Elaine Viets & Victoria Laurie, Nancy Martin, Denise Swanson - Drop-Dead Blonde (v5.0) (pdf) by Unknown (howl and other poems .TXT) 📕

To her disappointment, Simon continued without burst- ing into song. ``Hacker says he was supposed to meet Ruby at the Dew Drop Inn this afternoon around four. He was walking into the tavern when he heard a commotion in the alley, so he went over to see what was happening and some- one grabbed him from behind, pressed a gun into his back, and said, 'Hand it over.' ''

``He was meeting Ruby.'' Skye shook her head. ``Why am I not surprised that she's somehow involved in Scumble River's first mugging?''

``I thought Bunny was a pain when she first arrived, but Ruby could give her lessons.'' Simon paused, his expression sour. ``I just hope she hasn't, given her lessons I mean.''

``So what happened?''

``Hacker said he had no idea what the robber wanted him to hand over, and when he said as much the guy hit him behind the ear with the gun and he passed out.''

``No wonder he looks so bad. He shouldn't be at work. He probably has a concussion.'' Skye started to go back inside. ``I can finish his shift. He needs to go home. Did he see a doctor or go to the hospital?''

Simon grabbed her hand and stopped her. ``He wants to work. He refuses to see a doctor--I offered to pay because I thought he might not have the money. He says he's okay except for a tremendous headache, but he said it's no worse than some hangovers he's had.''

``Oh.'' Skye allowed herself to be drawn back into Si- mon's arms.

``Hacker did say that when he woke up he had been thoroughly searched, but nothing was missing.'' Simon stiff- ened as the door behind them whooshed open, but relaxed once the laughing group walked past them toward the park- ing lot. ``I'm worried that you or Bunny might be at- tacked next.''

``I think it's pretty clear by now that Ruby has something that someone else wants.''

``And whoever that someone is, he doesn't care who he hurts to get it.'' Chapter 10

Make the Best of a Bad

Blonde

``Did Hacker report being attacked to the police?'' Skye asked suddenly.

It was three A.M., karaoke had finally ended an hour ago, and they were nearly finished cleaning up. The grill closed at eleven, so Frannie and the cook were long gone.

Simon was washing glasses behind the bar, having per- suaded the bartender to go home when they locked the door. He wiped his forehead, leaving a trail of bubbles, and said, ``Not yet. He hasn't had the best experience with the authorities in the past, but I assured him Wally was differ- ent, and he promised to talk to him tomorrow. I said I'd go with him if he'd feel more comfortable.''

``You're a good man, Charlie Brown.'' Skye smiled at Simon, thinking how few guys would be so kind to someone like Hacker. ``Have you told your mother what happened?''

``Yes, she claims she has no idea what Ruby has or who's trying to get it, but I think she knows more than she's admitting.''

``I'd bet big bucks you're right.'' Skye finished emptying the last ashtray and started wiping down the tables. ``Is Ruby back yet?''

``Yes. I sent Bunny up to the apartment to check after we closed up, and she said Ruby was there fast asleep.''

``How annoying, though it's probably best for us to ques- tion her when we're a little more wide-awake ourselves.''

Simon put the last glass in the drainer, wiped his hands

216 DEAD BLONDES TELL NO TALES 217 on a towel, and came out from behind the bar. ``True. She won't be an easy one to crack.''

``That's for sure.'' Skye threw the dishcloth into the laun- dry bag and wiped her hands dry on her jeans. ``Done.'' She sank onto a chair and blew a strand of hair out of her eyes. ``Oh, I forgot to ask you, did you get ahold of your friend in Las Vegas? Did he know Ruby or anything about her?"

``I did talk to him. He said something about her sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember.'' Simon took Skye's hand, tugged her back onto her feet, and led her out of the bar. ``He's going to dig around a little and get back to me.''

They found Bunny in the office, a pencil poked through the mass of red curls on top of her head, finishing up the bank deposit.

Skye kissed the older woman's cheek. ``Good night, Bunny. See you tomorrow afternoon for the Easter-egg hunt.''

Bunny didn't look up from the old-fashioned adding ma- chine she was using. ``Night.''

``Get some sleep, Bunny. You can do that in the morn- ing.'' Simon awkwardly patted his mother on the shoulder. He still couldn't bring himself to call her Mom, and found it difficult to display affection.

``Night, Sonny Boy.'' Bunny waved at him, still concen- trating on the numbers in front of her. ``I'm almost done.''

Skye and Simon walked out to the parking lot, and he opened the car door for her. ``What time are you getting to the alley tomorrow?''

``The kids arrive at two thirty to dye the eggs, and then Frannie and some other teens I've drafted will take them down into the basement and play a few games while Bunny and I hide the eggs. Charlie's dressing as the Easter Bunny, and is appearing at four to officially start the hunt.'' Skye slid into the driver's seat. ``So I guess I should get here about one to get the egg-dyeing stations set up. We're ex- pecting about a hundred kids.''

``Could you come a little early so we can talk to Ruby first?''

``Definitely.''

Simon leaned forward and kissed her. ``In fact, why don't I pick you up at eleven and we go for an early lunch?'' 218 Denise Swanson

Skye