Daniel Ganninger - Icarus Investigations 02 - Peeking Duck by Daniel Ganninger Page A

match.
    Just as I was beginning to nod off in my cushy reclining chair , I got a page over the intercom from Jane that I had a call. 
    “ Probably Galveston,” I thought to myself, “telling me some tall tale about how he was assaulted by a pack of ravenous squirrels as he was leaving his house.”  At this point I expected anything.
    “ What excuse do you have for me today?” I asked mockingly.
    The other end was silent for a second before answering. 
    “Uh, I’m…” a woman’s voice stammered, clearly caught off guard from my blurting.
    “ I’m sorry,” I said sincerely.  “I thought you were someone else.  What can I do for you?”
    “ Uh, yes, hello, my name is Maddie Jenkins and I’m an investigator for OceanLogic Marine.  I would like to inquire about your services,” Jenkins told me.
    “ Gladly,” I announced excitedly.  “So you work with Marines?  I didn’t know anyone specialized like that?”
    I felt an uncomfortable silence at the other end of the phone. 
    “Uh, no.  Marine, like water.  We insure ships and cargo.”
    My face grew red , and I was glad she wasn’t in front of me.  So far I was not making a good impression.
    “ I should have been clear,” she said nicely, trying to keep me from feeling more stupid.
    “ I’m sorry,” I said quickly.  “What can I do for you?” I changed the subject back to the work at hand.
    “ One of your colleagues, Alex Judokowski, handled a case for us a few years ago.”
    “ I remember,” I lied.  We had so many clients after word spread of the way we worked that I couldn’t remember all of them.  “Are you interested in something in particular?”
    “ Nothing that I can discuss over the phone.  When can we arrange a meeting to discuss what we’re looking for?  This is a very big job, and I would like to know if your organization can handle it.”
    “ Of course.  How about this afternoon?  I’ll assemble our investigatory team to meet with you.”  I stated it like we had a vast pool of resources to pull from.  “My name is Roger Murphy, and I’m the President of the company.  How does four o’clock sound?”
    “ That would be perfect.  I’ll be there at four.  Just to let you know, our case concerns a ship and some containers we own on it.”
    “ Good to know.  We’ll talk about it at four.  See you then,” I told her.
    “ Thank you, see you then,” she replied.
    I hung up the phone and dialed Jane at the front desk.
    “Jane?  Get everyone on the horn.  We have a potential big client coming in.  I need Galveston and Alex here by two o’clock.  No exceptions.  Tell them it’s extremely important.  Tell Alex he worked on a case for this company before.”
    “ Got it boss,” she replied sweetly.
    I sat back in my chair.  We might have a job, and a big one at that.  Big companies seemed to be our golden ticket.  We had done many jobs for a variety of companies over the previous years.  They hated to lose money, and we were glad to oblige in helping them get their money back.  The ideas of what the job could be swirled in my head.  Hopefully it would be quick and easy with a big payout.  I never would have guessed what a mess we were about to get ourselves into.

-Chapter 15-
     
    Alex managed to pull himself away from his day at the spa, which he had not been kidding about.  He looked polished, refreshed, and relaxed.  For him it was another tough day.
    I corralled Alex into my office around three o’clock; I didn’t want him to find an excuse to leave early.  I hadn’t told him much about our prospective job, only that he had previously worked with the company.
    I was growing nervous as the clock passed thirty minutes past three.  Galveston finally strolled in five minutes later, as if he was on time.  Alex and I just stared at him as he came in and plopped down on a chair in front of us.  The way he looked was in one word, shocking, and in another word, hilarious.
    “ That’s