Dismas Hardy 08 - The Oath by John Lescroart

Author:John Lescroart
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
ISBN: 9780451207647
Publisher: Signet
Published: 2002-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

Bracco lived in three converted rooms over a stand-alone garage behind his father’s house out in the Sunset District, on Pacheco Street.

He’d been pulling long hours this past week, so this morning he slept in. After an hour on free weights, he’d done some jogging and eaten five bananas with most of a box of Wheaties. Now, showered and dressed, Darrel sat with his father at a wooden table by an open window in the kitchen. The back of the house had a southern exposure and sunlight washed half the table. From time to time, a wisp of breeze would ruffle the lace curtains at the window.

Angelo Bracco had once looked a lot like his son, and there was still a resemblance in the face. But he’d lost his wife six years before—she’d cooked him healthy meals and also kept him interested in looking good. After she was gone, he went back to meat and potatoes. Then he started driving for the mayor, sitting all day. In these past few years he’d bulked up to where his five-foot, nine-inch frame carried around two hundred and twenty pounds. This morning he was wearing a form-fitting T-shirt. After they’d had their first sips of coffee, Darrel decided to say something. “You know, you wanted, you could use my weights sometimes. They’re just sitting out there.”

His father chose not to answer directly. “I saw you go out this morning. How far’d you run?”

A shrug. “I don’t know. Five miles maybe. It was a good day for it.”

“Couldn’t resist, huh? Feel the burn, is that what they say?” Angelo sipped his coffee. “If I ran five miles, I’d drop dead.”

“You probably would, but you don’t start there. You work up to it.”

He saw that his son meant well, and nodded in acceptance. “Well, maybe I will.”

“I’d walk with you if you wanted. You got to start doing something, Dad. Lose a little of that.” He pointed at the belly. “They say walking is as good as running.”

“For what? You believe that?”

Darrel had to break a smile. “No. But it’s a start. But the weights…I mean, there’s lots of things nowadays. You could join a club, even.”

This brought an outright laugh. “Maybe I’ll walk, okay. Really. I’ll think about it. But a club is out, okay? If I’m going to be in that much pain, I don’t want anybody else to see it.” He sat up straighter in his chair, sucked his gut in marginally, then let it back out. “So is that why you knocked at my door? To preach me the benefits of working out?”

“No,” Darrel said soberly. “I just happen to notice my old man’s put on some weight and it’s probably not doing him a whole lot of good, that’s all. Maybe I’d like him to stay around a while longer, okay?”

“Okay.”

“So what I came over for is Harlen.”

“What about him?”

“Well, here it is Saturday and we’re both scheduled off, which I’ve got no problem with if nothing’s happening. Except now

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