Read Bouncer for Free Online Page B

records.
    “Could Jeremy Fox have taken them?” asked Nick.
    “Well, he might have, but I’m certain if he did he would have only taken a copy. That man was the most law-abiding, straight-and-narrow police chief and detective you ever met.”
    Nick swore Priscilla Smith was about to set off on a special fantasy just her own. “And look where it got him,” he said between even white teeth. “Thanks so much for your help, Miss Smith. I’ll know who to turn to in time of need. ‘ The public does not matter—only one’s friends matter. ’”
    “You read Yeats, Mr. Thayne?” Her suddenly interested pale-blue eyes lit up.
    “Cover to cover,” he lied. He read quotation books religiously because an appropriately placed quote seemed to convince people you were well-read and intelligent; something every private investigator needed desperately in his line of work. The only things he read religiously besides those quotation books were the Sunday paper and the daily sports page.
    “He’s one of my favorites. Please do come back for a chat sometime. Maybe we can share our favorite poems.”
    “I’ll do that,” said Nick, gallantly raising her hand to his lips and kissing it. He wasn’t certain that women still swooned (his mother had always said that it was simply a symptom of too-tight corsets) but Miss Smith looked damned close. It was good to know he hadn’t lost his touch after his last fiasco.
    Nick recognized he should tell Chief Rollins the Peebles’ files were missing, but the urge to consume a good meal and check on his old friend Roger trumped everything else. Chief Rollins would just have to wait.
     
    Roger was resting comfortably when Nick arrived nearly an hour later. Nick had read Philemon Jenkins' statement and listened to Roger’s meticulous oral notes over a greasy burger and an enormous plate of French fries. Later, he’d flirted with the pretty blonde waitress with the gorgeous implants and the outrageous name of Chastity. He’d tucked her number in his pocket and was pleased to note this otherwise sleepy town might have some possible diversions.
    Roger, hooked up to the ominously dripping IV pouch as Susan sat nearby holding his hand, stirred at the sight of his friend. She rose when Nick arrived and gave him a warm hug. She smelled of lilacs and fresh oriental rain.
    “It’s nice seeing you again, Nick. Are you behaving yourself?” she purred.
    Nick had the uncomfortable feeling that Roger may have shared a few too many of his escapades with his curious wife, and grinned sheepishly.
    “Of course not, but at least I’d not horizontal and hooked up to one of these.”
    Roger smiled. “You’ll have your day. Just make sure you have someone sweet to hold your hand.” He shifted uncomfortably. “You sure they didn’t take out the wrong thing, Susan? I feel kinda funny.”
    “Of course not, Roger, they just removed your appendix. Nothing else.” Susan smiled at Nick. “He’s absolutely paranoid about doctors.”
    “Can’t trust ‘em,” growled Roger. “I wonder what extra charges they’ve added to our bill. You file the papers correctly, Susan?”
    “Yes, love. Everything’s taken care of.”
    “I read just last week about some guy who had cancer. His insurance company dumped him, and he later had to declare bankruptcy.”
    “Your children’s college funds are safe, Roger.” She smiled prettily at Nick.
    Nick remembered what a worrywart Roger was. It felt like old times.
    “So, did you get to the site?” said Roger.
    “I did. And a fine mess they’ve made of it. Footprints and disturbed soil and the usual lookie-loos on the sidewalk. Whatever possible clues were there are history now. The body’s at the coroner with a Dr. Koh. He seems competent enough.”
    “I glad you feel that way,” said Susan smoothly, “since he’s my brother.”
    Nick’s already good-sized feet seemed to expand a couple of inches and inch closer to his mouth. “I’m, er . . . waiting on