Read Online Deadly Sanctuary by Sylvia Nobel - Free Book Online Page A

want to come?”
    “Bowling? I don’t think I can stand the excitement.” That brought a laugh from Bradley. Jim muttered for me to ‘suit myself’ and swaggered out. I felt a little guilty then. Though annoying at times, he was only trying to be friendly.
    But then, I couldn’t have gone anyway. I had one last stop before heading home. John Dexter’s place.
    At four o’clock Bradley left with a reminder that he’d pick me up at six-thirty sharp the following evening. I agreed, cleared my desk and headed to my car.
    The Ocotillo Village Apartments had obviously seen better days. The peeling pink stucco walls seemed to sag in the late afternoon sun. As I picked my way through the littered courtyard, I suppressed a shiver of revulsion at the sight of a chipped swimming pool filled with murky, oily-looking water.
    I counted twelve units before knocking on a door that had one F missing from OFFICE. A small grayish lizard clutching the doorframe turned bulbous black eyes in my direction.
    The manager, a greasy looking little man with leering eyes and boozy breath invited me inside the dusty, cluttered room.
    “Have a seat.” With eager movements, he removed a pile of newspapers from the chair in front of his desk. The way his gaze lingered on my body made my skin crawl. But…perhaps he could be useful. So, I gave him an extra flash of leg as I crossed one over the other.
    Practically slobbering, he ran around behind the desk and pulled out a blank rental agreement. “I don’t have a unit available right at this minute,” he said, fumbling for a pen, “but just as soon as one opens up, you can be sure you’ll get it.”
    It was difficult, but I mustered up what I hoped was a bewitching smile.
    “I’m not looking for an apartment, actually.”
    The gleam of anticipation in his beady eyes faded. “Oh. Well…what do you want?”
    “I’m looking for someone. My…ah brother, David, gave me a couple of things that belong to a friend of his who used to live here. David’s in the service and he’s been transferred to Germany. Before he left, he asked me if I’d return this guy’s stuff.” I gave him another wide smile. “So…I was hoping you could give me his forwarding address.”
    He reached for a rolodex file. “What’s his name?”
    “John Dexter.”
    A scowl creased his face. “Dexter? That son-of-a-bitch broke his lease and skipped. Sorry, can’t help you.”
    I pouted. “Oh dear. So, you don’t have any idea where he might be?” It was hard to maintain the beguiling expression.
    He reached for a cigarette, lit it, and blew out a long stream of acrid smoke.
    “I don’t know if there’s anything to it, but I did overhear him having a row with his little wetback girlfriend here when I was working outside number six one night shortly before he took off.”
    “Really? What about?”
    “Something about tickets to Nogales.”
    “Nogales?”
    “Yeah. You know. In Mexico.”
    “Oh. So he and his girlfriend went to Mexico?”
    “Not hardly. She’s still here so I figure he must’ve had him another hot little number down south,” he said jerking his thumb to the right. “John was, how shall I say, real popular with the ladies, if you get my drift?” He gave me a suggestive wink.
    I got his drift. “His girlfriend is still here?”
    “Yeah.”
    “What’s her name?”
    At that, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Say, you ask an awful lot of questions. Why do you want to know?” Uh oh. I’d asked one too many. “I…just thought she’d know where he is.”
    “I might know her name.” The wily smile revealed a row of tobacco stained teeth. “How about you and me go have a drink? We can talk some more.”
    That was it for me. I looked at my watch. “Oops. I’m terribly late for my appointment. Thanks anyway.” Before he could move, I jumped up and got the hell out.
    Halfway down the street, a thought stopped me. When he said the girlfriend was still here did he mean still here in