Ron Goulart - John Easy 03 - The Same Lie Twice by Ron Goulart

Author:Ron Goulart [Goulart, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery: Thriller - P.I. - Los Angeles
ISBN: 1453277773
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: 1973-09-25T05:00:00+00:00

XII

THE CAR RADIO WAS saying, “… according to San Ignacio police the body was discovered early this morning by a neighbor who was returning Miss Moseson’s lost monkey. Lana Moseson, an attractive brunette in her late thirties, had been brutally beaten and then strangled. Police as yet will not say whether this brutal slaying is linked in any way with the murder last week of Miss Moseson’s brother, Philip Moseson, prominent San Ignacio accountant. Six school children fatally injured in bus crash. That story after this word from Norm’s Burger Pit in …”

After clicking off the radio, Easy swung out of his VW. His office parking lot was still damp in the clear morning. He emerged from the car, rubbing at the sore spots on his head.

In the unseen driveway between buildings a soggy flapping sound began. A few seconds later Hagopian came jogging into view, his scuffed black briefcase tucked under his arm. “Not even winded,” he said, grinning. “And I jogged all the way from the cab to here. Did those guys you told me about last night step on your face in the course of their work?” He swung a finger in the direction of the fresh abrasions on Easy’s rough face.

“They may have. I slept through part of it.”

“You’re looking even more knocked about than usual this morning. If you drove a substantial car instead of that Nazi tin can goon’s wouldn’t have such an easy time of shoving you off into culverts.”

Heading for the rear door of his office, Easy said, “Where’s your car?”

“Jem lost one of the fenders,” said Hagopian, strolling alongside. “Actually, she’s got the fender and she isn’t sure where the rest of the Jag is. Do you know much about mesmerism?”

“Nope.”

“I’m wondering if it’s possible to be hypnotized by bouncing tits,” said Hagopian.

Easy unlocked the door to his private office and swung it open. “Good morning,” he said to his secretary.

“Which might explain,” continued Hagopian, “why I give my car away so readily.”

Nan Alonzo let go of the airconditioner knobs. “You’ve been getting phone calls,” she told Easy.

Resting his left buttock on his metal desk, Easy picked the scatter of blue phone memos up off the blotter. “Jim Benning called to say nobody’s … what? What’s this word?”

“Lurking,” replied his short broad secretary. “Nobody’s lurking. He wanted you to know and he wanted to ask if we had anything more about his wife. Poor guy.”

Easy let himself down slowly into his chair. “I’m starting to feel like Typhoid Mary,” he said. “People I talk to are dying.”

“Who now?” asked Nan.

“Moseson’s sister.”

“You saw her last night, didn’t you?” asked Nan.

“Yeah, right before the hoods saw me.”

“How was she killed?”

“I just heard a short report on the news. But it sounds like the same style of killing they used on her brother.” He glanced at the second memo. “That must be what Lt. Alvin wants to see me about.”

“He told me it was only routine.”

“I don’t much like his idea of routine,” said Easy.

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.