Void in Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page B

Lester Katz.”
    Julie frowned. “We don’t have a client by that name.”
    “This was a kind of informal arrangement. I never did any work for him before. He’s the private detective I’ve used a couple of times.”
    She shrugged. “I don’t remember him.”
    “I’ll be doing some work on his estate.”
     Julie’s eyes narrowed. “This wife. Young, not bad-looking, right?”
    I smiled wearily. “Oldish, faded. Nice lady. Not what you’re implying.”
    She smiled brightly. “I wasn’t implying a thing, Brady Coyne. Not me.” The smile faded. “Is she all right? This oldish, faded wife?”
    I held out my hand, palm down, and wiggled it. “About what you’d expect. Les was in a coma for about thirty-six hours. Came out of it long enough to ask for me. Then I guess he died. Hit-and-run, it was, right outside their house. She found him in the street. She seems strong, resilient. I expect she’s got some tough times facing her.”
    “You’ll help her.”
    I nodded. “Yes.”
    “Good. And now that you’re back…”
    “Sure. I’ll face the music. I’ll call Gloria.”
    I went back to my desk and punched out Gloria’s phone number. It rang several times, and I was about to hang up when she answered.
    “It’s me,” I said cheerfully.
    “Oh. Hello.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Hey. No sweat. I really didn’t expect you anyway, I guess. You said it was dumb. I should’ve known you couldn’t handle it. Just as well, probably. You would’ve just felt you had to put on your evasive, distant performance for me.”
    “I don’t do that.”
    She laughed.
    “Actually,” I said, “something came up.”
    “Sure. I figured it did.”
    “No, really. A friend of mine was in the hospital. He came out of a coma and asked for me. I had to—”
    “You really don’t have to tell me, Brady. It doesn’t matter.”
    “I was planning to go to the Iruña. I was looking forward to it.”
    I heard her sigh. “After all these years, you don’t have to do this. Don’t try to protect me. I don’t need it. It was a silly idea.”
    “It’s true, though. About my friend. It’s also true that I forgot about our—our date. I don’t know. Maybe I wouldn’t have gone anyway. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I couldn’t handle it.”
    “Don’t worry about it, Brady. You’ll grow up one of these years. Thanks for calling. We’ll keep in touch.” I thought I detected a catch in her voice. She hung up before I could say anything else.
    I tried to console myself with cynical thoughts about the female gender, but, as usual, that didn’t work.
    A week or so later, Becca Katz called me. “You said you’d help me try to get Les’s affairs in order,” she said. “Does the offer still hold?”
    “Of course. That’s what lawyers are for.” Pro bono, I thought. “Why don’t we make an appointment. You can bring his papers in.”
    She hesitated. “The problem is…” she began. And then she stopped.
    “What is it?”
    “He kept his records in his office. I’m—oh, this is silly of me, I know. I went over there yesterday. I stood outside the building. I couldn’t go in. You see, I never went to his office. It was his place. Like a sanctuary for him, I guess. I mean, it’s not that Les and I had this great, romantic marriage. But—I am sad. I miss him. And going there felt like a violation. As if I were spying on him. Am I making any sense at all?”
    “It’s how you feel,” I said. “We’ll go together, then.”
    “Would you? Would you go with me?”
    “Sure. That’s something else lawyers are for.” I agreed to pick her up at her apartment in Somerville. She gave me directions, and I drove out there that afternoon. Sooty snowbanks lined both sides of the street where Les Katz had lived with Becca. A blue Volkswagen had been plowed under for the winter. With cars lined along one side of the street, there was barely enough room for two to pass each other. Between the sidewalk and the street stood an