I was coaxing information now.
“When Chief?s son, Teddy, was killed in Vietnam,” she said, “Chief almost died with him. Doe
married Harry less than a year later. Chief faded out of the picture right after that.”
“As soon as he was sure the keys to the kingdom were in the right pocket,” I said. It was not a
question. “And now Sam Donleavy?s running the store for Raines, isn?t that it?”
“Yes. They?re inseparable friends.”
Listening to her was like deja vu.
“Is Donleavy one of the landed aristocracy?”
“No, he?s just plain people. He?s from New Joisey,” she said playfully. “Nouveau riche. You?d like
him.”
I grimaced at her. “Thanks a lot.”
“Just joking. Actually Sam?s quite a charmer. His wife left him about a year ago. Ran off with her
karate instructor. Sam took it quite hard at first, but he?s over it now. In fact, right now I?d say he?s
the town?s most eligible bachelor—and enjoying every minute of it.”
“Is this Raines clean?” I asked.
“Clean? You mean does he bathe?” She wasn?t joking; it was obvious she didn?t understand me.
“No, you know—does he cheat on his wife, that sort of thing?”
“Harry, cheat? He wouldn?t dare.” She stared over my shoulder as she spoke and her eyes grew wide.
“Speak of the devil,” she said. “There?s Doe Findley now.”
19
LITTLE TONY LUKATIS
It?s hard to be casual when every muscle in your body has turned to ice. I tried playing for time.
“Who?” I asked, in a voice that seemed to me to be at least an octave above normal.
“Doe Findley,” Babs said impatiently, pointing over my shoulder. “Turn around!”
I turned in slow motion, still playing the charade, still acting like the whole thing was a bore. Doe was
coming out of a small meeting room with a dozen other well-dressed women. She was wearing tan
silk slacks and a dark green silk blouse and her golden hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and
tied with a red ribbon.
“That?s the horsey set,” Babs said. “Thoroughbred breeders.”
But I wasn?t paying any attention. I was remembering the first time I ever saw Doe. Her hair was tied
back just like that, except she was only fifteen at the time. Teddy brought her into the dorm, where we
shared a room. She was wearing tight white jeans and a red pullover and she didn?t look any more like
