by Gerry Boyle
“I doubt it. But it’s something to bargain with.”
“And the wife is spilling her guts?” Wellington asked.
“That’s what I hear. But I can’t get it for the record. Mendoza at the Chronicle is in a better position to get that one. He’s down there.”
“Don’t suppose we could get you down here, Jack.”
“No, I’ve done that. And I like it up here.”
“Prosperity, Maine. What the hell do you do all day?”
I moved to Roxanne. She was wearing running shorts over her cast, a tank top over her running shorts. I ran my hand up her good leg. She smiled at me lasciviously, licking her lips.
“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve got friends here. I cut some wood, tromp around, read a lot. You know the raptors are migrating now?”
“Raptors?”
“Hawks.”
“No kidding.”
“No, I’m serious. So there’s that, and I’ve got a good friend up here. She’s sort of an invalid.”
Roxanne punched me in the thigh.
“Yeah, she’s really sort of a shut-in. So I feel an obligation to help her out.”
She punched me again.
“What do you do? Bring her meals?”
“Yeah. Help her with her physical therapy.” as well as I do. So don’t believe them when they say the world is going to hell.”
“My positive thinker,” Roxanne said.
“And you know what? I really like the lead. ‘Bobby Mullaney thought growing and selling marijuana was a good way to make easy money. But then, police say, he thought of a better way than that.’ It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
“Not bad.”
“Hey, speaking of scorched, what time do you want to have dinner?”
“I don’t know. What’s my manservant cooking?”
“I thought I’d have Clair and Mary over. We could have chicken.”
“Uh-huh.”
“They were small, so I bought two. Little cute white fluffy ones. I went ahead and lopped their heads off because you were laid up.”
Roxanne reached up and took my arm and pulled me toward her.
“Jack McMorrow,” she said. “You’d better be kidding.”
I kissed her for a long time, then smiled, looking into her eyes.
“About you?” I said. “I’ve never been more serious in my life.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gerry Boyle is the author of a dozen mystery novels, including the acclaimed Jack McMorrow series, and the Brandon Blake series. A former newspaper reporter and columnist, Boyle lives with his wife, Mary, in a historic home in a small village on a lake. He also is working with his daughter, Emily Westbrooks, on a crime series set in her hometown, Dublin, Ireland. Whether it is Maine or Ireland, Boyle remains true to his pledge to send his characters only to places where he has gone before.
