Phantom Point

by Gary Inbinder

Table of Contents

Chapter 11: Miss Moore

Max dreamed he was tailing someone. He hiked up a winding trail into a forest like those around Phantom Point. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, as though he anticipated someone, or something, at the end of the road.

He reached a fork in the path. He paused, because he wasn’t sure which way to go. Then, a mist came up like fog rolling in from the ocean. He became confused, thinking he was lost, when he heard a voice calling him, a woman’s voice. “Max, come this way,” she beckoned.

He walked toward the sound of the voice until he came up short in front of a huge black iron gate. Max could see ironwork lettering high above; he had to strain his eyes to read it. After a moment, he made out the words: “The Eyrie.” He remembered Eve, the woman he had met on the train who went to work for John Merwin.

The gate swung on its hinges but he couldn’t see anyone opening it. The voice called out: “It’s all right, Max, don’t worry. Trust me.” He crossed the threshold and followed the voice.

The fog lifted and he noticed the gray outline of a massive stone building, but he did not continue on the gravel driveway leading to the mansion. Something drew him down a footpath cutting across the broad, green lawn in the direction of the cliff side.

He kept going up to the edge without any fear. The sound of the surf and the cries of circling sea birds had a calming effect. He looked out toward the horizon and saw nothing but deep blue sky and a sparkling, silver ocean.

Then, he heard the woman whispering, or perhaps it was just the wind. Max turned toward the house and noticed a pair of windows high up in a tower. Those dimly lit windows seemed like eyes trying to discover a secret. He turned his attention from the tower to a third-floor balcony. He saw a woman standing by the railing. Was it Eve? Or Mrs. Merwin? Or someone else?

An icy gust blew in from the sea. He sensed someone behind him. He tried turning his head to see who it was, but he froze stiff. The fog crept up the cliff, blotting out sun, sky, sea and house; the whole world seemed swallowed by swirling mist. Panic gripped him, and he cried out. That’s when Max woke up.

He blinked his eyes and rubbed his aching forehead. He rolled over to one side and tried to focus his bleary eyes on the alarm clock. Too dark to read. He switched on the bedside table lamp and was surprised to discover it was nearly eleven. Then he noticed the sound of a light rainfall pattering against the window panes and on the pavement below. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, raised himself with a grunt and walked to the window. He felt the damp floorboards through his socks; the rain had poured in overnight. He shut the half-opened window and looked out at the gray morning.

Max remembered his appointment with Virginia Moore; he hoped the weather would clear in time for their meeting. Regardless, he needed to clean himself up, change clothes, and then fill his empty stomach with coffee and a hearty breakfast. If there were a pharmacy nearby, aspirin would help soothe his throbbing head.

* * *

Water dripped from the branches of tall shade trees lining the path that circled the small park. Max spotted Miss Moore seated on a bench. He walked over, smiled, and tipped his hat in greeting. Then he wiped the seat with his handkerchief before he sat. He looked around and noticed a man approaching from the opposite end of the square. One of Rivers’ deputies walked by and acknowledged them with a hand to the brim of his derby.

When the officer was out of earshot, and the man had seated himself across from them on the other side of a fountain, Max spoke. “Don’t be alarmed, miss, but that fellow over there might be watching us. No, don’t look at him. Just act natural and keep your voice down. He can’t hear us unless we raise our voices.” Max couldn’t be sure, but he guessed the individual was another of Doyle’s henchmen.

“I... I’m sorry, Mr. Rogers. I’m not used to this sort of thing.”

“Well, Miss Moore, I don’t know what you mean by ‘this sort of thing,’ so you can start by telling me why you asked me to meet you here.”

She gazed down at her hands for a moment as if to collect her thoughts before speaking. Then she looked directly at Max and said, “I believe I know why you’re here... I mean to say why you’re in Santa Teresa.”

“I see. And how would you know that?”

“I overheard some of your conversation with Mr. Williams.” She blushed and looked back down at her hands.

“Listening at keyholes is a bad habit. Might get you in trouble.”

She looked up suddenly, eyes wide behind her spectacles. “Oh, it’s not what you think. Mr. Williams is a fine man. He’s been very good to me and my late father. It’s just... well, he’s been upset lately over these questions about Phantom Point. A little more than a week ago, there was Mr. Burgess. Now you.

