Read Online Loren D. Estleman - Amos Walker 18 - Nicotine Kiss by Loren D. Estleman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Loren D. Estleman
Ads: Link
during the day, when he told you and his supervisor he was busy climbing poles after a storm up north.”
“He was. He came home exhausted. Why would he hire you if he already knew where to look?”
“That was before he came to my office. Maybe he ran into the same wall I did.”
“But how would he even know about Paul?”
“Those tree-toppers get around. Paul had flyers printed advertising his church, and Starzek isn’t a common name. Maybe Oral went up there on a hunch and when it didn’t pan out he didn’t think it was worth sharing.”
“If he knows Starzek is Jeff’s real name, he knows I’ve been lying to him all these years.”
“Another good reason to keep his mouth shut.”
“That’s why he agreed to hire you. My God,” she whispered. “He’s looking for grounds.”
“Could be he’s waiting for you to say something.”
She cocked her ear toward a small whimper, decided to stay put. Her eyes were Arctic blue and just as dry. “You said someone else thinks Jeff’s brother knows where he is, or did. Who?”
“A man named Herbert Clemson. He’s the one who told me about Paul. He’s been up there asking around, like me. He told me there wasn’t anything in it, but those federal types lie to their parakeets just to stay in practice. He’s with Homeland Security.”
She might have paled a shade. I saw a spread of blue veins under the skin, like sea grass in the shallows. It was the first real reaction I’d gotten from her.
“I was pretty sure he hadn’t been here,” I said, nodding. “So far his information is strictly basic, the stuff of public record. He’ll come around when he gets the rest. You’ll like him. For a government sneak he’s got a well-developed sense of humor.”
She looked away. “It must be the cigarettes. They think everyone who doesn’t pay the tax sends the difference straight to terrorists. It wouldn’t occur to them people just like a bargain.”
“Cigarette smuggling puts him to sleep. He’s more interested in what Jeff’s carrying now.”
“How do you know he’s carrying anything?” She was looking at me again. “You just said Clemson’s a liar on principle.”
“Jeff told me that night in Grayling he was switching loads. Not long after that, you got a Christmas card from him as much as telling you he was about to disappear. I’d tell you to figure out the rest, but you’re the client. Turns out there’s some thinking to the job after all.”
“Is Jeff dead?”
“It’s a theory.”
The house got as quiet as a house in a bedroom community ever gets. Even the baby had stopped fussing.
I shifted my cane to the other side and my weight with it. “I doubt it,” I said. “He’s fast and smart, and he’s lasted this long. I’m more concerned about the people who are looking for him.”
“Not Oral.”
“Not Oral. He’s big, but he’s got a high center of gravity.”
“Clemson.”
“What he represents. Some people’s idea of chess is to clear the board to take the king. Pretty tough on all the other pieces. And if Clemson’s right, Jeff’s running out of his class.”
“You said you fell on the ice.”
She was looking at my leg. I hadn’t realized I was rubbing it. That was a habit I’d have for a long time, like stroking a phantom beard.
“I didn’t say why. It was Jeff who picked me up.”
“Does that mean you’re not quitting?”
“Who said I was? Everyone lies in this house. I can’t concentrate on the questions I need to ask if I can’t trust the answers I’ve got. Let me know when you and Oral get your collar and cuffs to match. You can leave a message with my service. I’m going north.”
“You just got back from there.”
“I left something behind.”
“Find Jeff, Mr. Walker. Whatever happens to Oral and me.”
She went up to look in on Jeffie. I drove back to my house, got a pair of long-handled bolt cutters out of the garage, and put them in the trunk. Churches ought never to lock their
“He was. He came home exhausted. Why would he hire you if he already knew where to look?”
“That was before he came to my office. Maybe he ran into the same wall I did.”
“But how would he even know about Paul?”
“Those tree-toppers get around. Paul had flyers printed advertising his church, and Starzek isn’t a common name. Maybe Oral went up there on a hunch and when it didn’t pan out he didn’t think it was worth sharing.”
“If he knows Starzek is Jeff’s real name, he knows I’ve been lying to him all these years.”
“Another good reason to keep his mouth shut.”
“That’s why he agreed to hire you. My God,” she whispered. “He’s looking for grounds.”
“Could be he’s waiting for you to say something.”
She cocked her ear toward a small whimper, decided to stay put. Her eyes were Arctic blue and just as dry. “You said someone else thinks Jeff’s brother knows where he is, or did. Who?”
“A man named Herbert Clemson. He’s the one who told me about Paul. He’s been up there asking around, like me. He told me there wasn’t anything in it, but those federal types lie to their parakeets just to stay in practice. He’s with Homeland Security.”
She might have paled a shade. I saw a spread of blue veins under the skin, like sea grass in the shallows. It was the first real reaction I’d gotten from her.
“I was pretty sure he hadn’t been here,” I said, nodding. “So far his information is strictly basic, the stuff of public record. He’ll come around when he gets the rest. You’ll like him. For a government sneak he’s got a well-developed sense of humor.”
She looked away. “It must be the cigarettes. They think everyone who doesn’t pay the tax sends the difference straight to terrorists. It wouldn’t occur to them people just like a bargain.”
“Cigarette smuggling puts him to sleep. He’s more interested in what Jeff’s carrying now.”
“How do you know he’s carrying anything?” She was looking at me again. “You just said Clemson’s a liar on principle.”
“Jeff told me that night in Grayling he was switching loads. Not long after that, you got a Christmas card from him as much as telling you he was about to disappear. I’d tell you to figure out the rest, but you’re the client. Turns out there’s some thinking to the job after all.”
“Is Jeff dead?”
“It’s a theory.”
The house got as quiet as a house in a bedroom community ever gets. Even the baby had stopped fussing.
I shifted my cane to the other side and my weight with it. “I doubt it,” I said. “He’s fast and smart, and he’s lasted this long. I’m more concerned about the people who are looking for him.”
“Not Oral.”
“Not Oral. He’s big, but he’s got a high center of gravity.”
“Clemson.”
“What he represents. Some people’s idea of chess is to clear the board to take the king. Pretty tough on all the other pieces. And if Clemson’s right, Jeff’s running out of his class.”
“You said you fell on the ice.”
She was looking at my leg. I hadn’t realized I was rubbing it. That was a habit I’d have for a long time, like stroking a phantom beard.
“I didn’t say why. It was Jeff who picked me up.”
“Does that mean you’re not quitting?”
“Who said I was? Everyone lies in this house. I can’t concentrate on the questions I need to ask if I can’t trust the answers I’ve got. Let me know when you and Oral get your collar and cuffs to match. You can leave a message with my service. I’m going north.”
“You just got back from there.”
“I left something behind.”
“Find Jeff, Mr. Walker. Whatever happens to Oral and me.”
She went up to look in on Jeffie. I drove back to my house, got a pair of long-handled bolt cutters out of the garage, and put them in the trunk. Churches ought never to lock their
Similar Books
