The Pandora Directive: A Tex Murphy Novel Read Online Free PDF

on my own. I’ve decided that independence is overrated. I want to be with somebody. Have someone need me.”
    “I was married once, you know.”
    Chelsee nodded.
    “It was miserable. Whenever someone tells me to go to hell, I tell him I’ve already been there.”
    “Would you ever try it again? With someone else, I mean.”
    I took a long sip of Scotch and thought it over. The implications of our conversation were making my head swim. Suddenly, a voice rang out.
    “Ladies and gentlemen. The management of the Fuchsia Flamingo is proud to present this evening’s entertainment. Please give a warm welcome to Luscious… Lucy… Lust!”
    A pitiful smattering of applause accompanied the opening bars of “I’ve Got You Under My skin.” A slicked back middle-aged man in a powder blue tuxedo sat at the baby grand. A woman stepped into the spotlight and undulated to the microphone. Her ruby red sequinned dress look like it had been painted on. It wasn’t low-cut — it didn’t have to be. From forty feet this woman look perfect. She curled her fingers around the microphone and began to sing. I was spellbound. She didn’t just sing a song — she made love to it.
    I glanced over at Chelsee. She was looking directly at me, not smiling. “Did you forget the question?”
    I had. I’ve got you deep in the heart of me. With some effort, I pulled my attention from the stage and tried to remember where we’d left off. “Let’s see. Marriage. I don’t know. I guess I could… if it seemed like the thing to do.”
    I really didn’t mean to sound distracted. Chelsee didn’t respond. The waitress stopped by and confirmed that we did, indeed, want two more drinks. I lit another smoke and looked back toward the singer. I was willing to bet that if I got within ten feet of the stage, I’d catch the scent of the purple scarf. Luscious Lucy — alias Emily — and I needed to talk.
    “Do you know her?” Chelsee was still watching me watch the singer.
    “No. But I think she’s tied up in the case I’m working on.”
    “Really.”
    “Seriously. I can’t give you all the details, but I’m looking for a guy. I think this dame used to see him. I’ve got to talk to her and find out what she knows.”
    Chelsee picked up her purse and stood up. “Well, I’ll leave you to your investigative work. Thanks for the drink.”
    She turned and headed for the exit. I jumped up and almost body slammed the waitress who was arriving with our drinks. I quickly pulled out my wallet and threw a fifty on the table. “Leave the drinks. I’ll probably be back in a minute.”
    I caught up to Chelsee just outside the front door. “Where you goin’?”
    “Home. I’m tired.”
    “Look, Chelsee. Don’t get me wrong… I care about you — a lot. I just get a little uncomfortable whenever I hear the ‘M’ word.”
    “Tex, you don’t need to humour me. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
    She crossed her arms and looked intently at the sidewalk. “I’ve had an offer to sell the newsstand. I think I’m gonna take it. Like I told you the other night, I think I’ll try Phoenix on for size.”
    For some reason, I felt a twinge of panic. “Are you sure about all this? I mean, moving is kind of a big thing. Nothing you want to rush into.”
    She looked up. “I’ve been thinking about it for months. I guess I haven’t done anything because I want to see if we could give it a try. But I don’t think it’s going to happen. You’re probably right — I’m just getting panicked because I’m thirty and there’s no one in my life. I like you a lot… I should probably leave it at that.”
    She turned away and spoke over her shoulder. “I’ll walk home. I could use the exercise.”
    I didn’t know what to say, but I felt like I should say something. “Chelsee…?”
    She stopped and turned. “Yeah?”
    I wanted to, but I didn’t. “Come see me before you go anywhere.”
    She nodded. I watched her until she was gone. What a