Phantom Point
by Gary Inbinder
July 1907: Chicago is sweltering, and hard-boiled detective Max Niemand has a hot, new case. A wealthy socialite hires Max to rescue her wayward artist brother from the clutches of a femme fatale and her dubious California artists’ colony. The job is lucrative, with the promise of a large bonus for good results.
Arriving on the West Coast, Max becomes embroiled in a murder case and a fight over oil rights. In the course of his investigation, he encounters hard-nosed cops, gangsters, an Old West marshal, a tycoon, a cagey lawyer, fast cars, faster women and a malevolent gold-toothed hitman. Before long, Max realizes the odds of living long enough to collect his bonus are definitely not in his favor.
Chapter 31: Chicago
Joey met Max at the station. The kid looked sharp in his new white linen suit and straw boater. He’d topped out at five-foot seven, and his lean body had gained muscle from workouts with Max at the gym. A light brown moustache sprouted on his upper lip, just enough to undergo a barber’s trim.
They made their way up the crowded platform and through the noisy concourse with little more than a friendly greeting. Joey noticed the healing cuts and bruises on Max’s face, but said nothing about them until they were in the cab.
“Looks like you got in a fight, boss.”
“Not a fight, kid. I got sapped from behind and beat up.”
“No kidding?” Joey said with a concerned frown. “What happened to the guy who did it?”
“He’s pushing up daisies.”
“Good.” Joey grinned.
“How’s business?”
“Everything’s jake. No problems, and I opened a new case for you.”
“What sort of case?”
“Routine. Some dame wants the dope on her husband and his girlfriend. Looks like they’re headed for divorce court.”
Max turned to Joey with a sober look in his eye. “Listen, kid. Cases that start out routine have a bad habit of going somewhere else.”
“I know, boss. Anyways, the dame has plenty of dough. No problem with the retainer. We can go over it when you get back to the office.”
“That’ll be tomorrow morning. Any important messages?”
“Yeah, one in particular. Jasper Morton wants to see you at your earliest convenience. He says he’ll send a car for you, like last time.”
“My earliest convenience. That sounds like him. OK. Telephone Morton and make an appointment for tomorrow.”
“Right, boss. Oh, I almost forgot. Old man Van Dorn died. The funeral was yesterday. He was an important guy, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, I guess he was.”
Joey gazed out the window and remained silent for a while, as if out of respect for the dead millionaire. Then he looked to Max and asked, “Any plans for the rest of the day?”
“Yeah, I’m going to soak in a tub, change my clothes and go pay a call on Peg Rooney. Is she still at The Follies?”
“As far as I know, she is. She came to the office asking about you. Wanted to know if you were OK.”
“What did you say?”
“I said not to worry. You’d come back in one piece and with a pocket full of dough.”
Max laughed and shook his head. “I appreciate your confidence in me. Anyways, Peg’s a swell dame.”
The kid nodded his agreement, lifted his boater and wiped his forehead. “Sure is warm, ain’t it?”
“Sure is. Chicago in the summer. I’m going to miss that Pacific Ocean breeze.”
“I’ll bet. You gonna tell me about the California job?”
“Not now. Maybe tomorrow.”
“The guys at Otto’s have been talking about it all week. I mean they’ve been guessing about what you were doing out there.”
“I don’t want no loose talk going around about my cases.”
“No, boss. Nothing like that. Honest. Just some friendly speculating.”
Max would go to Otto’s and set the guys straight without breaching his clients’ confidentiality, but that could wait a couple of days.
After an awkward pause, Joey said, “It’s swell having you back.”
“Thanks, kid,” Max said with a reassuring smile. “It’s swell to be back. After all, this is home.”
Copyright © 2022 by Gary Inbinder
