Страница 14 из 55
"Wow," I said. "It's nice of you to make supper like this."
"I could have done an even better job, but you've only got one pot. What happened to that set of Revere Ware you got at your wedding shower?"
"I threw it away when I found Dickie doing… you know, with Joyce."
Grandma brought the macaroni and cheese to the table. "I guess I can understand that." She sat down and helped herself to a pork chop. "I gotta get a move on. Melvina and me didn't have time to go to the viewing this afternoon, so we're going tonight. You're welcome to come along."
Next to sticking myself in the eye with a fork, my favorite thing in the world is to go visit dead people. "Thanks, but I have to work tonight. I'm doing surveillance for a friend."
"Too bad," Grandma said. "It's going to be a good viewing."
AFTER GRANDMA LEFT I watched a Simpsons rerun, a Na
When it was almost dark I changed my clothes. Black spandex ru
I gave Rex a piece of cheese and explained that I'd be home in a couple hours. Out in the parking lot, I looked for a Honda Civic, and then I remembered it had been toasted. Then I looked for the wind machine, but that wasn't right either. And finally, with a disheartened sigh, I picked out the Buick.
Fenwood Street was cozy at night. Lights were on in house windows, and walk lights dotted the pathways leading to the town houses. There was no activity on the street.
Ha
I did some stretches and some jogging in place in case someone was watching me, wondering if I was a suspicious character. I took off at a slow jog and quickly reached the path that ran through the common ground behind the houses. Less ambient light filtered through the trees back here. I took a moment to let my eyes adjust. Each privacy fence had a back door, and I cautiously walked along, counting off doors until I figured I was behind Ha
I tried the door to the fence. Locked. The brick fence was seven feet tall. The brick was smooth, impossible to climb. No handholds or footholds. I looked around for something to stand on. Nothing. I eyeballed the pine growing next to the fence. Slightly mishapen from the fence pressing into some lower branches. The upper branches hanging over the yard. If I could get up in the tree, the branches would give me cover, and I could spy on Ha
Just as I'd suspected, the drapes at the back of the house weren't drawn. A double window looked into the kitchen. The patio doors opened to a dining area. A small piece of another room was visible beyond the dining area. Probably the living room, but it was hard to tell. I didn't see anyone moving around.
I sat there for a while, watching nothing happen. No action in Ha
After an hour my butt was asleep and my legs were feeling twitchy from inactivity. Bag this, I thought. I didn't know what I was supposed to be looking for, anyway.
I turned to climb down, lost my balance, and flopped to the ground. Wump! Flat on my back. In Ha
The patio light flashed on, and Ha
I wiggled my fingers and moved my legs. Everything seemed to be working.
Ha
"I fell out of the tree," I said. Pretty obvious, since there were pine needles and twigs scattered around me.
Ha
I dragged myself to my feet. "I was trying to get my cat to come down. "He's been up there since this afternoon."
He looked up at the tree. "Is your cat still there?" Not sounding like he believed a word of it.
"I think he jumped when I fell."
Ha
"And I suppose he ran away?" Ramos said.
"God, I hope not. I'm tired of chasing after him." I am the best liar. Sometimes I amaze even myself.
Ha
I looked over Ha
"You know what I think?" Ha
I gave him a look of total incredulity. Like… oh, duh? "Listen," I said, scooting around him to the door. "I've got to go. I need to find my cat."
"What color is it?"
"Black."
"Good luck."
I looked under a couple bushes en route to the bike path. "Here kitty, kitty."
"Maybe you should give me your name and phone number in case I find him," Ha
Our eyes locked for a couple beats, and my heart stumbled in my chest.
"No," I told him. "I don't think I want to do that." And then I left, walking in the opposite direction I came.
I exited the bike path and circled the block to get to my car. I crossed the street and stood in the shadows for a few minutes, looking at Ha
A light blinked on in an upstairs window. The crown prince was probably changing into something more comfortable. Too early for bed, and the lights were still on downstairs. I was about to leave when a car cruised down the street and turned into Ha