Jade Monkey

Amongst its gleaming, high-rise neighbours in the business district the Haselgrave was a squat, square-ish building with dark windows in white frames. It lacked the polish and shine of the Bridgeman with its sterile efficiency, but it had a relaxed, down at heels atmosphere that was comforting.

As I stepped across the threshold I had a sudden vision of Pete springing up behind the front desk in his best ‘Igor’ outfit and lightening crashing overhead. The brass bell on the counter cried out for polish and the carpet was threadbare. A dead eyed clerk shuffled out from a back room when I rang the bell. He quickly looked through the hotel register and checked my name.

‘Room 22a. Third floor’

He turned around, reached a key down off of the wall behind him and retreated. I made my way across the hall and up the stairs to my room.

Images flickered through my mind as I climbed the stairs, the chains falling from the packing crate, Pete’s outstretched hand holding a gun, a sudden movement in the shadows. The room was small and my cases were piled up at the end of the bed. Kicking them to the floor I undressed, flung my clothes at a dresser. It was a long time till I finally slept.

-           -           -

My open curtains showed a pink-fingered dawn, with pale rose clouds drifting across the sky. I blinked blearily trying to see, sunlight blinding me, pouring in through the window. Getting out of bed Neanderthal man looked back at me out of a mirror I leant against the windowsill looking down on to the people rushing in the streets below. The air was fresh and clear and the sky now maturing to azure blue. I rubbed my hand on my chin and reached up to close the window, looking away from the drop to ground. I got some clean clothes out of my case, showered and dressed and opened the window. I checked in the mirror again and solid citizen grinned back at me. The sounds of the morning traffic, muted before, made the city seem alive.

I borrowed the hotel telephone and phoned to check my appointment. After five minutes of being transferred from department to department I managed to speak to her secretary about my appointment.

‘Hello’

‘Hello, I’d like to confirm an appointment with Miss Mills please.’

‘And you are?’

‘Mr Jones.’

The voice was pleasant and female with a slight twang of an accent that I couldn’t quite place.

‘I see. On what business’

‘Monkey business.’

She laughed. ‘I’m sure.’

‘Miss Michelle has asked me to investigate the theft of the Jade.’

‘I’ll believe you, thousands wouldn’t’

‘I guess I should count myself lucky to be talking to you then.’

I could almost hear her smile down the phone. ‘Yes you should. Now let me do my day job. One moment please.’

The phone was put down on a desk while I could hear voices in the background. I found myself holding my breath. I let it out slowly and waited.

‘Miss Mills can fit you into her schedule at 11:30 am. Are you able to make that?’

‘Even if I have swim there.’

I was rewarded with more laughter. ‘Lets hope you don’t have to.’

‘Excuse me, but who am I speaking to? If you don’t mind me asking?’

‘I am Miss Mills’ Secretary’

‘I was hoping for more than that.’

The self-proclaimed Secretary laughed. ‘I bet you were.’

I grinned into the phone. ‘I’m not quite that bad. I guess I’ll meet you before the appointment?’

‘Maybe after the appointment. You wouldn’t want to be late now do you?’

I laughed out loud causing some of the hotel residents to turn round and look at me. This was becoming a habit.

‘I’ll make the appointment. Goodbye.’

‘Goodbye Mr Jones, I look forward to meeting you.’

‘Goodbye.’

In the hotel lobby I grabbed a handful of newspapers and started pouring over them in one of couple of large armchairs. The murder was still title line news. Police were said to be pursuing enquiries, which meant they had nothing but trying hard. The Jade was mentioned as an aside. Not a word about Mr Charles. I turned to the back pages to check out the business section. Its rare you learn anything from the front of pages of a newspaper, but the business pages can tell you an awful lot if you know how to read them. Property prices were being depressed by the murder, some speculation as to whether some municipal contracts would be revaluated by a new Mayor. Nothing I couldn’t have guessed. I sighed and turned to the crossword. Two down, unexpected death, six letters. Swearing I folded the newspapers and went back to my room to get ready to meet Miss Mills.