Part 18 (2/2)
”Which is exactly why I'm staying far, far away from Texas and minding my own self-centered business.”
”Yeah.”
”Really. Geez, would you look at the time? I 'm late for Dieting Tips to Slim Down Your Overweight Clients. Can't miss that. Gotta run.” I killed the connection before he could ask me any more questions.
And before he could add anything like Please be careful or I miss you or I love you. If he'd wanted to, that is.
No sooner did I switch my phone to vibrate than the dial-up on the nightstand started to ring. I had to hand it to Ty. He was fast and per sis tent.
A tiny thrill went through me and I barely resisted the urge to s.n.a.t.c.h up the phone. Come on. It 's not like he was calling to declare his devotion. He was going to chew me a new one.
I knew that and so I was not picking up the phone.
Then again, it might not even be Ty. It might be someone with a tip about Mordred. I'd handed out cards to dozens of people.
Maybe it was finally paying off.
I s.n.a.t.c.hed up the receiver. ”Lil Marchette.”
”Meatloaf sandwiches and fried pickles,” Elmer said. ”Just delivered. You in?”
”Pa.s.s.”
”Best meatloaf in town,” he added.
According to the Lonely Fork Gazette, no doubt.
”I'm not really hungry.”
”City folk,” he murmured. ”It just ain't natural living on carrot sticks and whole wheat and all them fancy schmancy protein shakes and such. Gimme real food any day.”
And gimme a friggin' break.
”Just so's you know,” he went on, ”the lobby will be closed tonight. I'm playing Bingo over at the VFW.”
My worry faded in a rush of excitement. ”You have a date?”
”Does Tallulah Pierce count?”
”That depends on the circ.u.mstances. Did you ask her out?”
”Not exactly. I have to pick her up on account of I'm the only one at the VFW who'll let her sight dog ride in the front cab of their pickup. He's old and a little incontinent.”
”Aren't we all?”
”That's what I always say. Anyhow, I give her a ride every week to Bingo, so I guess you might consider it a date.”
”Do you kiss her good night?”
”I shake her hand and sometimes I sc.r.a.pe p.o.o.p off her shoe if she steps the wrong way before the dog can stop her.”
”That doesn't really qualify her as a love interest.”
”Then I guess I'm flying solo.”
Not for long. I slid the phone into its cradle and reached for my cell. I entered my pa.s.sword and checked my voice mail.
Tonight was the night. I was going to get a break in Esther's case. A witness who'd seen someone fitting Mordred's description. A concerned neighbor who smelled rotting vampire. An innocent bystander who'd heard screams or crying or something. I held tight to the hope as the first message echoed in my ear.
”I'm at Pollo Loco,” Mandy said. ”Where are you?” I ignored a spiral of guilt and hit DELETE.
Message two. ”I'm at Crazy Jimmy's,” my mother said. ”Where are you?” Delete.
Message three. ”I'm still at Pollo Loco. I'm giving you fifteen more minutes. In the meantime, I think I'll have the nachos.”
Message four. ”I'm still at Crazy Jimmy's and I'm drinking b.l.o.o.d.y Marias all by myself. I've tried calling Mandy, but she must be on the phone because it's going straight to voice mail.” Delete.
Message five. ”I know you're up to something-” Ty started. I hit DELETE before he could finish.
Message six. ”You're getting in way over your head-” Delete.
Message seven. ”Stay out of it-” Delete.
The end.
So much for helpful tips.
I punched in the number for Golden Acres and asked for Tara.
”Sure, she's here. But she can't come to the phone. She's playing Bridge and she gets real mad when anyone interrupts her. I can have her call you when she's finished.”
I'd already gone that route yesterday. ”Why don't you just give me directions instead?”
I was through waiting around for a return phone call. I would fly up to Austin and talk to Tara in person.
Not that I had any illusions that it was going to bring me any closer to finding Esther, but I had to do something. The waiting for someone to call with a tip and the worry over Esther was driving me nuts.
I walked into the bathroom, peeled off Ty's T-s.h.i.+rt and climbed into a hot shower. I was just rinsing shampoo out of my hair and envisioning a ma.s.sive break in Esther 's case (finding Mordred playing Bridge with Tara while Esther crouched in a nearby closet) when I heard the rattle of the dead bolt and the twist of the doork.n.o.b.
What the- The thought struck just as a hand gripped the shower curtain and ripped it to the side. A scream burst past my lips as I whirled.
Shampoo ran in my eyes, but I forced them open anyway, to see Nina One standing on the bathmat.
Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she had no makeup on. She wore a rumpled Juicy sweat suit and flip -flops (we're talking the plain, plastic kind). I knew right then that something bad had happened.
”What's wrong?”
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