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

thoughts.
    “Well, I didn’t.” Robert softened his tone. “You were an exception.”
    “I am,” Sally said, letting her ego puff.
    Robert shot her down. “And you are a blabbermouth.”
    “Penny wanted to know.”
    “And you wanted to tell her.”
    “Now, Robert.” Sally was saved by Harvey Clemmons bellowing in the hall.
    “Thank God,” Robert said, as if Sally’s presence was becoming a trial. Miss Poi streaked from under the safety of Robert’s desk into the store room.
    Sally felt like bolting, too. “I’ll just go along.” At least, Robert would not be alone. Conversation with his friends slowed Robert from exercising his elbow … drink to mouth.
    Robert hefted a large dictionary in Sally’s direction. “You move and I’ll throw this at you.”
    Sally laughed. “I’ll stay.”
    “And she’s welcome.” Harvey rubbed Sally’s head with one hand and handed a bottle of sherry to Robert with the other. “At least, Sally doesn’t drink up the supplies.”
    “True, true.” Robert actually cooed.
    “Big bag of wind.” Sally straightened her short hair.
    Harvey’s torso did resemble an opera singer’s girth. He paced between Robert’s desk and the hall as if awaiting someone. His head was regal, a Roman sculpture. His white beard and shaggy moustache were clipped in a classical poet’s style. But mostly, Harvey was wind and vocal cords produced loud, well-modulated words in resonating deep bass tones, which bounced off the shiny plaster bookshop walls. Sally remembered Voltaire’s work, or was it Shaw’s, in which the hero’s pride was injured when the heroine told him she didn’t agree or disagree with his diatribes, she just enjoyed hearing his voice. The low tones of males helped seduce their intendeds. Men complained about the lack of sex, and women, rightly, criticized the paucity of prolonged conversation, verbal foreplay.
    “Is Andrew expected?” Harvey stepped back to wave Sam Tedler into their presence.
    Sam, the young man who helped arrest Robert, stood in the hall. He wore jeans and a white long-sleeved shirt instead of the city’s uniform. He waited for an invitation to enter. Sally could understand his reluctance. “I might be able to help, Sally.” Sam said. “The police found Mary Jo’s blood in Robert’s room at Mrs. Clankton’s, too.”
    “What service do you offer?” Robert asked in a defensive tone.
    Sam ducked his head as he spoke. “I put in for my vacation. I could search for Mary Jo with my detective license.”
    Harvey pounded Sam’s back. “The Tedler Brothers moonlight as certified PI’s.”
    “We can’t afford much.” Sally needed to make the compensation problem clear. Why was there blood in Mary Jo and Robert’s rooms? She kept her questions to herself.
    Sam brightened. “Harvey thought I should volunteer.”
    “Mary Jo is traveling in Arizona,” Robert said. “How do we know Ricco isn’t paying you to find her?”
    “Me?” Sam walked over to Robert’s desk. “I didn’t want to arrest you, remember?”
    “Come on, Robert,” Harvey said. “Would I bring a traitor into your inner sanctum?”
    Sally interrupted. “I hope it’s okay, Robert. I gave John Nelson directions to your shop. I wanted you and Andrew to meet him before we leave for Arizona tonight.”
    “Unusual occurrence,” Harvey reached for his lowest disapproving tone. “Sam arrived just in time.”
    Robert finished the sherry in his glass. “What makes you think Sam will have the motivation to save my hide?”
    “And what is this John Nelson’s driving force?” Harvey asked.
    “You know, Harvey, not everyone has your sordid inclinations.” Sally wanted to strike him up the side of his beautiful head. “A person is allowed to go out of his way to help an old friend.”
    Undaunted, Harvey hooted. “You’re not that old.”
    Sally opened and closed her purse as if digging for a new subject. “Robert, doesn’t Hilda live next to Mrs. Clankton. Surely you