Vanishing Act Read Free Page B

that has to be cracked in the head, right?”
    I made a noncommittal noise. I guess George hadn’t told him that Noah’s Ark, the pet store I ran, specialized in selling reptiles. “What kind of snake?”
    â€œA big one.”
    Over the past few years owning a pet store, I’ve learned that when it comes to snakes, people tend to exaggerate measurements. “How big?”
    â€œBig enough. Maybe from there to there,” he said, indicating two table lengths and the space between them.
    â€œTwelve feet? Are you sure?”
    â€œOf course I’m not sure. I didn’t measure the damn thing.”
    I put my pen down. “Is it a Burmese? A boa?” I wondered if West had gotten it from our store. I hoped not.
    â€œHow the hell should I know?” Bryan’s voice began to rise. “He ...”
    â€œTommy West?”
    â€œWho the hell else am I talking about? Just lets it crawl around his room at the frat house. You know what I think happened?”
    â€œWhat?” I asked even though what he thought was obvious.
    â€œI think the snake killed my sister and then Tommy went and buried the body, that’s what I think.”
    â€œBut the police don’t?”
    â€œThey think she’s off on a holiday.”
    I picked up my pen again and wrote down Tommy West’s name followed by a question mark. “Contrary to what you see in the movies, snakes don’t usually kill people.”
    â€œBut it could happen.” Bryan’s eyes were glittering.
    â€œYes, it could happen. Anything can happen. It’s just not very likely that it did. You see, even snakes of that size tend to go after smaller—”
    But Bryan wasn’t in the mood to listen to a lecture on boids. “Let me tell you,” he interrupted. “If it wasn’t for my mother, I’d beat what happened to my sister out of him.”
    â€œReally?” I regarded him for a moment before I spoke. “The way you’re acting, I’m surprised you haven’t tried already.”
    Bryan muttered something I couldn’t catch, slumped in his seat, and glared at me while he cracked his knuckles. His cheeks were still bright red, his jaw was clenched. This was a person whose emotions ran close to the surface.
    â€œWell, have you?”
    â€œI just talked to him,” he answered sullenly.
    â€œAre you sure that’s all you’ve done?”
    Bryan didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. The look on his face was enough.
    â€œI want you to stay away from him, understand?”
    Bryan mumbled something.
    â€œI mean it.”
    â€œI heard.”
    â€œGood. Because if you don’t, I’m going to give you your money back.”
    â€œI said, I heard.” Bryan’s voice was truculent. He’d slumped farther down in his chair and was pulling the zipper on his ski parka up and down. “So I pushed him a little. Big deal. What difference does it make?”
    â€œLet me explain.” I leaned forward slightly. “In order to find out what happened to your sister, I need to talk to this guy. He is a primary lead. But, unfortunately, this guy does not have to talk to me. And I can’t force him to. The only thing I can do is try and get him to cooperate with me, and he’s not going to do that if he’s pissed at you. See?”
    â€œYeah,” Bryan muttered. “I see.”
    â€œGood. I don’t suppose there’s anyone else you’ve been chatting with?”
    His no was so low, I had trouble hearing it.
    â€œBut you are going to talk to him?” Bryan demanded, suddenly alarmed at the possibility I wouldn’t.
    â€œAmong other people. Yes.”
    â€œYou don’t need to talk to anyone else. Just take a look at the snake. You’ll see what I mean.”
    â€œIs that right?” I’m not particularly fond of being told what to do, especially when the person telling me doesn’t know