Free Hocus Croakus by Mary Daheim Page B

car.”
    â€œThat’s the point,” Renie replied. “I’ve been watching poor Salome. She hasn’t moved.”
    Sadly, Judith shook her head. “I still can’t believe it.” She kept staring as the white panels were unfurled one by one, like sheets draped over a corpse. Which, she realized, was their purpose.
    Pancho and the man with the goatee stepped inside the enclosure as the last piece of plastic was put into place. “He must be the doctor. What’s his name? Engelstad?”
    Renie shook her head. “Engelman, I think.”
    Judith saw the doorman, Bob Bearclaw, moving toward the panels in his stately manner. To her surprise, he, too, slipped inside.
    â€œWhat’s that all about?” she murmured.
    â€œThe doorman?” Renie said. “Maybe he’s there to open the car door.”
    â€œDon’t be callous,” Judith responded, noting that her cousin was drifting backward, toward the dollar slots behind them.
    Amos and the other two security guards apparently had taken their cue from Pancho. All three of themwere speaking together, while Amos, with arms folded across his chest, seemed to be telling a funny story. Judith, however, didn’t miss their quick, anxious glances at the enclosure.
    But Judith did miss Renie. Turning around sharply, she saw her cousin at a dollar slot, deep in concentration.
    â€œCoz!” Judith cried, then lowered her voice. “How could you?”
    â€œI know, I know,” Renie replied. “I don’t usually play dollar machines, but I noticed that these seem to be hitting. Can’t you hear the clatter of the coins? Dollar tokens make a very loud—and lovely—sound.”
    â€œI don’t mean that,” Judith said in exasperation. “I mean, how could you play anything at a time like this?”
    â€œWe don’t want to get in trouble, do we?” Renie inquired in her best aging ingenue manner. “I’m covering for your extreme curiosity by playing this machine. Look, I just won ten dollars.”
    â€œI hope you get tendonitis,” Judith snarled. “Nobody’s paying any attention to us. Besides, what harm is there in merely watching what’s going on?”
    â€œYou can’t see anything,” Renie pointed out, pressing the button again. “You’ll hear what happened later. It’s bound to get out. Not to mention that Joe knows Pancho, right? Hey! I got twenty! This thing’s hot!”
    Judith had never seen Renie like this. Her cousin might become absorbed in her family, her work, the baseball season, or a designer sale at Nordquist’s, but she had always been able to fragment herself enough to lend Judith an ear. Maybe it was best to ignore her.
    Turning back to observe the plastic panels, she noticed that the guards had fanned out beyond the area, which was cordoned off with velvet ropes attached tosturdy brass poles. More workmen were bringing in a hoist and a flatbed trailer. Once again, people began to gather near the Corvette console.
    Pancho stepped out between the panels. “We seem to have an oil leak,” he said with a self-deprecating grin. “We’re going to have the dealership bring us a new model.”
    Some people groaned, others laughed. But their interest was short-lived. Judith stayed in place, once again half-hiding behind the showgirl cutout. The screens were removed to reveal the Corvette covered with a white tarp. It took less than five minutes to lift the car and place it on the trailer. The parade of guards and workers was led away by Pancho Green and the man with the goatee. Bob Bearclaw nodded at Pancho before moving toward the front of the casino in his dignified manner.
    Judith felt gypped. “Are you broke yet?” she asked Renie, who was still at the dollar slot.
    â€œUnfortunately, yes,” Renie said with a disgusted expression. “But I only put in forty bucks.”
    â€œGood