"Evanovich, Janet - Stephanie Plum 05 - High Five 2.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Evanovich Janet)

I looked at the photo attached to BriggsТ file. Briggs didnТt look so bad. In his forties, narrow-faced and balding, Caucasian. Job description was listed as selfemployed computer programmer.

I gave a sigh of resignation and stuffed the folder into my shoulder bag. УIТll go talk to him.Ф

УProbably he just forgot,Ф Connie said. УProbably this is a piece of cake.Ф

I gave her my yeah, right look and left. It was Monday morning and traffic was humming past VinnieТs storefront office. The October sky was as blue as sky gets in New Jersey, and the air felt crisp and lacking in hydrocarbons. It was nice for a change, but it kind of took all the SpOrt Out of breathing.

A new red Firebird slid to curbside behind my С53 Buick. Lula got out of the car and stood hands on hips, shaking her head. УGirl, you still driving that pimpmobile?Ф

Lula did Sling for Vinnie and knew all about pimpmobiles firsthand since in a former life sheТd been a Сho. SheТs what is gently referred to as a big woman, weighing in at a little over two hundred pounds, standing fivefoot-five, looking like most of her weightТs muscle. This week her hair was dyed orange and came off very autumn with her dark brown skin.

УThis is a classic car,Ф I told Lula. Like we both knew I really gave a fig about classic cars. I was driving The Beast because my Honda had caught fire and burned to a cinder, and I didnТt have any money to replace it. So here I was, borrowing my uncle SandorТs gas-guzzling behemoth.. . again.

УProblem is, you arenТt living up to your earning potential,Ф Lula said. УWe only got chickenshit cases these days. What you need is to have a serial killer or a homicidal rapist jump bail. Those boys are worth something.Ф

УYeah, IТd sure like to get a case like that.Ф Big fib. If Vinme ever gave me a homicidal rapist to chase down IТd quit and get a job selling shoes.

Lula marched into the office, and I slid behind the wheel and reread the Briggs file. Randy Briggs had given the same address for home and work. Cloverleaf Apartments on Grand Avenue. It wasnТt far from the office. Maybe a mile. I pulled into traffic, made an illegal U-turn at the intersection, and followed Hamilton to Grand.

The Cloverleaf Apartments building was two blocks down Grand. It was redbrick-faced and strictly utilitarian. Three stories. A front and a back entrance. Small lot to the rear. No ornamentation. Aluminum-framed windows that were popular in the fifties and looked cheesy now.

I parked in the lot and walked into the small lobby. There was an elevator to one side and stairs to the other. The elevator looked claustrophobic and unreliable, so I took the stairs to the second floor. Briggs was 2B. I stood outside his door for a moment, listening. Nothing drifted out. No television. No ts&lng. 1pressed the doorbell and stood to the side, so I wasnТt visible through the security peephole.

Randy Briggs opened his door and stuck his head out. УYeah?Ф

He looked exactly like his photo, with sandy blond hair that was neatly combed, cut short. He was unbearded, unblemished. Dressed in clean khakis and a button-down shirt. Just like IТd expected from his file ... except he was only three feet tall. Randy Briggs was vertically challenged.

УOh, shit,Ф I said, looking down at him.

УWhatТs the matter?Ф he said. УYou never see a short person before?Ф

УOnly on television.Ф

УGuess this is your lucky day.Ф

I handed him my business card. УI represent Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. YouТve missed your court date, and weТd appreciate it if youТd reschedule.Ф

УNo,Ф Briggs said.

УExcuse me?Ф

УNo. IТm not going to reschedule. No. IТm not going to court. It was a bogus arrest.Ф

УThe way our system works is that youТre supposed to tell that to the judge.Ф

УFine. Go get the judge.Ф

УThe judge doesnТt do house calls.Ф