Glass Houses Read Online Free Page B

hours with your phone and it didn’t occur to you to call Claudia and tell her that her boss, your foster dad, was dead?”
    Lena shrugged.
    â€œWhat did you do last night and when did you do it?” said George. “And be specific about the times.” He didn’t really want to hear the exploits of Lena and Thom, but it was necessary to establish a timeline.
    Lena eyed him suspiciously through the smoke. It gave her a sinister aura. When the smoke dissipated, so did the mysterious movie still. “You think I do this?”
    â€œIt’s standard procedure, Miss Shkatova. We’ll find evidence of you in the house. It needs to be placed into context.”
    She sighed. “I understand now. Last night I go to Hank’s with Claudia. It is downtown bar on Grand. I like it. I can talk to nice man. Claudia does not like it. So she leave.”
    â€œWhat time did your friend leave?”
    She thought a moment. “I think midnight. I have two drinks with nice man and we leave before one-thirty.”
    George braced. “What is the name of the man you left with?”
    â€œThomas. He is old gentleman. Very nice kisser.”
    â€œLast name?”
    â€œI do not know.”
    â€œHow are you sure of the time?”
    â€œI want to have sex with Thomas. When we get to my car, the clock say one-thirty.”
    George was momentarily dumbfounded by Thom’s ability to attract women. How did he consistently pull it off ? He must have that thing that less attractive men learn at a young age—how to be charming and work women. It couldn’t be the way he dressed off duty; khakis, deck shoes, and a polo shirt—typical yuppie clothing for men with no style. Thom did have great conversational skills, but still, the whole package didn’t add up. Then he wondered if Lena saw Thom as a potential rich husband.
    â€œWere you drunk?” said George.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDid this man—” he had a hard time saying his partner’s proper name, “—Thomas, take advantage of you?”
    â€œNo. I ask him for sex. He say okay. We go to my car and have good sex.”
    â€œNot your apartment?”
    â€œI ask, but Thomas say no.”
    â€œThen what?”
    â€œThomas leave at two-thirty. I go to apartment for sleep.”
    â€œWere your roommates home?”
    â€œNot Claudia. Her door is open when I go home, but it is closed when I leave in morning. I share room with Dona. She is sleeping when I go home and sleeping when I leave.”
    â€œCan anyone verify your whereabouts from two-thirty until seven this morning?”
    Lena shook her head. “I not think so unless Dona wake up during night.”
    â€œI’ll need to verify with Thomas. How can I reach him?”
    â€œI did not get his number. But bartender knows him so I can see him again.”
    â€œYou had sex with a man you don’t know?” It was irrelevant. George’s curiosity compelled the question.
    â€œIs it necessary? I talk with him. I like him. He call me ‘little Jelena.’” She smiled. “I like having sex with him so I will see him again.”
    Why some women used sex as a barometer for a potential relationship confused George. He suspected Birdie did it with him. On their first date Birdie asked him for sex. Hell, he didn’t complain. It wasn’t until later that he realized she was testing the water. If the sex was good, she’d give it a go. If not, why bother putting in the time? He was pretty certain that Birdie did it with her current boyfriend, Ron Hughes, as well. Only this time, she fell in love. So she said.
    â€œDoes Dona also work for Mr. Lawrence?”
    â€œNo.” She dropped the cigarette butt on the street, stepped on it.
    â€œMay I have that?” said George.
    â€œI do not care.”
    He plucked a small envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket and scooped up the butt with the flap. He placed it in