The Archy McNally Series Volume Three by Lawrence Sanders

Author:Lawrence Sanders
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2017-07-27T00:00:00+00:00

19

I MET HECTOR ON my way to the garage. He tipped his cap and asked, “Do you have any more questions, señor?”

“Is Seth Walker in the garage, Hector?”

It was not the question he expected nor one he cared to answer. “I don’t know, señor. I mind my own business around here.”

“I don’t blame you, Hector.”

The garage was a four-car affair and, like ours had an apartment on its upper story. Seth could probably live there if he chose, but I imagined he would prefer The Breakers. As I drew near, I saw a woman come scurrying out of a side door and knew why my question had embarrassed Hector.

“Mrs. Peterson, I presume?” I called as she tried to bolt past me without acknowledging my existence.

“Yes. I’m sorry. I was just seeing if I had left one of the grocery bags in my car. I did the shopping this morning and seem to be missing a few items I know I bought.”

She was a few years younger than her husband, which still left her past her prime. I attributed her trim figure to a metabolism in a constant state of overdrive rather than to a conscious effort at diet and exercise. Her hair was a shade of reddish brown that did not appear on Mother Nature’s color chart.

Eyeing her empty hands, the fingers of which fluttered as if she were manipulating a string of invisible worry beads, I said, “I take it you didn’t find what you were looking for.”

“No, I didn’t. If you’ll excuse me...”

“Is Seth in the garage?”

“Seth?” She suddenly looked as if she were about to cry. “How would I know?”

“Well, you just came from the garage, Mrs. Peterson, and I’m looking for Seth Walker.”

“He might be in there. I didn’t notice. I just went...”

“Yes, Mrs. Peterson. You told me why you were in the garage. By the way, I’m Archy McNally.”

“Yes, I know. Or I assumed that’s who you were. I really must be getting back to the house now—”

“I’ve met your husband and Arnold.”

She began to march in place, giving the impression that it was the loo she was desperate to get back to. Poor thing. I imagined her husband would find her excuse to visit the garage as lame as I did. Knowing that Peterson was tied up with me in the library, had she made a quick run to the garage to bring Seth a goody from the kitchen? Herself, for instance?

“Are you at all curious as to what I’m doing here, Mrs. Peterson?”

“I’m sure it’s none of my business, Mr. McNally. We were told to expect you and to answer any questions you wished to put to us.” Very little seemed to be the business of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson.

“However, Mrs. Peterson, I did not ask you what you were doing in the garage, did I?”

“No, but I—”

“But you thought you would tell me anyway. How kind. What items were missing from your grocery bags?”

Between her busy feet and her hands, I thought the woman was gearing up for a marathon.

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.