The Furtive Glance part 6

This is part four of the Furtive Glance for part one click here and part two click here and part three here and part four here and of course part 5 here

I sat in Parker’s still confused by the events of the day, I’d known something was fishy, but I’d not expected this? I had to admit the dame had pulled the wool over my eyes, she was a good actress, she deserved an Oscar. I was watching the door hoping she'd show. She’d said she’d find me, well now it was time. I didn't play games, and even if the client paid me, I still didn’t play along. I touched my face, it was still tender from the smack I’d taken earlier in the day,  I put the cold glass against my head to sooth the pain and waited. 

Finally the dame showed up, her face drawn with stress, her eyes still mysterious, it was impossible to hate her for long, so I had to act quick. 

‘Any news?’ she said. 

‘There might be.’ I replied coldly. 

‘Tell me, please Mr Stanley.’ Her voice sounded desperate, she was a great actor.

‘Why don’t you tell me?’ I said in my best no nonsense voice. She looked confused.

‘The Grand Hotel?’ I left the words to percolate in her mind. She hesitated, unsure if to come clean. I stared at her, hoping the confession would come soon, otherwise those eyes might just win me over.

‘I saw you lady, now stop playing games,’ I said eventually.  Her face cracked, she smiled, the tension washed away. 

‘Ok, you saw me, so what?’

‘What's going on lady?  Why did you kidnap your own son?' 

‘I didn’t Mr Stanley, you have to believe me. Hristov did the kidnapping but luckily his mother is a kinder woman than he is. She knows a boy needs his mother. She contacted me immediately.’ 

‘So why employ me?’

‘Because without you then that bastard will know someone has betrayed him.’ Her voice was business-like, cold. ‘He’s got friends in the police, he’ll know who grassed him.’ I thought about it for a moment. It made sense, I think.

‘So you even got the girl to give me the lead?’ I asked. 

‘What girl?’ the broad asked. She was either acting to save the porcelain neck or she really was clueless. I decided to leave it.

‘So what now?’
She pushed another envelope of money in my direction.

‘Call the police, tip them off and then this is yours.’ She said, not a hint of emotion in her voice.
I stood up and headed to the payphone in the corner of the bar. I’d got this far, I’d may as well take the money and run.