”Oh“—tears showed in her eyes—”I don’t know. Goddamn it, leave me alone. How the hell do I know what I want. I want you to leave me the goddamned hell alone.“ The tears were on her cheeks now, and her voice had thickened. Across the bridge Rose and Jane were in animated conference. I had the feeling Jane was to be unleashed in a moment. I took out one of my cards and gave it to her.
”Here,“ I said. ”If you need me, call me. You got any money?“
She shook her head. I took ten of her husband’s ten-dollar bills out of my wallet and gave them to her. The wallet was quite thin without them.
”I won’t tell him where you are,“ I said, and walked off the bridge and back up the hill toward my car back of the museum.
Chapter 10
Harvey Shepard had a large purple bruise under his right eye and it seemed to hurt him when he frowned. But he frowned anyway. ”Goddamnit,“ he said. ”I laid out five hundred bucks for that information and you sit there and tell me I can’t have it. What kind of a goddamned business is that?“
”I’ll refund your advance if you want, but I won’t tell you where she is. She’s well, and voluntarily absent. I think she’s confused and unhappy but she’s safe enough.“
”How do I know you’ve even seen her. How do I know you’re not trying to rip me off for five bills and expenses without even looking for her?“
”Because I offered to give it back,“ I said.
”Yeah, lots of people offer but try to get the money.“
”She was wearing a blue polo shirt, white shorts, white Tretorn tennis shoes. Recognize the clothes?“
He shrugged.
”How’d you get the mouse?“ I said.
”The what?“
”The bruise on your face. How’d you get it?“
”For crissake, don’t change the subject. You owe me information and I want it. I’ll take you right the hell into court if I have to.“
”Hawk lay that on you?“
”Lay what?“
”The mouse. Hawk give it to you?“
”You keep your nose out of my business, Spenser. I hired you to find my wife, and you won’t even do that. Never mind about Hawk.“
We were in his office on the second floor overlooking Main Street. He was behind his big Danish modern desk. I was in the white leather director’s chair. I got up and walked to the door.
”Come here,“ I said. ”I want you to see something in the outer office.“
”What the hell is out there?“
”Just get up and come here, and you’ll see.“
He made a snort and got up, slowly and stiffly, and walked like an old man, holding himself very carefully. Keeping his upper body still. When he got to the door, I said, ”Nevermind.“
He started to frown, but his eye hurt, so he stopped and swore at me. ”Jesus Christ! What are you trying to do?“
”You been beat up,“ I said. He forgot himself for a moment, turned sharply toward me, grunted with pain and put his hand against the wall to keep steady.
”Get out of here,“ he said as hard as he could without raising his voice.
”Somebody worked you over. I thought so when I saw the mouse, and I knew so when you tried to walk. You are in money trouble with someone Hawk works for and this is your second notice.“
”You don’t know what you’re talking about.“
”Yeah, I do. Hawk works that way. Lots of pressure on the body, where it doesn’t show. Actually I’m surprised that there’s any mark on your face.“
”You’re crazy,“ Shepard said. ”I fell downstairs yesterday. Tripped on a rug. I don’t owe anybody anything. I’m just doing business with Hawk.“
I shook my head. ”Hawk doesn’t do business. It bores him. Hawk collects money, and guards bodies, that sort of thing. You’re with him one day and the next you can hardly walk. Too big a coincidence. You better tell me.“
Shepard had edged his way back to the desk and gotten seated. His hands shook a little as he folded them in front of him on the desk.
”You’re fired,“ he said. ”Get out of here. I’m going to sue you for every cent I gave you. You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.“
”Don’t be a goddamned fool, Shepard. If you don’t get out of what you’re in, I’ll be hearing from your embalmer. You got three kids and no wife. What happens to the kids if you get planted?“
Shepard made a weak attempt at a confident smile. ”Listen, Spenser, I appreciate your concern, but this is a private matter, and it’s nothing I can’t handle. I’m a businessman, I know how to handle a business deal.“ His
