Templeton’s wide grin showed perfect teeth. “Yes, it’s a bit of a puzzlement to say the least. Perhaps there’s a shade of Jekyll and Hyde in me.”
Hawk invaded Shanna’s mind. “I would say there’s a shade of Jekyll and Hyde in everybody.”
Templeton’s left hand touched her thigh. The heat from it comforted her.
“You’ve hired me to find him and we will.”
Shanna smiled. “As I recall you refused my fee. That means I belong to you.”
Inessa Mansion appeared on the nearby hill. Shanna turned the Beetle onto the road leading to its driveway.
“I’ll fake a British accent,” said Templeton.
“Fake? You are British. How can you fake your accent?”
“Wait and see. Besides I was fourteen when I journeyed to what some old time British gentlemen still call the colonies. Liked the American ladies so much I decided to stay. Don’t you know and what, what?”
Shanna rang the doorbell. Almost before the melodious chimes ceased Digby opened the door. “He isn’t here.”
Templeton spoke. His voice was over the top British. To keep from laughing Shanna bit her lip.
“I say, old bean, this is most unsatisfactory. Last time Hawkins was in ruddy old England he asked me to come by, spend some time with him, do a bit of shooting, swat daisies with our riding crops, have a lemon squash laced with rum and have a jolly good time. Said he would meet me here this day and exact moment. Now if he isn’t here where is he? This is most unusual you know. Dreadful for me to come all this way for nothing, dash it all. I’ve never known young Hawkins to go back on his word. I really must know where he’s popped off to so I may have a cracking good talk with him, without further delay, my good man.”
Digby sneered before saying in a nonchalant manner. “Private Investigator Templeton Gordon. I enjoyed the write up about you in the paper last week along with your picture. I repeat. Hawkins O’Brien is not here. Goodbye and have a nice day.”
* * * *
Templeton had to drive the Beetle away from Inessa Mansion. Shanna laughed tears and couldn’t see the road. “Do try to get a hold of yourself,” he said, just before laughing uproariously. “Well, you did tell me Hawk visited England. It was a bit of bad luck I was recognized from the article about me. I must admit acting isn’t one of my strong points. So what now? At the moment I’m quite at a loss for ideas.”
Shanna thought for a few seconds. “Hawk’s father has to be behind all this. And if Hawk knew ahead of time what was going to happen he might have told Dr. Tyler.”
“Wouldn’t Hawk also have told you?”
“I don’t think so. Not as strange as he’s been acting.”
* * * *
Shanna burst open the door to Dr. Tyler’s private office. Right behind her walked Templeton Gordon.
“Well, hello there. I think three stiff drinks are in order.”
“Make mine soft,” said Shanna.
Dr. Tyler walked to a wall and pressed a button. A liquor cabinet came into view. He turned. “I recognize you as being the top notch private detective, Templeton Gordon. Do you have a preference?”
“Yes. Jack Daniels.”
“You’re a man of taste. It’s my preference also.”
Dr. Tyler clinked ice into tall crystal glasses, opened a soft drink, poured it into one of the glasses and served it to Shanna. He knew she would show up sooner or later so he had prepared answers for her. The whole situation left a sour taste in his mouth.
Why in hell did O’Brien say no one was to know the whereabouts of his son? Surely Shanna should be informed as to what happened to Hawkins…
He handed a Jack Daniels to Templeton and sipped his. “The next line of dialogue comes from you two. Let’s start with why are you here?”
“We’re looking for Hawk. He’s missing,” said Shanna.
Dr. Tyler raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. “Is that unusual? Maybe he’s just gone off somewhere to be alone with his thoughts.”
“I don’t think so. I’ve been to his mansion twice. Both times I’ve been turned away at the door by a very gruff person named Digby who claims to be a butler. He keeps saying Hawk isn’t home. Something is very wrong. Did Hawk say anything to you during his last session that indicated he might be planning a disappearance?”
Dr. Tyler sipped his drink before answering, “He’s missed two sessions. That isn’t unusual for a client.”
