Gumshoe by Rob Leininger

Author:Rob Leininger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Published: 2015-05-05T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“JONNIE’S KID,” I said.

A humorous light filled her eyes. “If I look like a kid to you, then yes.”

“Okay, his daughter.”

“You don’t look awfully thrilled about that, Mort.”

“Should I be?”

“I guess not. Probably not. One more person connected to Jonnie. I imagine you’ve had plenty of that lately.” She glanced around. “You wouldn’t happen to have like a nightlight or anything, would you? I can’t see your face very well.”

“It’s not that good a face.”

“And people think only women fish for compliments.”

“Just stating a fact, K—Kayla.”

“Well, if you believe it, I guess it must be true. One of those nightlight thingies? Maybe a flashlight? This is hardly the way to get acquainted.”

I dug a flashlight out of a nightstand and stuck it partway under a sheet, turned it on. The room took on a dim yellowish glow, hopefully not bright enough to attract the likes of Brian Williams, Katie Couric, or Wolf Blitzer—or a ragtag gang from Inside Edition.

“Better,” she said.

I stared at her. “Your hair was dark in a photo I saw recently.”

“Must’ve been an old one, about the time I was in middle school. Mom let me dye it black for my birthday. But haven’t you heard? Blondes have more fun.”

“Do they?”

“In fact, that’s a myth. I oughta know.” She twirled a lock of hair. “This is my natural color.”

“I know.”

Her eyes held mine. “Do you?”

“Got that when I was checking for bullet holes.”

She thought about that for a moment, then laughed. It was a nice, musical sound, without a trace of annoyance or dismay in it.

“What’re you doing here?” I asked.

“I needed a place to stay.”

That wasn’t an answer. “Why here, Kayla? Why me?”

“Why you what?”

“Was it because of Nicole?”

“Uh-huh. Indirectly, at least. She’s been away in Europe for a month, as you probably know. She doesn’t know I’m here.”

“Neither does the rest of the world. You’re a missing person, an enigma. Part of this puzzle everyone’s trying to figure out.”

“And I’d like to keep it that way. Dad disappeared and suddenly I was ducking reporters all over Ithaca. They were beyond persistent. It would be worse if anyone knew I was here in Reno. A lot worse.”

“But in spite of that you came back.”

“I had to.”

“Understandable. He’s your father.”

She hugged the pillow tighter. “It wasn’t that. I mean, he is, and maybe that’s part of the reason I’m here, but that’s not why I had to leave Ithaca.”

“Yeah? Why did you?”

She shivered. “How about I explain it in the morning? It’d take too long now.”

“You cold? Want me to shut the window?”

She smiled. “No. It’s still pretty warm out. Muggy. I’d forgotten the desert can get like this. Which, by the way, is one reason I’m dressed the way I am.”

“One reason? What’s another?”

“I haven’t worn clothing to bed since I was ten.” She shrugged. “PJs are uncomfortable. When you turn, they twist around you like those Chinese handcuff thingies.”

Dallas might’ve said the same thing. “How old are you, Kayla?”

“Thirty-four.” She tilted her head and smiled.

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