Free Others by James Herbert

mayonnaise.
    That’s okay,’ said the waitress obligingly. We’ll count yours as the meal. Unless you’d like something to eat?’ She raised her eyebrows at Etta.
    ‘No thanks. Coffee and a brandy will be fine.’ Etta smiled back, then returned her attention to me as the waitress left us.
    ‘Busy day?’ I enquired.
    Etta rolled her eyes. ‘Like all others. You switching from whisky these days?’
    ‘Needed something a little more substantial.’ I sipped the brandy to show how necessary it really was.
    ‘Having problems, Dis?’ It wasn’t an idle question; those hazel eyes were full of concern.
    ‘Uh, no, nothing drastic’ The episode last night with the broken mirror wasn’t one I cared to relate.
    ‘Nothing to do with the new client I sent you, I hope.’ She pulled a wisp of hair away from her mouth.
    ‘Shelly Ripstone? Uh-uh, she’s fine. But I did want to talk to you about her.’
    ‘So I gathered from your phone call. Oh Lord, I hope I haven’t sent you trouble. I thought it might be an easy one for you, a straightforward trace.’
    ‘And so it should have been,’ I reassured her. Thanks again, by the way.’ I meant for the continuing work and she acknowledged with a shrug.
    ‘You’re the one who’s helping me out, Dis. I’d hate to refer a good client to the wrong agency.’
    I gave Etta my lop-sided grin. ‘So long as you know it’s always appreciated.’
    ‘Are you getting sentimental in your old age, Dis?’ She was smiling too, but she watched me keenly, a little puzzled I suppose.
    ‘God forbid,’ I joked. ‘You’d only take advantage.’ I was suddenly embarrassed by the sexual connotation of that remark - like as if - and I quickly moved on. ‘I only wondered if you could tell me more about Shelly Ripstone.’
    Etta gave me a surprised look as the waitress arrived back at our table with her coffee and brandy. I quickly drained my own glass and tipped it towards the girl. ‘Sorry, I should’ve asked a minute ago.’
    ‘No problem.’ No strain at all in the waitress’s smile. ‘Back in a moment’
    I put the empty glass down and returned Etta’s gaze. ‘S’okay, Mrs Ripstone isn’t being difficult. I’d just like to know some more about her background. We drew a blank on tracing her baby at the first hurdle and I wondered how badly she’d take it.’
    ‘I see.’ I could tell Etta didn’t quite believe what I’d said, but she seemed prepared to indulge me. ‘What did Mrs Ripstone tell you when she came to your office?’
    ‘She was distraught, missing her late husband. I gathered she was afraid of being left alone in the world and the thought of finding her long lost son seemed to provide her with some comfort. I told her a trace on the child wouldn’t be easy after all these years, but she didn’t want to hear it. I guess getting her son back might have compensated for the loss of her husband in some way, so I was sympathetic’
    Etta gave a small shake of her head before sipping the coffee and it was my turn to be surprised, this time by her cynical smile. A fresh brandy was placed before me and I nodded a thanks to the waitress as she retrieved my dead glass. Picking up the new brandy, I held it towards my companion and Etta lifted her own glass. We clinked them together, a minor ritual I always believed in when I was with a friend.
    ‘She didn’t tell me it all, did she?’ I said, and Etta was hesitant.
    ‘Oh, what the hell, she is a mutual client, so I think it’s okay to share a confidence with you. But it is in confidence, right?’
    ‘Hey, it’s me you’re talking to. When have I ever broken a confidence?’
    ‘Yes, I know, you’re a pro. And in this case, I think it might be useful for you to hear the whole story. It won’t help you find the missing child - if there is one - but you’ll at least understand why if s so important to Shelly Ripstone.’
    ‘So it isn’t just because she’s a lonely widow.’
    ‘Well, that might be part of