"John E. Stith - All for Naught" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stith John E)

leaned forward, anticipating the opening of the doors, but they
stayed shut. She looked around to see if the elevator had an
emergency bell switch.
Suddenly, in a voice mimicking the voice of a short,
web-footed cartoon character almost always seen in a sailor suit
with large buttons, the elevator hummed. It played the theme
from "Twilight Zone." "Do do DO do. Do do DO do."
Annette banged on the control panel.
Finally, as the doors opened, the elevator voice laughed.
"Wahhh. He he he he."
***
Annette knocked on the door saying "Nick Naught Private
Investigations," then, without waiting for an answer, entered the
office. She patted her hair into place, and glanced over her
shoulder toward the elevator door in the hallway.
"Hello, Nick," she said.
Nick thought she looked sad, but she also looked determined,
businesslike. Her hair was longer than he had seen it last, and
the change looked good on her.
Nick got to his feet slowly, confused about why she would be
here after all that had gone on between them. "Hello, Annette.
I have to say I never really expected to see you here." Nick
felt his insides start to churn, and he suddenly felt as forlorn
as he had four years ago.
"I need your help," she said simply.
"After four years?"
Annette shook her head. "Let's not start in on it, all
right? What's done is done. I wouldn't be here if I didn't
figure I needed someone like you."
Nick was silent for a moment, considering. Finally he
gestured at a chair. They both sat. "Okay. Today's business.
Let's hear it."
Annette's calm facade crumbled a little, and she fidgeted.
"Ed's been kidnapped. And someone tried to get me, too."
Nick leaned forward, concerned. "Why?"
"That's the worst part of all. I have absolutely no idea."
Nick caught his thoughts moving to the past, and he forced
himself to think about the present. "I don't watch much
television. Your brother's still a reporter for K-S-M-Y?"
Annette looked at him directly. Her eyes had a pained look
Nick had seen before. "Yes. I already told them about it. Two
big guys grabbed him this morning. One of the neighbors saw part
of it out his window. They were probably the same two guys that
were after me. Muscle guys I'd never seen before, one of them
with lots of tattoos."
"I suppose you already called the police?"
"Sure. But they don't have time to do anything this month.
They're too busy already."
Nick nodded and went through a mental checklist. "Did
anything unusual happen recently? Did Ed meet a new woman, take