Act of God Read Free Page A

her husband’s lawyer, that we come to you.”
    Cute. “Tell me, Mr. Proft, did you ever study law?”
    The lip finally uncurled. “Briefly. I found it too … uncertain for my taste, except for tax, which I found uninspired. There is a certainty in my current profession that is rather satisfying. Measuring the proper dosage for a prescription and knowing that you’re right.”
    “Quantity over quality.”
    The lip recurled. “If you like.”
    A hard man to bait. “How long have you known Mrs. Rivkind?”
    “Oh, a few years. Her old pharmacy closed, and mine in Sharon got most of the business from it.”
    “You own the pharmacy?”
    “No. I work there.”
    “How well did you know Abraham Rivkind?”
    “I didn’t. Never met the man. Mrs. Rivkind did all their business at my … the pharmacy.”
    “Mr. Proft, now that we’re alone, I’ll ask you again. Do you have any reason to believe your sister’s disappearance is related to Abe Rivkind’s death?”
    “Let’s say I have no real evidence, Mr. Cuddy. Traci did mention that Darbra was upset about his death and therefore really looking forward to her vacation.”
    Traci mentioned. “You didn’t talk to your sister directly about Rivkind’s being killed?”
    “No.”
    “Are you and your sister close, Mr. Proft?”
    “Evidently not, by your definition. But I am her brother, and I am concerned about her.”
    Nice deflection. “Aside from Traci Wickmire, do you know any of the people in your sister’s life?”
    “Not really.” A glint came into his eyes. “Darbra does fool around a bit, even in these plague-ridden times.”
    “Might Wickmire be able to help me there?”
    “Probably. And, of course, the people at the furniture store.”
    Proft seemed to anticipate the question I didn’t want to ask him. “One thing, Mr. Cuddy. I didn’t know Mr. Rivkind, but I do know my sister. It would not be impossible for her to have some … beyond-business relationship with an older man. If so, so be it. If you wish to tell Mrs. Rivkind what you find out, that’s fine with me. I just want to know what may have happened to my sister.”
    Very thorough, relieving me of any conflict I might be feeling. “Maybe you should have stuck with the law, Mr. Proft.”
    “Perhaps. I would have been good at it, if not particularly happy doing it.”
    “Any other relatives your sister might have contacted?”
    “Contacted? No.”
    “Any other relatives, period?”
    “Our father … well, ‘ran out’ would be a polite expression for it. Our mother is dead. We do have an aunt who runs a curio shop up in Salem.”
    “Her name and address?”
    “Darlene Nugent. I believe she lives above the shop, and that’s called ‘Sixties’ on Bowdoin Street.”
    He believes. “I take it you’re not too close to your aunt, either.”
    The lips curled some more. “Closer than Darbra.”
    “You have a recent photograph of your sister?”
    “Unfortunately, no.”
    “Any thoughts on where I can get one?”
    “All roads lead to Traci Wickmire, Mr. Cuddy. She has a key to my sister’s apartment, and I’m sure you’ll find something useful there. If you decide to help Mrs. Rivkind and me, I’ll be happy to give you whatever authorization you need to do what you have to do and take what you have to take from Darbra’s place.”
    “Your sister has an unusual first name.”
    “I noticed that you’ve avoided using it.”
    It troubled me somehow that he was right.
    Proft got the glint back in his eye. “Something almost … sinister about it, isn’t there?”
    I said, “Was she named after your aunt?”
    “Partly. Darbra’s twenty-eight—four years younger than I am. I was named after our father, but my mother’s second pregnancy—with Darbra—was what caused him to ‘fly the coop,’ as I think they used to say. Accordingly, Darbra got her name partly from my aunt—my mother’s younger sister—and partly from my mother, who was named ‘Barbra,’ like