The Chase by Clive Cussler Read Free Book Online

The furniture was sparse and there were no pictures on the walls. Only one other agent was present in the office, a stranger to Bell whom Alexander did not bother to introduce.
    Before Alexander could point out a closet office, Bell asked innocently, “Do you have a conference room?”
    Alexander nodded. “Yes, on the opposite side of the hallway from the offices.” He stopped, opened a door, and stood aside as Bell walked in.
    The conference room stretched nearly thirty feet and flowed fifteen feet to the side. A long pine table, stained dark and with a polished surface, sat beneath two massive, circular chandeliers. Eighteen leather captain’s chairs were spaced evenly around it. The room was paneled in pine that matched the table, the floor carpeted with deep red pile. High windows rose on one wall, allowing the early-afternoon sunlight to illuminate every corner of the room.
    â€œVery nice,” said Bell, impressed. “Very nice.”
    â€œYes,” said Alexander with pride showing in his bloodhound eyes. “I use it frequently for meetings with politicians and influential people in the city. It gives the Van Dorn Detective Agency significant respect and an image of importance.”
    â€œIt will do nicely,” Bell said matter-of-factly. “I’ll work in here.”
    Alexander looked directly at Bell, a fiery look in his eyes that suddenly glowed with anger. “That’s not possible. I won’t permit it.”
    â€œWhere is the nearest telegraph office?”
    Alexander seemed taken back. “Two blocks south on Sixteenth Street and Champa. Why?”
    â€œI’ll send a message to Mr. Van Dorn requesting the use of your conference room as an operations center. Considering the importance of the case, I’m sure he will give it his blessing.”
    Alexander knew when he was licked. “I wish you well, Mr. Bell,” he conceded. “I will cooperate with you any way I can.” He then turned and left Bell to return to his suite in the corner. He paused in the doorway. “Oh, by the way, I’ve reserved a room for you at the Albany Hotel.”
    Bell smiled. “That won’t be necessary. I’ve booked a suite at the Brown Palace.”
    Alexander appeared confused. “I can’t believe Mr. Van Dorn would allow that on your expense account.”
    â€œHe didn’t. I’m paying for it out of my own funds.”
    Not aware of Bell’s prosperous situation, the superintendent of the western states looked completely bewildered. Unable to comprehend, but not wanting to ask questions, he returned to his office in a daze and closed the door, utterly defeated.
    Bell smiled again and began spreading out the papers he’d carried in the valise on the conference table. Then he stepped into the anteroom and approached Agnes Murphy. “Agnes, could you let me know when Curtis and Irvine show up?”
    â€œI don’t expect them back until tomorrow morning. They went up to Boulder on a bank fraud case.”
    â€œAll right, then. And would you call the building maintenance superintendent and have him come up? I have some alterations to make in the conference room.”
    She looked at him questioningly. “Did you say the conference room? Mr. Alexander seldom allows the help to step inside. He keeps it mostly to entertain the town bigwigs.”
    â€œWhile I’m here, it will be my office.”
    Agnes looked at Bell with newly found respect. “Will you be staying at the Albany Hotel? That’s where most all visiting agents stay.”
    â€œNo, the Brown Palace.”
    â€œMr. Alexander consented to the extra expenditure?” she asked warily.
    â€œHe had no say in the matter.”
    Agnes Murphy stared after him as if she had just seen the Messiah.
    Isaac Bell returned to his office and rearranged the chairs to the conference table so he could have a large work space at one end. After a few