Ghost Hero

“How far you could trust me?”

“I guess so, yes.”

Surprisingly, he grinned. “Well, that’s good.”

“It is? Why?”

“Bill must have told you you could trust me. In fact, you said he said I was stand-up.”

“He did.”

“But you still had reservations.”

“Yes. I’m sorry. I—”

“Au contraire, it’s excellent. Because what that means is, you and Bill aren’t quite as tight as I thought. And that means maybe there’s room for someone else to slip in there.”

I felt my cheeks grow hot. “Jack—”

“Okay, never mind, I was out of line, sorry.” He spoke briskly but he was still grinning. “I’m all about business. So what’s our next move?”

“Our next—I—” Oh, stop stammering, Lydia! You’d think a smart good-looking ABC PI had never come on to you before! “We—” While I was collecting myself so I could be all about business, too, Jack’s cell phone rang.

He checked it, told me, “Dr. Yang.”

I said, “Don’t tell him yet.”

Jack made a face at me while he said, “Professor. How are you?” Then his tone changed. “I don’t … No, we’re…” Dr. Yang was obviously talking, Jack trying to get a word in sideways. “What are you … I think … That’s … No.” He raised his voice. “I’m sorry, it’s just not acceptable.” The volume seemed to have an effect; Jack got to say a whole sentence. “I think you owe me a real explanation. A few hours ago we … No, I … Wait, I’m … Hello? Dr. Yang?”

Jack lowered the phone. He stared at it for a moment, then looked at me. “He fired me.”

“Fired you?” I was momentarily wordless, too. “Did he say why?”

“He changed his mind.”

“That’s it? Changed his mind?”

“So he says.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“You think?” Jack rubbed the back of his neck and breathed, “Damn! You know, I was already thinking you guys weren’t good for my health. Now I’m not sure you’re good for business.”

“Did he say it was because of us?”

“I didn’t mean specifically, I meant in a jinxy sort of way. Dr. Yang didn’t say anything. He changed his mind.”

I shook my head. “Something’s going on.”

“I know. Two hours ago he was so mad he’d have ripped the stripes off my sleeves if I’d had any, but he didn’t fire me. But just now he was perfectly calm. He didn’t say it was my fault, or your fault, or anybody’s fault. He just said he didn’t want this looked into anymore and he didn’t need my services.” Jack frowned. “I have half a mind to go down there and make him tell me what the hell is up.”

“And the other half?”

“Is smarter than that. It wants to think.”

“Is that the half that has Doug Haig’s cell phone number?”

He looked at me. “Both halves do. How’d you know?”

“You didn’t help at all when I was trying to pry it out of Nick Greenbank.”

“I may have to rethink.” Jack took out his phone. “You might be good for business after all.”

I tried not to notice the little glow I felt when he said that.

10

As it turned out, Doug Haig wasn’t available, at least not to us, not right then. While Jack was leaving a message I had another thought.

“If I bought you a martini,” I said, “would you mind drinking it by yourself?”

“That’s got to be the most ridiculous offer anyone’s ever made me. Or maybe, the most oblique brush- off.”

“You don’t get oblique from me. I’m not that clever. What I was thinking was, I have a date with Jeff Dunbar. At six, at this bar on West Street. I’d be very interested to find out if he’s someone you know from the art world. You obviously can’t come to the meeting, but there’s no reason you couldn’t be sitting at the bar.”

“Keeping an eye on things! Observing without being observed! Like Bill did in Dr. Yang’s office.”

“You caught that?”

“Did Mao wear a jacket? You guys do that all the time?”

“Whenever we can.”