Read Online The Enchantment of Lily Dahl by Siri Hustvedt - Free Book Online

kiss her. His lips parted. The handsome face looked too eager, too hungry.
    “Not here,” she said.
    “Come on, Lily.” She heard a whine in his voice and edged backward on the desk.
    “Forget it.” Hank’s pale brown eyebrows moved together for an instant, then he exhaled loudly.
    “You think that call could have something to do with Filthy Frank and Dirty Dick?”
    Hank made a face. “What?”
    “What Mrs. Klatschwetter saw?”
    “I don’t know.” Hank spoke quickly in an annoyed voice. “It could’ve been anybody, or better yet, nobody. What do you care?”
    Lily worded her answer carefully. “I went by there yesterday on my bike—”
    Hank cut her off. “By the Bodler place? What the hell were you doing out there? Were you alone?”
    “Of course I was alone.”
    “Lily, you shouldn’t go out there by yourself. Those dirt-bags aren’t normal. You know that. They almost killed Pastor Ingebretzen, or have you forgotten?”
    “That was years ago, Hank. People go out there all the time to look at the junk. Why shouldn’t I?”
    “Because they’re lecherous old coots, that’s why.” Hank massaged his left hand with his right.
    Lily covered her mouth to hide a smile. “Those funny old men? Come on.”
    Hank didn’t smile. “Dolores pays a weekly visit out there. Did you know that?”
    Lily shook her head. The woman came into the Ideal from time to time. She drank. Lily remembered overhearing Gary Hrbek telling three other guys that she charged five bucks a tumble.
    “Probably does them both at once.”
    Lily shifted her position and looked out the window into the dusk. “Who cares,” she said. “Everybody needs sex.”
    “That’s right,” Hank said.
    Lily turned to look at him. His face had fallen and his eyes were closed. She leaned forward and was about to embrace him when he opened his eyes and sneered, “You know who else she visits?”
    “No.” Lily edged further back on the desk until her head rested on the glass.
    “That guy in the Stuart, Shapiro, the one who taught at Courtland. Ida called the other day, screaming prostitution. She saw Dolores coming out of his room, stuffing bills into her bra. Ida ought to know we don’t bother with Dolores. It’s catch as catch can for her. But that guy?” Hank shook his head. “And I heard he had a great-looking wife, too, or used to anyway. It doesn’t add up.”
    Lily stared at Hank. “And you believe Ida, windbag of the century?”
    “And why not?”
    “Because she’s a one-woman gossip factory, that’s why. She churns out hot air faster than anyone can breathe it.”
    “And what’s your problem?” Hank squinted at her.
    Lily continued to look at him. She pressed her lips together as she paused. “It’s over, Hank,” she said. That’s what people said didn’t they? It’s over. It’s raining. It’s snowing. The weather has changed.
    “What?” His mouth opened. He lifted his hands.
    “I’m sorry, Hank.”
    “You’re sorry?” His chin bobbed in a series of shallow nods.
    The phone rang.
    “I’m going, Hank.”
    He held up a hand, a signal for her to wait. His face looked red.
    Lily pushed herself off the desk and stood up.
    “Webster Police Department.”
    She put her hand on the door and turned around. Hank’s hand was still in the air. He shook his fingers at her and mouthed the word “Wait.” “Yes, Mr. MacKensie, when did you notice it was missing?”
    He paused. “Color?” Hank put his fingers to his forehead.
    “No, Mr. MacKensie, not all yard deer are brown. We had a blue one stolen a few months ago. Right.”
    Lily walked through the door and down the driveway under the streetlight. She expected Hank to come after her, to call from the door, but he didn’t. This surprised her a little, and as she took a step from the pavement onto the sidewalk, her ankle buckled and sent a pain through her calf. For a few steps, she hobbled, but then it was all right.
    Rick’s was slow. Lily ordered a hamburger