Vanish With the Rose Elizabeth Peters

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Diana reached for the cut-off switch. Walt a minute,Andy said, his voice choked with laughter. There are acouple more messages.I counted the blinks.The next message wiped the grin from his face.It went onfor some time but could be summarized in two words. You re fired. Walt, on his way through the kitchen to hisroom, heard the last part of it and grinned at Diana, but waswise enough not to pause or comment. I wonder how he got the number, Andy muttered. Hell.I was going to quit before he could fire me.Who does thatbastard think he is, talking that way when a lady, not tomention my dear old mum, might overhear? Sssh.The next voice was her father s. I presume you will havereceived Bellows s message by now.He said he would call.Iam coming to see him tomorrow to discuss the latest devel-opments.It would be useful, I believe, for you to find time totalk with me.I should arrive around noon.Please call backand let me know what time is convenient.I would like toVanish with the Rose 331take you to lunch or dinner if you can endure my companythat long.Click.Mary Jo had come quietly in while he was speaking. Hesounds sort of sad. Sad? Him? Andy snorted. He s trying to make her feelsorry for him.And succeeding. Oh, he never says or does anything uncalculated, Dianasaid wearily. But I may have been unjust.Look at the efforthe s making now two trips down here in a few days.He strying, and the least I can do is meet him halfway.Mary Jo nodded.Andy looked skeptical, but he waiteduntil after she had placed her call and left a message agree-ing to the appointment before he spoke. Actually, that seven more encouraging than Bellows s second message.Trying or not, he wouldn t make that drive again without agood reason.Bellows may have told him more than he toldyou.They had to explain it to Mary Jo, who had not heard Bel-lows s messages, and again to Walt, when he came down-stairs.Mary Jo didn t mind hearing it twice. It s the bestnews yet, she said, trying not to look hopeful.It turned out to be a pleasant evening, thanks to strenuousefforts on everyone s part to be agreeable.Andy rummagedthrough his mother s collection of video tapes, which ranheavily to slapstick comedy and golden oldies; they watchednot one film but two, eating popcorn and trying to keep thecats out of the bowl.Diana had seen The Producers severaltimes; the reactions of her companions intrigued her asmuch as the film.Andy s rubbery features reflected everyemotion expressed by every actor; Mary Jo looked like ateenager as she chuckled and stuffed popcorn into hermouth; and Walt actually laughed out loud.Diana s euphoric mood lasted until Andy drew her asideas she was preparing to follow Mary Jo upstairs. Did youtake a sleeping pill last night? he asked.Diana came down with a thud. What business is it ofyours? Don t take one.Please.332 Barbara MichaelsShe pulled her arm away from his grasp. Damn it, Andy,I was feeling great until you reminded me.Go to hell or tobed, I don t care which.The temperature had dropped but the night air was stickyand still.She was tired enough to sleep.but just to be onthe safe side.In the darkness she could not see them except as darkershapes.They were fighting, murderously and furiously, in adeadly silence broken only by gasps and grunts of pain andthe sodden thud of blows.She knew she was dreaming.Shetried to move; her feet felt as if they were glued to the ground.She tried to cry out, to tell them to stop.She could not utter asound.Then one of the featureless forms staggered back,fell, and lay still.The scream she had been unable to utter issued from her throatwith the force of water bursting a dam.The grass was cool anddamp under her bare feet.A white shroud of mist hovered overthe lawn.The moon s gibbous outline was blurred by thinclouds.She was not dreaming.She was wide awake andthey were there, one man motionless on the ground, the otherbending over him as if about to strike again.He spun around when he heard her voice, and caught her,not in an embrace but in a hard, bruising grip.In the pallidmoonlight she could see his features clearly, but she had al-ready recognized him and the man he had struck down.Neither of them was Larry.It was Walt who held her, Andywho lay still on the silvered grass [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Linki