Read Online In the Midst of Death by Lawrence Block - Free Book Online

could give you something stronger."

    I said that coffee with whiskey in it would be good. She went to the kitchen and came back with two large mugs of coffee. "I don't know what kind of whiskey or how much to put in," she said. "There's the liquor cabinet. Why don't you pick out what you like?"

    The cabinet was well stocked with expensive brands. This did not surprise me. I never knew a cop who didn't get a lot of liquor at Christmas. The people who are a little diffident about giving you cash find it easier to give you a bottle or a case of decent booze. I put a healthy slug of Wild Turkey in my cup. I suppose it was a waste. One bourbon tastes pretty much like another when you pour it in coffee.

    "Is it good that way?" She was standing beside me, her own mug held in both hands. "Maybe I'll try some. I don't normally drink very much. I've never liked the taste of it. Do you think a drink would relax me?"

    "It probably wouldn't hurt."

    She held out her mug. "Please?"

    I filled her mug and she stirred it with her spoon and took a tentative sip. "Oh, that's good," she said, in what was almost a child's voice. "It's warming, isn't it? Is it very potent?"

    "It's about the same strength as a cocktail. And the coffee tends to counteract some of the effects of the alcohol."

    "You mean you don't get drunk?"

    "You still get drunk eventually. But you don't get tired out en route. Do you normally get drunk on one drink?"

    "I can usually feel one drink. I'm afraid I'm not much of a drinker.
    But I don't suppose this will hurt me."

    She looked at me, and for a short moment we challenged one another with our eyes. I didn't know then and do not know now precisely what happened, but our eyes met and exchanged wordless messages, and something must have been settled on the spot, although we were not consciously aware of the settlement or even of the messages that preceded it.

    I broke the stare. I took the note her husband had written from my wallet and handed it to her. She scanned it once quickly,then read it through more carefully. "Twenty-five hundred dollars," she said. "I suppose you'll want that right now, Mr. Scudder."

    "I'll probably be having some expenses."

    "Certainly."She folded the note in two,then folded it again. "I don't recall Jerry mentioning your name.

    Have you known each other for a long time?"

    "Not long at all."

    "You're on the force. Did you work together?"

    "I used to be on the force, Mrs.Broadfield . Now I'm a sort of private detective."

    "Just sort of?"

    "The unlicensed sort.After all those years in the department I have an aversion to filling out forms."

    "An aversion."

    "Pardon me?"

    "Did I say that aloud?" She smiled suddenly and her whole face brightened. "I don't think I've ever heard a policeman use that word. Oh, they use large words, but of a certain sort, you know. 'Alleged perpetrator' is my favorite phrase of all. And 'miscreant' is a wonderful word. Nobody but a policeman or a reporter ever called anybody a miscreant, and reporters just write it, they never say it out loud."

    Our eyes locked again and her smile faded out. "I'm sorry, Mr.
    Scudder. I'm babbling again, aren't I?"

    "I like the way you babble."

    For a second I thought she was going to blush, but she didn't. She took a breath and assured me I would have my money in a moment. I said there was no rush but she said it would be just as easy to get it over and done with. I sat down and worked on my coffee and she left the room and climbed a flight of stairs.

    She returned a few minutes later with a sheaf of bills which she handed to me. I fanned them. They were all fifties and hundreds. I put them in my jacket pocket.

    "Aren't you going to count them?" I shook my head. "You're very trusting, Mr. Scudder. I'm sure you told me your first name but I don't seem to remember it."

    "Matthew."

    "Mine is Diana." She picked up her coffee mug and drained it quickly, as if downing strong medicine.

    "Will it be helpful if I say my