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

"You approve of him, though?"
"He's a cut above most of the losers Marian's brought home, but I'm not taking
it too seriously. She changes boyfriends as frequently as I change socks. She'll
fasten onto someone else when she gets tired of going to the park and museums
with Harry. They're free, you know."
"Does Marian work?"
"Has hell frozen over lately?"
Escott almost laughed. "Where may I reach you?"
Pierce mumbled and growled a little under his breath, and reluctantly parted
with his home phone number. "But don't call it you can help it, I'll check with
you every evening at about five."
We wound things up and left Pierce at the bar ordering another sarsaparilla. As
Griffin drove us back home, Escott studied the party photo by the intermittent
light from the street lamps.
"An interesting group, wouldn't you say?" he asked.
"I guess so. Funny how he's so leery of his daughter finding out about any of
this."
"The extent that some fathers are dominated by their offspring would probably
astonish you, and a man may go to absurd lengths in order to preserve the
illusion of peace in his household."
"While disrupting others," I added.
"Yes, he did initiate this business in a somewhat unorthodox manner. At least it
added a touch of interest to an otherwise commonplace case."
"That's what you figure?"
"This time, yes. The man didn't strike me as a fool. If he thinks McAlister took
the bracelet, then it's likely to be true. We have only to find the fellow and
verify things one way or another."
"Sure you need my help, then?"
"Most certainly. I could cover all of the places listed here alone, but it will
go faster for your assistanceЕ Tell me, is Miss Smythe still headlining at the
Top Hat?"
"For another month yet." Two weeks ago Bobbi had landed the star spot singing in
one of Chicago's best nightclubs.
"Now, that is most convenient. It's down here as a place frequented by Stan
McAlister."
I could see what he had in mind a mile off. "Aw, now don't go asking me to mix
Bobbi up with this business."
"Miss Smythe need not be involved. All you have to do is look the place over and
see if McAlister is present. Don't you visit there each night, anyway?"
"Yeah, but only just before closing so I can drive Bobbi home. Her boss said no
husbands or boyfriends during working hours for any of the girls, no exceptions.
He thinks they take up valuable space."
"He can't object if you're a paying customer. Mr. Pierce's retainer should be
more than sufficient to cover your expenses for now."
He'd made up his mind, so there wasn't much point arguing with him. Chances
were, McAlister would be in some other joint and I could take Bobbi home as
usual, with the added bonus of getting paid to catch her show. "Okay, I'll go
have a look. What'll you be doing?"
"Checking some of his other haunts, and then I'll run by his hotel to see if
he's in. If I find him, then I can sort things out right away."