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"So I was suddenly very rich," Dunsinan resumed after licking his lips, "I had more money than I had ever expected to see in a lifetime. But I wasn't sure how best to handle the dough." He coughed, then took another swig of the beer. He stared into the distance for a moment, his mind obviously elsewhere. Then his attention swung back to me. "You hear stories about ordinary guys who come into money," he said thoughtfully, "It goes to their heads. They blow it all in three months. Six at the outside. So I wanted to avoid that trap." Maybe it's a typical macho guy thing. Live day to day, do now the things you want to do and to hell with tomorrow. Have that attitude, and throw a little booze into the picture, and a guy could burn his way though a load of dosh in no time flat. "Not that I learned that lesson straight off, of course," he added with a self-deprecating grin, "After all the mucking about with Wills and Probate, which was a real drag, I felt I deserved a proper holiday. Anyway, I'd hardly taken any vacation time when I was in the force. So I went downtown for a long weekend, partying and getting drunk. I don't remember much of it, to be honest, but it sure left quite a dent in the funds Auntie had left me." "So you sobered up," I said, nodding, "And wised up, too." "Too right," he agreed, "So I went along to a professional consultancy called Birnam and Woods to get advice on investments and financial management." "Why pick that one?" I interjected, suddenly curious. "I investigated - nah, I solved a crime there once, before your time," Dunsinan explained, "So they owed me one. Old Wallace Birnam remembered me kindly enough, and sat me down and talked to me, just like he was my uncle. After some thought, he suggested that I should investing my windfall in a business venture." "And you bought that idea?" I asked, trying to keep any hint of incredulity out of my voice. "Yeah," he replied, "Something to fill my days and keep a little money coming in - all without stopping me from having a good time at nights, of course." I nodded sagely. Having a good time in the evening would be fine when moderated by the need to get up work work the following morning. Even if you didn't have to get up particularly early. Easier if you're the boss, of course. "Anyway, Birnam set me up with a partner called Carsie Burnbank," Dunsinan said, "We formed a real estate agency and property rentals business." He fumbled in his wallet and pulled out a card, which he flicked over the table at me. It ended up wedged under my fork. I caught sight of David returning carrying two large blue-patterned plates piled high with food which steamed appetizingly. I reached forward and grabbed Dunsinan's card just before the patron's apron'd bulk arrived at our table. He presented the plates with a flourish, bowed slightly to wish us Bon Appétit and retreated majestically. Reacting to the aroma, my stomach rumbled enough to remind me that I hadn't eaten very much today, and I grabbed the eatin' irons and tucked in with gusto. Opposite me, Dunsinan was doing much the same, swallowing several mouthfuls in quick succession and giving every impression that he too had not enjoyed a square meal yet today. Once I had made an initial dent in the void in my stomach, I set down my knife and picked up the card that Dunsinan had lobbed at me. It was a nicely-finished job, not like the tatty pieces of cardboard which is all I'm prepared to afford. The classy typography said "Dunsinan and Burnbank, Realtors" - his name first, I noticed - with a phone number and an address in one of the more well-to-do caverns. "So, did this Burnbank invest money too?" I asked. "Sure," he mumbled with his mouth full, then swallowed before adding, "Equal shares, equal partners." It sounded like a stock phrase he had picked up somewhere. "Uh-huh. You get on well with your partner?" "Sure. He does the majority of the paperwork and I do most of the leg-work." "Really? Why is that?" I wondered aloud. Dunsinan swallowed another forkful. He was eating with considerable gusto and no elegance whatsoever. "Play to our strengths, that's the ticket," he said, "Burnbank's a bookish kind of guy. Weedy, I suppose, and not very good with people. While sometimes I have to get a bit, ah, heavy, if you know what I mean. Rent collections, repossessions, that sort of thing. I also handle prospective tenants and buyers, who can be a bit of a handful sometimes, too." "Well, it all sounds very sweet," I said, slightly dismissively, "But what's your problem here?" Dunsinan paused with his fork half-way to his mouth and looked very serious. "My partner's disappeared. No sign of him, anywhere. And I've looked."
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Part 5