Walking Shadow Read Free Page A

a.22 from the sound and the entry hole, maybe a target gun. It was a hell of a shot. Right through the heart."
    "The killer may know something of anatomy," the doctor said.
    "Most people don't know exactly where the heart is."
    "A good shot that knows anatomy," DeSpain said as if to himself.
    "Hell, we've got the bastard cornered."
    We got out of there very late in the evening, and drove Christopholous home. He lived on the first floor of a two-family house next to a Chinese market, across the street from a fish-processing plant.
    "Can you help us on this?" Christopholous said when I parked out front.
    "The murder?"
    "Yes."
    "I can't catch your shadow at the same time," I said.
    "Do you think they're related?"
    "I hate coincidences," I said.
    "I… think the murder takes precedence," Christopholous said.
    "Would you like to know my rates?"
    "I thought… we don't have any money… I was hoping, as a friend of the theater…?"
    I looked at Susan.
    "My usual fee?" I said.
    "I'll double it," she said.
    "Okay," I said to Christopholous.
    "I'll watch you to your doorway. When you're inside, lock it. If someone wants in, be sure you know who you're opening it for."
    "You think I'm in danger?"
    "There's some around," I said.
    "What time do you leave your house in the morning?"
    "Nine o'clock, usually. I stop off and have coffee, and get to the theater around ten."
    "Someone will pick you up," I said, "and keep an eye on you and see if the shadow's around. Probably be a black man about my size but not as good-looking."
    Christopholous nodded. He hesitated, then shrugged and got out of the car. I watched him climb the front steps and go into his shabby house and close the door. In a minute, lights showed through some windows to the right of the doorway. I pulled away.
    On the ride home, Susan said, "Remind me again of your usual fee?"
    "Two nights of ecstasy."
    "So doubled would be four," Susan said.
    "Payable in thirty days?"
    "Normally, but doubling the amount includes halving the time."
    "So four nights of ecstasy in two weeks," Susan said.
    "That's the deal?"
    "Yes."
    We were quiet rolling through the empty darkness north of Boston. Susan giggled.
    "Sucker," she said.
    "You don't think I'm charging enough?" I said.
    "It's enough," Susan said, "but you'd have gotten it anyway."
    "I know."

CHAPTER 4
    Most people having dinner Upstairs at the Pudding had never seen anyone who looked like Hawk. At 6' 2" he weighed 210 and had a 29-inch waist. He was monochromatic tonight. Black skin, black eyes, black suit, black shirt, black tie, black boots. His head was clean-shaven.
    "This place is so Cambridge," Susan said, "it gives me goose bumps."
    "Cambridge give you goose bumps?" I said to Hawk.
    "Hives," Hawk said.
    The main dining room had a thirty-foot ceiling, and the dark green walls were decorated with posters advertising Hasty Pudding Club productions dating back to the early nineteenth century. We sat at a table outside on the patio deck.
    "Think maybe I'm integrating the place?" Hawk said.
    "You're so sensitive," Susan said.
    "There was a Kenyan diplomat in here just last year."
    Hawk grinned.
    "Don't smile," I said.
    "Ruins the look."
    Susan was busily waving at people.
    "You're like the Mayor here," Hawk said.
    "And rightly so," Susan said.
    The waitress came and took our order.
    "Well, nobody following your Greek," Hawk said.
    "I been on his tail since you called me."
    "You think the shadow saw you?" Susan said.
    Hawk stared at Susan as if she'd spoken in tongues.
    "I beg your pardon," Susan said.
    "Sure," Hawk said.
    "Could mean the shadow heard about me."
    "Which would make him likely part of the theater company, or at least someone in Christopholous' circle," I said.
    "Un huh. Or the murder stirred everything up and scared him off," Hawk said.
    "Or?"
    "Or Christopholous made him up," Hawk said.
    "Or her," Susan said.
    Hawk and I both smiled, and nodded.
    A young couple with a baby stopped at our table.
    "This is my friend,