Case of Imagination by Jane Tesh Read Free Book Online Page A

shorts and packed my suitcase for an extended stay in the country. I could commute from Parkland, but dammit, I wasn’t going to give up on Jerry, and I wasn’t going to give up on me.
    Feeling one hundred percent better, I called Buddy to thank him for the use of the Bug. “It’s parked in front of my apartment.”
    “Thought Jerry had it,” Buddy said.
    “He’s staying in Celosia to take care of some business.”
    Buddy’s the type of big sloppy man most people would call a redneck. He’s proud of the label because most people also misjudge his intelligence. He knew right away what was up. “Another one of those stupid schemes of his?”
    “I’m going to try to talk him out of it.”
    “Why does the boy think he’s psychic, anyway? There’s no money in it.”
    “Sort of like the detective business.”
    “Yeah, how’s that going for ya?”
    “Pretty good. I’ve picked up some work in Celosia. I can stay with Jerry while I investigate.”
    There was a pause, and then Buddy said, “That’s a right good idea.”
    I wondered exactly what he meant by that. “Jerry says he left his things at your house. Shall I come get them, or do you want to bring them when you pick up the VW?”
    “I’ll bring ’em. Give me about twenty minutes.”
    I went out to my light blue Mazda. I had tossed the overnight bag in the back when a black Infiniti pulled up beside me and a voice said, “Madeline, hello!”
    Nancy Lundell waved from her window. “Have you been out of town?”
    “Just for the night,” I said.
    She adjusted her Raybans. “I thought maybe you’d moved.”
    “No.”
    “Well, my friend Alexandra has been trying to reach you. She wanted you to investigate something about a will. I don’t know the details.”
    “Has she been trying to call me? I think there’s something wrong with my phone.”
    “Yes, she called several times, and then she went over to your office yesterday, but you weren’t there.”
    Hell. “Please tell her I’m sorry I missed her. I’m heading over there now.”
    “I think she’s already hired Kent and Ross.”
    I could feel the heat rising up my neck. “Okay. Maybe next time.”
    “And my girlfriend Gloria tried to reach you, too.”
    Another car drove up behind the Infiniti and honked for Nancy to move along. “Let me give you her number.” She dug in her purse and handed me a card. She gave me another wave and drove off.
    An ancient pickup wheezed to a stop behind the Mazda, and Buddy hopped out of the passenger seat. He had on the standard redneck uniform of overalls and tee shirt, his scraggly hair poking out from under a baseball cap. He pulled two duffel bags and a box from the back. Then he gave the side of the truck a slap and hollered, “Thanks!” to the driver, who put the truck in gear and roared off down the street.
    “Is that all?” I asked. I knew Jerry traveled light, but this was spare, even for him.
    Buddy picked up the duffel bags. “This is all he kept at my place. Where you want it?”
    I opened the trunk. “In here, thanks.”
    Buddy heaved the bags into the truck. He picked up the box. “This is mostly books.”
    “It can go on the back seat.”
    Once Jerry’s belongings were safely stowed, Buddy wiped his hands on his overalls and tugged his baseball cap tighter on his head. “So you’re headed for Celosia, huh? Not much to do over there.”
    “Not much for me here, either, Bud.”
    “Saw Bill the other day. Got him some pale little hottie.”
    “I know.”
    He grinned, showing crooked teeth. “Take three or four of her to make one of you. I like ’em tall and feisty.”
    This is Buddy’s idea of a compliment. “Thanks, Buddy.” I gave him the VW keys.
    “So you’re staying with the detective business,” he said.
    “Yes. There’s very little chance for advancement in the pageant world.”
    “Got a friend who’s a detective. It can get dangerous.”
    “I think I can handle it,” I said.
    Buddy nodded. “I know you