Page 9 - double revenge 3.

Mex never went anywhere without his Smith and Wesson and when he shook my hand I swear I
now had a firm imprint of his enormous gold signet ring.

‘Bryant, great to see you. Hey, Sylvie, fetch my British friend a glass of ice-cold beer. Sit down
buddy.’
The two occupants of the chairs had politely moved away. Despite the sign, which stated “Bar
Service Only”, Sylvie brought a pint of bitter and a large smile for Mex to the table. As she placed
the beer in front of me she winked.
‘How many times do I have to tell you Mex, we British drink pints of beer not glasses?
You see, Sylvie knows this.’

He laughed. ‘So what brings you to my office?’ It was my turn to laugh as he stretched out both
hands to indicate the bar.
‘It’s nothing urgent Mex, I was just on my way to Taylor House to try and track down a missing
person George wants me to find.’
Mex looked puzzled.
‘Taylor House is the home of the Family Record Centre, the depository of records for all who enter
and depart their life in the UK. Walk in and pay cash and you can leave with a birth certificate of a
child who died at an early age and start a new assumed identity with no record you had ever been
there. It beats walking around looking at gravestones.’

Mex smiled, ‘Ah, the day of the jackal. I have seen the movie. But what the heck are you doing
looking for a missing person, have you moved office or has George finally cracked and who is it
gone missing?’

‘To be honest, Mex, I have no idea why George wants him found, he appears to be a small, one off
crook who has scarpered with a case full of Mafia money. Names Arnold Warner. Apparently he is

an investment advisor from Boston Massachusetts.’
‘Arnold Warner. I don’t know why but the name seems familiar. Probably read about him in the
Boston Globe. Look, I will set some wheels in motion when I get back to the office, see if we have
anything on him. Not likely but you never know.’
‘Thanks Mex, I certainly didn’t fancy an afternoon sorting through dusty old records.’
I glanced over my shoulder as I left to see Mex already back in earnest conversation with his two
colleagues.

I decided to walk back to the office, it would take me the best part of an hour but I was in no hurry
to see George and the Summer Sun slowly mellowed my resentment at this demeaning missing
person brief.

I sank into the couch in my office and was on the verge of closing my eyes when Brenda entered.
‘Just a reminder, it is David’s birthday on Sunday and you said I could get off early today to help my
boys buy their dad’s present.’

‘Yes of course Bren. No problem.’