The Anatomy of Violence Read Online Free PDF Page A

I shook my head and smiled. He mumbled and stumbled away trailing flakes of meat and lettuce from the sandwich he was trying to stuff into his suit pocket. He tapped another girl then stood, a fat and forlorn figure, watching her whirl away with someone else. I glanced at his table and saw that the thin woman had gone.
    Once we eddied into a corner and swayed to a slow, dreamy tune. Richard’s hand pressed the small of my back and I relaxed against him. His whisper was warm in my ear. “Ready to go now?”
    “Yes,” I said against his shoulder.
    “To my place?” His hand moved lower and I felt its warmth through the satin slip.
    “I haven’t seen daddy since this morning, Rich.” My fingers touched the springy hair on the back of his head. I pressed hard against his chest. “He’d call. He calls around when I’m late.”
    “So what if he found you there?” His voice was muffled by my hair.
    “He’d be disappointed.”
    “Beat you?”
    Vaguely I noticed we no longer swayed with the music. I laughed against his shoulder at the thought of daddy beating me. “Never.”
    “Come after you?”
    “Not unless I asked him. He trusts
you.”
    “The kiss of death.”
    The word suddenly drained off the pressure inside me. I lifted his hand up to my waist. “No I trust you.”
    “Has your dad got you scared of it?” His hand dropped again.
    “I’m not
scared
, Rich.” I steeled myself and pulled away from him. “I don’t want distractions—like affairs and babies.”
    “Scared is the wrong word.” He tried to pull me against him. “Your dad’s a helluva nice guy, but he’s got a man’s idea of virtue. Your mom would have been more practical.”
    “How?”
    “Teach you to have the fun and avoid the danger.”
    Oddly I remembered Jules then, and slipped out of Rich’s arms. “Rich, we have to go. Right now.”
    Back at the table, Rich discovered the bottle contained one more drink. I was waiting for him to finish when Jules walked up, alone. We’d waited too long.
    Jules flashed a grin. “May I sit down?”
    I jerked my head toward Richard, frowning. “We’re just leaving.”
    Rich spoke without looking up. “Laurie, I wish I had a million dollars. I want to see if money makes a bastard, or if a bastard just makes money.
    Jules raised an eyebrow at me.
    “You’d better go, Jules.” I said.
    Rich squinted up at him. “By all means stay, Mr. Curtright. We were just talking about you.”
    Jules smiled. “There must be more fascinating subjects.”
    “Not at all,
Mister
Curtright. I’ve tried to tell Laurie you’re only human but she isn’t convinced.”
    I felt foolish and helpless. I picked up my purse and stood. “Let’s go, Rich.”
    He made a chopping motion with his hand without taking his eyes off Jules. “In a minute. Would you prove it, Mr. Curtright? Would you take us up to your democratic, middle-class apartment? I want to see if you have a stool in your bathroom.”
    Jules’ smile didn’t flicker. “You’re welcome, if you can keep from marking on the walls.”
    Rich pushed back his chair and rose slowly. “Let’s go outside, Mister Curtright. Or I’ll mark you right here.”
    They stood without moving. Rich was almost quivering, but Jules tapped his long fingers against the table top and smiled at Rich.
    “Come on, Rich. I’ll take you home.” I started around the table, then saw the two bouncers gliding up. “Look out!”
    They jumped and caught him before he could turn, each holding an arm close to his body. Richard’s neck muscles corded but he couldn’t move.
    “Any trouble, Mister Curtright?” asked the smaller one, only two inches taller than Rich.
    “No,” said Jules. “He’s harmless.”
    Rich whitened and dragged the two men a step. “I’ll show you who’s harmless, you gilt-edged bastard.” His voice was low and hoarse.
    “You—” the smaller man strained to hold Rich’s arm. “You want him arrested, Mister Curtright?”
    “You can’t