Read The Case of the Kidnapped Angel: A Masao Masuto Mystery (Book Six) for Free Online Page A

black. She wore a beach dress of pale green, and her sandals revealed toenails painted the same color as her fingernails.
    â€œYes, ma’am—very polite,” Beckman said. Those who didn’t know Beckman and took him at his appearance, that of an oversized running back, were often surprised by his irony. Masuto was watching the man. He recognized him now, Congressman Roy Hennesy.
    â€œAnd of course you’ve come about poor Angel’s kidnapping.”
    â€œHow do you know that Angel Barton was kidnapped?”
    â€œOh, one knows. This is a very small place. What has happened to our Angel?”
    â€œShe has been returned unharmed.”
    There was a pause, and then Hennesy said, “Thank God. Kidnapping is a horrible thing.”
    â€œI am Detective Sergeant Masuto. This is Detective Beckman.”
    â€œHow nice! How very nice! And this is Congressman Hennesy, a dear friend. Masuto. How nice to think that we have a Japanese detective on the Beverly Hills police force. I spent three months in Japan, and I would love to chat about it. So many things I didn’t understand. You could be so helpful.”
    â€œI’m afraid not. I’ve never been to Japan.”
    â€œReally? Then you must go.”
    â€œYes. Thank you for the suggestion. Meanwhile, I’m much more interested in the Barton kidnapping.”
    â€œOh? Are we on the list of suspects?”
    â€œSo sorry,” Masuto said, “we have no suspects but would appreciate information.”
    Beckman watched him narrowly. Masuto rarely displayed anger, but when he fell into what Wainwright called his Charlie Chan routine, he was provoked and dangerous.
    â€œHow disappointing! I always wanted to be a suspect.”
    â€œWere you at the party last night?” he asked Hennesy.
    â€œI was. But I assure you, I did not kidnap the Angel. If I had, I would never return her. I would give up my seat in Congress and find a desert island somewhere—a place where she and I could live out our lives in idyllic ecstasy.”
    â€œAh, so. And does she feel that way about you?”
    â€œSergeant, must you be so literal? Half the men in Los Angeles are in love with the Angel,” Mrs. Cooper said, and then to Hennesy, “but you are a very heartless man to sit there and tell me you dream of running off with the Angel.”
    â€œMy apologies, and the disclaimer must include the fact that I am here with you, while the Angel snuggles in the arms of her devoted husband. How devoted, I wonder? How much was the ransom, Sergeant?”
    â€œI have no idea,” Masuto said.
    â€œClose-mouthed—ah, well, an officer in pursuit of his duty.”
    â€œDid you leave the party before or after Mrs. Barton?”
    â€œI really don’t know.”
    â€œYou mean with all your talk about a desert island, you didn’t notice whether she was gone or not?”
    â€œShe left before Mr. Hennesy did,” Mrs. Cooper told him. “I don’t think any of my guests were candidates for a kidnapping—Jack Fellows and his wife, more millions than they know what to do with, the Tudors—well, a star does not dash around kidnapping people—Kennedy, only the most successful director in town, the Butterworths and the Goldbergs and the Lees. Not a very large party, Mr. Detective, and no one who is a potential for your kidnapper. If you think that any of my guests walked out of here and went over to the Barton place and kidnapped Angel Barton, you are absolutely out of your mind.”
    Masuto stared at her for a long moment; then he nodded. “We’ll be going now—oh, one thing. Which of your guests live here in the Colony?”
    â€œThe Lees and the Goldbergs. Are you going to grill them as well?”
    â€œI haven’t grilled you, Mrs. Cooper.”
    â€œThe Goldbergs are four houses down, the Lees are the sixth house.”
    â€œAnd, Congressman, when did you first learn about