades that complimented the shape and form of the office. But to Sophia, her office still needed some color and character. “This man is using blackmail like a hard fist. If he has stooped to this level, he can’t have a very honest life in London.”
     
    “Senators black mail people, girl, and appear like saints to the public. This Lionel character could be anyone. No all crooks and criminal’s look the part.”
     
    “Okay okay I understand that. The man I saw didn’t appear to be a criminal. But he gave me a very bad feeling,” Sophia pushed forward. “When I left my friend’s home I searched around but was unable to spot him. I did tell a few groundkeepers to keep a look out for anyone suspicious.”
     
    “Listen, Nancy Drew, you need to go directly to the police.”
     
    “Julia, the police in Piney Woods has better luck at catching a wild animal than a criminal. I love my home, but Piney Woods seems to draw some pretty eccentric people into its valley,” Sophia objected. “The Sheriff is a retired baker from Des Moines. His major is culinary arts. He only wanted to become Sheriff because it seemed fun.”
     
    “Girl, if those words would have come from anyone else I would have called them a liar,” Julia laughed. “Okay, listen to me, I’ll make a few