“It is for Hawk,” replied Shanna. “He’s never missed one.”
“Yes you’re right. He never has. Have you called the hospitals?” he asked, knowing O’Brien Hospital would not give out any information about Hawkins.
“Yes, all the local ones and especially O’Brien. They don’t have him.”
“Well, then, have you tried the police?” Dr. Tyler looked at Templeton.
“The police have no word on him,” Templeton frowned.
Dr. Tyler stared at Gordon for a second before facing Shanna. “Well, I still believe you’re concerned over nothing. Hawkins will undoubtedly show up in a few days and with a good reason for his disappearance.”
Shanna nodded. “Perhaps you’re right. He’s acted strange since he moved back to Inessa Mansion.”
Dr. Tyler smiled. “Shanna, returning to his mother’s home was a major adjustment for Hawk.”
“Yes. You’re right. I’m puzzled about what’s happened to Matilda and Connors. Where are they? Do you know?”
Dr. Tyler glanced at his wristwatch. “I can’t answer the question except to say people change jobs quite often.”
Templeton interrupted. “Shanna, I think we’re keeping Dr. Tyler from pressing business.”
“As a matter of fact I do have somewhere I must be in less than an hour. I dislike rushing you, but this time I have no choice. Do forgive me.”
“Of course, Dr. Tyler,” Shanna replied. “Thank you for your time.”
* * * *
In the Volkswagen Beetle, Shanna asked. “Did you believe him?”
“No. Not for a second.”
“Why?”
“I don’t really know. It’s a feeling I get when something isn’t right.”
“You get a feeling?”
“Yes, an itchy sixth sense. It worked its way into my thinking due to a few years of police and P.I. work. It spots people who give answers sounding a little too pat.”
“Do you have anything else?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact. There’s also verbal pace, answers delivered too fast or too slow. And finally we have a psychiatrist telling you not to worry.”
“Then he’s lying?”
“Perhaps he is and then again, Shanna, perhaps he isn’t. I’d like to think he just hasn’t told us everything he knows.”
“So what do we do next?”
Templeton smiled. “We tail him to see where he’s going.”
* * * *
Fourteen minutes later, “Templeton, here comes Dr. Tyler.”
“Get down.”
Doctor Tyler was driving a gray Mercedes. It moved at a fast rate proving the doctor was in a hurry. Templeton smiled. “When he gets a few blocks away we’ll follow him to wherever he’s going. Are you game, Shanna?”
“Sure. Just don’t lose him.”
Templeton laughed. “You can’t be serious. On the race track I’m the fastest man alive.”
“So get going, snail. He took a right.”
“I’m on him.”
A few minutes later Templeton was certain about one thing. “He expects a tail. I wonder why.”
“Ask Terence Hawkins Archibald O’Brien and Dr. Tyler. I’ll bet they both know where Hawk is.”
“I would say for certain for his father, but just maybe for Dr. Tyler.”
“What? Why?”
“Because right at this moment we really don’t know where Dr. Tyler is going. He could be having a paid for date with an exceptionally hot and very delicious tasting hooker he dearly loves having sexual playtime with. And of course he doesn’t want his wife to find out and spoil his fun. So he’s cautious in case she’s become suspicious and hired someone like me to follow him.”
“Oh.”
Minutes later, Dr. Tyler brought his Mercedes to a stop and switched to a white Toyota.
“He’s being exceptionally cautious. The Toyota could blend in with other cars making it nearly impossible to follow,” Templeton said more to himself than to Shanna.
Silent moments passed until Shanna gasped. “Good lord. This is the back road to Inessa Mansion.”
Chapter Twenty
“Suspicions confirmed, Shanna. Dr. Tyler knows more about Hawk than he told us, perhaps even where he’s at.”
She nodded. “We’d better not follow him too close. I remember a gravel side road about a half mile ahead. Maybe we can park there.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“I’m not sure. We’ve got to find Hawk. He must be at his mansion. Dr. Tyler has come to give him a session.”
