"Elrod, P N - Vampire Files 05 - Fire In The Blood E-Txt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elrod P N)

other couples had used the same lounge for their own romantic interludes. I had
plenty of time to think about it, but when Bobbi finally came back she had news.
"I talked with GloriaЧ"
"The hat-check girl?"
"I was hoping you hadn't noticed her."
"What'd she say?"
"McAlister was here for a while and then left."
"What time?"
"I'm getting to that. He was here when you arrived and didn't leave until after
the ruckus. Looks tike little Marian was trying to keep you two apart."
"Why do you think that?"
" Marian came back after you lost her in the parking lot and made a beeline to
McAlister's table off the dance floor. Tina was running the drinks in that
section, but neither of them wanted anything. They had their heads together for
a bit, and the next time she looked he was gone. Gloria said he got his coat,
stiffed her on the tip, and took off. She saw Marian walk past a minute or so
later."
"Charles ought to have you as a partner instead of me. McAlister's probably
halfway to China by now."
"Maybe, but chances are, he'll stop to pack first. Where does he live?"
"He's got a flop in a hotelЕ"I fumbled out my notebook, where I'd scribbled the
address. It wasn't far; if I hurried I might get there in time to watch his dust
settle. "Gotta go, sweetheart. If I'm not back by closing, get a ride with one
of the girls."
She laughed when I kissed her and wished me luck.
* * *
The Boswell House was a cheap residence hotel in a tough neighborhood that
hadn't quite made it to being a full-fledged slum, but was trying all the same.
No clerk at the desk challenged me when I walked into the dusty lobby and looked
around. The stairs were on the right; ancient wooden things full of more creaks
and pops than an old man's joints. I double-checked the lobby to be safe, then
went semitransparent and floated up over them, guiding myself along with a
ghostly hand on the banister. In this form I could see and hear what was going
on. but it could scare the willies out of anyone spotting me.
Either the timing was good or for once my luck was holding. I went solid just as
a leggy gal in a bright kimono emerged from the room next door to McAlister's.
She had carroty hair and hard eyes and looked at me looking at her for exactly
two seconds before spinning on her bare heel to go back into her lair. I must
not have been the man of her dreams, after all.
A moment of listening at McAlister's door confirmed that he wasn't at home. The
door was locked, but no problem.
The small room beyond wasn't much: cheap, battered furniture at the edges, and a
Murphy bed taking up most of the space in the middle. It hadn't been made in a
couple of weeks; that, or he was an incredibly restless sleeper. I figured he
slept alone, since I couldn't think of a woman born who would voluntarily lie
down in those stale sheets. I lifted the end of the bed and closed it up into
the wall to give myself a little working space.
Escott had taught me how to poke and pry without leaving signs, so I went
through everything, taking my time. Chances were, he'd be back before I was
finished, and then I could tackle him about the bracelet.