Free Rohn Federbush - Sally Bianco 01 - The Legitimate Way by Rohn Federbush

ride out of town.” Andrew poured himself more tea.
    “Slimy creep,” Robert said. “What could he do with her personal belongings?”
    “Maybe he was a cross dresser,” Harvey supplied.
    “She had jewelry in the case,” Andrew said. “But there were no police reports of robbery in the state from her.”
    “Maybe Mary Jo didn’t realize the suitcase was missing until she stopped for the night,” Sally said.
    “She was probably too afraid of her husband tracking her to let the police know where she was,” Ed worried his beard.
    “I agree.” Sally smiled at her young table partner, Ed. She always sat as close to him as possible. She even dreamt about him. Anyway, Sally was glad Ed was at the restaurant. She found herself smiling and she did not think it was just to hide her wrinkles. The boy’s good looks cheered her up.
    Ed coughed, “Are you missing the fact Mary Jo was alive, so Robert cannot be accused of killing her?”
    Harvey finished another martini. “Still missing isn’t she?”
    Andrew explained, “The highway pictures were dated three days before Ricco made his accusations. The case has not yet been dropped.”
    “We need Arizona,” Robert said, offering Sally a bowl of rice from across the table.
    ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
    John sounded sleepy when Sally called him. “John, I’m sorry. This is Sally. It’s one o’clock in St. Charles. I just left Robert and the gang. Are you very busy this week at the hotel? Could you take a vacation with me to Arizona?”
    John’s voice changed to wide awake. “Sally! Absolutely. I mean I’ll drive out tomorrow morning. Main Street in Ann Arbor, right? Why Arizona?”
    “Mary Jo’s van was spotted near Phoenix. You really want to come?”
    “I can’t think of a better place to be than around you.”
    Sally heard that. “John. I mean I don’t want to encourage you romantically. I don’t want to discourage you either, but your good company on the trip might not…you know…end the way you want it to.”
    “Sally, really. I can’t think of any where I’d rather be than with you. I missed my chance in high school. I’m glad you called. You’re not going to revoke the offer, are you?”
    “No. I could really use your help.” But Sally did worry. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
    “Just let the Lord and me worry about my feelings, okay?”
    “Okay.” Sally laughed. “It’s in His hands.” After she hung up the bedside phone, Sally couldn’t sleep. Maybe she should start her own detective agency. She was enjoying herself. Terrible because Robert’s mess might turn out well for her, give her a new career, besides following the exploits of her favorite bookman. Danny would have wanted her to do something constructive with her life. No one could ever replace Danny.
    ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
    Third Tuesday in September
    All thoughts in the Bibliopole were with Mary Jo. Why hadn’t she at least called Robert? Sally found Robert alone Tuesday evening, staring at his silent phone. “Is Penny upset about Mrs. Clankton’s report?” She hoped to keep his mind occupied.
    He pulled his attention away from the unresponsive contraption he wanted to ring before facing eternity. “If Mary Jo kept her clothes on, it might have helped.”
    “Why did she disrobe, Robert?” Sally relaxed in the comfortable chair across the room from his corner desk.
    “She wanted to get comfortable under the blankets with me.” Robert fixed Sally with his honest stare. “Mrs. Clankton kicked me to the curb.”
    “Where are you living, now? Mary Jo should have kept some article of clothing on.”
    “She wanted to get lucky.” Robert slid his hand over the phone’s receiver. “Penny’s brother brought over a mattress for the store room. Miss Poi duly anointed the thing.”
    Sally tried not to think about Robert’s housing downgrade. “You should have told Mary Jo, before she undressed.” The stinking mattress threatened to intrude on her