Free Send Out The Clowns (Frank River Series) by Harry Hoge, Bill Walls

tall woman named Dawn something,
did a better than average routine about a single mother trying to raise a
teenage daughter, and a skinny 'Tejano,' Bernie, who concentrated on ethnic
humor, went by without raucous reactions from the crowd. Frank liked the woman.
When Bernie spent half his time discussing what 'his people' should be called
by the 'gringo,' Frank lost interest. He didn't find the on going flap about
Hispanic versus Latino or Mexican American worth the time most people spent
debating the subject. When Bernie finished, Frank looked at his watch -11:15,
and the main act was yet to come. He called Pauley once more, and when she
failed to answer, he left a message explaining where he was and what time he
expected to be home.
    "This last act is an out-of-towner," he whispered
to Gerry. "He isn't likely to know anything about Nguyen. You enjoy the
rest of the show, and I'll go back and talk to the others. Maybe we can get out
of here before dawn."
    Gerry looked at her watch. "I don't need this guy. I'll
go with you."
    Frank nodded, then they walked up to the bar area and asked
how they might talk to the comics. One of the bartenders motioned to a man whom
Frank took to be a bouncer, calling him to the bar. Whatever she said to the
man caused him to cast a brief look at Frank and Gerry before he nodded and
walked toward the door next to the room marked Women.
    Moments later, Dawn and Bernie emerged. Laurie Lowe had
headed back to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Wolfgang had left for the night.
Dawn had never heard of Nguyen, but Bernie said he had worked with him often.
    "He's probably the best stand-up I've ever known,"
Bernie volunteered. Frank noticed that his Spanish accent had disappeared.
"He worked hard," Bernie went on. "Took copious notes on how the
audience reacted to lines and combinations. Man, The Monkey could switch from
one bent to another in mid stream. I knew he'd move up fast, but I didn't
expect Vegas to call so soon."
    Frank didn't bother to correct Bernie's assumption that
Nguyen was smiling somewhere between Houston and Las Vegas.
    "I've noticed that many of you are different on stage
and off. How did he act off stage?"
    "He was the one that suggested I use more dialect in my
performance. Other than his ruse of being an emigrant, he was pretty much the
same. Always in a good mood. Always crackin' and jivin.' Funny, funny man. I
got the impression he was always acting."
    Frank and Gerry stood by their cars discussing what they had
learned during the evening, and decided there was nothing new.
    "You're sure it's all right if I skip the visit to
Rankin's pad tomorrow?" Gerry asked.
    "Yeah, I can fill you in Monday. You need to get
settled. By the way, where are you looking?"
    "I've got my eye on a three story townhouse in the
Heights. You know, one of those that are only about one room wide with lots and
lots of stairs?"
    "More of the 'keeping your figure' stuff?"
    "You're on to me, cousin."
    During the drive home, Frank mulled over the case. Was he
missing something? There were no road signs that pointed anywhere but at
Rankin. He arrived in the parking lot to the apartment at a beat or two before
1:00 am. He expected Pauley to be asleep. He was mistaken. Although she looked
tired, she was propped up in bed with a hard-bound copy of Harry Potter and the
Order of the Phoenix supported on her stomach.
    "Hi," Frank smiled. "Did you get my
message?"
    "I did. That's why I'm still awake." Frank thought
her response unusually cool.
    "I didn't expect you to wait up for me."
    Paulette didn't answer. She appeared to be reading the book.
Frank shrugged out of his jacket and sat on the edge of the bed to pull off his
boots.
    "Did you enjoy all day and all night with your new
partner?" Paulette asked, a definite tenseness in her voice.
    "Yeah. Right. Investigating a murder is always a jolly
time."
    Silence.
    "How about you?"
    "What about me?"
    "I tried to call you several times. You never answered
your pretty much