Rohn Federbush - Sally Bianco 01 - The Legitimate Way Read Online Free PDF Page B

bookshop for her dumb husband to hassle.
    “How have you been keeping yourself busy, since Danny died,” Gabby asked.
    “Selling used cars to tire salesmen,” Sally said out of the blue. “I’m sorry, Gabby.” Sally apologized and took her arm. “A friend of mine has been accused of murdering Mary Jo Cardonè and I’m in St. Charles to find out how to clear his name.”
    “Wow,” Gabby said, struck speechless for the first time in her entire life. Art smiled at Sally for accomplishing a miracle he, no doubt, had actively pursued for many years.
    John cocked his jealous head as if in disbelief in Sally’s mission, or fresh distaste in front of an officer of the law. “I guess I should ask for Mary Jo’s journal and address back.”
    “Yes, John,” Sally said. “I’ll go up and get them.” The hotel staff had already provided her with copies of both the journal and the address book. John and James Nelson were known for their ability to motivate the cream of any pick of schoolmates, employees or charity donors.
    Art Woods held out his hand for the books when Sally returned to the bar. “Sure,” John said. “I guess the police should have them.”
    They were informed the private dining room was set up and adjourned for a peaceful meal. Gabby was amazing, talking continually about most of the residents in St. Charles while devouring the food on her plate without ever, even once talking with food in her mouth. Gabby inhaled the food once it was atomized by her windy sentences. Art failed to even try to guide the conversation. He mutely handed Sally a stack of index cards from his inside suit coat pocket. His eyes were as blue as they were when he was only twenty, and the line of chin unchanged with age.
    Gabby watched the transaction without losing a syllable of her discourse. “So now, the assessor’s wife only roams her extensive gardens at Fourth Avenue and Main. Her hats change with the seasons. She is completely bald, they say. But few people stop to chat, because of the loud, black hound she allows to dog her every step.”
    Sally impolitely moved her plate of gleaned duck bones to the side of the table and laid out the multi colored cards filled with relevant case notes about Ricco and Mary Jo Cardonè. She shuffled them back together and placed them in her purse. She would stay up late to glean through all the clues in order to report to Andrew.
    Gabby’s explanation of the town’s villains and hero continued. The Viet Nam vet’s return, the beauty queen’s father, the growing numbers of residents in the housing projects littering the cornfields, the addition of traffic lights on Randall Road. The stories droned on and on. John’s eyes seemed to glaze over. Art’s studied Sally.
    The memories flooded back to Sally. The assessor’s wife, that was Judy. Judy and her lover, what was his name, double dated with Art and Sally. Sally remembered the corn husks stuck in the back of Judy’s hair after they left the car so Art could make out with Sally. Judy didn’t marry her lover. She married the tax assessor. And Sally knew why. The lover had no fortune, no future according to Judy. Judy and she and once attended a party after a football game. A very rare appearance for Sally. Nevertheless courage in hand (a glass of wine), Sally approached two young men and even spoke to them. Judy took her arm and pulled her away whispering, “You’re wasting your time. They don’t even own a car.”
    Sally shivered and John woke up. “It is chilly in here,” John said as he rose. “Should I get a sweater from your room?”
    Sally stood, too. “No thank you. I am tired. It’s been a long day.” She stepped to Gabby’s side of the table and watched Art’s face as she said, “I’m so glad Art found you. He loves St. Charles and his life here.”
    Art laughed, too loudly for good manners. “Judy’s lover killed himself,” he said, as if he followed her walk among their memories.
    Sally sat back down.