"Roger Zelazny - Amber 06 - Trumps Of Doom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

might provide me with a clue. I'd like to go back and search her apartment
more carefully, too. But that was out of the question. The cops had pulled up
in front of the place as I was driving away. There'd be no getting back in for
some time.
Rick. There was Rick Kinsky, the guy she'd begun seeing after we'd broken
up. I knew him on sight - a thin, mustached, cerebral sort, thick glasses and
all. He managed a bookstore I'd visited once or twice. I didn't know him
beyond that; though. Perhaps he could tell me something about the cards and
how Julia might have gotten into whatever situation it was that had cost her
her life.
I brooded a little longer, then put the cards away. I wasn't about to fool
with them any further. Not yet. First, I wanted as much information as I could
get.
I headed back for the car. As I walked I reflected that this April 30
wasn't over. Suppose S didn't really consider this morning's encounter as
aimed directly at me? In that case there was plenty of time for another
attempt. I also had a feeling that if I began getting close S would forget
about dates and go for my throat whenever there was an opening. I resolved not
to let my guard down at all henceforth, to live as in a state of siege until
this matter was settled. And all of my energies were now going to be directed
toward settling it. My well-being seemed to require the destruction of my
enemy, very soon.
Should I seek counsel? I wonder. And if so, from whom? There was an awful
lot I still didn't know about my heritage...
No. Not yet, I decided. I had to make every effort to handle things
myself. Besides the fact that I wanted to, I needed the practice. It's
necessary to be able to deal with nasty matters where I come from.
I drove, looking for a pay phone and trying not to think of Julia as I had
last seen her. A few clouds blew in from the west. My watch ticked on my
wrist, next to unseen Frakir. The news on the radio was international and
cheerless.
I stopped in a drugstore and used a phone there to try to reach Luke at
his motel. He wasn't in. So I had a club sandwich and a milkshake in the
dining area and tried again afterward. Still out.
Okay. Catch him later. I headed into town. The Browserie, as I recalled,
was the name of the bookstore where Rick worked.
I drove by and saw that the place was open. I parked a couple of blocks up
the street and walked back. I had been alert all of the way across town, but
could not detect any sign that I was being followed.
A cool breeze touched me as I walked, hinting of rain. I saw Rick through
the store's window, seated at his high counter reading a book. There was no
one else in sight in the place.
A small bell jangled above the door as I entered, and he looked up. He
straightened and his eyes widened as I approached.
"Hi," I said, pausing then for a moment. "Rick, I don't know whether you
remember me."
"You're Merle Corey," he stated softly.
"Right." I leaned on the counter and he drew back. "I wondered whether you
might be able to help me with a little information."
"What kind of information?"