Hit and The Marksman Read Online Free Page B

“I was outside watching a buzzard with my field glasses. Aren’t they remarkable birds? Why, only last week I—”
    I cut her off: “Nancy, I need a little help.”
    She answered immediately: “Name it.”
    I grinned into the phone. “I may have some visitors this morning and I’d like to have a little advance warning if they decide to come. Would you let me know if any cars start up the road toward my place?”
    â€œOf course. But why—”
    â€œI haven’t got time to explain,” I said. “If anybody drives by your house, just dial my number, let the phone ring twice, and hang up. Don’t wait for me to answer, just hang up after two rings. Got it?”
    â€œI’ve got it. I must say you sound very mysterious.”
    â€œI’ll tell you about it later,” I said, thanked her and hung up.
    When I looked around, Joanne was standing in the doorway, her eyes wide. She narrowed them and said, “I was eavesdropping.”
    I nodded. “If they want to find you, this is one of the first places they’ll think of looking. I’ll feel better with a few minutes’ warning.” Nancy lived three miles away, at the foot of my road.
    She said, “I’m glad—because I’m sure they’ll be after me.” She went back into the living room. When I got there she was back on the couch with her coffee, lighting another cigarette. She was addicted to menthol cigarettes and strong coffee.
    She said, “You never asked me any questions, but I suppose you must have figured out that they had something on me, to keep me—loyal.”
    â€œYeah,” I said, without inflection.
    â€œIt was in that safe.”
    â€œWhat was it?”
    â€œI don’t want to tell you. What difference does it make? Papers, tape recordings, pictures, movie films. It was there. Now whoever took it has it, and I’m scared of what they may do with it.”
    There wasn’t much for me to say. I waited. Presently she resumed: “Naturally they know I knew it was there. They’ll assume I wanted to get my hands on it so they wouldn’t have a hold over me any longer. And they’ll assume I told you about it, and you and I cracked the safe, to get it, and got rid of Aiello somewhere. They’ll assume that,” she added with a shudder, “because if fantasies came true, it’s exactly what I would have done.”
    â€œYou mean you were planning to burgle the safe?”
    â€œDon’t be silly, I wouldn’t know how. But I wanted to—a silly dream, I guess, but it was the only hope I had. I even thought of conning you into helping me do it.” She slanted a smile at me, twisted and nervous. “The irony is, I didn’t do it, but they’ll blame it on me, anyway.”
    She made a face, drew her shoulders together, and sat hunched forward with her elbows between her knees. “Simon, I’m scared to death they’ll kill me for something I didn’t do.”
    I sat down by her and squeezed her arm. She pulled away, out of my reach. “Don’t—please. Don’t try to comfort me, I didn’t come here for that.”
    â€œWhat do you want me to do, Joanne?”
    She shook her head violently. “God knows. I’m just running blind. I ran to you because I thought you could protect me. Just another stupid dream—what can you do? Nothing. But here I am. Simon, I haven’t healed over—I’m still in love with you, if it has to be said—but I don’t want this madness to be an excuse for us to start things up again. I meant what I said last winter and I want to leave the air clear, not have that hanging between us, because I just don’t have the strength. That empty safe has nothing to do with the way you and I feel about each other, or did feel or will feel. I know we gave each other something we both needed—anyway, something I