We disconnected the call. Countee was the owner of the business I used for all my security needs to include private investigations. We’d known each other for several years. If there was something to find on someone, he will find it.
About fifteen minutes later Countee called me back.
“Her name is Averie Grace Patterson. She was born to Wendell and Estelle Patterson. Wendell is a city bus driver and Estelle volunteers in various places but doesn’t have a job. She has two sisters one older and one younger. She graduated…”
I interrupted him, “Anything I need to know before doing business with her?”
“She is smart as hell and very connected. She’s made a name for herself in the law community. She’s never been arrested. She has a few speeding tickets, but she goes to traffic school and gets the points removed. She’s single and has never been married. I don’t see anything that would make her a danger to your business in any way. I can have someone follow her for a few days…”
“No, won’t be necessary. Thanks, Count.”
“It’s all good.”
We disconnected the call.
I pressed the intercom button.
“Gretchen, can you come in for a minute?”
“On my way.”
Gretchen walked in and sat in the chair facing my desk.
“I need Ms. Patterson’s office address.”
“It’s 201 Pine. Suite 1409. She goes to lunch from one to two, so you should try to catch her after lunch. She doesn’t have any appointments for the rest of the day.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’m smart and secretaries talk.”
This was her standard answer. She’d been with me since I’d taken over the firm after my mentor Louis Flowers suddenly passed of a heart attack. He left me the firm in his will, and I had been working hard to honor his memory ever since. I wanted to keep the name of the law firm Flowers and Associates, but in his will, he forbade me to use his name. He said he wanted me to have my own legacy and not live in the shadow of his. I changed the name of the firm from Flowers and Associates to Valentine Law Group. We have experienced continued growth since I took over.
“Can you tell Raymond I need to go to her office at two o’clock, please.”
“Two-thirty.”
“Two-thirty?”
“Yes, I made you an appointment to see her at two-thirty.”
I shook my head.
She stood from her seat, “You’re welcome, Samuel. Try not to mess this up. You know you need her.”
I’m always amazed at how well Gretchen could anticipate my requests. She would be the perfect companion if she weren’t old enough to be my mother.
“I know. By the way, what’s going on with Xavier? He seems off.”
“Daisy.”
That one word explained his behavior. Daisy was the “one that got away,” and now Xavier was doing all he could to get her back. Things must not have be going very well.
“Oh, okay. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
I pulled out the files I had on my clients and prepared myself to visit Ms. Patterson.