"Miller, B.L. - Crystal's Heart" - читать интересную книгу автора (Miller B.L)

her get her jacket on. "Call me as soon as you hear anything about the
apartment."
"I will." As they headed toward the front door, he spotted a corkboard with
dozens of business cards held in place by multi-colored thumbtacks. "Ah, there's
a good idea." Reaching into his pocket, he found one of his cards and put it up
in the middle of the board.
**********************
Entering her apartment, Crystal threw her keys on the coffee table and sorted
through the mail on her way into the kitchen. "Junk mail and bills," she
grumbled, tossing the pile on the counter. She opened the refrigerator to reveal
little more than outdated condiments and a nearly empty container of milk. She
briefly considered having something delivered but the late hour ruined that
idea. "Fuck it." Opening the freezer, the stripper pulled out a small pizza. She
put it in the toaster oven and took a glass from the cabinet before heading to
the living room. Next to the couch was a half-empty bottle of whiskey purchased
the night before. Crystal filled the glass before reaching for her lighter and
the joint sitting next to it. The pungent smoke burned her lungs but she held
her breath for as long as she could before letting it out slowly. Almost
instantly she felt a fuzziness, her body relaxing under the marijuana's
influence. Another long toke followed by several sips of whiskey and the
stripper was too stoned to remember the cooking food. She turned on the
television, pressing the buttons on the remote until she found the music videos.
She paid no attention to the band on the screen, caring more for the pounding
rhythm that numbed her senses in concert with the pot and booze.
Crystal's nose twitched as the foul smoke brought her back from unconsciousness.
"Wha-what the hell?" Her mind still fuzzy, it took several seconds for her to
realize that something was wrong. By then the fire from the toaster oven had
spread up into the cabinets and across the kitchen. The fire was too much for
her to even think about putting out with an extinguisher. Throwing a lamp off of
an overturned milk crate, Crystal began filling the container with her most
prized possessions; a small trophy, a ceramic figurine, an old photo album, a
folder with her important papers and as many clothes as she could stuff on top.
As an afterthought she hooked her pocketbook around her neck, fearing she
wouldn't be allowed back in to get it. She was right.
The fire department was already there, having been called by one of the
neighbors. As soon as Crystal exited her apartment, they moved in with hoses to
douse the flames. The stripper stood by helplessly as gallons of water poured
into her apartment, saving the structure but ruining everything she'd left
behind. It was either cry or be mad and Crystal chose the latter. After putting
her I.D. and money in her pockets, she found someone willing to watch her lone
crate of belongings for the night. After making sure she was no longer needed,
Crystal went off in search of the nearest bar.
The blonde stripper was well into her second twenty dollar bill when a heavyset
but pleasant looking guy walked up to her. "Can I buy you a drink?"
"Do I look like I need another drink?" she snapped. "Go waste your lines on
someone else."
"Hey, I was just trying to be nice," he protested. "You just looked so alone
over here in the corner."
"Did it occur to you that it might be by choice?" Crystal banged her empty glass
on the counter, catching the bartender's attention. The would-be Romeo gave up