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challenge Gordy directly, their motive for murder could be a form of reprisal against Evan Robley."
"Shaky, Charles."
"I know. From what you've told me, they would have been more likely to want to frighten the Robleys
and thus intimidate Evan into continuing payment on his canceled debt. Murdering his prime source of
income is certainly carrying things too far. Wallace and Roller are denying all knowledge of it."
"They'd have to. Any news on the old geezer from the garage?"
"The police located him later that morning, he's assisting in their inquiries oh yes, they also found the
other fellow, Toumey."
"Yeah?"
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"He'd taken Adrian's coupe around to a certain garage to sell to the less-than-honest operators there.
They have, or rather had, a highly lucrative stolen-car business. The police alert to pick up Adrian
included a description of his vehicle and its license number, and a passing patrol car happened to be in
the right place at the right time. Several birds were annihilated with the casting of that particular stone."
"So Adrian's off the hook with the cops?"
"Yes, for the time being."
"You think he did it?"
"I think we lack information." He'd stare a hole in that brandy snifter if he wasn't careful.
" And you figure I should talk to him?"
He nodded once, but remained silent, letting me think. Damn the son of a bitch. The Mozart stuff ended
and was replaced by some kind of modern vocal piece that sounded like stuttering, lovesick cats. I
heaved to my feet.
"I'll see you later."
I didn't take a direct route but dropped by Bobbi's hotel to check on her. I'd tried calling from Escott's,
but her phone was busy.
Piano music came through the walls, which meant Marza was visiting. I grimaced, but then no one ever
said life was fair, and knocked on the door. The music faltered over a few notes and then continued on
with determination. She usually kept the mute pedal down for the sake of the other hotel tenants, but
shifted her foot from it as Bobbi let me in.
We hugged hello and Bobbi asked her to stop playing so we could talk.
Marza put on a sweet smile, utterly lacking in sincerity. "I'm sorry, was I disturbing anyone?" She
pretended to busy herself by lighting one of her noisome little cigars. To protect my own sanity, I grabbed
Bobbi and dragged her out into the hall and firmly shut the door behind us.
"Rude, isn't she?" I asked.
"Absolutely," she answered, and then we gave each other a proper kiss.
"Your phone's been busy," I said when she came up for air.
"It started ringing when the papers came out this morning. I'm just famous enough locally to bring every
crank out of the woodwork, so I had to take it off the hook. Did you see one of those rags? 'Singer
Stumbles Over Slaying.' I just hope they don't cancel my spot this Saturday." She pulled me tight,
needing reassurance. "This is awful, thinking about myself with all this going on."
"No, it's not. You couldn't be awful if you tried, unlike some people I know." I nodded significantly at
the door and Marza's direction and eventually got a smile.
"I'm sorry about that, she thinks you've dragged me into a situation that will hurt me. Marza's terribly
protective."
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"She's terribly something. Are you doing all right?"
"Yes, I'm just fine, really. Did you have anything to do with finding Alex?"
I gave her the quick version of events and covered the points all the papers missed. "Anyway, the heat's
off him for now."
"What about poor Evan? I've tried calling the hospital, but they just said he was stable, whatever that
means."
"Charles says he's all right, he just doesn't remember much from last night."
"Probably just as well. Look, I'm going to kick Marza out so we don't have to hang around the hall."
"Sorry, baby, but I have to go talk with Alex about some things."
"Like whether he "
"Yeah, that and some other stuff."
"I don't know whether to wish you luck or not. Can you come back by later?"
"As soon as I'm free."
"Good. I'm still going to kick Marza out. She's been with me almost all day and I need a break."
"Attagirl."
At the hospital, the nurse on Evan's floor told me only thirty minutes were left for visiting.
"Is he still under medication?"
"Yes, a mild sedative to relax him."
That was convenient. "Has he had any other visitors?"
"Some of his friends are with him now." Her phone rang before I could ask which ones.
I opened his door quietly and was not too surprised to see Reva Stokes and Leighton Brett. Reva was
concentrating on her talk with Evan and didn't notice me, but Brett looked up in time. He was a big man,
but still managed to ease out soundlessly, heaving a relieved sigh as he joined me in the hall. He smiled
grimly and pumped my hand.
"Good of you to come by like this," he said. "I hope you don't mind waiting, but Reva's just gotten him to
talk a little about Sandra, and an interruption now might spoil the mood."
"I understand. How's he doing?"
"Better than he was last night. I forgot to thank you for your help. When he started to go off the deep
end "
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"We were just lucky that doctor was still hanging around. Is Evan's memory any better?"
" 'Fraid not. I'm hoping Reva can help him, but if it comes to it I'll be looking around for some kind of
psychiatrist. I don't know about you, but that breakdown he had last night scared me to death, and I'm
still worried about him."
"How so?"
"He might do something crazy if we don't watch him. He and Sandra were very close. They genuinely
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