Linda

CASE NUMBER 481

FICTION

My name is Thunder, Jerry Thunder. I'm a private eye. Most of my cases are the usual types; robberies, kidnapings, muggings, as- saults, etc.

But my latest case, my four hundred eighty-first, was anything but commonplace.

It started June first, when this beautiful handful of chic comes walk- ing into my office. She was all business.

It turned out that her fiance had been missing for about two weeks. She wanted me to try to find him. Miss Matson, as her name turned out to be, told me they were to be married in two weeks.

I hesitated a moment, but then she pulled out five hundred bucks from her purse. I quickly said I'd take the job.

I started by checking her fiance Jennings' apartment, where he lived alone.

The first thing I noticed was that half the closet, and the shelf above it, was full of dresses, blouses, skirts, high-heels, wigs, purses, etc. At the time I didn't give them much thought. I assumed they were Miss Matson's.

Then I found a paper near the phone. On it was a number I recog- nized as that of a small hotel downtown. I decided it was worth checking on.

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