Read Online Suspects by Thomas Berger - Free Book Online Page B

the facial cut than he would have thought.
    Obviously the garment would not dry before he hit the road, so he took it to the kitchenette and stuffed it into the plastic bag he kept under the sink for refuse. There was no other garbage on hand because he had bought no food recently, except for the box of chocolate-covered doughnuts that was still in the half-refrigerator under the counter. It had probably been a long time since he had last eaten, but his sour stomach ruled out any thought of breakfast. He would leave the doughnuts behind for the obese super, who was the kind that pilfered from tenants anyway.
    He stuffed his sparse supply of extra underwear into the old backpack he had found the year before among the junk Larry and Donna had gathered to contribute to a Goodwill bin.
    â€œDon’t tell me you’re taking up the great outdoors,” Larry said in the joshing tone that was standard with his brother.
    â€œAnd why not?” asked Donna, in gentle challenge. She was playing her habitual role of defender of each against the other. As happened so often, this served to make her Larry’s target.
    â€œListen to who’s talking,” he cried. “When did you ever haul your fat butt along a woodland trail?” He reared back, hands on hips. “I don’t mean now. I mean way back when you were young, if you can remember that far back.”
    Lloyd could have punched him, but Donna did not seem to mind. “Hey,” she said, laughing in the throaty manner, chin thrown up, which was at odds with her normal ladylike ways but never less than attractive. “If you remember, my backside wasn’t fat in those days.”
    Nor was it now, but it was not Lloyd’s place to make such an immodest observation. He turned his head away, so she would not be further humiliated. He addressed his brother. “The pack might come in handy. I move around a lot.”
    Larry rolled his eyes. “And you’re not expecting to gather much moss, if that’s supposed to hold it. That’s for hikes, not real camping. Used to use it on picnics, in college days: couple bottles of wine cooler, going out. Coming back, it would be carrying another pair of panties for my extensive collection!”
    Now Donna’s reaction was negative. “Oh, Larry. What a way to talk in front of your brother.”
    Larry laughed with a flash of extra-bright front teeth. “He’s a grown-up, isn’t he?” He grinned at Lloyd. “She makes you sound like some kinda sissy.”
    â€œNo she doesn’t,” Lloyd said levelly, turning away before he would be tempted to go further and attract her disapproval from Larry to himself. “I can use the pack. Can I have it?”
    The three of them stood at the open door of the garage. Larry toed the ex-liquor carton on the blacktop apron behind the car. “Anything else you want? I keep telling her if you call the Salvation Army to come pick up stuff, they give you a blank estimate form you fill out yourself for the IRS. But you don’t get a deduction at the Goodwill bin: you’re anonymous.”
    â€œLook at this collection,” Donna said, gesturing with a flowerlike hand. “I wouldn’t have the nerve to ask for a write-off.”
    â€œThat’s because you don’t have to pay the bills.” Larry tossed his big head to emphasize his exasperation. He sought support from his brother. “She never made any money even when she worked!” He winked. “She never made the most of the assets she has. I tell her it’s still not too late, but it’s not going to last forever.”
    Lloyd certainly did not cooperate in this ugliness. He hung the pack on a shoulder and looked away.
    Donna shrugged good-naturedly. She wore a loose gray sweatshirt over baggy white dungarees of the housepainter type. This was her trash cleanup outfit, and both garments were shapeless. She looked like a dream to Lloyd.