Old Poison Read Online Free PDF Page B

talk about what’s going on with you.”
    She looked down and sipped her coffee and
her hair fell forward, partially covering her face. She had light
brown hair with reddish highlights, naturally curly and very thick.
Her ebullient halo of hair contrasted with the slightly anemic look
of her pale white skin. Freckles, of the same reddish brown as her
hair, covered her face and seemed to diminish her small features.
Her lashes and brows were so light they almost disappeared against
her skin.
    I waited for her to answer, but the silence
lasted a full minute. “Okay Professor, let’s start with an easier
one. Who were those guys in the boat?”
    As she looked up at me with eyes of
washed-out blue, the pain in those eyes was so real I abandoned my
momentary suspicion of her. Then in a flash, the pain turned to
anger and she snapped: “Stop calling me Professor. My name is
Evelyn.”
    “Okay, Evelyn, who were those men in the
boat
    “I don’t know who they were, but I can guess
how they found me. When you were calling all those people at the
conference yesterday, did it ever occur to you that I might have
reasons I didn’t want my location known?”
    Her rebuke was a complete surprise. “No, it
didn’t. You’re the keynote speaker. That didn’t sound exactly like
you were hiding out.”
    “Why were you so determined to find me?”
    “Because your pal Borson hired me to do
research on your Mars novel. I needed to talk with you
directly.”
    Her eyes widened and her mouth opened as new
fear registered on her pale features. “Borson? What does this
Borson look like?”
    The vague apprehension I’d had about
Borson’s motives suddenly grew and formed a cold knot in my gut.
“White, male, about five feet ten, wavy dark hair, medium build,
neatly dressed. Sort of bookkeeperish.”
    Her expression changed subtly, and she
seemed to relax somewhat. “I see. Borson told you I was writing a
novel and told you to talk with me?”
    “Not exactly. Your name turned up while I
was researching your red stuff. Evelyn, you didn’t tell him to hire
me, did you?”
    Ignoring my question, she countered with one
of her own. “What, exactly, was the assignment he gave you?”
    “To see if any real substance behaves like
Red 19 does in your book.”
    “He showed you the diary? When?”
    “Just one chapter.”
    “One chapter.”
    “Yeah, then the thing self-destructed like a Mission Impossible tape. What the hell is going on here? Who
is Borson?”
    She studied me a minute, breathed a deep
sigh, then avoided my gaze by burying her face in her hands. With
the heels of her hands covering her eyes, she sat silent for
several moments. When she looked up at me again, there was a
finality, a deadness, in her expression. She stood up. “No, I
didn’t tell him to hire you. I am grateful you were around this
morning, but I won’t be needing any further assistance.”
    I was dismissed. “Just like that? What about
your life being in danger and people in Costa Rica being
murdered?”
    “I believe you pointed out that ‘body guard’
is not in your job description.”
    “Yes, but, I just meant I’m not skilled in
physically protecting people. If you tell me what’s going on, maybe
I can help. If we need muscle, I sure as hell know who to call. Who
were those thugs? Who has threatened your life? What does that have
to do with your novel?”
    She walked to the door and opened it. “I
don’t have time for you, Ms. Hunter. Please leave. Can you make it
home, or do I need to call you a taxi?”
    Not only dismissed, but patronized to boot.
“Yeah, I can make it home just fine, Evelyn. How about you? Can you
make it wherever you ‘re going?”
    “Yes, thank you, Ms. Hunter. Goodbye.”
    That was that. I took a last swallow of
coffee, stood up and pulled out my wallet. As I left, I handed her
a business card. “If you change your mind, give me a call.”
    She took the card, studied it a moment, then
without a word, stuffed it into her