Silver Linings, стр. 43
Hugh eased the revolver out of his belt and edged through the doorway and into the shadows. Knowing how swiftly aging wood rotted in this climate, he slid one booted foot along the floor.
The toe of his boot found thin air. Hugh yanked his leg back and glanced down. He could see almost nothing in the shadows but he knew his suspicions were correct. The floorboards had rotted away in sections. He would have to move carefully or risk breaking a leg.
“Rosey?”
There was no response. Hugh kept his shoulder in contact with one wall as he worked his way silently around the building to the loading dock entrance. The rain was thrumming on the roof now, hiding any small sounds that he or anyone else might make.
Something was wrong and Hugh knew it. If all had been well, Rosey would have made his presence known by now and demanded his money.
The figure lying in the rain on the loading dock looked like a heap of old clothing at first. Hugh crouched in the shadows, gun in hand, and stared at the too-still bundle. He swore silently.
Rosey, you damned fool. Why didn't you meet me in town? Why play games?
He waited another minute or two, but his senses told him the warehouse was empty except for himself and Rosey. Hugh straightened and went reluctantly over to the rain-soaked body.
Very gently he reached down and turned the bundle over. In the weak light Hugh could see the dark, wet stain that soaked the front of Rosey's shirt. Hugh checked for a pulse.
Rosey groaned softly.
Startled, Hugh hunkered down beside him.
“Rosey?”
“That you, Abbott?” Rosey's eyes fluttered.
“Yeah, Rosey, it's me.”
“Son of a bitch got me. Thought I was being so careful. Tell Gibbs, will ya, if you see him. He'll wonder.”
“I will. Rosey, who did this?”
“Rain…” There was a curious, wondering tone in Rosey's voice before the single word ended in a choking, bloody gargle.
“I know it's raining, Rosey. I'll get you out of it. Who was it, man?”
But Rosey was gone.
Hugh got slowly to his feet and looked down at the little man who had died in the pouring rain.
Two deaths in less than a week. Damn, Hugh thought in disgust. Life had been going so well lately, too. And now this.
Just like old times.
Mattie poured another cup of green tea for Silk and watched as he polished off the last of the sweet potato pie she had made for dessert. He had eaten nearly the entire pan.
“So how long have you lived here on St. Gabriel?” Mattie asked.
“Couple of years,” Silk said around a mouthful of pie.
“About as long as Hugh, then?”
“Right. Me and him moved out here together.”
“Really? Where were you before you arrived here?”
“Here and there.” Silk grinned. “No fixed address, I guess you'd say. Hugh was doing odd jobs for Vailcourt, and I just sort of drifted around with him, helping out sometimes.”
“Fascinating. Did my aunt know you were on the payroll?”
“Nah. Hugh figured why bother her with the details. She's an executive type. Folks like that only care about the bottom line. He just put me down under petty expenses when he sent his bills into Vailcourt Accounting.”
“I see.” Mattie hid a smile. “I take it you've known Hugh for a long time?”
“Sure. We been working together for years.”
“Where did you meet him?”
Silk scowled, looking thoughtful. “As best as I can remember, I think it was a bar somewhere along the coast of Mexico. I forget the name of the town. Neither of us stayed there long. Had a little trouble.”
“You were working in the area?”
“Abbot and I was flying charter for a guy who was running a little operation there. Pretty cushy job but it didn't last long.”
Mattie propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her folded hands. “You said that job did not last long. What did the two of you do after that?”
Silk grinned. “You plying me with sweet potato pie and tea in order to get me to talk?”
“Just idle curiosity,” Mattie explained airily as she got up to clear the table.
“Yeah, well better exercise your idle curiosity on the boss. He'll nail my hide to the wall if I get too chatty.”
“Why?” Mattie inquired innocently.
“He doesn't like to talk too much about the past.”
“Any particular reason?”
Silk leaned back in his chair, replete. “He pretty much likes to forget his past for the most part. Not the sort who looks back, you know? Abbott's got his eye on the future these days.”
“Was Paul Cormier a big part of Hugh's past?”
Silk's engaging grin belied the shrewd intelligence in his big blue eyes. “Cormier? You could say he was an old friend. Hugh's real loyal to old friends. Probably because he hasn't got too many of 'em.”
“Anyone else besides you now?”
“Well,” said Silk very smoothly, “I reckon there's you, too.”
Mattie shot him a quick glance as she filled the cracked sink with hot water. “Hugh and I have not really known each other very long,” she murmured. “This is the first time I've seen him in nearly a year.”
“I know. He told me you'd been ducking him. He didn't like that.” Silk shook his head. “Never seen a female who could make Abbott run around in circles the way he's been doing these past few months. And now you're dragging him all the way off to Seattle. He's gonna hate Seattle.”
“Yes,” said Mattie. “I know. Don't worry, Silk. He won't be there long.”
Silk's eyes narrowed abruptly. “What the hell's that supposed to mean?”
“Just that I'm certain Hugh will soon get tired of Seattle and bored with me when he realizes I have no intention of moving here to St. Gabriel. He'll give up on his big plans to marry me, and he'll be back here before you know it.” She smiled bleakly. “After all, he's got a business