I Shot You Babe Read Online Free PDF Page A

anything was important enough to tear her little boy away from her.
    “I’m on a date.”
    Mom promptly exploded. “You are ? Oh, Squidgy! How wonderful!” I heard her mumble something to Dad about grandchildren.
    “Mum, I’ve got to get back.” I didn’t want Veronica to run off.
    “Okay! Have fun!” I thought I heard her say, “Get married,” but that might have been my imagination.
    I returned to the table and joined Veronica. “Sorry about that. Now, where were we?”
    “Who was it?” Ronnie asked. I found her complete lack of tact refreshing. I really did.
    “My sick friend. He’s rallied. He says hello.”
    “Hmmm.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll bet he did.”
    “Are you drunk?”
    “Of course not.” She wobbled indignantly. “I’m just a little buzzed. That’s all.”
    Veronica stood. Then she toppled back into her chair, giggling. “Oops.” She giggled again.
    I liked it. But I was concerned that she’d had a bit too much to drink. And for some reason, I was pretty sure that Veronica Gale wasn’t much of a drinker.
    I motioned for the check, and within a few minutes I was leading one tipsy anthropologist back to where she thought her room might be. All I had wanted to do was loosen her up. But if this woman got any looser I was afraid her head would come off.

Chapter Five
    Lieutenant John Chard: The army doesn’t like more than one disaster in a day.
    Bromhead: Looks bad in the newspapers and upsets civilians at their breakfast.
    — Z ULU
    Thirty minutes later I was convinced Veronica had no idea where her room was. And to tell you the truth, I was getting a little worried. The hallways were filled with suits—men I assumed were from various government agencies. And they noticed that I was dragging a drunk woman around with me aimlessly through the hallways.
    “Excuse me, sir.” A tight-lipped man in a boring black suit asked for the seventh time, “Are you lost?”
    “No, I—” I was cut off completely as Veronica launched herself into my arms and kissed me. It was nice. I enjoyed it. Maybe not half as much as the federal retinue watching us. Against my will, I came up for air.
    “I’m taking her to our room right now,” I answered as Veronica burst into another fit of giggles.
    “Yes! We’re goin’ to our room!” she shouted enthusiastically.
    Once inside my room, I locked the door and looked out the peephole. No one there. That was good.
    “So, what now, sailor?” Veronica flopped drunkenly onto my bed and promptly passed out.
    “What now, indeed.” I sighed. Very carefully, I removed her shoes and dress. For a moment I felt guilty staring at her in her underwear. She really was a lovely young woman—slender and shapely. Too bad she was also something I didn’t like in a woman…unconscious.
    After covering her up, I sat in a chair by the door, watching her and listening for any movement outside. My thoughts drifted to the memories of women past. If I were a gentleman, I’d say there weren’t many. Of course, then I wouldn’t be a gentleman because I’d be lying. No, I’d had my fair share of women over the years. Nothing permanent since, well, since Frannie Smith. I liked to keep things detached.
    It just wasn’t in me to find one partner and settle down. I liked living off-the-cuff. And I guess if you think about it, I was already in a monogamous relationship with a guinea pig.
    Sartre squeaked as if she knew I was thinking about her. I pulled her out of the cage and onto my lap. She snuggled up, and I stroked her fur as she purred and fell asleep. Great. I couldn’t seem to keep any women awake.
    There was one meaningful relationship in my sordid past. Shutting my eyes couldn’t make the memory of one Frances Smith go away. The pain that stabbed my heart was just as fresh as the day she said goodbye. Frannie. She broke my heart.
    Isn’t there always one love who can take your heart and give it a slow, painful death? Nothing ever eased the ache.