"slaughter, karin - Indelible" - читать интересную книгу автора (Slaughter Karin)

A glimmer of victory flashed in the older woman Is eyes. She drew out the silence a bit more before asking, УHow's your mama and them? his УGood,Ф Sara answered, trying not to sound too circumspect. She wasn't naive enough to believe that her private life Was NO one else's business-in a county as small as Grant, Sara could barely sneeze without the phone ringing from up the street with a helpful УBless youФ-but she would be damned if she'd make it easy for them to gather their information.

УAnd your sister?Ф

Sara was about to respond when Brad Stephens saved her by tripping through the front door, The young patrolman caught himself before he fell flat on his face, but the momentum popped his hat off his head and onto the floor at Sara's feet. His gun belt and nightstick flopped under his arms like extra appendages. Behind him, a gaggle of prepubescent children squawked with laughter at his less-than-graceful entrance.

УOh,Ф Brad said, looking at Sara, then back to the kids, then at Sara again. He picked up his hat, brushing it off with more care than was warranted.

She imagined he could not decide which was more embarrassing: eight 10-year-olds laughing at his clumsiness or his former pediatrician fighting an obvious smile of amusement.

Apparently, the latter was worse. He turned back to the group, his voice deeper than usual as if to assert some authority. УThis, of course, is the station house, where we do business. Police business. Uh, and we're in the lobby now.Ф Brad glanced at Sara.

To call the area where they stood a lobby was a bit of a stretch. The room was barely ten feet by eight, with a cement block wall opposite the glass door at the entrance.

A row of photographs showing various squads in the Grant County police force lined the wall to Sara's right, a large portrait in the center showing Mac Anders, the only police officer in the history of the force who had been killed in the line of duty.

Across from the portrait gallery, Marla stood sentry behind a tall beige laminate counter that separated visitors from the squad room.

She was not a naturally short woman, but age had made her so by crooking her body into a nearly perfect question mark.

Her glasses were usually halfway down the bridge of her nose, and Sara, who wore glasses to read, was always tempted to push them back up. Not that Sara would ever do such a thing. For all Marla knew about everybody and their neighbor-and their dog-in town, not much was known about her. She was a widow with no children. Her husband had died in the Second World War. She had always lived on Hemlock, which was two streets over from Sara's parents, She knitted and she taught Sunday school and worked full-time at the station answering phones and trying to make sense of the mountains of paperwork.

These facts hardly offered great insight into Marla Simms. Still, Sara always thought there had to be more to the life of a woman who had lived some eighty-odd years, even if she'd lived all of them in the same house where she had been born.

Brad continued his tour of the station, pointing to the large, open room behind Marla, УBack there's where the detectives and patrol officers like myself conduct their business ... calls and whatnot. Talking to witnesses, writing reports, typing stuff into the computer, and, A -- . ...Ф His voice trailed off as he finally noticed he was losing his audience. Most of the children could barely see over the counter.

Even if they could, thirty empty desks spread out in rows of five with various sizes of filing cabinets between them were hardly attention grabbing. Sara imagined the kids were wishing they had stayed in school today.

Brad tried, УIn a few minutes, I'll show y'all the jail where we arrest people. Well, not arrest them,Ф he gave Sara a nervous glance, lest she point out his mistake. УI mean, this is where we take them after we arrest them. Not here, but back in the jail.Ф

Silence fell like a hammer, only to be interrupted by an infectious giggle that started in the back of the group, Sara, who knew most of the children from her practice at the children's clinic, hushed a few with a sharp look. Marla took care of the rest, her swivel chair groan+ with relief as she raised herself above the counter. The giggling shut off like a faucet.

Maggie Burgess, a child whose parents gave more credence to her opinion than any child of that age ought to be given, dared to say, УHey, Dr. Linton,Ф in a grating, singsong voice.

Sara gave a curt nod. УMaggie.Ф

УUh,Ф Brad began, a deep blush still souring his milk-white complexion.

Sara was keenly aware of his gaze lingering a little too long on her bare legs. УYa'll ... uh ... y'all know Dr. Linton.Ф

Maggie rolled her eyes. УWell, yeah,Ф

she said, her sarcastic tone reviving a few giggles.

Brad pushed on. УDr. Linton is also the medical examiner in town, in addition to being a pediatrician.Ф He spoke in an instructional tone, though surely the children already knew this. It was a subggect of great humor on the bathroom walls at the elementary school. I imagine she's here on county business. Dr. Linton?Ф

УYes,Ф Sara answered, trying to sound like Brad's peer rather than someone who could remember him bursting into tears at the mere mention of a shot, УI'm here to talk to the Chief of Police about a case we're working on.Ф

Maggie opened her mouth again, probably to repeat something horrible she had heard her mother say about Sara and Jeffrey's relationship, but Marla's chair squeaked and the child remained silent.