A Matter of Time by Cook Glen

Author:Cook, Glen [Cook, Glen]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Adventure, General
ISBN: 9781597802796
Publisher: Night Shade Books
Published: 1985-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

XIX

On the Y Axis;

1975

Cash found Lieutenant Railsback in the process of departing when he reached the office. “Hang on a minute, Hank.” Beth had already left. An envelope addressed to him lay centered on her desk. “I need a couple things. Mainly, a shot at the old lady’s lawyer. To see if he’ll let her go on the lie detector. When he says no, I want to show him what we’ve got.”

“What you’ve got? You’ve got to be kidding. You ain’t got shit.”

“I’ve got four more mysterious disappearances, in her house, and a missing twenty grand in counterfeit that also looks like it ended up at her place.”

“What kind of crap are you trying to feed me now?”

Cash outlined his day.

“Look, let me think. I’m just going to the Rite-Way anyway. I’m going to hang around for the polygraph session.”

“Bring me a couple large Cokes and one of Sarah’s special cheeseburgers then, okay? Here.” He handed over two dollars.

John came in while Cash was opening Beth’s envelope. He had a cold six-pack. Two cans were missing. “Bribes,” he admitted. Bringing beer in was a violation of regulations.

“Hank’s coming back.” Cash popped a top and drained half a can.

“I know. He’s got dibs on a can too. If I’d have known this was going to happen, I’d have got a case.”

“Let me see what Beth has to say here.”

It was a lengthy letter. She meandered. There had been something beside business on her mind. The gist was that she had begged, cajoled, or bullied everyone concerned into appearing for the polygraph test, and Immigration would be no help. The government hadn’t gotten seriously involved until 1882. Their suggestion was to appeal to immigrant societies of the national group to which his subject belonged.

Well, he hadn’t expected that angle to pan out.

If he wanted her to take notes during his evening extravaganza, he should call her at home.

“What do you think about Beth, John?”

“Huh? Nice ass. Tits ain’t bad either. But she’s cold. Something drifty about her.”

“Not really. She’s just not sure of herself. You remember how she was when she first came here? Quiet, goosey?”

“Still is with most of us. Got to whack her up side the head just to get her to say hi. Except you. You she treats almost normal. Guess maybe because you’re a safe old father figure.”

All I need, Cash thought. Another part-time kid.

“You know her number?”

“Huh? That’s the best-kept secret since the atom bomb. Why?”

“She says to call her.”

“Then you must have it somewhere.”

“Not that I know of. Maybe it’s in the book.”

He looked it up. Sure enough.

She had just gotten home. She begged five minutes for a shower.

“God, I’m a rotten old bastard,” Cash told her when she arrived. He was feeling loose. Hank had gone out after more beer. “I saved you a Coke, though. And dinner when you’re done. All right?”

“Getting pretty feisty for an old man, aren’t you?” John asked. “I mean, hustling young girls....” Beth blushed, stared at the floor, then tried to cover by searching for pen and dictation pad.

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