Read Online Deadly Gamble: The First Charlie Parker Mystery by Connie Shelton - Free Book Online Page B

could tell, but he couldn't find a way to argue
with it either.
    "I can't authorize you to work on this," he
said.
    "Will you do it then?"
    "Charlie, I have umpteen million things
waiting here. The price of being gone a week."
    "Then I'm going out to ask a few more
unauthorized questions."
    "You wouldn't consider letting the police
work on their own case, I guess."
    "Ron, I'm sure they're working on it, and I'm
sure they're doing a fine job." I walked out before he could add
anything.
    Traffic on the freeway was heavy, moving at a
frustrating speed-up, slow-down pace. The sun had topped Sandia
Peak already, but thin streaky gray clouds filtered out any warming
effect. March is such an ugly month. The charm of winter has long
since worn off, and the beauty of spring won't be here for another
six weeks or more. Spring winds usually blow for most of March and
April, leaving spirits whipped and nerves raw. This is about the
only time of year I envy Paul and Lorraine's living in Phoenix.
    I took the San Mateo exit toward Academy Road
once again. This was beginning to feel like familiar territory.
Traffic all seemed to be heading the opposite direction, making me
feel like the only person in town who hadn't heard the air raid
sirens. Lowering my sun visor against the glare, I continued my
easterly course. The same toothless guard from the other day
protected the Tanoan gate and he waved me through like an
old-timer.
    Now that I was here, I couldn't decide
whether to continue checking the names on my list or pay another
visit to Stacy. The steady stream of outbound traffic warned me
that I might not have much luck either way. Before I stirred up any
more uninvolved parties it might be better to find out if there had
been any new developments over the weekend. I pulled into Stacy's
circular drive and rang her multi-chimed doorbell.
    A dark shape wavered behind the beveled glass
for a moment. The next thing I knew, I stood face-to-face with the
man I'd once thought I would marry.

    Chapter 8

    Brad North had put on a lot of weight. That
was my first impression. He'd once been tall and thin. He still had
the height, but everything had rounded out, giving him indistinct
outlines. The soft jogging suit he wore accentuated the effect. His
hair was still wavy brown, his eyes blue. At the moment his mouth
hung slack. He was obviously dumbfounded to find me standing
here.
    "Hello, Brad."
    His mouth worked a couple of times, settling
finally into a tentative smile. "Charlie! What a surprise."
    "Is Stacy home?" My mind groped for a
reasonable explanation for my appearance.
    Stacy showed up behind Brad's shoulder just
then, questioning. When she saw me, her face went white.
    "Stacy, now don't tell me you've forgotten
that we'd planned to go out for breakfast." I noticed that she was
still in her robe. "You did, didn't you?"
    Luckily she picked up my cue. "Oh, Charlie,
God, yes, I did forget." She glanced nervously at Brad, whose mouth
had formed a straight line. "Brad, you remember my telling you that
I ran into Charlie recently? I completely forgot that we were going
out to breakfast today."
    His eyes narrowed, but he didn't say
anything.
    "Can you give me a minute to get dressed?"
she asked me. Turning to Brad again, she hesitantly met his stare.
"Is it okay, Brad? I won't be gone long."
    There was a moment's pause as Brad apparently
wrestled between saying what he really felt and preserving his
image before an outsider. "Sure. It's fine." Stacy dashed for the
staircase.
    I stood awkwardly on the porch, wondering
just what was going on here. Did she really need permission to see
an old friend?
    "Well, come on in, Charlie. We're letting all
the cold air in." Brad closed the door behind me. "Let me show you
around while Stacy gets dressed."
    I had no idea how much Stacy'd told him, but
didn't think it would be wise to admit I'd already had the grand
tour. His version was a bit different from Stacy's anyway. He took
particular pride in pointing