Sunday, August 17, 2025

Allyn and Ransom – 14

 

 

"We have three parties we need to cover," Ransom said, looking at the officers assembled in the conference room the task force was using at the police station.

 

"Three parties and five of us. This ought to be fun," Thornton said.

 

"Hey, not my fault we're all the department can spare, even with Mr. Patterson still raising hell. The captain thinks it's a long shot our guy will show after all the publicity about Ellis Patterson's being missing."

 

Hanna Lane shook her head. "If anything, it might make the guy try, so he can thumb his nose at us."

 

Ransom nodded. "I agree, but the captain doesn't see it that way."

 

"If we had a clue what the man looked like," one of the other officers said. "Tall with dark hair isn't much of a descriptor."

 

"No shit," Thornton muttered.

 

"All we can do is the best we can," Ransom said. "You and Daniels take the film festival party, Thornton. Lane, you and Johnson get the animal shelter charity bash, and I'll take the ballet fundraiser."

 

"On it," Daniels said. "Do you even own a tux, Ransom?" he asked with a smirk.

 

"Yep, believe it or not. Okay, let's end this. We have three hours to get ready." Ransom smiled wickedly. "Have fun and stay sober."

 

As soon as everyone was gone, Ransom went back to his office. He had a call to make. One he wasn't certain was a good idea but… The only number he had was the one to Allyn's home phone. When he called, someone answered, saying, "Warwick residence."

 

"Is Mr. Warwick available?"

 

"Let me check. Who shall I say is calling?"

 

Ransom was tempted to say "whom", but resisted. "Detective Carlyle."

 

"If you'll hold, please."

 

Ransom did, wondering if Allyn would tell whoever had answered that they should say he wasn't at home. He was a bit surprised when, a moment later, Allyn said cautiously, "Why are you calling?"

 

"Because I need your help, if you're willing, and if you're free tonight."

 

"Actually, I'm not. I'm attending an event at Mystère Mansion."

 

Ransom sucked in a breath. "The ballet fundraiser?"

 

"Yes. How do you know about…?" Then the penny obviously dropped. "You think the guy who abducted Ellis and the others might show up there?"

 

"There, or at one of the other big shindigs going on this weekend. I've got people at the other ones, but that leaves me to hit up the Mansion on my own."

 

"And you're wondering if I'd be willing to help you out."

 

"Yeah. I know you're good at it. Or you were back when we worked together last time."

 

There was a long pause. "Do you have a tux? One that isn't twenty years old?"

 

"Why does everyone think I'm too plebeian to own one?"

 

Allyn laughed. "Because you're a cop?"

 

"Thanks a lot. And it was one of my guys who asked the same question."

 

"Maybe it's your rough-and-tumble look. No one can picture you dressed to the nines."

 

"You'll see. I'll pass as one of the upper crust. That is, if you're willing to help. If nothing else, you can tell me who couldn't be our man, since you probably know a lot of the people who will be there."

 

"I suppose I do by this point. God only knows, I go to enough of these things."

 

"Why? If you don't like them, and it sounds as if you don't."

 

Allyn shrugged. "Gives me something to do. But more importantly, it reinforces I'm truly so benign and idle that when I vanish for a while, no one really misses me."

 

"No one? I don't believe that. Surely Miranda's not the only person in your life."

 

"True. There's the people who work for us. But they're used to my gadding about. Other than that, yeah, there is a man I'm with—sort of on-again, off-again. If we're in the same place at the same time, we usually end up going home together."

 

Ransom had the urge to strangle this other man, which shocked him. He'd long ago tamped down the feelings he'd had for Allyn. They were too different. The grasshopper and the ant, as he thought of if. Or at least he had until Miranda's revelation about Allyn. Was I wrong to give up on him? I had no reason—before I walked away—to think he was anything more than what he seemed to have become. A spoiled boy who found the life of a dilettante too much to his liking to give it up.


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