[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Her face, incontrast, was lean and triangular under a cap of black curls.Her eyes were the same color, large and round and heavily lashed.She had on asoft pink dress that would have gone well at a Renoir picnic.Bracelets jangled as she extended her arm."Dr.Delaware? I'm Susan LaFamiglia."We shook hands.Hers was small and soft, until she turned on the grip.She wore lots of makeup and had applied it well.Rings graced half of herfingers.A strand of black pearls rested on her bosom.If it was real, it wasworth more than the Jag."It's good to meet you, she said."I'd like to talk to you about our mutualclient-not right now, because I'm in the middle of talking to her, trying tounravel her finances.How about in a couple of days?""Sure.As long as Melissa consents."She already has.I've got a release form inside.I'm sorry, did you come tohave a session with her?""No," I said."Just to see how she's doing.""She seems to be doing okay-considering.I was surprised at how knowledgeableshe is about money, for someone her age.But obviously I don't know her verywell.""She's a complex young lady," I said."Has a detective named Sturgis been by?""Milo? He was here before, just went over to the stepfather's restaurant.Thepolice came here to question Melissa about this McCloskey character's death.Itold them she hadn't been informed of it yet, and that under no circumstanceswould I allow them to talk to her.Milo suggested they talk to the stepfatherthere was a bit of pawing and snorting, but they agreed."Her smile said success had been no surprise.The Tankard's lot was so full of cars that it appeared open for business:Page 331 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlRamp's Mercedes, Noel's Toyota, the brown Chevy Monte Carlo, Milo's Fiat, anda dark blue Buick sedan that I'd also seen before.Milo's hired surveillance was nowhere in sight.Either not on the job ordamned good.As I got out of the Seville, I saw someone exit the rear of the building andrun across the lot.Bethel Drucker in a white blouse and dark shorts and flat sandals.Blond hair loose and flying, chest bouncing.A moment later she was behind thewheel of the brown Chevy, revving noisily, backing out of her space in asquealing fishtail, then speeding down the driveway toward the boulevard.Without stopping, she hooked a sharp tight and roared away.I tried to catch aglimpse of her face behind glass but caught only a boomerang flash of hotwhite sunlight.Just as the sound of her engine faded, the Tankard's front door opened andNoel stepped out, looking confused and scared."Your mom went that way," I said, and he swung his eyes toward meconvulsively.I walked over to him."What happened?""I don't know," he said."The cops came by to talk to Don.I was in thekitchen, doing some reading.Mom went out and served them coffee, and thenwhen she got back she looked really upset.I asked her what the matter was butshe didn't answer and then I saw her leave.""Any idea what the cops said to Don?""No.Like I said, I was in the kitchen.I wanted to ask her what the matterwas but she just left without saying anything." He looked down the boulevard."It's not like her.He lowered his head, forlorn.Dark and handsome and forlorn.James Deanish.My scalp prickled.I said, "No idea where she might have gone?""It could be anywhere.She likes to drive being cooped up in here all day.Butshe usually tells me where she's going and when she's coming back.""She's probably under stress," I said."What with the restaurant being closed.The uncertainty.""She's scared," he said."The Tankard's been her life.I told her even ifworse comes to worse and Don doesn't reopen, she can easily get a job atanother place, but she said it would never be the same, because." Shadinghis eyes with one hand, he scanned the boulevard some more."Because what, Noel?""Huh?" He gave a startled look."Your mom said it would never be the same because.Page 332 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Whatever," he said angrily."Noel-" "It's not important.I've gotta go.Reaching into his jeans, he pulled out a ring of keys, ran to the Celica, anddrove off.I was still preoccupied as I walked up to the Tankard's front door.The NO BRUNCH sign had been replaced with one that said CLOSED UNTIL FURTHERNOTICE.Inside, the lights had been turned up to cheapening brightness, exposing everyraw spot in the wood paneling, every snarl and stain on the carpet.Milo sat on a stool by the bar, holding a coffee cup.Don Ramp was in one ofthe booths along the right wall, a bottle of Wild Turkey, a glass, and a cupthat matched Milo's within arm's reach.Two other coffees sat near the outeredge of the table.Ramp had on the same white shirt he'd worn at the dam.Helooked as if he'd just returned from a guided tour to hell, travelingstand-by.ChiefChickering and Officer Skopek stood over him.Chickering was smoking acigar.Skopek looked as if he would have liked one, too.When the chief saw me, he turned and frowned.Skopek did likewise.Milo sipped coffee.Ramp didn't do anything.AlL' sour.It looked like a chapter meeting of the Big Man's Club gone I said, "Hi,Chief.""Doctor." Chickering moved his wrist and a pellet of ash dropped into a traynear Ramp's bottle.The bourbon was two-thirds gone.I went to the bar and sat down next to Milo.He raised his eyebrows and gave asmall smile.Chickering turned back to Ramp."Okay, Don, guess that'll do it."If Ramp responded I didn't see it.Chickering picked up one of the coffee cups near the edge and took a longswallow.Licking his lips, he came over to the bar.Skopek followed butremained several feet behind
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
