“He’s back now,” she said into the phone, which she kept. “No, he had on pants and a shirt the entire time.” Pause. “Well, yeah, he took off his shoes.” Pause. “Uh-huh. I think so. I heard him reciting the Boy Scout oath under his breath, sort of like a mantra. Does that count?”
“Gimme that,” I snarled. I took control of the phone again. “I didn’t recite the fuckin’ Boy Scout oath.”
“I’m shocked, given what Sarah told me.”
“Great. So given whatever the hell she told you, how’re you and I doin’?”
“We’re doing fine, Mort. She sounds nice. I like her. And, look, we made over ten thousand dollars right before I left, so we can afford to do a little pro bono work.”
“Pro bono work?”
“Sarah’s sister. Which means you should go back to Gerlach and dig deeper since Allie phoned from there.”
“You serious?”
A moment of silence. “Do you remember what you and I do for a living?”
“Sort of,” I admitted. I sat at the table. Sarah got up and sat at the bar, ordered a Tequila Sunrise.
“You and Sarah left Gerlach too soon,” Jeri said.
“Actually, we were escorted out of town and back to Reno by the FBI and others, including Russell Fairchild. They didn’t give us a say in the matter. In fact, they acted kind of stressed.”
“Fairchild, huh? How is good ol’ Russ, anyway?”
“Still chubby. Still jealous. Still doesn’t like me.”
“Great. So about Gerlach—there’s a lot you didn’t ask up there, or get a chance to ask, if Sarah got the story straight, which it sounds like she did. That guy Hank at the Texaco station might’ve had more information, but probably the sheriff and maybe that bartender, too.”
“Deputy sheriff. And the bartender was Dave.”
“Yeah, whatever. So you should go back and ask around. Be creative. Try to think like a private investigator.”
“Okay. First thing in the morning I’ll shoot on up there. Place is a garden spot. I might even buy us some property.”
“This evening, Mort. Go now. The trail gets colder the longer you wait. It’s eight fifty over here, five fifty over there. You could be in Gerlach by eight o’clock if you hustle, hopefully a little before, since Sarah said Hank buttons up the gas station at eight.”
“What else did she tell you? Did she tell you I got three hours’ sleep last night and I’m dog-tired right now?”
“She told me a bunch of stuff. And she said your house is under siege by the media. Of course you could stay at my place, which is going to be our place, but Sarah’s sister has never been to either your place or mine so there won’t be much to investigate. You might as well go back to Gerlach since that’s where things are happening.”
“Sarah told you a bunch of stuff, huh?”
“She did, yes.”
“Was it interesting?”
“It had something to do with how she’s been dressed. And what she wore to bed last night. It was in the way of full disclosure. She’s not hiding anything.”
“Don’t I know it.”
“Don’t worry, Mort. It’s okay.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“It sure feels like we’re threading a needle here, Jeri.”
“I can see how you’d feel that way. But she’s a nice girl, I can tell. I think she and I will end up being pretty good friends. We’ve got more in common than you’d think. She’s kinda wow, what I saw of her on TV, but nice.”
“Wow, huh? And you aren’t worried?”
“Not at all. Should I be?”
“Like you said, not at all. Might not be any rooms available at the motel up there if I go up tonight. It’s hunting season.”
“Go anyway. Bribe that guy again.”
“Dave.”
“Whatever. Allie’s trail is getting colder by the hour. And take your wig and moustache with you, just in case.”
“I hate wearing that stuff, Jeri.”
“Take it with you anyway. You’re famous again. You never know if you’ll need it. Now let me talk to Sarah.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. Put her on.”
I waved Sarah over and handed her phone. She said, “It’s me.” Then: “You sure?” Then: “Yeah, I could do that.” Then: “Yes,” and, “Yes,” then a little laugh, and, “Okay, bye. Here he is.”
She gave me the phone.
“What was that all about?” I asked Sarah.
“Nothing. Just girl stuff.” She wagged a finger at the phone. “She’s still there. Talk.”
“I’m back,” I said to Jeri, staring at Sarah. “What was that all about?”
“Nothing. I was going to tell her something when you took the phone away from her. Anyway, I’m gonna go take a hot soak and do some stretching, then get in bed and read awhile. I’ve got to be up at seven tomorrow. Let me know if you find out anything in Gerlach, okay?”
“Sure thing, sugar plum.”
“Sugar plum?” Her voice had a smile in it. “I’ll get you for that when I get back.”
“Uh-huh. Looking forward to it.”
“Yeah, me, too. Bye, Mort.”
“Bye.” I ended the call.
Sarah came over, drink in hand, little umbrella stuck in a good-sized orange slice riding sidecar—O’Roarke was giving her the full treatment, no doubt due to her shirt.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Just great. Except for that underhanded girl talk and that Boy Scout thing.”
“You earned it, big-time. Would’ve got another merit badge if you hadn’t taken your shoes off.”
I got up, stashed the phone in a pocket. “See you around, kiddo. Got things to do.”
“Where’re you going?”
“Home. Hope all the cops and trolls are gone.”
“Yeah, good luck with that.”
My going home wasn’t a lie, just misdirection. I went over the back fence, then through my side yard, got into the Toyota before ABC, NBC, CNN, in fact any of ’em, saw me. Their vans were all aimed south so I backed out fast and headed north, which caused some predictable confusion and awkward three-point turns.
I made a few slippery lefts and rights
