In Between Read Online Free PDF Page A

of sag anywhere.
    When Delacort finished dressing and went into the gym proper, he left the door open to the dressing room. Sam cursed. He was still too close to a living person to take on a material body, and that meant he couldn’t move the gun, or block Delacort if and when he decided to use it. Ben entered with Lori at his side.
    Ben was dressed in baby-blue sweats with matching gym shoes. He strode to Delacort and patted his cheek. “How’s the pretty boy this morning?” he said in a mocking tone. He faked a punch to Delacort’s midsection and laughed when Delacort flinched. “Okay, let’s get started,” he said. “Warm up time.” Both men started to run in place.
    â€œLook,” Sam said to Lori, motioning for her to come to the dressing room. “He brought in a gun and put it under the towels.” His hand passed through the towels when he touched them.
    She frowned. “Not much we can do to stop him.”
    Sam turned to watch Delacort and Ben go from the warm-up exercise to a treadmill. Ben stepped on and started. Delacort was at a control panel. He increased the speed and the tilt of the running board, then increased the speed again until Ben was running.
    â€œHow long does this go on?” Sam asked.
    â€œAbout an hour. He’ll do the elliptical machine and press weights, and end up with a massage. Then he usually goes to the pool for a few laps.”
    â€œThink,” Sam said. “There has to be a way we can prevent murder under our noses.”
    â€œWould he really do it now, today, knowing he’d be caught? He was so careful with the brakes, making sure no one saw him, making it nearly impossible to accuse any one in particular. Why do it openly today?”
    â€œHe wasn’t at the party, was he? I didn’t see him.”
    â€œHe wasn’t invited. They had a workout that Friday, though, just like today.”
    â€œMaybe he has a plan to get back in later, this is just stage setting,” Sam said, pointing to the towels. “Actually that makes a little more sense. Do it when more people are around.”
    She nodded doubtfully.
    They watched in silence until Delacort turned off the treadmill and said, “Take five.”
    Sam felt every muscle tense as Delacort trotted over to the dressing room and the cabinet, where he grabbed two towels then trotted back to Ben. He handed one towel to Ben, who wiped his face while Delacort raised Ben’s sweat shirt to towel his back and shoulders.
    Ben started on the elliptical machine, slowly at first, with Delacort gradually increasing the speed and resistance. It was going at a fast rate when the door to the corridor opened and Arthur hurried in with a cellphone.
    â€œStop the goddamn machine,” Ben yelled at Delacort. He snatched the phone from Arthur. “You got it? You got the goddamn computer?” He listened, then said, “Now! Bring it up now.”
    He thrust the phone back to Arthur and got off the machine. “See that pretty boy leaves and tell Morehead I want lunch on the terrace.” Without another glance at Delacort he left the gym. Lori hurried after him.
    Sam and Arthur watched Delacort change clothes, fold his sweats and put them in the gym bag, glance over the dressing room, and walk out with Arthur at his side. Sam, a few steps behind them, hesitated at the door. He could move the gun now, since they were in the corridor, but where would he put it? The gym offered few hiding places. A locker? A gun would stay hidden there only as long as no one opened the door. The gun would keep, he decided, and went out after Arthur and Delacort. He watched the trainer get in his car, watched Arthur make a call, watched Delacort drive away.
    When he entered the terrace a moment later, he saw Ben, wearing a short white robe and sandals, at a table with a big salad and a frosted glass of what appeared to be juice. Ben’s legs were exceedingly hairy. Lori