Part 13 (1/2)

'Since I don't have any useful talents.'

Smiling, Pen sat on the couch.

'Let me get you something to drink,' Joyce offered. 'Wine would be great.'

Leaving the room, Joyce said over her shoulder, 'Pen's a writer.'

'I write mysteries,' she said. 'But I've only sold one so I'ma It was just a short story.'

'That's terrific. As I understand it, the world's full of would-be writers who've never had anything published.'

'Do you have any ambitions along those lines?'

'Nope. I'd rather spend my time reading good stuff than writing lousy stuff. Do you have a normal job?'

'I don't know how normal it is, but I'm a certified shorthand reporter. I spend most of my time trotting around to law offices to take down depositions.'

'It must be a good source for story ideas.'

She nodded. 'I've met some very strange people. The main thing, though, is that I can pick and choose a.s.signments. I only work when I want to - which is most of the time because I do like to eat, pay my rent, little things like that.'

'No desire to be an attorney?'

'That'd be a full-time career. I don't have room for it.'

'Wouldn't leave you time for your writing?'

'Not enough. And I'd rather write.'

'I'd like to read your stuff.'

'It ain't Updike.'

'Ah, but is it Hammett?'

'No. It's pretty good Pen Conway, though.'

A grin spread over Bodie's face.

Joyce came in carrying a bottle of white wine and a gla.s.s. She filled the gla.s.s for Pen, gave herself a refill, and sat down. 'I guess I should start thinking about supper.'

'Don't,' Bodie said. 'I'll save you the trouble, if everyone likes pizza. I know Melanie does.'

'Where is Melanie?' Pen asked.

'Still asleep. I was in LA a couple of years ago and had this great pizza at some place not far from here.'

'That must have been La Barbera's,' Pen said.

'Right, that's the place. Is it still around?'

'Sure.'

'Why don't I drive over and pick one up?'

'Oh,' Joyce said, 'that's a lot of trouble.'

'No more trouble than you making something for all of us. Besides, I've really got a craving for that stuff. It's the best pizza I've ever tasted.'

'If you feel that strongly about it,' Joyce said. 'The least I can do is call in the order. What kind should we get?'

'Melanie doesn't like mushrooms.'

'How about salami?' Pen suggested.

'Mushrooms on half.'

'Sounds good to me.'

Joyce took a sip of wine, then left to make the call.

'Maybe you could give me directions,' Bodie said.

'I can do better than that,' Pen told him. 'I'll go with you and act as navigator.'

'I'd be glad to have you along. Maybe you'd better stay here, though. Melanie might come down while we're gone, and I don't think she'd like the idea that both of us went off without her. Besides, you might be needed as a referee.'

Pen frowned.

Bodie glanced over his shoulder as if to make sure that Joyce wasn't returning. 'Melanie wasn't too happy about finding that Harrison fellow here. She thinks there was maybe some hanky-panky going on.'

'It crossed my mind, too,' Pen admitted.

'Anyway, I don't know whether she'd say anything, but it might help the situation if you're around.'

'I suppose you're right.'

Bodie sat up straight and drank the last of his beer. 'So. How do I get to La Barbera's from here?'

'Easy.'

While she was explaining the directions, Joyce returned, opening her purse. 'They said it should be ready in half an hour.'

'This is my treat,' Bodie told her.

'No, really, I insist.' She took out a twenty-dollar bill. Bodie waved it off. 'No way,' he said, and Joyce didn't argue.