Read Online Another Word for Murder by Nero Blanc - Free Book Online Page A

industrial and that was now undergoing a steady transformation. Trendy lofts were sprouting up in buildings that had been warehouses and manufacturing plants during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and the spaces were now deemed “hot properties” on the residential market. At least once a year some new neighbor would make it his or her raison d’etre to try to force Father Tom and his “clients” to move to a less hip area.
    Rosco’s path had crossed Father Tom’s on several occasions in the past, and they’d developed a mutual fondness and respect for one another. Upon seeing Rosco, the priest gave him his habitual ironclad handshake and followed it with a bone-crushing bear hug. “Long time, no see,” Father Tom bellowed. “I don’t suppose you’d like to step into the kitchen and give us a hand fixing up today’s lunch?”
    Rosco raised his hands, regained his breath, and smiled. “No can do, Padre. I’m up to my ears.”
    â€œYeah? What’s shakin’?”
    â€œI’m working on a little missing persons problem.”
    Father Tom sighed. “Okay, shoot. Give me a description, I’ll let you know if he’s checked into the mission. But I’ve gotta tell you, Rosco, I haven’t seen any new faces down here for the past few weeks.”
    â€œNo, I doubt if this guy would be checking into the mission.” Rosco stopped and gave Tom’s notion some thought. “But then again, you never know who’s got a secret passion for the demon rum, causing him to slip off the deep end one day.”
    â€œHappens all the time, my friend.”
    â€œNo, I’m looking for the dentist who works with your men.”
    â€œDan Tacete?”
    â€œYep. He left work yesterday noontime and hasn’t been seen since. I gather he was at the Bay Clinic on Tuesday?”
    Tom tilted his head toward the mission’s kitchen door. “Come on, I’ll buy you a cup of coffee. I need to make sure things are going smoothly back there. Don’t worry, I won’t put you to work baking bread like I did the last time you drifted in here.”
    The men entered the kitchen, walked over to a standing urn, and filled two porcelain mugs with coffee. Three other men were busily making sandwiches while another was dumping commercial-size cans of soup into a large steel pot on a gas range.
    â€œTwenty-four hours,” Father Tom said after he’d sampled the coffee. “That’s a little early to start calling out the Marines, isn’t it?”
    â€œTacete’s a family man, Padre. No, I don’t think it’s too early to start looking. His wife’s very concerned.”
    The priest nodded toward the men toiling in the kitchen. “They’re all family men, too. I guess the difference is, nobody’s looking for them.” He sighed and leaned his big frame against a work table. “Dan’s a good person. He started the dental branch of the Bay Clinic, and he’s the only reason it’s kept going. The few other dentists he persuaded to get involved haven’t lasted. There’s no Medicare money floating his way—it’s all pro bono stuff. A lot of people aren’t into that, or simply don’t have the time, or devote the time they do have to golf … but I have to tell you …” He stopped and took another swig of coffee.
    â€œTell me what?” Rosco prodded.
    Father Tom considered his answer for a moment longer, then said, “I’ve watched Dan work. He has a real affinity with these men. They get along very well. They have a lot of laughs together. Believe it or not, these guys actually look forward to going to the dentist.”
    â€œSo, what are you saying? Dan Tacete’s a sorcerer? I have a lot of laughs with my dentist, but that doesn’t make his drill a sight for sore eyes.”
    â€œNo. What I’m saying is,