“Didn’t you hear me? I said it sounded like a buoy. Then when I almost manage to get back to sleep, he starts the engine up and takes her out. Like I said, good riddance. It was always something with that guy—orgies, hookers, loud Devil music. I was building a case to get him thrown out of here on his ear . . . almost had him, too. Now I’ve got cops crawling around everywhere and guys sneaking around with binoculars.” He eyed me suspiciously. “Your name.”

“Hookers? How’d you know?”

His eyebrows raised. “What?”

“I said how’d you know they were hookers?”

“I think I know a hooker when I see one, okay? Flashy clothes, big boobs, enough makeup to choke a man.”

I thought for a second. Jung told me Tim was gay. That didn’t mean he couldn’t have hired a hooker, but it was highly unlikely he would have hired one with boobs. So who was the woman in the flashy clothes? Lost in thought, I realized too late that Reese was still yammering away.

“Hello?” His strident voice finally got through. “Are you deaf?”

“Did one of these hookers have red hair?”

Reese’s face contorted. “Of course. Don’t they all?”

I sighed. I could have identified myself at any time, produced a copy of my PI’s license. I had business cards in an inside pocket. Nothing but the Devil kept me from stating my business. He rummaged in his pocket and came up with a small notepad and pencil. “Give me your name. I’m writing it down.”

I gripped the rails with both hands and leaned over so Deputy Dawg could hear me better. “Mary Meachum.” Take that. She was an abolitionist on the Underground Railroad, but no way in hell Reese knew that. My mother had been a teacher, and I flirted with the idea of becoming one myself, so history was my jam. Reese didn’t know who he was tangling with.

“Spell it.”

“Which name are you having a problem with?”

“I know how to spell Mary. Don’t be insolent.”

Insolent? That was it. I hit the ladder and headed down.

“Did you say Meechan?”

“MEACHUM. M-E-A-C-H-U-M.”

“What division?”

“Transportation. Railroads.”

He frowned. “Railroads?”

“Precisely.”

“I’m turning you in, Meachum.”

I scoffed. “You wouldn’t be the first one.”

“You wait right there.”

Yeah, right. I continued down the rungs at a confident pace.

“Meachum? I’ve got your name. You haven’t heard the last of this.”

“Oooh, stop.” I shivered facetiously. “You’re scaring me.”

Chapter 12

Chapter 12