New Hope For The Dead by Charles Willeford

Author:Charles Willeford [Willeford, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781400032495
Published: 2011-03-20T05:00:00+00:00

"I thought you said we're not supposed to go out alone," Aileen said.

Hoke pointed to Ellita, who was sitting in the Victorian chair and reloading her pistol. "You won't be alone. Ellita's with you, and she's armed. You'll be safe with her, and besides, nobody'll bother you in the daytime. I was going to suggest going to the beach, but I know Ellita hasn't got her suit with her. It'll rain later this afternoon anyway."

"The sun's out now," Sue Ellen said. "How can you tell?"

"Because in July it always rains in the afternoon."

"Don't worry about us, Hoke," Ellita said. "We'll find something to do. If you have somewhere to go, go ahead."

"I'm out of cigarettes," Sue Ellen said, "and the machine in the lobby takes six quarters for a pack. Can I have some change for cigarettes?"

"No." Hoke took two Kools out of his pack and handed them to her. "Better make these two last. If you can't support your habit on the allowance I gave you, you'll just have to stop smoking till I can find you a job somewhere."

Sue Ellen poked out her lower lip. "I don't like the menthol kind."

Hoke snatched the two Kools back from her and returned them to his pack.

"When will you be back?" Ellita asked.

"I don't know exactly, but I'll be back before dark. I've got to go to Coral Gables, and then, if Bill's back from the Metrozoo, I want to talk to him about something."

Ellita nodded and started for the bathroom. As Hoke was on his way out, to his surprise the two girls each kissed him on the cheek.

Hoke parked on the second level of the bus station in Coral Gables, put his police placard in place instead of feeding the meter, and walked over to Miracle Mile, a block away. The Bouquetique was a narrow shop between a luggage store and a Cuban _joyeria_. The flower arrangements in the window were artificial for the most part, and there was no FTD logo, but there were signs for Visa and MasterCard on the glass door. If Loretta Hickey wasn't a member of FTD, Hoke thought, and had to depend on walk-in customers only, she would be hard-pressed to pay the high rents charged on Miracle Mile. During the last two years the street had been upgraded and tile sidewalks had been added. The Mile merchants had all been assessed accordingly for the beautification.

A short Oriental woman was behind the counter. Behind her a tall, lighted refrigerator held flower arrangements and a huge vase of red roses. It was cool in the shop, and there was a pleasant odor of freshly cut flowers and ferns. In a glass-topped case beside the counter were the so-called smart things Loretta Hickey sold as well as flowers. There were silver bracelets, turquoise rings, earrings and necklaces, and a half-dozen glass paperweights.

"Yes, sir?" the Asian woman said, in a high tiny voice. She was the woman Hoke had talked to on the phone and had thought was a child.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.