the plane trip, and wondered if Gloria Russell was any good at playing
chicken.
SETH FRANK GLANCED OUF THE CAR wiNDow. His PERSONAL interviews of Walter
Sullivan’s household staff had revealed two things of interest, the
first of which was the business enterprise Frank was now parked in front
of; the second could keep. Housed in a long, gray concrete building in a
heavy commercial area of Springfield just outside the Beltway, Metro
Steam Cleaner’s sign proclaimed that it had been in business since 1949.
That was stability that meant nothing to Frank. A lot of long-standing
legitimate businesses were now money-laundering fronts for organized
crime, both Mafia, Chinese and America’s own homegrown versions.
And a carpet cleaner that catered to affluent homeowners was in a
perfect position to scope alarm systems, cash and jewelry nests and
patterns of behavior of the intended victims and their households.
Whether he was dealing with a loner or an entire organization Frank
didn’t know. It was more likely that he was headed toward a dead end,
but then you never knew. There were two patrol cars stationed three
minutes away. Just in case. Frank got out of his car. ‘
“That would have been Rogers, Budizinski and Jerome Pettis. Yep, August
30, nine A.m. Three floors. Damn house was so big, it took all day even
with three guys.” George Patterson consulted his record book while
Frank’s eyes took in the grimy office.
“Can I speak to them?”
“You can to Pettis. The other two are gone.”
“Permanently?” Patterson nodded. “How long had they been with you?”
Patterson’s eyes scanned his employment log. “Jerome’s been with me five
years. He’s one of my best People. Rogers was about two months. I think
he moved out of the area.
Budizinski had been with us about four weeks.”
“Pretty Short stays.”
“Hell, that’s the nature of the business. Spend a thousand bucks
training these guys and wham they’re gone. It’s not a career-type job,
YOU know what I mean? It’s hot, dirty work.
And the pay ain’t exactly going to put you on the Riviera, you hear what
I’m saying?”
“You got addresses for them?@ Frank took out his notebook.
“Well, like I said, Rogers moved. Pettis is in today, if you want to
talk to him. He’s got ajob to do out in McLean in about a half hour.
He’s back loading his truck now.”Who decides which crew goes to which
house?”
“I do.”
“All the time?”
Patterson hesitated. “Well, I got guys who specialize in different
stuff.”Who specializes in the high-dollar areas?”
“Jerome. Like I said, he’s my best guy.”
“How did the other two get assigned to him?”
“I don’t know, we juggle stuff like that. Depends on who Shows up for
work sometimes.”
“YOU remember any of those three being particularly interested in
visiting the Sullivan place?”
Patterson shook his head.
“What about Budizinski? You got an address on him?”
Patterson consulted a notebook crammed with paper and wrote on a slip of
paper. “It’s over in Arlington. Don’t know if he’s still there.”
“I’ll want their employment file. Social Security numbers, birthdates,
job history, all that stuff.”
“Sally can get that for you. She’s the gal up front.”
“Thanks. You got photos of these guys?”
Patterson looked at Frank like he was nuts. “Are you kidding. This ain’t
the FBI, for crying out loud.”
“Can you give me a description?” Frank asked patiently.
“I’ve got sixty-five employees and a turnover rate of over sixty
percent. I usually don’t even see the guy after he’s hired. Everybody
starts to look the same after a while anyway. Pettis’ll remember.”
“Anything else you think might help me?”
Patterson shook his head. “You think one of them might have killed that
woman?”
Frank stood up and stretched. “I don’t know. What do you think?”
“Hey, I . get all kinds in here. Nothing surprises me anymore.”
Frank turned to leave, then turned back. “Oh by the way, I’ll want
records of all homes and establishments cleaned by your firm in
Middleton in the last two years.”
Patterson exploded out of his chair. “What the fuck for?”
“You have the records?”
“Yeah, I got ’em.”
“Good, let me know when they’re ready. Have a good one.”