Red House Blues Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    Tony Gabriola logged out and shut down the
last of the lab’s computers, and threw his day-end report in the
desk drawer. He checked the restroom to make sure he didn’t have a
leftover student still hanging around. Knowing that no one would
hang around the lab if they didn’t have to unless they were hiding
out from someplace worse. Or had just pulled a double shift in the
lab rather than go home. Tony could have turned James down when he
asked him to sub for the evening. He knew there was no reason James
couldn’t have toughed it out with some cold meds and a pot of
coffee. But here he was, dragging his feet like the coward he knew
deep down he was. Now he had no option left, no excuses. He turned
off the overhead lights, and locked up the lab.
    It had been quite awhile since he used to
rush home to Claire, whip up some dinner for the two of them, hold
her in his arms as if his life depended on her being there with him
in their small rented house off campus. Jerk! If only I hadn’t
asked her to marry me. But no. I had to ruin everything. If only
I‘d kept my big stupid mouth shut. The drizzle that had obscured
Bellingham Bay was evolving into a gritty sleet threatening to turn
the dark walk down the hill into a tunnel of black ice. As black as
Tony’s thoughts. He zipped his jacket higher, wishing he’d worn
better shoes and a hat. He’d escaped the house - and Claire - this
morning with no thought to weather reports.
    In the middle of his cup of coffee and bowl
of Shredded Wheat, Claire asked him if she could use the car. No,
that’s wrong. She said she was taking the car. So that she could
spirit good old Suzan Pike off for an afternoon at Bellisfair Mall.
He asked Claire what was wrong with calling Suzan first to make
sure she was home, planning something for later in the week maybe.
“You must be kidding,” she said. “Suze’s been hiding in the art
department since the cops came. If I ask she’ll just say no. I’m
going over there and pry her out for some lunch. If she’s not there
I’ll head for campus and track her down there. If I can just get
her out, the female shopping hormones ought to kick in. I swear she
hasn’t had a good time since Sean left.”
    But then I had to open my mouth, thought
Tony. As usual. “And what about us, Claire? Are we ever going to
have a good time again? It’s nonstop poor old Suzan and her endless
sniveling. I never see you anymore now that you work weekends, and
when I do see you you’re off to see Suzan. It’s like you’re
avoiding me since I mentioned marriage.”
    “Please back off on this, Tony, okay? I
can’t think about that right now. Not with my new promotion and
Suzan’s problems - and yes, Suzan’s problems are important to me.
She’s my friend, remember? She used to be your friend too. And as
to sniveling, what’s that you’ve been doing for almost two years?
It’s not that I don’t understand. For a year you’d go sleepless
wondering where Sean disappeared to, why he didn’t tell you where
he was going, whether he was still alive. And now you know for sure
he isn’t and it’s no better, is it? Neither one of us is going to
make it all go away.”
    “Okay, I was out of line. But I’m tired of
you running off to Suzan at every whimper. I want it to be you and
me again.”
    “Marriage wouldn’t fix anything,” said
Claire. “It didn’t help Suzan and Sean stick together did it? A
piece of paper doesn’t create a solid relationship. All it would do
is make me feel trapped. I won’t be bought and paid for and then
taken for granted. Three times I saw my mom go that route, and
three times it didn’t last as long as the reception bills.”
    There was no arguing with her. He wanted to
tell her that she was not her slut of a mother, and he wasn’t some
beat-up drunk she hauled home from a bar. He’d grabbed his jacket
and left before he said something she’d never forgive, figuring the
wet walk up the hill to campus might be