Beyond Blue Read Free Page B

this shit? You must really love me.”
    It was his turn. He stood behind her, pressed his body against hers and cupped her breasts from behind. “Yes, yes, yes, Molly Bloom.”
    â€œThen screw breakfast. How about a blow job?”
    â€œI thought you’d never ask.”
    And the telephone rang. Gorman looked at the cell phone on the kitchen counter.
    â€œBig decision,” Patsy said.
    â€œNo decision at all,” he answered. “Fie on telephones. Fie, I say.”
    â€œ
Tres gallant
,” she said. “Liar.” She handed him the telephone, pushed the skillet back off the heated burner and slipped away to give him a little space while he was on the phone.
    â€œHello, Gorman?”
    His brows pressed tighter together above his deep-set, brooding eyes. He immediately recognized the high scratchy voice that sounded like a school blackboard that had learned to communicate pain, and said, “Yes, Miss Sanchez,” with precise articulation.
    â€œOh. Sorry.
Mister
Gorman. Hey, did I interrupt anything?”
    â€œWould it matter?” Gorman asked.
    â€œNaaaaah. I just call ’cause I like to listen to that big phony politician’s voice of yours.”
    â€œDid you call me at this god-awful hour just to criticize my voice? You? Of all people? The human glasscutter?”
    â€œYuk, yuk, yuk. No, I just got a chance to sneak away from baggage for a while. I wanted to tell you that my boss here, the one I think is crooked, I’m having dinner tonight with his brother.”
    â€œWhy his brother?” Gorman asked.
    â€œHis brother is this kind of rich guy. Too rich, if you ask me. And I think if they’re hanky-pankying here with drugs, rich brother is involved.”
    â€œI don’t know, Ruby. It might be a whole new can of worms you’re opening,” Gorman said.
    â€œLook, we’re dead-ended and I can’t find out anything unless I get closer. But I just wanted to bring you up to speed first, just in case.”
    â€œIn case of what?”
    â€œJust in case. What do I know, in case of what? What do you think, I’m a mind reader?”
    â€œI want to talk to you first. When and where?”
    â€œTen o’clock? The coffee shop at Madison and 63 rd ?”
    â€œI’ll be there,” Gorman said.
    â€œGod willing and creeks don’t rise twixt here and home, so will I,” the chalk-on-slate female voice answered. She paused and said, “You sure I didn’t interrupt anything?”
    â€œOf course not,” he said. “This is a civilized household, unlike those you’re used to.”
    â€œYou’re lying,” she said. “But listen, I know you don’t go into the office until 8 o’clock. You’ve got time.”
    â€œWhat, barely an hour? That’s hardly enough time,” he said.
    â€œI’ve seen your wife, white boy. Dream on.”
    The phone clicked dead in his hand.
    Paul Gorman laughed aloud.
    â€œThe remarkable Ruby Sanchez?” Patsy asked him.
    â€œThe one and only.”
    â€œIt’s kind of early for her to be pestering you, isn’t it?”
    â€œI think she’s worried about something,” Gorman said. “Not that she’d ever admit it but…”
    â€œShe’s on a drug case, isn’t she?”
    â€œAt JFK. We had that retired Port Authority cop out at the airport who got suspended because they found drugs in his locker. Not enough for a criminal case but enough to can him. He came to us, swearing that he was framed. Ruby’s still trying to find out if it’s true. She thinks there’s something more going on and she can’t figure out what.”
    â€œYou think she’s afraid?”
    â€œPatsy, this is a woman who’s walking around with a bullet in her spine and might die anytime. I don’t think there’s anything left in the world that she’s afraid of. She sure as hell isn’t