Longarm #399 : Longarm and the Grand Canyon Murders (9781101554401) Read Free Page A

’er.”
    “Two hundred? That’s a hell of a lot of money, Custis. Lees Ferry can’t be that far from Denver.”
    “Oh, it’s far enough,” Longarm said. “But if I need to hire a boat and boatman to get me through that monster canyon, I want to hire the best that’s available and that won’t come cheap.”
    Billy, who was always tight on the office’s budget, sighed and said, “No, I suppose not.”
    Longarm headed for the door. “Don’t forget to have those promises in writing and have the two hundred dollars in cash ready and waiting for me in the morning.”
    “Have fun with Miss Zalstra tonight.”
    “Damn right I will!” Longarm called over his broad shoulder as he hurried out the door.

Chapter 2
    Longarm got a haircut and went shopping for a few hours. He bought a box of chocolates for Heidi and then hurried to the Broadmore Hotel, where she was staying. It was one of Denver’s nicest hotels, in a very good neighborhood, and it reminded Longarm that Miss Heidi Zalstra seemed to have an unlimited source of income. She didn’t work and had only been in town a few weeks when he’d met her by chance one Sunday afternoon strolling alongside the banks of Cherry Creek. Although the day had been warm, their paths had fatefully crossed just when the sun was setting over the towering Rockies. The light had been fair, the evening beginning to cool, and folks were out enjoying a little exercise during the most pleasant part of the day.
    Heidi had been feeding the ducks that frequented the creek and were so popular to the citizens. Children played, dogs barked and chased balls, and the sunset had begun to christen the highest western peaks. Longarm had been at loose ends, and so when he saw the strikingly beautiful young woman unescorted by any othergentleman, he’d just naturally gone to her and struck up a conversation. And although they had nothing in common, things had gone so well that he’d begun to see her at every opportunity.
    Now, as he stood at the door of her hotel room holding the chocolates, he wondered where they would go for dinner and what might transpire afterward. He would, of course, explain everything to her about having to leave on such short notice, and he’d make it clear that he wanted to resume their relationship as soon as he returned from the Grand Canyon.
    “Ah, Custis,” she said brightly. “Good to see you again!”
    “Likewise. I know that you love chocolates, and these are the best to be found in Denver.”
    “How thoughtful of you,” Heidi said, ushering him inside. “Would you like something to drink before we go out to dinner?”
    Heidi liked champagne and French Chardonnay wine, but she had started to keep a very good brand of whiskey on hand for his enjoyment. “Sure.”
    She removed his hat and gave him a kiss on the lips, then hurried into her kitchen to pour them drinks. Longarm took a seat on an expensive but uncomfortable white couch and considered how he would broach the subject of his departure on tomorrow’s train. Should he tell Heidi right away, or would he perhaps be better off telling her at the tail end of the evening and hoping that she would be so distraught that she would throw herself into his arms and take him to her bed? Longarm considered this to be a difficult and dicey decision not to be taken lightly.
    “Well,” Heidi said, bringing Longarm two fingers of Old Kentucky whiskey, “how was your day?”
    “Not bad.”
    “I see you got a fresh haircut and shave.”
    “Just hours ago, Heidi. And how was your day?” Longarm took a drink, admiring how fine she looked in a pink silk skirt and satin blouse, with a matching ribbon in her beautiful blond hair. She was wearing a stunning gold necklace and a dinner ring of at least a one-carat diamond surrounded by blood-red rubies. The ring alone probably had cost Heidi more than Longarm’s annual salary. He took his eyes off of her jewels and asked, “What did you do?”
    Heidi sipped her