“He evidently got in touch with the detective agency here that handles his business. They started looking up Chester and in no time at all found out there was a police stakeout on the apartment and then got the whole story.
“That was all Melvin needed. The cat’s out of the bag now. Melvin is in the saddle and he knows it. Heaven knows what kind of a settlement we’ll have to make with him.”
“Well, why didn’t you send the insurance adjuster down to investigate the case and make the payment — if it’s a fair question?” I asked.
“It’s very fair,” he said, “but the answer is embarrassing. Melvin had met our adjuster on a previous case, and the adjuster was no match for the attorney.”
“So now what?”
“I want you to go down there. I’ve secured four cashier’s checks payable to Helmann Bruno and A. B. Melvin in amounts of twenty-five thousand dollars. That’s one hundred thousand dollars in cash. I think you can settle it for that.”
“You’re willing to go that high?”
“I’m willing to go that high if you have to — and I think you will.”
I said, “This man, Melvin, has won cases through sharp practice?”
“He’s clever, he’s sharp, yes.”
“And you think he’s used faked X-ray pictures?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“And you still want to pay him a fancy sum to settle?”
“I want to get rid of this case. When your insured going to be indicted for murder, it puts the insurance company in an absolutely impossible position.”
“And if your trained insurance adjuster couldn’t handle Melvin, what makes you think I can?”
“Because,” Breckinridge said, “I made it a point to find out about you, Lam.”
“How did you do it?”
“I took your secretary out this afternoon and had a long talk with her. You’ll find out about it sooner or later so I may as well tell you right now.
“Despite the fact I was a little abrupt last night and ordered you off the case, I understand you continued to investigate on your own.
“She tells me that you have a crooked nurse who has been stealing X-ray photographs and that you are getting a lot of material collected on her.
“I don’t need to tell you, Donald, if we could get Melvin in a position where we could prove he had cut corners or used falsified photographs or anything of that sort, we’d give you the damnedest, sweetest bonus you ever had in your life — I say we would — I mean every insurance company operating in this part of the country would get together and give you a handsome bonus and throw you all the business your agency could possibly handle.
“I was absolutely astounded at some of the things Miss Brand told me; things about cases you’ve handled which demonstrate your very remarkable ability. I—”
The door of the living room opened and Mrs. Breckinridge came striding in.
I jumped to my feet. “Good evening, Mrs. Breckinridge.”
“How do you do, Mr. Lam,” she said. Then looking around the room, “Where’s your secretary?”
I registered polite surprise at the question, and said, “Probably at home. I have my own car tonight. She had met me at the airport when I flew in from Texas.”
“I see,” she said, smiling, “and how’s the case going?”
I smiled. “I’ll have to let Mr. Breckinridge answer that. He’s the general, I’m only the private.”
“You’re a colonel,” Breckinridge said promptly, “and you’re doing a wonderful job.
“Here is the envelope with the papers I spoke about. There’s also a complete release in there. Now, I’d like to have you get on the first plane in the morning and go back — you understand, go back and handle this thing.”
“Back where?” Mrs. Breckinridge asked.
“Dallas,” I said, casually.
“You have enough money for expenses?” Breckinridge asked.
“Sure.”
“Well, go ahead and use your judgment. The sky’s the limit.”
“And I can go up to this amount that you mentioned by way of settlement?”
“You can go beyond it if you feel the situation justifies it.”
“I’ll take a plane that will get me in there early so I can get to work,” I told him.
“And you’ll keep me posted?”
“I’ll keep you posted.”
Breckinridge shook hands.
Mrs. Breckinridge gave me a cordial smile. “I’m afraid my husband is working you at pretty late hours, Mr. Lam.”
“Oh, it’s all in the game,” I told her.
“You work by yourself, or do you have a partner?”
“I have a partner,” I said, “in the agency business.”
“It’s Cool and Lam,” Breckinridge said hastily.
“And who is Mr. Cool?” she asked.
“It’s Mrs. Cool.”
Instantly her lips clamped together in a firm, thin line.
“Bertha Cool, I explained, “is in her sixties. She weighs around a hundred and sixty odd and she reminds me of a spool of barbwire. She’s hard and she’s tough. For the most part she handles the office end of the business and I’m out on the firing line.”
Mrs. Breckinridge was smiling once more. “That must make for a very efficient partnership,” she said.
“It does,” I told her. Sometimes when the female sirens try to pull the wool over my eyes, Bertha steps into the picture and what she can do to one of those come-on cuties in about ten seconds is really something.”
Mrs. Breckinridge was positively beaming “I think that’s a splendid arrangement. I’m very please my husband is employing your firm.
“The average man has absolutely no idea of these little vampires no idea how a woman can twist him around her fingers who flaunt their physical charms to get what they want.
“From time to time, I try to warn my husband against some of the people who would take advantage of him. I know that he thinks I’m unduly suspicious.”
“Not at all, my dear,” Breckinridge hastened to say.
“I think it would be simply wonderful to have your Bertha Cool turned loose on some of these people sometimes,” she said to me.
“It’s really a great experience to watch her work,” I said.
“What does she do?”
“Oh,” I said, “Bertha is pretty rough and at times rather profane. She tells these women that there dealing with another woman now; that tears and nylon will mean absolutely nothing. Then she proceeds to take them apart and if they want to get rough about it, Bertha can shake them until their teeth rattle. Bertha isn’t a lady when she starts taking one of these vampires to pieces. Her language would shock you, Mrs. Breckinridge.”
Mrs. Breckinridge’s eyes were glittering, “Homer,” she said, reproachfully, “you didn’t tell me anything about this delightful character. How long have you been using this firm of detectives?”
“This is the first case,” Breckinridge said. “We’re just getting acquainted, so to speak.”
“Well, I think it’s wonder,” Mrs. Breckinridge said. “It sounds like a very fine combination... Well I mustn’t interfere with your business conversation. I’ll be running along.”
She gave me her hand and a cordial smile and left the room.
Breckinridge looked at me and said “I guess Elsie Brand was right, Donald.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re one damned smart individual,” he said. “Now, get hell down there and settle that Bruno case and get it out g of my hair. Make the best settlement you can, but get it settled.”
“On my way,” I told him.
Chapter 13
Buck Kramer met me at the airport. “We’re going to have to make a special rate on you,” he said, grinning, “or else we’ll have to arrange to come in and meet you on horseback. Seems like I’ve been doing nothing except driving you around.”