The Man Who Wasn't All There by David Handler (book recommendations website TXT) 📕

very kind, Hoagy, but’s no use. I still feel responsible. Yet being totally honest? I also feel a huge sense of relief. Austin was a tremendous burden for seven long years. I’ve always been on call to rescue him from his latest breakdown and now …’

‘Now you’re not,’ Merilee said sympathetically.

‘Where were you when he was murdered?’

Annabeth frowned. ‘Do they know when it happened?’

‘They’re guessing some time between three and four o’clock in the afternoon. Any later than that and the killer would have had to hike down Mount Creepy in the dark.’

Annabeth nodded. ‘Makes sense. If that’s the case I can tell you exactly where I was – stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Q Bridge trying to get home from New Haven. I’d been cleaning off the desk in my office at the med school. I don’t spend nearly as many hours there as I should.’

‘The police didn’t want you to stick around here on stand by?’

‘Far from it. Jim Conley told me there was nothing I could do. In fact, he gave me the clear impression that I’d just be underfoot. He assured me that when Austin had been corralled they’d contact me.’

‘Didn’t you find that strange?’

‘There’s nothing about this that I don’t find strange.’ She sighed once again. ‘It’s going to take me a while to adjust to being a normal faculty member. I’ll take on some new patients. Devote more time to the Child Guidance Center, not to mention my own unruly brood. And, as a bonus, I’ll no longer have to deal with Michael, who I must confess has always given me the willies.’

‘Are you still thinking about writing a book about the two of them?’

‘I am. Although it’s taken quite a different turn.’

‘That it has. Might even have a commercial angle now. I’ll still be happy to give you any advice I can. Just holler.’

‘That would be great, Hoagy. Thank you.’

‘And thank you for this soup delivery.’

‘Yes, thanks so much, Annabeth,’ Merilee said.

‘It was nothing. The least I could do. And now I’ll leave you two.’ She smiled at Merilee. ‘When do you have to go back?’

‘Soon. They can shoot around me for a few days, but if I stay away any longer it’ll start costing them money and I’ll suddenly develop a reputation for being difficult.’ Merilee helped Annabeth on with her duffel coat and walked her out to her car, then returned and settled on the sofa next to me. ‘Well, well … Well, well, well …’

‘Well, well, well … what?’

‘Our Dr McKenna has designs on you, mister.’

‘Don’t be silly. I just met her the other day. We’ve now had a grand total of two ten-minute conversations.’

‘Sometimes that’s all it takes.’

‘Are you saying this because she made me chicken noodle soup? She was just being neighborly.’

‘Neighborly my Aunt Fanny.’

‘I’ve missed your quaint little expressions.’

‘She must have stayed up half of the night making that soup. And did you see what she had on? Everything good and tight to show off her figure, which is quite excellent, I must admit. She was also wearing blusher, mascara and lipstick. Also a hint of essential lavender oil. A very elegant scent.’

‘Well it was wasted on me. All I can smell is eucalyptus.’

‘Take it from me, that was not a casual neighborly drop by. That was an attractive, unattached woman trolling for a man.’

‘Why, Merilee Gilbert Nash, are you actually jealous?’

‘I’m watchful. She’s lonely and has, no doubt, encountered a dearth of intelligent, age-appropriate men. Especially tall, good-looking ones who happen to be extraordinarily gifted.’

Lulu coughed.

‘Oh, dear, that dampness got into her chest,’ Merilee said fretfully.

‘No, she’s fine. You calling me “extraordinarily gifted” tickled her funny bone, that’s all.’

‘Dogs have funny bones?’

‘Of course.’ I took her hand and squeezed it. ‘I think maybe you like me a little.’

‘What gives you that idea?’

‘The way you came rushing home to take care of me. And furnished the office in your apartment for me. Also that wild monkey sex we had the night you left for Budapest.’

She blushed. ‘I was a bit tipsy.’

‘Does that mean it was an aberration?’

‘God, I certainly hope not.’

I reached over and stroked her cheek. ‘Good. So do I.’

‘Meanwhile, I have to go back to Budapest, then to London, then on to Pamplona for the bullfighting sequences. And who knows what will happen while I’m gone?’

‘I can tell you exactly what’ll happen. Our short-legged friend and I will go back to the city as soon as Dr Eng gives me the OK and I’ll go back to work. That’ll never be possible if I stay out here. When I was surrounded by eight million people in the Naked City I was left completely alone. Out here I haven’t had a moment’s peace,’ I said as a convoy of vehicles came speeding up the driveway. ‘See what I mean?’

‘Who on earth is this?’ Merilee asked, gazing out the front window at the three black Chevy Suburbans that had pulled in behind the Hardy Boys’ pickup.

‘That, my dearest dear, is none other than Michael Talmadge, accompanied by his ex-Green Beret security detail and Pinkie, their extremely scary German Shepherd. Although I still think Pinkie is a wussie name for an attack dog.’

‘What do you suppose he wants?’

‘Only one way to find out,’ I said as there was a knock on the front door.

Merilee got up and opened it. One of Michael’s bodyguards stood there.

‘Good afternoon, Miss Nash. Mr Talmadge was wondering if he could speak with your husband.’

‘He’s my ex-husband, and he’s still not feeling a hundred percent. Please wait, I’ll ask him.’ She swung the door shut. ‘Can you handle another visitor?’

‘Let him in. But please ask his guards and Pinkie to wait outside.’

Merilee opened the door and repeated what I’d said. A moment later, car doors opened and closed. And then, a long moment after that, Michael Talmadge stood there by himself in the doorway wearing that same ill-fitting gray flannel suit he’d had on when they’d decided to ‘pull the ripcord’ – or