Anna Pigeon Mysteries - 01 - Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr

Author:Nevada Barr
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Mystery
ISBN: 9780425190838
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2003-06-03T15:24:41+00:00

CHAPTER 13

Widespread but not deadly was how the doctor at the Carlsbad Hospital had described Anna’s injuries. Her collarbone was cracked, her abdomen badly bruised, she had a slight concussion and severe contusions on her hands, legs, and torso.

Two days in the hospital for observation and she could go home. The first day she was called a “lucky girl” and a “brave girl” so often she was ready to punch somebody. When Rogelio appeared, a cold quart of Ballena and two flat loaves of Mexican sweet bread in a paper bag, Anna began to feel a little less vicious. When he kissed her and said: “Jesus, but you’re one hell of a strong woman,” she began to feel downright cheerful. At least till the tears came. But they were slow and healing. The kind she could laugh through and mean it. She was not utterly alone. Life no longer hung by a fingernail.

Rogelio pressed her bandaged palm to his lips. Beneath her fingertips she could feel the rough stubble on his cheek. “All the perfume in Arabia couldn’t sweeten this little hand,” he said and smiled. “See. Not a complete illiterate.”

Anna laughed. “Because, like Lady Macbeth’s, it is drenched in blood?”

“Whatever,” he said. He dipped his finger in a tear caught in the corner of her mouth. Delicately, he dabbed it behind his ear and, though she would’ve liked to cry for another hour—another day—to flush the fear and helplessness from her soul, she found herself smiling.

Rogelio brought the Ballena and the bread to her table. They looked rustic, real in contrast to the formidable efficiency of the stainless-steel tray. Anna took some of the bread but shook her head when Rogelio passed her the beer. “I’m on drugs.”

“Ah.” Rogelio didn’t seem displeased to have the beer to himself. “Seen God yet?”

“Wrong kind of drugs,” Anna replied. “But then I don’t feel like hell anymore. I’ll take that and be happy.”

“You’re pretty beat up, Anna. We’ll make love like porcupines for a while.”

At present she felt she’d never again want to be touched anywhere on her person with anything more forceful than a feather duster. Even through the painkillers, she knew she hurt. Knowing the feeling would pass, Anna smiled and said nothing.

“Tell me what happened,” Rogelio said.

Anna pushed her thoughts back to McKittrick Ridge. Her mind’s eye was not seeing too clearly. “Not much to tell,” she said after a moment. “I got careless. Just stepped into space is what it felt like. With the pack I couldn’t recover my balance and fell over. Then a rock busted loose and hit me.” She tried to remember the exact sequence of events and failed. “Then Gertrude died and Hamlet died and Laertes died and everybody else lived happily ever after,” she finished.

Rogelio kissed her gently as if she were made of glass. “Whatever they’re giving you, save some for me.”

What sounded like the report of an automatic weapon rattled outside the window and Anna started. “Firecrackers,” Rogelio explained soothingly. “The kids are gearing up.

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