Cold Dead Past by John Curtis Read Free Book Online Page A

comment and kept his eyes on Jay. For Jay, it was rather disconcerting.  It was like being in a room with one of those paintings that had eyes that followed you around.
    "So how are you doing, big-time writer guy?"
    Jay felt Tommy slip something into the palm of his hand as he extricated it from his grip.  It was a business card, engraved, with the words "Valley Auto" and "Thomas Lazaro, Sales Consultant".
    Before Jay could answer, Gary took Tommy by the arm, gave him a stern look, and said, "I can’t believe you, man.  It’s a fucking funeral."
    "No, it’s alright," Jay interrupted. "Really."  He turned back to Tommy. "I’m fine.  You don’t look like things have been going too badly for you, either."
    Tommy shook Gary’s hand loose and pulled the sleeve of his black cashmere coat back down over his wrist.
    "Yeah. Selling a lot of cars now that we get all these city people up here in the fall and winter."  He patted his paunch. "And, of course, my wife feeds me pretty well."
    He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.  Jay followed the line and could see Tommy’s wife Charlotte.  She was a large woman who looked as if her makeup had been not so much applied as that her whole arsenal of cosmetics had been exploded on to her face.  She was standing there, impatiently watching the four of them from a distance. She had a sour look on her face and tapped her foot.
    Noticing that some attention had been directed her way, she called out, "Let’s go!  I’m freezing out here and everybody else has left!"
    Tommy’s mouth turned into a slit. The muscles in his jaw twitched and squirmed as he ground his molars.  He shot back at her, without turning round, "In a minute!  Can’t you see I’m talkin’ to someone here?"
    Charlotte stamped her foot like a petulant child and did a slow burn.  Jay found it hard to keep from smiling.
    "My master calls.  You come down to see me sometime.  Now that you’re successful, you’ll need a new car."  As he said it, he gave a disdainful look at Jay’s Jetta.
    "Really, now.  A successful guy such as yourself shouldn’t be driving one of these little German boxes.  I can get you a great deal."
    "Tommmyyyy," whined Charlotte.
    A frustrated look came across Tommy’s face.
    "I’ll keep that in mind," replied Jay.
    Tommy gave him one last salesman’s smile. It quickly turned back into a frown as he turned and walked to his car.  The three of them broke out into a quiet chuckle as they watched Tommy and Charlotte in animated discussion as they got into the car.
    The tires on Tommy’s DeVille squealed as he slammed on the gas and peeled out.  As it went by, Gary cracked a grin and said, "Damn good woman.  Just glad I’m not married to her."  He turned to the others and said, "I’d better get going."  He took Jay’s hand in his for one last pump. "Come by and see me before you leave town.  We can catch up on old times."
    As he took Meg’s arm, she glanced at Jay.
    "Gary, do you mind if I ride back into town with Jay?  I’ve got some catching up I’d like to do, too."
    He glared for a moment at Jay and then nodded. "Not at all."
    Meg turned to Jay. "It’s okay with you, isn’t it?"
    Jay gulped in a little air as he said, "No, no. It’s fine."
    As they walked to the car, she slipped her arm round his and said, "I just didn’t want to impose.  As she stood waiting for him to open her door, she continued, "I just wanted a chance to talk to you alone."
    Jay smiled as he unlocked the passenger door. "Just get in, will you?"

 
                                                            CHAPTER 8
     
     
    Nostalgia washed over Jay as they drove in silence through the streets.  Off of Main Street, nothing seemed to have changed.  New coats of paint, of course, but all the houses were there as he remembered them from those days.
    Another sort of memory was brought back by the scent of Meg’s perfume.  It was a