“Jesus. You look like you’ve been mud wrestling,” he said, and I couldn’t remember when I had seen him so rattled.
“What the heli’ve you been doing? I mean, are you okay?”
“My car’s parked by the clubhouse.”
“What clubhouse?”
“On the lake.”
“The lake? What? You’ve been out there after dark? Have you lost your friggin’ mind?”
“What I’ve lost is my flashlight, and I didn’t remember that until it was a little late.” As I spoke, I slipped my. 38 out of my coat pocket and returned it to my handbag, a move that Marino did not miss. His mood worsened.
“You know, I don’t know what the fuck’s your problem. I think you’re losing it. Doc. I think it’s all caught up with you and you’re getting goofy as a shithouse rat. Maybe you’re going through the change.”
“If I were going through’the change’ or anything else so personal and so none-of-your-business, you can rest assured I would not discuss it with you. If for no other reason than your vast male dullness or sensitivity of a fence post–which may or may not be gender related, I have to add, to be fair. Because I wouldn’t want to assume that all men are like you. If I did, I know I would give them up entirely.”
“Maybe you should.”
“Maybe I will!”
“Good! Then you can be just like your bratty niece! Hey. Don’t think it ain’t obvious which way she swings.”
“And that is yet one more thing that isn’t your goddam business,” I said furiously.
“I can’t believe you’re stooping so low as to stereotype Lucy, to dehumanize her just because she doesn’t make the exact choices you would.”
“Oh yeah? Well maybe the problem is that she does makes the exact same choices I would. I date women.”
“You don’t know the first thing about women,” I said, and it occurred to me that the car was an oven and I had no idea where we were going.
I flipped the heat down and glared out my window.
“I know enough about women to know you’d drive anybody crazy. And I can’t believe you were out walking around the lake after dark. By yourself. So just what the hell would you have done if he was out there, too?”
“Which he?”
“Goddam I’m hungry. I saw a steakhouse on Tunnel Road when I was up this way earlier. I hope they’re still open.”
“Marino, it’s only six forty-five.”
“Why did you go out there?” he asked again, and both of us were calming down.
“Someone left candy on the ground where her body was discovered.
Fireballs. ” When he made no reply, I added,” The same candy she mentioned in her diary. ”
“I don’t remember that.”
“The boy she had a crush on. I think his name was Wren. She wrote that she had seen him at a church supper and he gave her a Fireball. She saved it in her secret box.”
“They never found it.”
“Found what?”
“Whatever this secret box was. Denesa couldn’t find it either. So maybe Wren left the Fireballs at the lake.”
“We need to talk to him,” I said.
“It would appear that you and Mrs. Steiner are developing a good rapport. ”
“Nothing like this should ever have happened to someone like her.”
“Nothing like this should ever happen to anyone.”
“I see a Western Sizzler.”
“No, thank you.”
“How about Bonanza?” He flipped on his turn signal.
“Absolutely not.” Marino surveyed brightly lighted restaurants lining Tunnel Road as he smoked another cigarette.
“Doc, no offense, but you’ve got an attitude.”
“Marino, don’t bother with the’no offense’ preamble. All it does is telegraph that I’m about to be offended.”
“I know there’s a Peddler around here. I saw it in the Yellow Pages.”
“Why were you looking up restaurants in the Yellow Pages?” I puzzled, for I’d always known him to shop for restaurants the same way he did for food. He cruised without a list and took what was easy, cheap, and filling.
“I wanted to see what was in the area in case I wanted something nice.
How about calling so I know how to get there? “