Chapter 2

Horatio Albert Adcock had been in the business for years. He had been with the Pinkerton Agency for a long time before he had enough money to try it on his own. Now he was getting too old for this stuff. Here was an opportunity to leave with a nest egg unlike many of his age. He had been married once. But she had died before her time should have been up. After that he had just gone through the motions.

He had taken the 'kids' on in order to retire. His gray haired head reflected the age that he was. At sixty he was really too old to protect others much less himself. He walked with a limp from an arthritic hip. Yet he still had a very good reputation and he had some money stashed away. He had a slim mustache and was in good shape otherwise for his age. He had a sparring partner at the gym that kept him alert. His retirement would also include a very pretty younger widow who had been chasing him for a couple of months. Now that he had someone that was about to buy him out he was almost ready.

At one time his office had included a partner and two secretaries. His partner had gotten himself killed and it had taken him some time to clean that mess up. Ultimately the murderer had turned out to be his partner's jealous wife.