Free Live Bait by Ted Wood Page A

let the police take over."
    "Fine," Fullwell said boldly. "They've already got the details, I'll contact them and ask them to proceed normally."
    Thomason sipped his coffee, making a slightly pained face. He was staring at me over the top of his cup. "I think we misjudged badly," he said. I could guess what was coming but kept quiet. Thomason let us suffer a moment longer then set down his cup. "Think about it. We have one beating, a fairly conventional attack. Then we bring in Mr. Bennett, an expert in martial arts." He paused again but I didn't say anything. He went on, his voice rising with every word. "And then we have three more men hit, all of them by some fairly sinister person or persons unknown, two of them by some kung fu expert."
    He let the suggestion hang in the air and Fullwell grabbed it, laughing angrily. "You're not suggesting that Mr. Bennett is responsible, that a sworn peace officer has been thumping our guards?" He stood up and took an angry step away from his chair and then back again. Thomason watched him like a schoolmarm supervising a kindergarten. "I'm not suggesting anything at all," he said primly. "But I am stating that the connection between Mr. Bennett and Bonded Security has ended, this minute, for all time. Is that understood?"
    Fullwell was tough, too tough. I didn't need it, but maybe his pride did. After all, he had suggested me. "I find this line of supposition very offensive," he said. "I've known this man for a year and know him to be of impeccable character."
    "You're not the personnel officer," Thomason said. "So there is no need to take this personally. I am paid to make executive decisions and I have just made one. Please pay Mr. Bennett exactly what we owe him and escort him off the premises forthwith."
    "Send it to me," I said. "See you later, Simon. Thanks for the coffee and the vote of confidence, Mr. Thomason. I wish you luck."
    I got up and walked out, whistling to Sam who came bounding happily up to me. Fullwell said something final to his boss; it sounded angry, but I could tell by the tone that the war was over. I was through with this case.
    Fullwell followed me into the elevator. There were other people in it, a pretty girl with too much makeup and an elderly file clerk with a wheeled tray of letters. We said nothing as we rode down to the ground floor. Then, as the others left, Fullwell blew up. I patted him on the arm. "Don't take it personally, the guy's only covering his own ass. I'm cool."
    "The high and mighty sonofabitch. What in hell does a business degree teach a man about security work? Or about people for that matter?" Fullwell jammed his hands into his pants pockets. "After all the risks you've taken for his goddamn office."
    "I owed you," I said. "And anyway, I'm not through with the investigation. I've still got eleven days of vacation left. Here I am at loose ends in Toronto."
    Fullwell turned and grinned. "You serious?"
    "Absolutely." The thought of proceeding alone was appealing. I had a lead to follow and time to kill, and a family to visit with when the day's chasing around was over. "Yeah, I'm going to get myself some sound legal advice before I go home."
    Fullwell laughed out loud, a relieved laugh. "Nice going. I hear the best man in town is a lawyer called Straight, Cy Straight."
    "I've heard that as well. Maybe while I catch a few hours zuzz somebody would check the legal list and find out where he works."
    "I think that could happen right here in this building," Fullwell said. "Don't give it another thought. Just ring my office later and ask for the address of the mortgage company. Tell them it's Mr. Case calling."
    "Certainly will, Mr. Fullwell," I said.  
    "I'll be waiting for your call, Mr. Case," he said and bowed and we both laughed. It wasn't very funny, but compared with the stuff we'd seen the last couple of nights, it was at least light relief.
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    Chapter 10
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    T he first thing I did was sleep six hours. When