NO Quarter Read Online Free PDF Page A

cigarette. “Jesus, what a night,” he grumbled.
    “Bone,” I said, nodding a greeting. Then, with no easy way to say it, I simply told him. “Sunshine’s dead. Murdered.” What else can you do in such a situation? The bereaved either handles it or he doesn’t.
    Bone didn’t exactly handle it. His eyes went wide and still, and his cigarette dropped from the corner of his mouth onto the bartop. I put it in an ashtray.
    “You’re sure?” He spoke in a strained whisper, like he couldn’t find the strength for anything else.
    “That’s the word. You can call it scuttlebutt if you want. But I doubt seriously anybody would make up a story like this.” I didn’t say anything about voodoo. It was probably just wild talk and rumor, nothing Bone needed to hear from me.
    He stepped back suddenly from the bar. “Then I’m finding out for sure.” He stalked toward the door.
    I moved fast. No time to think it out or even examine closely why I was doing it. I caught Bone by the upper arm as he stepped out onto the sidewalk. He was headed toward the river.
    I don’t lay hands on people without cause. Anyone who does that around here quickly unlearns the habit or gets himself painfully rehabilitated. But I had figured out where Bone was going and didn’t think it was a good idea. I applied just enough pressure to stop him briefly, which he did, rounding on me with a snarl.
    There were several ways I could manage him if he got violent. His balance was off, stance bad. You learn a lot from fencing.
    “Look,” I said in a calm, reasonable voice, “you don’t want to go to the crime scene.” I let go of his arm.
    He stayed put for the moment, though I could practically see the fight-or-flight adrenaline pumping through him. It was hot out here on the street, especially after the Calf’s air-conditioning. The humidity was high, even this late at night. That’s how summers are in New Orleans.
    “I’ve got to find out!” he snapped. “I’m not going to sit around wondering if her getting killed is just a rumor!”
    “I know she’s your friend ... ”
    He rounded on me. “She was my wife! ”
    “ What? ” I couldn’t hide my surprise.
    “We got divorced after we moved here. She didn’t want anyone to know.” He looked away. “The Quarter life changed her. Took her away from me. I couldn’t make it work for her. I’m not proud of that.” He looked up, met my eyes. “That’s why I have to see for myself.”
    Things fell into place. The occasions when Bone had been the one insisting Sunshine be poured into a cab when she’d had one too many. That strange way he looked at her the few times they were both in the same bar—and the way she pretended not to notice him, pulling away from him—just a little—if he got too near.
    “And that’s all the more reason to stay away from the crime scene.”
    “Why?”
    “Most folks around here may not know you two were married, but the cops will damn sure find that out. They’ll also be keeping track of anyone who shows their face down there. You think it won’t send off alarm bells if the ex visits the crime scene? Do you really want to become the prime suspect? You’re already likely to get questioned once they discover your relationship.”
    “So? I didn’t kill her.” But he didn’t seem to like the notion.
    For me, avoiding the police is a matter of course—and good sense. I put a hand on his shoulder, this time to show support. “Look, Bone. Go back in, sit down. Get a drink. I’ll go find out what’s happened. But I’d advise you to start getting used to the idea of Sunshine ... being dead.”
    He was thinking it over, looking like he really needed that drink, when a cheerful voice hailed us. “Hey, you two!”
    It was Bone’s friend, Alex, coming across the street from Pat O.’s, still in her work uniform. She obviously hadn’t heard. I used the distraction to do a fade, throwing her a quick wave. Bone could pass the word on to her. I set