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Kate gave one of her best researchers the task of trying to find a Briana Hanley checked into any hotel either near LAX or the Cruise Center in San Pedro. She also made a note to call Margaret after the meeting to get the name of her friend’s daughter. It wouldn’t be hard to make a detour to the Wonders of Travel office before going back to Cameron’s house so she could talk to the woman in person. Kate always found that a face-to-face meeting usually produced details that didn’t come up over the phone, because she could watch the person’s reaction to her questions.
She needed the daughter’s name to know who to ask for, and more important, she had to call first to make sure the woman was even at work that afternoon.
Margaret got back to her quickly with the name Danielle Montgomery. As luck would have it, the daughter was working until six that evening. Kate arranged to meet her around four.
Exactly at four she pulled open the door to a large, attractively designed travel agency. Alternating tones of soft gray or mauve fabric covered low-walled cubicles that muffled a little of the sound. She counted twelve agents busily talking on the phone or working furiously at their computers, six on each side with a corridor between their workstations. Colorful travel posters from exotic locations and cruise lines decorated the soft gray walls. All in all, the well-designed space produced an atmosphere clearly calculated to put clients at ease while they planned vacations or business trips. Kate wondered how many spent more than they could afford.
A mellow voice interrupted her thoughts. “May I help you?”
Kate easily recognized the perky, young receptionist was sizing her up as a potential client by her outfit and accessories.
“Why, yes. I have a four o’clock appointment with Danielle Montgomery. She’s expecting me, I believe.”
The receptionist hit the intercom and said, “Danielle, your four o’clock is here.”
Moments later a somewhat hefty woman who appeared to be in her mid-twenties came to the reception area. Her long shining strawberry blonde hair framed a pretty face, and she wore a very engaging smile.
“Kate?” She extended her hand. “I’m Danielle. Come on back. Would you like coffee, tea or a cold drink?”
“Thanks for asking, but I’m fine. I’ll take up as little of your time as possible. As you know I’m a friend of Margaret Stanton, a friend of your mother’s. Margaret told us about your big booking on Crystal Cruises, and that’s why I’m here.”
Danielle leaned forward, keen interest written all over her face. “So, are you looking to book a cruise?”
Sorry to disappoint her, Kate said, “Unfortunately, no. This is about the woman you booked that cruise for—Briana Hanley. I need to ask you some questions about that. You see, I’m working on—”
Danielle’s eyes slowly widened in recognition “Oh my God. I know who you are. I saw you on TV. You’re the lady who owns FraudBusters. Please tell me that cruise isn’t going to cancel because of some fraud. I mean, her credit card went though so fast I’m sure it was okay. It isn’t stolen, is it?”
Kate was sorry to have upset the young woman. What were the odds she would be recognized from a TV show that aired the year before? “Well, since you know who I am, I might as well get right to it. I’m working with Margaret and some other people relative to a doctor’s kidnapping and murder in Venice a few days ago. Maybe you know exactly which one I’m talking about. It was all over the news.”
Color drained out of the travel agent’s face. “Th-the doctor they found floating in the Grand Canal? That one? He used to live in our neighborhood.”
Kate nodded. “Here’s the thing. We’re pretty sure the woman you booked the cruise for is actually the doctor’s wife, Barbara Shady. The police think she was kidnapped, but frankly, there’s a lot more to it than what’s on the news. You see, Briana Hanley is an alias she has used in the past. And, you’re right. She’s very wealthy and I have no doubt the card she gave you was good and was hers. We need to track her down because it sure doesn’t seem like she was kidnapped and there are a lot of questions she has to answer. I hope you can help me.”
Kate saw the disappointment in the young woman’s eyes, and knew she was wondering if that meant her commission was lost.
“I’ll do everything to help you that I can.”
“Let’s start with whether she had you book a hotel for a few nights. That would really help.”
Danielle shrugged. “Sorry. Only the cruise.”
Kate said, “Believe it or not, that is a big help. We don’t know where she intended to stay until the departure day, but she was obviously being very cautious. I’d hoped maybe she booked something through you—a rental car or a hotel—but it seems like she’s too wary to have done that. I’ll keep you in mind if I need a travel agent.”