Double Doublecross by James Saunders Read Free Book Online Page B

so I can give him a message?”
    â€œNope, can’t put you through. Don’t have the ability, but I can give you his number, and you can leave him a message on his machine ‘cos nobody’s at home. His girly friend has just left with her
brother
. Get the picture, Rick? Here’s the number.”
    â€œThanks, Bill,” Rick said, writing the number down andputting the phone back on the hook.
    Who was this
brother
character? She had told him she was going to see an agent. More lies. There must be an explanation somewhere. He decided to tackle her about the brother situation, but he would have to come up with a question she would have to answer and find the best opportunity to ask it. So many unanswered questions bothered him, and he went to bed with his head spinning.

CHAPTER
5
    R ick felt no better the next morning. He still wanted answers to his questions. Again it was raining, but not as hard as the day before. Before long, the sun crept through a cluster of dark clouds.
    Rick opened his laundry room door, giving him access to his garage. He got into his Lincoln, pressed the automated garage door opener and backed the car out into the large circular driveway.
    He stopped for a moment, and looked at the imposing house with its large front garden stocked with evergreen shrubs and flowerbeds. He wondered if he really needed a house this size. It was a good investment, but due to his excessive lifestyle, it was clear to him that he might have to sell it.
    Not giving it another thought, he turned into the driveway and made his way to the office via the back roads. The trees were bare and looked untidy, but the rolling hills had now turned to a lush dark green, thanks to the inclement weather that had soaked the Bay Area during the last month.
    Arriving at the office, he was greeted by Pat James and amiddle-aged couple standing just behind her.
    â€œGood morning, Mr. Jacobs,” she said formally. She always addressed him and Stan formally when clients were present. “This is Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Janet Hughes from Los Angeles. They arrived just last night. Let me introduce you to Mr. Jacobs,” she said turning to the couple, “he will be helping you to get settled here.”
    â€œHello and good morning. Take a seat and let’s see what we can do for you. Is there any particular area that you want to look at? Are there any specific requirements at all?”
    Tom Hughes turned to his wife and gave her a questioning look. “I think I would like a four bedroom house with a three car garage. Let’s say about three thousand square feet, preferably in this area. What do you think, Tom?” said Janet Hughes.
    â€œI really don’t mind as long as I am within easy reach of the Bay Area Rapid Transport System,” he said. “I’ll be working in San Francisco so I want to be within five minutes of the nearest terminal. Otherwise I have an open mind.”
    â€œLet me do a search and then we’ll sit down and map out the day,” Rick replied. After a few minutes at his computer Rick produced a list of five houses in the immediate area of Lafayette and Orinda.
    After preparing their route, they set off in Rick’s limousine starting with the three houses in Lafayette. At one o’clock they stopped for lunch at the Buttermill Restaurant which was one of Rick’s favorite watering holes. After further discussion of their needs over lunch, he made off in the direction of Orinda, close to where he lived.
    They looked at the two houses in the area and decided this would be the town they would love to live in. Orinda was a charming little town directly on the BART line with largeand small neat houses plus a good local shopping area. The BART ride was only about thirty minutes from the big city, and this suited Tom Hughes just right. After concluding the tour, they took a drive past Rick’s house.
    â€œI live just in there,” he said pointing to the