Madman on a Drum Read Online Free PDF Page B

because it was home to some of the gangsters. Poor Irish, Jews, Mexicans, Italians, blacks—they all lived there, too, and mostly they got along but sometimes they didn’t. There’s not much left of it now. Mechanic Arts High School is gone, the synagogues—Sons of Moses, Sons of Abraham—the grocery stores, Diamond’s Bar. It was carved up in the fifties and sixties when they built the freeways.”
    â€œHow do you know these things?” Harry asked.
    â€œIt’s my town.”
    â€œThe immediate area where the car was found has been recently gentrified.” Bobby’s voice was low, and he spoke with a measured cadence. He used his finger as a pointer. “Along here they’ve constructed new condominiums and apartment buildings. On this corner is the Gopher Bar. It’s a run-down joint with a lot of upper-class traffic mixing with the lowlifes. It serves the best chili dogs this side of Chicago.”
    â€œWhy bring Chicago into it?” I asked just to break the tension. It didn’t work. I was starting to worry about Bobby as much as Honsa was.
    â€œThe van was reported stolen two weeks ago,” Bobby said. “We could canvass the bar and condos, asking if anyone had seen the driver, make it sound like a simple GTA. Patrolmen only. No plainclothes, no FBI. That should reduce suspicion if there is anyone to see.”
    â€œI agree,” said Honsa. “In the meantime, we’ll get a city wrecker to tow the van to our facilities and have a forensics team standing by.”
    â€œGo,” Bobby said.
    Honsa turned. He spoke into a handheld as he walked away. Bobby seemed to relax slightly. He was in control.
    â€œLet me hear the tape again,” he said.
    Â 
    I was sitting in a maroon wingback chair and staring at the empty fireplace when Shelby descended the stairs. She was carrying a number of large books under her arm. I stood as she crossed the floor. She didn’t speak until she was within striking distance.
    â€œI thought you had left,” she said. Her voice didn’t sound much different than Bobby’s. Her fist was clenched, and for a moment I wondered what I would do if she punched me. Nothing, I decided.
    â€œHow’s Kate?” Bobby asked. Shelby turned her head as he approached. “How’s Katie holding up?” He wrapped his arm around Shelby’s shoulder.
    â€œKatie—she’s asleep. She fell asleep.”
    â€œThat’s good.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHow are you?”
    â€œMe?”
    â€œHow are you holding up?”
    â€œI’m not.”
    Shelby rested her head against Bobby’s chest, and he wrapped both of his arms around her and pulled her close.
    â€œBobby, what if—what if…”
    â€œShhhhh.” He stroked her short blond hair. “It’ll be all right, you’ll see.”
    I turned away. I would have liked to do that, too, comfort Shelby. Only it wasn’t my place. It never would be.
    I returned to the dining room table and sat down. A few moments later Shelby and Bobby joined me, Bobby’s arm still around her shoulder. Shelby set the books on the table. They were Bobby’s—and my— high school and college yearbooks.
    â€œYou said before that you might know this—this person,” she said. “Maybe these will help.”
    â€œVery good thinking,” Bobby said and kissed her hair just above the ear.
    â€œI’m going to get some coffee and go back upstairs. I want to be there if Katie wakes up. I don’t want her to be frightened.”
    â€œGood idea,” Bobby said. He kissed Shelby again, this time on the cheek.
    Before she left, Shelby rested her hand oh so briefly on the point of my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze. I turned to look at her, but she was already walking away. I caught Honsa’s eye as she passed him on her way to the kitchen. He was smiling the same reassuring smile he