Read The Pandora Directive: A Tex Murphy Novel for Free Online

my pack of smokes and drew one out. “Why?”
    Emily stood up and began to pace. “It started right after Thomas left. About a week ago… he just disappeared — without a word. A couple nights later… I found a note in my room. After I read it, I was so scared… I told Gus, and he said not to worry about it… then I got another note… I want to call the cops, but Gus won’t let me… he keeps saying its nothing, just some freak who gets off on scaring woman.”
    She dropped back onto the bed and took a long, shuddering breath. I didn’t like the idea of someone murdering her. “This is really the sort of thing the police should know about.”
    She took a jittery drag of a cigarette. “Gus says he will make sure no one hurts me. He doesn’t want anyone else taking care of me. I know he means well, but sometimes I just want to… but he’s always been so good to me… I don’t know what to do.”
    I’ve never really believed in coincidence. The timing of Thomas Malloy’s disappearance and the arrival of the notes seemed too close to be unrelated. Emily was a strong kid, but she was almost hysterical with fear. I probably would have helped her anyway. It was an added bonus that her problems might give me a lead to Malloy.
    I went over to Emily’s bed and sat down next to her. My voice was as gentle as brushed cotton. “I’ll do what I can to help… Gus doesn’t need to know.”
    She turned toward me, look for an hesitant at the same time. “I don’t have a lot of money… but I be so grateful.” her hand brushed my thigh, almost accidental. I stood up and moved away.
    “I’ll need to look at the notes you got — if you still got them.”
    “I do. I saved them to give to the police.” She crossed the room to a desk and pulled out two pieces of paper. I looked them over. “When did you receive these?”
    Emily sat back down on the bed. Last week, maybe two nights after Thomas disappeared, and then the night before last. They were slipped under my door.”
    “Has anything else happened, other than the notes?”
    “No, not I can think of.” I slipped the notes into the pocket of my overcoat. “Incidentally, what is your full name?”
    “Emily Sue Patterson.”
    “Listen, Emily, like I told you, I’m looking for Thomas Malloy. If I can find out who’s hassling you and get them to stop, will you tell me everything you know about him?”
    She thought about it for a moment. “I guess so. I think I can trust you… why are you looking for him?”
    “An old friend of his hired me to find him. He might be in danger.”
    “I’ll do what I can. I didn’t know him that well, but he was very good to me. The last time I saw him…”
    The door burst open. Leach looked from me to Emily and back to me. He seemed almost disappointed that he hadn’t caught us in a compromising position. He pointed a cigar sized finger at me. “You! Get the hell outta here! Emily, you’re on in five minutes!”
    I tipped my hat to the young lady and walked out the door. Leach followed me, slamming the door behind him. He whispered menacingly at me as he followed me down the stairs.
    “Leave her alone, Murphy. Take her away from me, and I’ll kill you. Don’t you ever forget that. I’ll kill you.”
    Discretion being the better part of valour, I didn’t reply. Leach followed me to the bottom of the stairs, grabbed me by the arm, and pushed me toward a side door.
    “You go out here. And don’t bother coming back. I don’t like nosy people hanging around my place.”
    The door slammed behind me. I was back in the alley between the Flamingo and the Ritz. At least I’d learned a lot since the last time Leach had booted me out of his club.

Chapter Five
    I set the needle down carefully. A few seconds a crackling, then Nat King Cole’s voice began to fill the office. I walked around the desk and dropped into my chair. The desktop was covered: a partially filled glass, a bottle of JD behind it, he smouldering ashtray,