"Clayton Emery - Tyger Blake - Totaled" - читать интересную книгу автора (Emery Clayton)

......"You lost it in the accident?"

......She hesitated. Even she understood that if she'd survived the accident, she'd be in pieces in a bed
beside Chuck. I felt lousy battling wits with an unarmed opponent.

......"I musta lost it earlier."

......"Nope." I closed my fist over the earring. "If it were yours, you'd have said so right away. So whose
is it?"

......"Oh. Well..." She looked around for Terry or Chuck to make a decision. "It must be Linda's."

......"Linda who?"

......"Linda... Ruggieri. She was Chuck's girlfriend."

......"Was?"

......"Yeah. She rode with him a lot. But she ran away. Left town."

......"When?"

......"I -- I don't know. Who are you?"

......Finally, she'd learned not to answer questions. "A friend."

......Light was eclipsed. Terry Sullivan filled the alcove again. He shot both of us a look of pure murder.
He snagged the girl's hand so hard she bleated.

......"Shut up, Sherri." To me, he snarled, "What are you doing here?"

......"Selling Girl Scout cookies. Chuckie's on solid food. He'll be out soon."

......Terry growled, yanked and almost dislocated the girl's arm. The two clattered off down the hallway,
Sherri protesting, but not much.

......The nurse invited me to leave. I left.
 ***

......The Ruggieri house reeked of cigarettes and dope. The woman who opened the door was already at
half-mast. She had to tilt her head back to look at me.

......"Yeah? Christ! What's wrong with your face?"

......"Hunting accident. Are you Mrs. Ruggieri?"

......"Yeah." But she had to think it over. She was ten years into middle age and still fighting. Her slacks
cut into her thighs, her blouse needed buttoning, her stack of hair trended south. The television shrilled in
the living room like a chain saw. "Are you here for Linda?"