Deadfall (Nameless Detective) by Bill Pronzini Read Free Book Online Page B

don’t I’m going to hell.”
    “You mean he threatened you?”
    “Not exactly. No.”
    “Thank God for that. He was never violent when I knew him.” Pause. “He’s living in San Jose, you said?”
    “Apparently. You didn’t know that, huh?”
    “No. How would I know?”
    “He hasn’t been in touch with you?”
    “Not in months. You don’t think—?”
    “I don’t think anything. I’m just asking.”
    Another pause. “This new church—what kind is it?”
    “Good question. It has something to do with the Moral Crusade. Him too.”
    “I never heard of the Moral Crusade. Like the Moral Majority?”
    “Probably. Eberhardt’s checking on it.”
    She said nervously, “What are you going to do?”
    “About what?”
    “About Ray.”
    “I don’t know yet. You got any suggestions?”
    “No. Just don’t do anything until we talk this out.”
    “What are you afraid I might do? Drown him in holy water?”
    “Don’t grouch at me. It’s not my fault, is it?”
    “Well, you married him.”
    “He wasn’t a lunatic when I married him, for God’s sake. He was normal .”
    “Yeah,” I said. “Normal.”
    “Well, he was.” There was some mumbling in the background. Pretty soon she said, “Listen, I have to go now. I was in an important meeting with a client…. I’ve got to get back. We’ll talk about this tonight, okay?”
    She sounded flustered and edgy, and all at once I was sorry that I’d shaken her up like this. It wasn’t her fault she had an ex-husband who claimed a personal relationship with God, or that he’d decided to walk into my office this morning. Why take it out on her?
    I said, “Okay. Babe, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just that he got me all worked up …”
    “No, I’m glad you called. For all we know he might be on his way over here . ’ ”
    I hadn’t thought of that. I said, “You’d better alert the receptionist.”
    “Don’t worry, I will. See you tonight.”
    I put the receiver down, and sighed, and looked at Eberhardt. He was still on the phone. I sighed again and looked at my watch. 10:40. Most of the morning shot already. Tom Washburn was paying me good money, and all I was doing was hanging around here, stewing about Ray Dunston and feeling sorry for myself.
    Eberhardt cradled his handset and said, “That was a guy I know on the San Jose cops. Ed Berg. He never heard of the Church of the Holy Mission or the Moral Crusade.”
    “Terrific.”
    “But it won’t take him long to find out. I told him if nobody’s here when he calls back, leave a message on the answering machine and one of us’ll call him back.”
    “Right. You got anything pressing today, Eb?”
    “Nothing that won’t wait. Why?”
    “Take over that insurance investigation for Barney Rivera, will you? I want to get moving on the Purcell thing.”
    He shrugged. “I figured,” he said. “It’s personal with you, right? Because you were there when it happened. You’re glad Washburn showed up this morning and hired you.”
    “Maybe. A little.”
    “Just don’t let it get too personal, paisan. You make waves somewhere, there’ll be trouble. There always is.”
    “It’s not that personal,” I said.
    “Uh-huh. I’ve heard that one before.”
    I got my hat and moved to the door.
    Eberhardt said musingly, “What do you suppose God thinks about guys like Dunston? You know, religious nuts that claim they got a pipeline Upstairs. You think He finds ’em comical?”
    “No,” I said. “And neither do I.”
    He frowned. “What if they do have a pipeline, some of ’em? Guys like Falwell. What if they’re delivering the right message?”
    I didn’t answer that; I didn’t even want to think about it. I went out quietly and shut the door.
    There are some things you just have to take on faith.

Chapter Five
    The first place I went was to the Hall of Justice. Ben Klein was in and willing to talk over an early lunch; I spent twenty-five minutes with him and a tuna