Don't Lie to Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

all?”
    I remembered the unwanted sense of desire I’d felt when Linda had first come into the museum, but I also knew what my conscious mind wanted and what course I would be following, and I said, “Nothing at all. Not a trace.”
    She didn’t exactly change expression, but her face softened somehow, and she nodded at the brown paper bag in my hand and said, “You didn’t even get a chance to eat your lunch.”
    I welcomed the change of topic. “We can put it in the refrigerator, I’ll take it tomorrow night.”
    â€œWe could have a dinner together now,” she said, “if you’re hungry.”
    â€œWe could go out somewhere.”
    â€œIt’s after midnight.”
    â€œBill must know someplace open. Is he home?” Bill was sixteen, the age when most of his life was spent away from the house.
    â€œHe’s asleep. I’ll make something nice.”
    She came toward me, reaching for the paper bag, and when I gave it to her our fingers touched. We both smiled at the same time, and I said, “You know me now.”
    â€œYes.”
    We kissed, and she went out to the kitchen, and I headed for the hall phone, where I called a friend of mine still on the force, Marty Kengelberg. I had no idea what his duty hours were, but just took a chance. He wasn’t in, so I left my name, and went upstairs to change out of the uniform into slacks and shirt.
    Kate made a production out of dinner. There was no real reason for it, since even with this all-night job of mine we still ate most of our meals together, but there’s always a kick in unexpected time off, an aura of playing hookey from the regular routine. Also, I think Kate had a feeling that some sort of milestone had been passed in the reconstruction of our life together, and wanted to mark it or to celebrate it. I myself was aware of greater complexities than that, but took pleasure in her pleasure.
    We ate in the dining room, by candlelight, and afterward went upstairs to bed together and made love. Kate fell asleep very quickly, but I was keyed up by the night’s happenings, and was in any case on a schedule that wouldn’t have normally found me in bed before eight in the morning, so I was still awake a little after three when the phone rang. We have a bedroom extension, which I answered on the first ring, and it was Marty Kengelberg. I said, “Hold on while I switch phones.”
    â€œOkay.”
    I didn’t want Kate to wake up. I put on a robe, went downstairs, took the hall phone off the hook, hurried back up to the bedroom, hung up the extension there, dashed back down again, and said, “Marty? You there?”
    â€œListen, did I wake you up? The message said—”
    â€œNo, I was awake.”
    â€œIt said call any time tonight.”
    That wasn’t exactly the message I’d left, but I let it go. I said, “No, it’s all right, I’m awake.”
    â€œIs there a problem?”
    â€œNot with me,” I said. “With Dink Campbell.”
    There was a little silence, in which I could hear Marty remembering who Dink Campbell was, and then he said, “Uh-oh. Bothering you?”
    â€œNothing like that, Marty. He’s out, and he wants to go straight, and some of his old friends are giving him a rough time.”
    â€œThat happens,” he said. He didn’t sound very interested.
    â€œI was asked if I could help,” I said.
    Again the little silence. This time he sounded careful and a bit remote when he said, “You want to tell me who asked?”
    â€œLinda Campbell.”
    â€œFor Christ’s sake, Mitch—”
    â€œI’m not seeing her, Marty, I haven’t seen her for three years. She came to me because she didn’t know who else to go to, and because Dink won’t ask for help himself.”
    I heard him sigh. “How we get into these things,” he said.
    â€œI know.”
    â€œWhat do you