Free Finder's Fee by Alton Gansky Page B

of decorative wood — say red oak — over a fabricated substrate. Those floors are usually installed by floating the floor over the subfloor.”
    â€œFloating?”
    â€œThe flooring snaps together. It isn’t nailed or glued. It allows the floor to expand and contract.”
    â€œI don’t see why any of that is important.”
    â€œThe floor in this picture is a laminate. The style is called Blocked Maple. I know because I designed it.”
    â€œYou designed the image used on the floor?”
    â€œNot personally. We have a design department and sometimes we use outside designers. They approach us and if we like what they have, we make suggestions, buy the rights to the image, and farm it out for production. We handle the marketing.”
    â€œAnd you recognize the pattern.”
    â€œIt’s as unique as a photo of your mother. You look at something long enough and it gets burned into your memory. This pattern was designed and photographed by a guy named Stewart Blink.”
    â€œStewart Blink. That’s his real name?”
    â€œI doubt it. Some of these artist types like to remake themselves.”
    â€œI never thought of a floor designer as being an artist.”
    Judith smiled. “You need to broaden your horizons, Mr. Day Trader.”
    Luke sighed but didn’t object to the dig. “How does any of this help us?”
    â€œIt helps us because that particular design flopped big time. I lost a truckload of money on that design. No one knows why, but it took off like a herd of turtles.”
    â€œYou have a way with words, lady. I’ll give you that. Still, I don’t see — ”
    â€œI think I can track the few sales we had. It won’t be easy, but a few calls might narrow the field for us.”
    â€œYou’re saying that we might be able to find the address where the boy is being held?”
    â€œNot just by that.” Judith looked at the image again. “I also recognize the Persian rug.”
    â€œYou’re kidding, right?”
    â€œNot at all. Remember, this is what I do. My company specializes in interior design products. We’re one of the top players in the field and we’re not a one-pony show. We design and manufacture everything from paint to light fixtures. It’s a multibillion-dollar business and we make our money by being informed and putting out the best product. Two years ago, we retained an overseas company to manufacture a line of Persian inspired rugs.”
    â€œAnd you know for a fact that that rug is one of yours?”
    â€œI do.”
    The pilot’s voice came from the overhead speakers, announcing their descent into Fresno. The table had to be stowed and the computer put away. Both were done reluctantly.
    â€œHere’s the thing.” Judith stacked the printouts. “I might, and emphasize the word
might
, be able to track where the flooring went and compare it to where that style of carpet was sold. It’s possible that the numbers will be too large, but we won’t know unless we try.”
    â€œYou keep that kind of data? You know who bought what?”
    â€œNo, we don’t, but the retailers do a pretty good job. I’ll start by seeing what outlets sold that type of flooring. It went out in trial, which means there were a limited number of retailers stocking the item. The rug may be more difficult but it might work.”
    Luke narrowed his eyes.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI’m trying to calculate the odds that two products from your company would appear in a photo of a missing boy you’ve been asked to find.”
    That had crossed Judith’s mind as well. The odds were astronomical and that made it all the more frightening.

thirteen
    I assure you, Officer, it’s nothing more than a malfunction in the phone.” Terri could see the tension on Marlin’s face.
    â€œI plan to call the manufacturer and give him a piece of my mind.”
    Better