Free Death at the Wheel by Kate Flora Page A

Landry. I hate to disappoint you when I know you're trying to help Julie, but I'm pretty useless as a source of information. I've only known her for a few days and I never met him at all."
    There was a long silence on his end of the line, punctuated by a thumping sound. I imagined a pinstriped man drumming restlessly on the desk with his pencil.
    Then he said, "Julie said you were a good friend." His voice was accusing.
    "Only a few days," I repeated. "I'm concerned about her, of course, but I don't know her well. Maybe some of her closer friends could help."
    "Give me their names," he said eagerly. "I'll call them."
    "You'd have to get them from Julie...."
    "The only names she gave me were yours and your mother's."
    Probably Julie was so upset she wasn't thinking clearly. Maybe my mother would know. "Ask my mother," I told him. "She knew Julie pretty well. Maybe she can suggest some people."
    "I'll do that," he said. "Thanks for your time." I had the impression of him rushing off.
    "Wait," I said. "I have two questions for you."
    "Yes?" A reluctant, hesitant response.
    "Was Calvin Bass well insured?"
    "I don't think that's your business," he said.
    "Two-way street," I countered. "You want me to help you, you'll answer my questions."
    "Help me how? You just said you didn't know anything."
    "I know Cal Bass was almost universally disliked by the people he worked with."
    "And..."
    "And I'm waiting for an answer to my question," I reminded him.
    Another long silence after which he grudgingly allowed that Cal Bass was worth more dead than alive.
    "Second question," I said. "How did he die?"
    "Fire," Landry said. "He burned to death when the car caught fire."
    "Thank you. Give me your number and I'll call you if I learn anything."
    "Why should you be learning anything?"
    I shrugged, even though he wasn't there to see it. "I'm very good at asking questions."
    He gave his number so reluctantly that I decided his hesitation wasn't due to caution or legal considerations, it was just his personal style.
    I wanted to get back to Jack and it was almost time for my program, but I had to call my mother first. The idea of Julie having no friends troubled me. Once again, I found myself in a hesitant conversation. I asked my question. Mom was silent, a calculated, disapproving silence. "I'm glad you've found time in your busy schedule to try and help her." she said finally.
    "Mom, I'm only asking because her lawyer called."
    "Your dad says he's a good lawyer. You'll like working with him."
    My turn to be silent. Then I said, "I'm not working with him." I spat it through gritted teeth. "I just wondered about her friends."
    "I don't know,” she said. “I'll call you back."
    Unanswered questions swirled around my mind like dust-balls stirred up by a draft. Why had Julie sent two of us for the letters? Why had her doctor, of all people, picked them up? Why did the police think Julie had been in Connecticut? And what, exactly, had happened to Calvin Bass? Over all the questions, Julie's scared face and my mother's disapproving one hovered, watching me, so Ms. Thea "fix-it" Kozak decided she had to go to Connecticut and learn the TRUTH, especially since I could combine my field trip with a long-overdue social visit.
    I called my friend Ellen Bradley and asked if she and her husband George, who lived near the track, would mind some company on Saturday. Ellen and George were delighted, especially when I said I might bring Andre. All my friends are hoping I'll find Mr. Right and have another chance at happily ever after. And Ellen had called several times, trying to invite us down.
    After that I returned to my drink but the ice had melted and the bourbon was too watery. I dumped it down the sink and fixed another one to sip while I called Mr. Right. He answered on the first ring: "Lemieux."
    "Hi, handsome," I said. "I was going to be in the neighborhood tomorrow and I wondered if it would be convenient to stop by."
    "I have a girlfriend," he