Read Online "R" is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton - Free Book Online Page A

what’d you do, marry on the rebound?”
    â€œThat would cover it, I guess. What about you? How’s your friend Dietz?”
    â€œKinsey, would you like to join us?”
    I glanced up to see Priscilla Holloway approaching.
    Cheney turned his head, following my gaze. His eyes flicked from the parole officer to me. “I better let you go.”
    â€œNice seeing you again,” I said.
    â€œI’ll give you a call as soon as I’m free,” Priscilla said to him as he turned to go.
    I glanced back, watching him as he pushed out the glass doors and turned toward the parking lot.
    â€œHow do you know Cheney?” she asked.
    â€œThrough a case I worked. Nice guy.”
    â€œHe’s good. Did the drive go okay?”
    â€œPiece of cake, but it was hot down there.”
    â€œAnd way too many bugs,” she said. “You can hardly open your mouth without swallowing one.”
    Her office was small and the furniture was plain. A window overlooked the parking lot, the view cut into slices by a dusty venetian blind. There was a Polaroid camera resting on the windowsill and two instant photos of Reba lay on top of a stack of thick files. I assumed Priscilla kept current photos in the file in case Reba took off without notice. There were file cabinets on her side of the desk and two metal chairs on ours. Reba sat in the one closest to the window. Priscilla took a seat in her swivel chair and looked at me. “Reba says you’ll be squiring her around town.”
    â€œJust for a couple of days, until she’s settled.”
    Priscilla leaned forward. “I’ve been over this with her, but I think it bears repeating so you know the score. No drugs, no alcohol, no firearms, no knife with a blade longer than two inches, except knives in her residence or in her place of employment. No crossbow of any kind.” She paused to smile, directing the rest of her remarks to Reba as though for emphasis. “No consorting with known felons. Any change of residence has to be reported within seventy-two hours. No traveling more than fifty miles without authorization. You will not be out of Santa Teresa County for more than forty-eight hours and not out of California at all without my written consent. Cops pick you up and you don’t have the magic piece of paper, you’ll be back in the clink.”
    â€œI’m cool with that,” Reba said.
    â€œOne thing I forgot to mention. If you’re seeking employment, a special condition of your parole prohibits a position of trust: no handling of payroll, taxes, no access to checks—”
    â€œWhat if the employer knows about my record?”
    Holloway paused. “Under those circumstances, maybe, but talk to me first.” She turned back to me. “Any questions?”
    â€œNot me. I’m just along for the ride.”
    â€œI’ve given Reba my number if she should need me. If I’m not available, leave a message on my machine. I check four and five times a day.”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œIn the meantime, I have two concerns. The first is public safety. The second is her successful reentry. Let’s not screw up on either count, okay?”
    â€œI’m with you,” I said.
    Priscilla stood up and leaned across her desk to shake first Reba’s hand and then mine. “Good luck. Nice meeting you, Ms. Millhone.”
    â€œMake it Kinsey,” I said.
    â€œLet me know if there’s any way I can be of help.”
    Once we were in the car again, I said, “I like Holloway. She seems nice.”
    â€œMe, too. She’s says I’m the only female she handles. Every other parolee she has is a 288A or a 290.”
    â€œWhich is what?”
    â€œRegistered sex offenders. 288A signifies a child molester. A couple of ’em are considered sexually violent predators. Nice company. You’d never guess just from looking at those guys,” she said. She took out a folded