Read Online In Between by Kate Wilhelm - Free Book Online Page B

we’d go fishing, and I aim to do that. I’ll get to the autopsy on Monday.” He hefted his medical bag, descended stairs to the ground, and walked to a convertible in the driveway. He got inside, waved to the sheriff, and drove away.
    â€œWe’ll catch up on what’s been going on when the sheriff reports to the captain,” Sam said. “I want to find Alex and see how he’s doing.”
    â€œWhat guns?” Lori asked. “What does that mean?”
    â€œThey do skeet shooting, target practice, hunt in season. It’s a regular arsenal. Let’s go find Alex.”
    They passed through the glass door to the lobby, a mammoth space with an oversized fireplace on one wall that was faced with multicolored granite stones. A uniformed deputy stood at a corridor entrance, another at the front entrance to the lobby.
    â€œRegistration book,” Lori said, spotting it on a counter. She hurried over to it. “Malcolm and Marilyn Vicente, room 101,” she called to Sam. “Alex is in 213. He’s probably with his mother, don’t you think?”
    â€œThis way,” Sam said, heading toward the corridor being guarded by a deputy.
    Room 101 was the first suite in the corridor. When they entered, Marilyn Vicente was sitting bolt upright on a sofa staring into space. She was a round little woman with blonde hair streaked with reddish brown. That morning she had no makeup on except for poorly applied lipstick that looked garish on her white face.
    â€œHarmon will know,” she was saying in a low monotone. “He always knows what to do.”
    â€œMother, snap out of it. Please, look at me.” A younger woman was kneeling before Marilyn, waving her hand before her face.
    â€œDaughter,” Sam said. “Louise. Alex called her Cruella.” He nodded toward the sliding door where a man was standing, leaning against the frame, with his head pressed on the glass, his back to the room. “Alex.”
    â€œAnd that one?” Lori asked, pointing to a second man seated at a table glowering at Louise and Marilyn.
    â€œMust be Royce Stossel,” Sam said. “Louise’s husband. I never met him.”
    â€œMother, pay attention to me,” Louise said. She had a high pitched voice. “They’ll come to ask questions any minute. All you have to do is tell them you came to your room and took a sleeping pill and went to bed. That’s all you have to say. Are you listening to me?”
    â€œI told you. I looked for him,” Marilyn said. “When I went to get a glass of milk, but he wasn’t there. I told you.”
    â€œGood God!” Royce Stossel said and jumped to his feet. “Marilyn! You came to your room and went to bed! Period!” He pulled Louise away and took Marilyn’s arm, shook her slightly.
    â€œHe wasn’t where he said he would be. He does that, you know. That’s why I always call Harmon. He knows what it’s like. He’ll take care of it.”
    â€œFor God’s sake, Marilyn! Do you have anything you can take, a tranquilizer?”
    Alex spun around to face the room. “Back off, Royce. Leave her alone. She’s in shock.”
    â€œShe doesn’t have a clue about what’s going on,” Louise said angrily. “She has to snap out of it before they come.”
    â€œWhen did you look for him?” Royce demanded.
    â€œI said to back off!” Alex took a step into the room with his fists clenched.
    â€œYou’d better be thinking about what you’re going to tell them! I heard you walking around all night!”
    â€œYou going to tell them you were up listening to footsteps all night?”
    â€œWe can’t let her tell them she was wandering around looking for him!” Louise cried over the two men yelling over each other.
    Lori was watching them all, Alex advancing toward Royce, Marilyn sitting like a statue, Louise scowling at her mother, her