Poughkeepsie in my lifetime?
He put his hand on her shoulder. All I mean, he said, is that I dont believe someone smart and organized enough to poison Pete Harrigan with a poison as obscure as carbon tetrachloride, making it look like a natural death, would trash Petes house. He reached for her hand. Youre exhausted. Time to go home.
At last. She started to rise. Did you hear that?
He stood still. Hear what?
Something outside. Noises.
He dashed for the lights, extinguished them, and drew her toward the front door. What did you hear? Be specific.
Footsteps on the gravel? Im not sure.
Jake cracked open the door and peered outside. In the light of the quarter moon, nothing was visible. I dont see anything. Are you sure you really
She glowered at him.
Sorry. He shut the door silently. Ill check the back door. You stay here.
Very funny. She followed him.
He opened the door. I cant see anything.
She pulled out her cell phone. Im calling the cops. The NO SERVICE light flashed.
No towers, he said. In this part of the world, pristine views are more important than pristine service. Lets try Petes phone.
It had been disconnected. What are we supposed to do? Manny whispered. We cant just hide here till the sun comes up. Im supposed to have breakfast with Patrice Perez. Which means no sleep for me.
He took a breath. Then lets go. His voice was resolute.
Fine. So was hers.
Before we leave, he said, I want to drop the Johnnie Walker bottle off for the sheriff. I could have left it at the scene, but I didnt want to risk it.
They started out the front. She had locked the car, yet the Porsches door was wide open. Oh my God! Manny said. Mycroft!
She raced to the car, her heels crunching on the broken glass from her cars passenger window. Mycroft was missing. Mycroft! she shrieked into the darkness. Where are you? She turned to Jake, her eyes wide. Hes gone. Mycroft!
Keep it down, he urged. They may still be around here.
She glared at him. My dog is missing, she said sharply. Some of us actually care about living things.
Mycroft materialized from a neighbors yard and leaped into Mannys arms. The sobs she had suppressed for hours exploded from her throat.
* * *
Carrying her beloved as she would a newborn, she got into the car and reached for the Prada tote with his treats. Gone, she breathed. She twisted to check the backseat. Gone! she screamed. Jake!
He was on his hands and knees, searching the ground. She rounded the car and stood over him. Jake, my new Prada tote bag is gone!
He looked at her, eyes blazing. Its only a thing calm down.
Hes cracked. Hes a monster. Jake. Someone stole my bag. Dont you understand? It had some of my confidential legal work in it.
He rose slowly, using the door handle to help him to his feet. His pants were covered with dirt; his hair was filthy. Obviously, he had crawled under the car. Searching for what?
When he looked at her again, his expression had softened, and when he spoke it was with his habitual calm. Im sorry I snapped at you, he said. But they took something even more important. The poisoned bottles missing. It means whoever took it has been following us all evening and knows we know that Pete was murdered. Worry creased his forehead and made lines at the sides of his eyes. Jesus, Manny, Im sorry I got you into this. But weve been sucked into the vortex and theres little you or I can do about it now.
* * *
They found the Baxter County Sheriffs Office in a brick storefront just off Main Street. At 3:30 a.m. it was locked up tight, lights off. A sign on the door gave business hours as 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a number to dial in case of emergency. Jake flipped open his cell phone. The signal was faint but there.
He got a dispatcher who reluctantly agreed to patch him
He put his hand on her shoulder. All I mean, he said, is that I dont believe someone smart and organized enough to poison Pete Harrigan with a poison as obscure as carbon tetrachloride, making it look like a natural death, would trash Petes house. He reached for her hand. Youre exhausted. Time to go home.
At last. She started to rise. Did you hear that?
He stood still. Hear what?
Something outside. Noises.
He dashed for the lights, extinguished them, and drew her toward the front door. What did you hear? Be specific.
Footsteps on the gravel? Im not sure.
Jake cracked open the door and peered outside. In the light of the quarter moon, nothing was visible. I dont see anything. Are you sure you really
She glowered at him.
Sorry. He shut the door silently. Ill check the back door. You stay here.
Very funny. She followed him.
He opened the door. I cant see anything.
She pulled out her cell phone. Im calling the cops. The NO SERVICE light flashed.
No towers, he said. In this part of the world, pristine views are more important than pristine service. Lets try Petes phone.
It had been disconnected. What are we supposed to do? Manny whispered. We cant just hide here till the sun comes up. Im supposed to have breakfast with Patrice Perez. Which means no sleep for me.
He took a breath. Then lets go. His voice was resolute.
Fine. So was hers.
Before we leave, he said, I want to drop the Johnnie Walker bottle off for the sheriff. I could have left it at the scene, but I didnt want to risk it.
They started out the front. She had locked the car, yet the Porsches door was wide open. Oh my God! Manny said. Mycroft!
She raced to the car, her heels crunching on the broken glass from her cars passenger window. Mycroft was missing. Mycroft! she shrieked into the darkness. Where are you? She turned to Jake, her eyes wide. Hes gone. Mycroft!
Keep it down, he urged. They may still be around here.
She glared at him. My dog is missing, she said sharply. Some of us actually care about living things.
Mycroft materialized from a neighbors yard and leaped into Mannys arms. The sobs she had suppressed for hours exploded from her throat.
* * *
Carrying her beloved as she would a newborn, she got into the car and reached for the Prada tote with his treats. Gone, she breathed. She twisted to check the backseat. Gone! she screamed. Jake!
He was on his hands and knees, searching the ground. She rounded the car and stood over him. Jake, my new Prada tote bag is gone!
He looked at her, eyes blazing. Its only a thing calm down.
Hes cracked. Hes a monster. Jake. Someone stole my bag. Dont you understand? It had some of my confidential legal work in it.
He rose slowly, using the door handle to help him to his feet. His pants were covered with dirt; his hair was filthy. Obviously, he had crawled under the car. Searching for what?
When he looked at her again, his expression had softened, and when he spoke it was with his habitual calm. Im sorry I snapped at you, he said. But they took something even more important. The poisoned bottles missing. It means whoever took it has been following us all evening and knows we know that Pete was murdered. Worry creased his forehead and made lines at the sides of his eyes. Jesus, Manny, Im sorry I got you into this. But weve been sucked into the vortex and theres little you or I can do about it now.
* * *
They found the Baxter County Sheriffs Office in a brick storefront just off Main Street. At 3:30 a.m. it was locked up tight, lights off. A sign on the door gave business hours as 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a number to dial in case of emergency. Jake flipped open his cell phone. The signal was faint but there.
He got a dispatcher who reluctantly agreed to patch him
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