C is for Corpse Read Online Free PDF

could feel the pain with which she regarded his crippled form. She looked from him to me, smiling politely.
    She moved forward, holding out her hand. “I’m Glen Callahan. You must be Kinsey Millhone. Bobby said you’d be stopping by.” Her voice was low and throaty. “I’ll give you a chance to enjoy yourself. We’ll talk in a bit.”
    I shook hands with her, startled how bony and warm her hand felt in mine. Her grip was iron.
    She glanced at the woman to her right, introducing me. “This is Nola Fraker.”
    â€œHi, how are you?” I said as we shook hands.
    â€œAnd Sufi Daniels.”
    Murmured pleasantries were exchanged. Nola was a redhead, with clear, fine-textured skin, and luminous blue eyes, wearing a dark red jumpsuit that left her arms bare and a deep V of naked flesh visible from throat to waist. Already, I didn’t want her to bend down or make any sudden moves. I had the feeling I knew her from somewhere. Possibly I’d seen her picture in the society section or something of that sort. Reminder bells went off, at any rate, and I wondered what the story was.
    The other woman, Sufi, was small and somewhat misshapen, thick through the trunk, her back hunched. She wore a mauve velour sweatsuit that looked like she’d never sweated in it. Her blond hair was thin and fine, worn too long, I thought, to be flattering.
    After a decent interval, the three of them resumed their conversation, much to my relief. I hadn’t thefaintest idea what to say to them. Nola was talking about a thirty-dollar fabric remnant she was whipping up to wear to a wine-tasting down in Los Angeles. “I checked all the shops in Montebello, but it was ridiculous! I wouldn’t pay four bills for an outfit. I wouldn’t even pay
two,
” she said with energy.
    That surprised me. She looked like a woman who enjoyed extravagance. Unless I just make up things like that. My notion of women with money is that they drive to Beverly Hills to have their legs waxed, charge a bauble or two on Rodeo Drive, and then go to charity luncheons at $1,500 a plate. I couldn’t picture Nola Fraker pawing through the bargain bin at our local Stretch N’ Sew. Maybe she’d been poor as a young girl and couldn’t get used to being a doctor’s wife.
    Bobby took my arm and steered me toward the men. He introduced me to his stepfather, Derek Wenner, and then in quick succession to Drs. Fraker, Metcalf, and Kleinert. Before I knew what to think, he was hustling me toward the hallway. “Let’s go upstairs. We’ll find Kitty and then I’ll show you the rest of the house.”
    â€œBobby, I want to talk to those people!” I said.
    â€œNo, you don’t. They’re dull and they don’t know anything.”
    As we passed a side table, I started to set my wineglass down, but he shook his head. “Bring it with you.”
    He grabbed a full bottle of wine out of a silver cooler and tucked it under his arm. He was really moving at a fair clip, limp and all, and I could hear my high heels clip-clopping along inelegantly as we moved towardthe foyer. I paused for a moment to slip my shoes off, and then I caught up with him. Something about Bobby’s attitude made me want to laugh. He was accustomed to doing exactly as he pleased among people I’d been taught to respect. My aunt would have been impressed by the company, but Bobby didn’t seem to be.
    We went up the stairs, Bobby pulling himself along by the smooth stone banister.
    â€œYour mother doesn’t use the name Wenner?” I asked, as I followed him.
    â€œNope. Callahan is her maiden name as a matter of fact. I changed mine to Callahan when she and my father divorced.”
    â€œThat’s unusual, isn’t it?”
    â€œDoesn’t seem that way to me. He’s a jerk. This way, I don’t have to be connected to him any more than she does.”
    The gallery at the top