Finding Moon by Tony Hillerman

Author:Tony Hillerman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780061806681
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2002-04-30T10:00:00+00:00

WASHINGTON, April 22 (CNS)—A Pentagon official just back from Vietnam says he believes the worst threat to Americans remaining in Vietnam may be deserting ARVN combat troops who feel they have been betrayed.

“They’re likely to go berserk in their bitterness and attack anyone they feel responsible for their defeat,” the general said.

MR. LEE ARRIVED AT THE HOTEL IN the same taxi that had brought Moon and Osa in from the airport. Osa, standing at the window of Moon’s room, saw him climbing out of it.

“Is your Mr. Lum Lee a very small man?” she asked Moon. “And old? And does he wear an old white straw hat?”

“That sounds like Mr. Lee,” Moon said. “But what would he be doing here?”

“Well, at least it’s not the police coming after us. Not yet, anyway.”

“They’re probably right behind him,” Moon- said, too drowsy to care much, thinking that in jail he could at least get some sleep. He had waited, too nervous even for dozing, for his two A.M. telephoning time. He’d learned that Dr. Serna was in surgery and had left a message that she would call him as soon as she had “anything definite to report.” Then he had failed to reach Debbie, who was either out somewhere or simply wasn’t answering the phone. Finally, he’d called the Press-Register to learn how things were going there.

They were not going well.

“Chaos,” Hubbell said. “Rooney jumped off the wagon. I think he started nipping day before yesterday. I got on him about it. Told him to go home. Then yesterday he didn’t show up. And this afternoon he walks in looking like hell warmed over and smelling like the drunk tank and runs right into old Jerry.”

Moon had started to say “Oh, shit,” but swallowed it because Osa was standing by his window. She’d been there most of the day, waiting and watching. Osa was absolutely certain that the people who ran the prison would have connected the absence of George Rice to their visit with George Rice. But there was nothing they could do but wait. They had to be here when Rice came because, somehow, they had to persuade him to turn himself in.

Moon bit back the expletive and said, “Jerry fired him?”

And Hubbell said, “He sure as hell did. He told him to clean out his desk and get his check from Edith.”

“Silly bastard,” Moon said. “You were already short-handed.”

“To say the least,” Hubbell said. “I’ve been coming in right after breakfast. Working about a twenty-eight-hour day.”

“Well, hang in there,” Moon said. “I’ll get back as soon as I can.”

“You still in Manila? What’s the holdup? Before I forget it, the old man wants to talk to you. He’s been bitching about you being gone so long.”

“Why didn’t he call me?” And then he remembered why. “Oh. I guess I didn’t give anybody my new number.”

Hubbell laughed. “That ain’t the reason. Overseas calls are expensive. He wants to do it on your nickel.”

So Moon sat, holding the telephone to his

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