P is for Peril Read Online Free

that he needed to get away. That’s the first thing I thought of when I heard he was gone.”
    â€œCouldn’t that have been wishful thinking?”
    â€œI suppose it could,” she said. “I mean, he didn’t pull out airline tickets, but he did seem desperate.”
    â€œDo you remember a reference to any place in particular?”
    She tilted her head. “I’ve racked my brain, but I really can’t remember. It was an offhand remark and I didn’t think much about it until this came up.”
    â€œI assume you told the police.”
    Again, she hesitated. “Not at first. I thought his absence was voluntary and he’d come home when he was ready. I didn’t want him to be embarrassed. Leave it to Crystal to turn this ordeal into a media circus.”
    I could feel myself bristle. “Mrs. Purcell, he’s a prominent physician, well known and loved in this community. His disappearance is bound to attract media attention. If you thought he’d gone AWOL, why didn’t you speak up?”
    â€œI felt he was entitled to his privacy,” she said, her cheeks coloring slightly.
    â€œWhat about all the time and money being spent on the investigation? Weren’t you at all concerned about that?”
    â€œOf course. That’s why I spoke to the police,” she said. “After six weeks, I began to worry. I guess I was expecting a call or a note, some indication he was all right, wherever he was. Now that nine weeks have passed, I thought it was time to take matters into my own hands.”
    â€œWhat made you think he’d be in touch with you instead of her?”
    â€œBecause Crystal’s the one he’s been trying to escape.”
    â€œAnd now you’re worried something’s happened to him.”
    â€œI suppose so. That’s why I decided to meet with the detective last week. Odessa was polite. He took notes. But I got the impression he didn’t take me seriously. He said he’d get back to me, but that’s the last I’ve heard. The police must be working dozens of other cases, which means they don’t have the time or resources to devote to Dow. I said as much to Dana and she agrees. That’s why she recommended you.”
    â€œI don’t know what to say. Even if we come to some agreement, I can’t spend twenty-four hours a day on this any more than the police can. I have other clients, too.”
    â€œI didn’t say you’d have to be exclusive.”
    â€œEven so, I’m just one person. You’d be better off with a big Los Angeles agency, one with lots of operatives who can fan out across the country and do this properly. You might end up having to search for him overseas.”
    She cut me off with a wave of her hand. “I don’t want a big L.A. agency. I want someone local who’s willing to report directly to me.”
    â€œBut all I’d be doing is repeating what the police have already done.”
    â€œYou might have ideas they haven’t thought of yet. After all, you tracked down Wendell Jaffe years after everyone assumed he was dead.”
    â€œI did track him down, but I didn’t start from scratch. Someone spotted him in Mexico and that’s why the case finally broke.”
    Her expression became withdrawn. “You won’t help.”
    â€œI’m not saying that. I’m talking about reality, which doesn’t look that good.”
    â€œBut what if there’s an angle the police have overlooked?”
    â€œWhat if there’s not?”
    â€œThen at least I’d be satisfied with the job they’ve done.”
    I was silent for a beat, staring at the floor. Inside, a little voice was yelling, “No, no, no!” while my mouth said, “I’ll do what I can, but I make no promises.”
    â€œGood. That’s wonderful. We’ll talk on Tuesday. Just keep track of the time you put in and you can give me an