Read Abracadaver (Esther Diamond Novel) for Free Online Page B

has this under control.”
    After another tense moment, John let his shoulders sag a little and he nodded his acquiescence. He was a smart man—and he respected his father.
    In any case, Danny was no longer paying attention to him. He had noticed me. Oh, joy. “Esther . . . what are you doing here? And why are you dressed like that?”
    Danny was used to seeing me in costume for Ted’s film, where I’d played an airheaded uptown slut who never felt the cold. Not wanting to interact with him, I ignored the question.
    Nathan turned back to Danny again, subtly stepping between us to shield me from the gangster’s gaze, which I appreciated. I looked over my shoulder, surprised that Lucky hadn’t intervened. He was still seated in his chair, leaning back, one hand stroking Nelli’s head to keep her calm, since she had sensed the tension in the room and was uneasy . . . But the expression on Lucky’s face was chilling as he stared hard at the drunken young thug who’d just threatened the Chens. I sometimes forgot that, although he always said it was strictly business, Lucky had killed people—including some very dangerous people. Looking at him right now, I was amazed it was something I was
ever
able to forget.
    But Lucky had a cool head and excellent command of his temper. And, like John, he respected Nathan. So he let this scene play out without his interference. Which was very fortunate for Danny Teng, I suspected.
    Nathan started walking toward the exit, his body language encouraging Danny to accompany him. “We will, of course, keep you informed of funeral arrangements. I know you were a valued associate in Uncle Six’s life, and you will be involved in the rites of his death. He would have it no other way.”
    “Hmph. Fucking right.” Despite his language, Danny sounded slightly mollified. But then he said with dark savagery, his voice floating back to us, “I’m gonna find who killed Uncle Six, and I’m going to blow him away, the bastard!”
    Just to be on the safe side, I decided I’d call Ted and advise him to think seriously about getting out of town for a while.
    I could hear Nathan’s voice in the hallway, thanking Danny for his “visit” and bidding him a good evening. When he returned to this room, he said in gentle admonishment to his son, “You need to exercise more patience, John. Consider the excellent example your uncle has just set.”
    Lucky grunted. John looked at the ceiling.
    “What a dreadful young man,” Max said. “I fear he will cause terrible grief someday, if he has not already done so.”
    “He’s a stupid, vicious thug,” John muttered.
    “No argument there,” I said. “But your father handled him very skillfully.”
    John scowled for a moment, then smiled ruefully and admitted, “He did.” He met his father’s eyes and shrugged. “Sorry.”
    “You’ve had a difficult day,” replied Nathan, dismissing the subject.
    “Which brings us back to the purpose of our visit,” said Max. “Before that young, er, person interrupted your narrative, you had just finished working on the deceased Mr. Capuzzo’s coiffure. And the gentleman was, I take it, quite dead?”
    “
Quite
dead,” John confirmed.
    “Unquestionably,” said Nathan. “I examined John’s work after he was done, and I guarantee that the deceased was . . . well,
deceased.
No question whatsoever.”
    “What happened next?” I asked.
    “I turned my back to put away some tools and refill some supplies that were running low. I was concentrating on these tasks for several minutes before I heard . . . heard movement behind me.”
    I felt a chill. “No one else was in the room but you and the dead guy—uh, you and the departed?”
    “No one else. I didn’t react at first—”
    “You didn’t?” I blurted.
I’d
certainly have reacted.
    “The recently deceased aren’t exactly silent,” John said to me.
    “What does
that
mean?”
    “Upon death,” said Nathan, “body chemistry