“That doesn’t explain why you haven’t been allowed to see him.”
“It certainly doesn’t. Now I’m even more determined to find out why I keep getting the big no, no, from Digby. Take the next right.”
The side road led to a cleared field where Templeton parked the Beetle. Shanna looked at her watch. “There’s about two hours of daylight left. This field leads to the property belonging to the mansion. We might snoop around and discover what’s happened to Hawk. I know that’s a long shot but I don’t have any better idea. Do you?”
“Not at the moment. Let’s go.”
* * * *
A short walk later, they heard voices.
“Get down.” Templeton pushed her gently to the ground. Thick brush and a fence hid them from view.
“Be careful now. Let’s take a look,” he whispered. He crawled toward the fence. Shanna followed.
Moments later they squinted through barbed wire.
“It’s obviously a search party, Shanna. Dr. Tyler appears to be the leader.”
“They must be searching for Hawk. Oh lord, Templeton, what’s happened to him?”
“Steady now, Shanna. In order to keep a thinking head we mustn’t jump to conclusions. We don’t know they’re looking for him.”
Shanna stared into Templeton’s eyes. “Who else would they be looking for?”
“I don’t know. But Digby told you Connors and Matilda were no longer employed by the mansion. Maybe they ran afoul of somebody and are here. I’ll take another look.”
* * * *
Dr. Tyler accepted the Erika doll from the tall mystery man who made him so uncomfortable.
Lord, where did O’Brien find these people? Cold, staring, unblinking eyes, like scientists viewing specimens through a microscope.
“You found her in a hurry.”
“We went to the lake as ordered,” said the tall man. “We also found some weapons off a bit to the right under a tree. Nice ones, well cared for, fired recently.”
“I’ll see the mansion gets them back. Thank you for what you’ve done. I’ll notify O’Brien.”
“I will. O’Brien owes us big time.” He touched his beret in a sloppy half salute, turned and delivered terse commands to his comrades. With the blink of an eye they dispersed to camouflaged vehicles.
* * * *
“Well, I didn’t see any body bags,” said Templeton.
“Then they weren’t searching for Hawk, or Connors and Matilda?”
“Apparently not, unless they were found before we got here. I suspect we should check the mansion just to be sure.”
* * * *
Digby answered the door chimes. He sneered with a vengeance as he said, “He still isn’t here.”
Shanna felt her doubled up fists being gently controlled by Templeton’s warm hands.
“You will have Hawk phone Shanna when he does arrive, won’t you, Digby?”
“Of course I will. You’ll be the first to know.”
This time Shanna drove the Beetle. “Well, Holmes, I’m fresh out of deductions. Do you have any?”
“Yes, Watson, I do, as a matter of fact.”
Templeton paused maddeningly. “Well, get on with it,” she demanded, ready to burst.
Templeton smiled. “Sorry, I was attempting to imagine how you’re going to react when you meet Frank.”
“Frank?”
“Yes. We need him.”
“Why? What does he do?”
“Oh, you might say he does unmentionable things.”
Shanna’s eyes sparkled. “That sounds like fun.”
White teeth flashed as Templeton smiled. “That’s what Frank thought, until society found out. Then the fun disappeared and he lost his freedom for a few years. It was a bad deal all the way. Frank took the fall for somebody else. He would never tell us who. We have a ways to go. Better let me drive.”
* * * *
It was dark when they arrived at the harbor. A moist fog blanketed everything in a sinister coat. Shanna shivered. “Where’s Jack the Ripper?”
“He’s around the corner. Shall we take a look?”
She’d never seen such a place. Outside it was a filthy showcase window covered with flashing lights. The front door was open. Shanna peeked and wished she hadn’t. It was racy noise from an out of tune band and dozens of sweat stained ghastly smelling humans having schizophrenic fits on a dance floor not much larger than a postage stamp. Those seated guzzled alcohol, puffed out clouds of foul tobacco smoke and stared glassy eyed at nothing.