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“Yes?”
“He’s dead,” said Clarisse.
“I’m aware of that.”
“You did business with him.”
“Did I?” asked Trask.
She sat back and allowed herself to get comfortable, fall fully into the role she was playing. You had to believe your own bullshit. But it wasn’t all bullshit. The important stuff was true. “For purposes of this discussion, let’s assume you did. Of course I have no way of holding you to that.”
He inclined his head a notch in a show of agreeing to these terms, for now.
“He was murdered with arguably the world’s deadliest poison. But he was already dying from brain cancer.”
“And how do you know this? Are you working with the police?”
“If I were working with the police, I would have to identify myself to you as such. And I don’t think you would have agreed to meet me.”
“Undercover?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have the stomach for it. And the pay is far too low to support my lifestyle.” Clarisse thought she saw the trace of a smile play across his lips.
Had he been thinking about his FBI father just now?
“I found out from someone whoisworking with the police.”
“And why would they tell you?”
“I can be very persuasive.”
“I’m listening.”
“A mysterious message was also left near the body. And a note was hidden in Pottinger’s boat that might be meaningful to you.” She had not told Gibson that she had previously found the note on the boat fender. But she didn’t know that Gibson had also found it, although Clarisse expected her to at some point.
“And what did the note say?”
“Basically, to try harder if you wanted to find the real treasure.”
“So this is a treasure hunt then?” said Trask.
“Apparently so.”
The black eyes drilled into her with a calmness that was disconcerting. “Butwhosetreasure?”
Curious question. Let me throw something else out as bait and see if the pole bends.
“Pottinger was not his real name. He stole a lot of mob money from decades ago. And he did deals as Pottinger that made him even more money in various ways.”
She stopped talking and studied him with her green contact lens eyes. She wondered if they were as intimidating as his dark ones. Somehow, she doubted it. Which was good.
Underestimate me at your peril.
“Hedidmake a lot of money. Off certain people who would like it back.”
“Can you tell me how?”
“Why would I?” said Trask.