“There’s something you should know about that property; something Mr. Williams wouldn’t tell you. My father was a wildcatter. I don’t remember my mother. She died shortly after I was born. Years ago, when I was a little girl, father used all his savings to purchase an oil lease at Phantom Point. Then he sold shares in the lease and got financial backing to drill a test hole. It came up dry. He drilled another, but had to stop when the money ran out. Father was ruined. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Williams, he would have gone bankrupt. He might have wound up in the poorhouse, and I would have been stuck in an orphanage.”

“What did Mr. Williams do?”

“He purchased the oil lease, bought up the outstanding shares, paid off father’s creditors and gave him a job as a clerk. After father passed away, and I was old enough to work, Mr. Williams employed me. He saved our lives.”

“That was very noble of him.” Max paused before continuing. He suspected the lawyer’s motives for helping the Moore family were less than charitable. Regardless, the young woman seemed sincerely grateful and that meant he would need to be careful when questioning her about Williams. “You said Mr. Williams purchased the oil lease from your father and the shareholders. But he warned me about adverse claims to the property. When I tried to get more information, he became very tight-lipped about the matter. I got the impression he was protecting a client, which is understandable.” Instead of pushing for more information, he waited for her to respond.

After a slight pause she said, “He’s concerned about the Merwin claims, most particularly Mr. John Merwin. He’s a powerful man, with connections in Sacramento and Washington, too. Some folks say he owns Santa Teresa county.”

“Yes, I’ve heard plenty about the Merwins. I’m sure Mr. Williams has files relating to Phantom Point. Have you seen them?”

“No, sir. He’s never shown them to me, and I certainly wouldn’t look at them without his permission.”

“But aren’t you curious? After all, your father risked everything because he believed there was a rich oil field at Phantom Point. If he had been able to continue his exploration, he might have brought in a bonanza, in which case you’d be a very wealthy young woman.”

She looked down and fiddled with the handle on her purse before saying, “I’ll admit I’ve thought about that.” Then she stopped fidgeting and looked up. “But I can’t believe Mr. Williams would have taken advantage of Father and me. He... he’s not that sort of man.”

“I know he’s well-regarded. But the Phantom Point oil rights could be worth millions... maybe tens of millions. It’s hard to predict what folks will do when there’s that much at stake.”

“May I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Are you trying to purchase the oil rights to Phantom Point? Is that why you’re here?”

Max smiled and looked directly into her myopic eyes. She did not look away. He decided to take a calculated risk. “Virginia... you don’t mind my calling you by your first name, do you?”

“No, I guess not.”

“Good. You seem like an honest and intelligent young woman. I’m going to trust you and take you into my confidence. But first, I want you to promise that you won’t reveal to anyone what I’m about to tell you, and that includes Mr. Williams, at least not until I tell you it’s all right to do so. Will you give me your word of honor on that?”

“Yes, I promise.”

Max studied her expression for an instant. He noticed a faint smile and a sparkle in her eyes, as though she enjoyed being let in on a secret. He wasn’t quite sure how to interpret that look, but he decided to cross the Rubicon anyway. “I’m a private detective from Chicago working on a case with the Los Angeles police. I’d be grateful for your help... if you’re willing to give it.”

“What’s the case about?”

“For the time being, I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to say.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I want to see any files or correspondence Mr. Williams has relating to Phantom Point. That would include any documents concerning Arthur Burgess. Would you be willing to help me?”

“How... how do I know you are who you say you are? Can you show me a badge, or credentials, or something?”

Max shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. I’m working deep undercover, and I can’t risk carrying credentials. You’re just going to have to trust me, the way I’m trusting you.” He paused and glanced toward the shadow, then turned back to Virginia. “That fellow is still watching us. I want you to help me confuse him, throw the dog off the scent so to speak. It involves a little acting. Will you do that?”

“I... I guess so.”

“Good. Now I want you to pretend I’m your boyfriend. I’ll take your hand, move closer and give you a little kiss, nothing more. What do you say?”

“You... you mean right here, in public? I never...” She blushed, looked down and started fidgeting with her handbag again.

Max instinctively moved closer and took her hand, gently. “There now,” he whispered, “we’re almost done playacting. Just one more, little thing.” He lifted her chin. She closed her eyes and parted her lips. He brushed his mouth against hers. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“No, it wasn’t,” she whispered.

“Then you’ll help me?”

She gazed at him fondly and said, “Yes, Matt, I’ll help you.”

Proceed to Chapter 12...

Copyright © 2022 by Gary Inbinder

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