Free Desert Noir (9781615952236) by Betty Webb Page A

pretty.
    After clearing my throat, I said, “Look, I’m sorry for the intrusion but something happened last night and I need to ask you both some questions.” 
    â€œSo what happened?” Kobe didn’t even bother to apologize for his girlfriend’s appearance.
    â€œHave ssssome coffee?” Alison mumbled, the missing tooth leaking a sibilant hiss.
    Not wanting to bother her any more than she’d already been bothered, I shook my head, but Kobe looked at her and growled, “What the fuck you think?”
    She nodded and limped off into the kitchen. Without being invited, I sat down on an undamaged section of the sofa. Almost immediately, I heard a grinding noise then caught the scent of freshly ground coffee beans. All the elegant comforts of Scottsdale life. Kobe dropped into a wine-splattered chair across from me and neither of us said a word until Alison returned with two steaming mugs. Mine said, “Have a nice day!” His said, “No. 1 Stud Muffin!”
    â€œYou usssse cream? Ssssugar?” she asked, already half-turned towards the kitchen.
    Trying hard to keep from hauling my .38 out of my carryall and plugging Kobe between the eyes, I shook my head. Jesus, why didn’t the woman find help?
    Duties accomplished, Alison wrapped the bathrobe more tightly around her and started to limp back into the bedroom, but I stopped her.
    â€œMiss Garwood, I need to talk to you, too.” I had to clear my throat. Something seemed to be in it.
    She looked timidly at Kobe. When he shrugged, she lowered herself down on the sofa as creakily as an old woman.
    I cleared my throat again. “Look, someone shot me a couple of nights ago and I think it might be connected to the Clarice Kobe case. Do you know anything about that?” 
    Kobe smirked but Alison’s face paled, if ground beef can be said to pale. “Sssomeone ssshot you? That’sss terrible!” 
    Maybe not as terrible as some other things I could think of—such as living with a monster—but I said, “Yes, terrible. Now, who besides you two knew that I was working on the case?” Kobe barked a short laugh. “Oh, several guys down at the jail. Then after I was released I called Clarice’s father and told him what I thought of him, told him I was siccing you on his ass. And I think I mentioned it at the party we had the afternoon I got out.” He looked across at Alison. “Did you tell anybody, hon?” 
    â€œJussst my hair ssstylisst,” Alison answered. Well, this explained the one undamaged area of her person. Her hair was movie-star blond, shoulder length and parted to the side like Kim Basinger’s in L.A. Confidential, and it glowed like an angel’s halo. Alison was probably gorgeous when she wasn’t banged up.
    Great. Between them they’d told Clarice’s possibly incestuous father. The guys at the jail. The revelers at the party. Alison’s hairdresser and whoever else had been eavesdropping. Altogether, the two had probably told half the population of Scottsdale that I had taken on the case.
    â€œSo where’d you get shot this time?” Kobe was grinning.
    I knew better than to let him needle me. “In the shoulder. It was just a flesh wound so I don’t think we’re looking for any Olympic marksman here. You know anybody who carries a gun?” 
    Kobe’s grin exploded into a laugh. “In Arizona? Shit, just about everybody’s packing, including half the kids in kindergarten. As for me, I’ve got a new .45 in the night stand but it hasn’t been fired recently. Wanna see?” 
    I shook my head. The bullet casing retrieved from the sidewalk had been a .38. If Jay owned a .38, he wouldn’t show it to me without a search warrant.
    Then Alison spoke up. “Clariccce had a gun, a pearl-handled Derringer. Her brother hasss a gun, too, but I’m not sssure what kind. And probably her