WISE CHOICE SPORTS was the name of the agency Sterling Wise headed. Soon after he had won the Samuelson case, gaining national recognition, he had become a sports agent, leaving the unsavory entanglements of being a defense attorney behind.
Inspector Franklin dropped us in front of the building and went to get coffee, promising to meet us at Sterling Wise’s office. Kelly and I entered the building where his office was located and walked to the elevator. I pushed the up button. While we waited for the elevator doors to open, I was thinking about all the deaths. What possible reason would there be to kill so many people, so quickly, and not be concerned about all the publicity?
The doors opened, and we stepped into the elevator. I pushed the button that would take us to the top floor. Just before the doors closed, a gentleman stuck his brass-handled cane in. Immediately, the doors retracted.
“Ladies,” the man said. “I hope you don’t mind riding with a chap from Great Britain.” He was a little shorter than me, with expertly cut gray hair and a gray goatee. He was wearing a black three-piece suit, with a matching derby, a white turtleneck, and a monocle. He had to be about eighty.
“Not at all,” Kelly said, friendly as usual.
“I see we’re going to the same floor,” he continued. “This cannot be a coincidence. Two beautiful women and me taking a similar journey together. It’s the stuff dreams are made of.”
I ignored the old fool and continued my thoughts about the Assassin. Then I noticed that he was about to pinch Kelly’s ass. I couldn’t believe it. So I watched him; sure enough, he pinched.
Kelly turned around. With a smile on her face, she said, “Stop that before you give yourself a heart attack.”
“It’s one of the things a man my age can get away with.” He chuckled. “I remember back during World War II, I got shot to hell and sent back to England. The nurse who looked after me had the most delectable ass. She was a dog, but her ass was splendid. And from time to time, she allowed me a few excesses, too. I love being old. Women let you get away with murder.”
I shook my head. If he had done that to me, I would have slapped that derby off his head. I didn’t give a damn how old he was. But that’s where Kelly and I were different. I was the straight man in our duo. I liked the fact that she could take something like that in stride, though.
The doors opened, and the old man allowed us to leave first. Maybe there’s a gentleman in there somewhere after all, I thought.
We entered the outer office of the Wise Choice Sports Agency and were greeted by a young black woman seated behind a circular desk. The English gentleman had come into the office, also. He stood behind us, graciously waiting for us to conclude our business.
“Hello, I’m Special Agent Phoenix Perry, and this is Agent McPherson.” We showed her our credentials. “I’m looking for Sterling Wise.”
“I’m sorry, Agent Perry, but Sterling and Tiffany are out of the office for about a week or so. Football season starts in September. They’re in Denver right now, but they’re going to be traveling all over the country.”
“Well, does he have an itinerary?” I asked. “It’s a matter of life and death.”
“I’m sure he does, but he never tells me. He doesn’t like his clients to know where he is. They’re all prima donnas. You wouldn’t believe how they act during contract talks. They all think they’re the most important clients he has. So they pester him day and night. He does call in, though. When he does, I’ll tell him you need to speak with him right away.”
“Does he have a cell phone?”
“Yes, but I can’t give you the number.”
“Well, do you have an address in Denver where he can be reached?”
“No, and if I had it, I couldn’t give it to you,” she said firmly. “Give me your number, and he’ll call you when he can.”
“Ma’am, do you understand that this is a matter of life and death?” I asked.
She stared at me for a few seconds before saying, “I may be just a receptionist, but the job requires that I not be hearing impaired. Now, as I said, I will give him the message, and he’ll call you when he can. But don’t hold your breath; he’s busy. Being an agent is a twenty-four-hour-a-day job. That’s something you should understand, Special Agent Perry. Crime isn’t committed from nine to five, is it?”
She had a point, but she had also gotten on my nerves. The attitude wasn’t necessary. I looked at Kelly. She shook her head, knowing I was planning to roast-beef her. I agreed with her. We would need her later. Kelly took over. It was good cop/bad cop time.
“We can be reached at this number,” Kelly said, giving the receptionist a card.
While Kelly was talking, it occurred to me that the English gentleman had been perfectly quiet. I turned around but he was gone.
“Excuse me, but when did the gentleman behind us leave?” I interrupted.
“A couple of minutes ago.”