The Washington Club by Peter Corris Read Free Book Online Page A

he could whistle up help from all over the place to solve any problem he might have.
    â€˜If Claudia Fleischman didn’t have her husband killed,’ I said slowly, ‘then there’ssomeone or some people walking around out there who did. I was wondering if that made you nervous, Mr Katz?’
    His pale eyes opened wider and he stared at me as if I’d spoken in Urdu. ‘I confess you’ve surprised me. That’s quite a neat little question. Really bores in, doesn’t it?’
    â€˜What’s the answer?’
    â€˜Like I say, that’s new territory for me. I’d have to think about it. I’ve been assuming Claudia did it.’ He smiled. ‘Lucky I’m not eligible for jury duty, huh?’
    I decided then that I disliked him, but it might just have been his supreme confidence that annoyed me.
    â€˜Things must be rather difficult for you just now,’ I said. ‘Mrs Fleischman being the heir but also suspected of murdering your boss. I suppose everything is on hold, business-wise.’
    â€˜Not at all. You obviously don’t understand business to say that.’
    â€˜True, I don’t. I know a bit about people, though. Do you think Mrs Fleischman is stupid?’
    I could see he was tempted to be flip but he didn’t want to hedge another question. ‘No. Julius wouldn’t have married a stupid woman.’
    Interesting angle
, I thought. He probably knew exactly what Julius thought about Hunter Valley reds and jockey versus boxer shorts. ‘Only a stupid woman would do what she’s accused of.’
    â€˜I guess things went wrong with her plan.’
    I stood up. ‘I don’t think so. Well, thanks for your time, Mr Katz. You’ll make your meeting okay.’
    He half-rose, then sat down harder than he intended. ‘That’s it?’
    â€˜Yes, unless you have something you’re burning to tell me.’
    The eyes weren’t wide open now; they were shuttered and probing. ‘No, of course not.’
    â€˜Fine.’ I nodded and left the room. There was no one in the corridor or the waiting room and I stood by the door and listened. After a few seconds I heard water running and realised there was only a thin wall between me and Katz’s en suite bathroom. He wasn’t getting himself a glass of water, that was for sure. Miss Cream Suit would be trotting down with the Evian if that’s what he wanted. His hands and face had looked clean enough to me, so why was he splashing about in the bathroom? It seemed I’d rattled Mr Katz’s chain a little, which was all I’d hoped to do.

6
    A private detective without a car is like a ship without a sail, like a boat without a rudder, like a fish without a tail. I caught a taxi to Metro Car Hire in Surry Hills and rented a silver grey Toyota Camry with a sunroof, CD player, air-conditioning and mobile phone. The Falcon needed driving, the Camry only needed steering; everything else it seemed to do itself.
    Experience has taught me that it’s useful to see where people involved in a conflict live. The houses can sometimes tell you something about them, the locations themselves can be significant. Or maybe I just fancied driving around for a few hours in the flash car before I called on the client.
    The Fleischman pile in Vaucluse was everything you’d expect—white, bigger than anyone would ever need, perched high and commanding a view to make a real estate agent drool. I parked in the street and strolled past the high iron gates, which were well fitted out with an electronic security system, getting a good view into the grounds that looked a little under-gardenedfor their grand design. I caught a glimpse of a tennis court surrounded by a high brushwood fence with cyclone mesh on top of it to catch mistimed lobs; I couldn’t see the swimming pool but it’d be there all right. There was a three-door garage and a gazebo. From further down