Read Book 05 - Dread Brass Shadows for Free Online

type. Follow her. See where she goes. Be careful. She's maybe some bad road." I had no idea how good Squirrel was. His only recommendation was that he had stayed alive so far.
    "I can handle it." Like he heard me wondering.
    "What's up?" Saucerhead asked.
    "She pulled a knife on me. Wanted a book. The Dead Man put her in freeze
    "A book again?"
    "Yeah."
    "You getting into it even if Tinnie's all right?"
    "Say I'm curious." I wasn't getting into anything. I didn't have a client. I don't like work, anyway. I mean, why bother as long as I've got a roof over my head and something to eat?
    On the other hand, I might fish a fee out of this somehow. And it does take money to pay Dean and to keep the house from falling down.
    "Spread out," I told those two. "Saucerhead, take off. She'd recognize you."
    "Sure. You need me, check Morley's place."
    I waved them good-bye. Slipped inside, stuck my head into the Dead Man's room, whispered, "Turn her loose?" I whispered because I didn't want Winger to hear me.
    Yes.
    I returned to my office, pried the knife out of Winger's hand, settled myself, started cleaning my nails. The Dead Man turned loose. If somebody could jump out of their skin, Winger would have. "Welcome to the big city, Winger. Something to keep in mind. Everybody has a trick up his sleeve here."
    She gobbled air and headed for the hallway. I asked, "You mind telling me where to find Lubbock? Can't say I like people I don't know sicking hired blades on me."
    That shook her even more. She hadn't mentioned the name.
    I followed her to the door, adding more questions calculated to rattle her so she wouldn't look for Squirrel. She was almost running when she hit the street.
    I looked around. I didn't see Squirrel or Saucerhead. I didn't spot anybody interested in my place, either. I went inside to talk to Dean about supper.

8
    Dean didn't want any suggestions. He never does, but he doesn't mind having me offer. Then he can turn me down.
    I settled at the table. Dean asked, "What was that all about?"
    "I'm not sure. Somebody called Lubbock sent her to shake me down for a book."
    He frowned. He's mastered the art. His face turns into a badland of shadowed canyons "That fellow who stabbed Miss Tinnie..."
    "Yeah."
    "There's something going on." Another genius. My place is lousy with them.
    "Yeah."
    "You going to find out what?"
    "Maybe " I didn't have much inclination. The world is full of mysteries. Do I have to solve them all? Without even anybody paying me? But I did wonder why Winger had come to me.
    Somebody pounded on the front door. I grumbled something about maybe it was time to move. Too many people knew where I lived. Dean said, "That's Mr. Tharpe."
    "You can tell from here?"
    "I know his knock."
    Right. Sure he did. But why argue? Let him have his little fantasies. I headed up the hall..." Whoa!" There was Saucerhead. Inside. "What the hell?"
    He looked a little croggled himself. "It just opened up when I knocked." He stared at the door like it would maybe sprout fangs.
    Couldn't be. I'd locked it myself. That's a prime rule. There are people on those mean streets dumb enough to drop in. Dumb enough not to worry about the Dead Man. I just sent one packing.
    I puzzled it for half a minute before I caught a glimmer of a possibility. "Three geniuses!" Saucerhead scowled, baffled I popped my head into the small front room.
    My guest had vanished "Dean!" I'd forgotten her in the excitement of my run and those cozy moments with Winger
    "Mr. Garrett?"
    "Something's missing." I indicated the small front room. "And Saucerhead found the door open."
    Dean looked properly amazed. He went into the room and sniffed around, making sure everything was there. Like it was his own stuff. "The blanket is gone."
    She would've taken something. You have to work to attract attention on a TunFaire street, but naked will do it every time
    Saucerhead asked, "What's going on?"
    "You know as much as I do. Dean, get Mr. Tharpe a beer. I'm going to talk