Void in Hearts Read Online Free PDF

old broad. Candles, flowers on the table. I actually bought one of those Frederick’s of Hollywood things you could practically see through. Les had promised he’d be home for supper. I was going to seduce the bastard.” She smiled at me, and I wondered if she would cry again. “Of course, he didn’t show up. I guess he knew all along he wasn’t going to. I—”
    “Omigod!” I said.
    “Excuse me?”
    “Gloria!” I don’t—”
    “What time is it?”
    She squinted at a clock on the wall. “Quarter of one. What’s the matter?”
    I sighed heavily. “I had an appointment, that’s all. It’s okay.”
    “Shouldn’t you call?”
    “It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I’ll call later. Finish what you were saying.”
    She shook her head, denying the significance of her thoughts. “I was just feeling guilty, that’s all. I suppose it’s a natural reaction.” She picked up her napkin and dabbed at her mouth. “Thanks for listening to me.”
    “Don’t you want to talk some more?”
    “I don’t want to keep you.”
    I reached across the table and put my hand on hers. “You aren’t keeping me.”
    She looked down and gently withdrew her hand. “No, it’s all right. I do hope that you will be able to help me with…”
    “Sure. When you’re ready, call me.”
    I took one of my cards from my wallet and gave it to her. She put it into her purse without looking at it. “I suppose,” she said, “we ought to discuss your fee.”
    “That’s all taken care of. Les paid me a retainer.”
    She smiled. “That’s uncharacteristic, I can tell you that.”
    We walked out together into the sharp winter afternoon. I hailed a cab for Becca Katz. Then I walked back to my office. I took my time. I wasn’t eager to find the message I was sure Gloria had left for me.

4
    J ULIE WAS ON TIPTOES, rummaging through the top drawer of a file cabinet when I got in. I paused for a moment to admire her calf muscles. I cleared my throat. She didn’t turn around.
    “I’m back,” I announced.
    “So I see.”
    “Aha,” I said. “I’ll bet Gloria called.”
    Julie shoved in the drawer, turned, tilted up her chin, and strode to her desk. She picked up some papers and made a show of examining them. I went to her and leaned both hands on her desk. She turned the back of her shoulder to me.
    “Am I right?” I said. “Gloria called, right?”
    She flapped the papers. “I’m trying to work.”
    I straightened up. “Good,” I said. “That’s what you’re paid for.”
    I went into my office and kicked the door shut behind me. It made a satisfyingly loud noise. I sat behind my desk and lit a cigarette, trying to savor my childish display of temper.
    It didn’t work. I ground out the butt and went back to the reception area. Julie was still hunched over the sheaf of papers on her desk.
    “Look,” I began.
    She turned to face me. “My fault,” she said. “It’s none of my business.”
    “You care. I’m glad you do.”
    “She was awfully upset.”
    “I can imagine.”
    “I tried to cover for you. I told her you had an emergency. She said she understood perfectly, that it was fine. She might’ve been crying.”
    “I don’t think so,” I said. “Not Gloria.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “I guess I should call her.”
    She nodded. “Was it?”
    “Huh?”
    “An emergency? Where you went so fast?”
    “Yes, it was. But no excuse. I should have at least asked you to call Gloria. I could have done that. I didn’t think.”
    “That’s exactly what she said. She said you weren’t bad. You just didn’t think sometimes.”
    “She slipped my mind, actually. What can I say?”
    “Explain it to Gloria, not me.”
    “A friend of mine died. He wanted to talk to me. I got there too late.”
    “Oh, Brady.” She reached up and touched my cheek. “Were you close?”
    I shook my head. “Not that close. It was an accident. Sudden. I’ve been with his wife.”
    “Not a client, then.”
    “Well, yes.