The Long Wait Read Online Free PDF Page A

a lot of curiosity about a town you gotta get out of, Johnny.”
    â€œI’m not getting out of anything.”
    â€œCan I ask you something?”
    â€œGo ahead.”
    â€œYou kill Bob Minnow?”
    I said it like it was the answer without saying a thing at all. “Guess.”
    The clock made a whirring noise on the wall. Outside the baby whined then was still. “I didn’t figure you did, Johnny.” He smiled at me and his shoulders went up and down in a sigh. He looked at me again and shook his head. “Never figured you did, boy, but now I’m not so sure.”
    I could feel the nasty sneer trying to crawl across my mouth. “Why?”
    â€œDidn’t think you had the guts, that’s why.” He set himself for something he thought would happen.
    â€œWhat changed your mind?”
    I got that look again, the one with the puzzle behind it. He took a long time saying. “It took more guts to come back than to kill old Bob.”
    I mashed the last of the butt under my heel. “Never try to figure a guy, Pop. It doesn’t always work out.”
    â€œNo ... no, it sure don’t at that. Mind telling me what Lindsey had to say about all this?”
    â€œLindsey’s a pretty sore cop. He was all set to line me up for a murder rap, I guess. He had the gun that killed this Bob Minnow and it had my prints on it. He said.”
    Pop’s eyes went wide. “Then you didn’t...”
    I held up my hands so he could see where the tips of my fingers used to be. “He couldn’t prove it, Pop. He wanted to, but even though he knew every inch of my body by heart he couldn’t prove that I was me. Silly, isn’t it?”
    â€œJohnny,” he gasped, “it’ll never work!”
    I laughed at him. “What do you bet?”
    He climbed off his stool, his face a mixture of confusion and bewilderment. “Look, I need a drink. Got a couple hours before I open the window again so let’s get a drink.”
    â€œNow you’re talking.” I opened the door and walked out while he locked up his money drawers. The woman with the baby was walking up and down the platform outside and the waiting room was deserted. Even the shadows outside were deserted. The old man came out, snapped the lock on the door and checked it, then pulled on his coat.
    A penny post card was sticking out of the side pocket and when he came alongside me I picked it out, dropped it on the floor and made a play of picking it up. “Dropped something.”
    He said thanks and stuck it back in his pocket. But I had time to catch the Nicholas Henderson, 391 Sutter Place on the address side.
    He had a battered ’36 Ford out back and got in under the wheel while I wedged in beside him. “Where we going?”
    â€œUp here a piece. Only place where you can get a decent steak anymore. Get girlies too, if you’re interested.”
    â€œI’m always interested in girlies,” I laughed.
    His head turned so sharply it almost threw him off balance. “You’re changed.”
    â€œFive years is a long time, Pop. Enough to change a guy,” I said easily.
    He backed out of the space with a jerk and swung around in the bus port. “Yeah, guess you’re right there,” he agreed.

Chapter Three
    THE PLACE was a roadhouse on the north-south highway. There was nothing fancy about it except the sign that said LOUIE DINERO’S STEAKS AND CHOPS. It was a real log cabin job with a big fieldstone fireplace on the bar side and from the number of cars parked in the drive, business was booming.
    â€œKind of far out for such a trade, isn’t it?”
    â€œDon’t make no difference. It’s the only good place left to eat. Catches all the trade going home.”
    Inside, a rumba band picked up the beat and a lot of people started whistling at something happening on the dance floor. Pop said hello to a few people, got a big hello in