"Kiser, Marcia - Some Like It Hot" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kiser Marcia)

I mopped my face with my shirtsleeve, noticing a passing resemblance between it and those Tammy Faye Bakker sweatshirts that were popular for a while.

"Let's see if I've got this straight. You won't let me have my car -- even though itТs 100 degrees and the carТs ready, right?"

"Yep."

"Just because I won't tell you what I told Jimmy Bob?"

"Yep."

"That's blackmail."

"Yep."

I propped my hands on my hips, frustrated and just mad enough to do something crazy.

"Fine! I'll walk." As I spun to leave, I had the pleasure of seeing Tiny's mouth drop open.

If Tiny had asked, I probably would've told him, but nobody's gonna force me to tell them anything.

*****

About a mile into my walk home I heard a siren coming toward me. I jumped across the bar ditch, slipped, and fell smack-dab into the muddy bottom. Swearing and spitting, I tried to get up. The more I tried to get up, the more I slid down. So there I was like a pig in its wallow when I realized the siren had stopped.

I wiped a muddy hand across my forehead and looked up. I'll say this for Jimmy Bob, he had the decency not to laugh even, though his face was the color of an eggplant.

When he finally got himself under control, he hauled me out and gave me one of his rescue blankets he keeps in the trunk.

"How'd ya know?"

"Tiny called me. Said you walked off madder than a fresh-washed cat. Said to tell ya he'd bring your car out tonight."

"Damned old coot!"

"Fiona, that stiff-necked pride of yours is gonna get you in trouble one of these days."

"Stiff-necked pride, huh? Did he tell you why I left? Huh? СCause I wouldn't tell him what I told you. How do ya like them apples?"

I heard Jimmy Bob's whiskers rasp as he rubbed his jaw. "Well, no, he didn't mention that little fact. Maybe I need to have a little talk with him on how to treat our senior citizens and police business. But, I do appreciate. . .."

"Senior citizen! How dare you, Jimmy Bob Black? I'm no more a senior citizen than. . . than. . . than. . . "

"Calm down, Fiona. You're 60 if youТre a day. You know it. I know it. Hell, everybody in town knows it. Now, hush up. I appreciate you not saying nothing to Tiny. But I am glad it worked out like this. I want you to explain that little comment you made about somebody threateninТ Daisey Mae."

"I wouldn't to interfere in official. . ."

"Don't start, Fiona. Just tell me."

"There's no need to get huffy, Jimmy Bob. You're the one who insulted me, but. . . Well, Edna Faye Nessleton told Irma Johnson who told Oma Perkins who told Minnie Lou Siverson who me told me, that Edna Faye's daughter, Sissie, was out at Pete's Bar two weeks ago Saturday and saw Cody drunk and mouthing off about Daisey Mae. Calling her all kinds of names. He was by himself, but Elbert was out there and he said something to Cody. Evidently, there was some pushy-pushy, but no punches. Pete walked Cody out with that baseball bat he keeps under the counter, but before Cody left he said something about, Сthat g. d. b-word better not walk in front or my truck or she'll be f-word sorry.ТФ