Dos Equis by Anthony Bidulka Read Free Book Online

yeah,” was her thrilled response.
    She turned and took off her outer cloths, then joined me at the table. “I’ll have one of those coffees too,” she said, giving me a studied once over.
    I’d describe the second woman exactly the same as Millie,
    with the exception of her hair, which was much darker. And she was probably about seven to ten years younger.
    “I’m Russell Quant,” I said by way of introduction.
    “Yeah, I heard. I’m Barb.”
    “We’ve been friends for over forty years,” Millie explained as she deposited three cups of weak-looking coffee in front of
    us. She took a seat opposite mine. “Lived here ever since my parents died when I was just a young gal.”
    “Rent’s cheap,” Barb added. The two women laughed at what must have been a well-worn joke between the two of them. It
    was the only bit of softness I’d see between the two “friends.”
    “I’m surprised you came all the way out here,” Millie said. “The other guy sure didn’t want to.”
    “Other guy?”
    “The Regina cop who called this morning.”
    So they’d read the file too. Good for them. Sort of. Obviously no one wanted to make the three-hour trip all the way from
    Regina. Not unless they were sure it would be important to their case. And maybe it wasn’t. Maybe I was the one barking up
    the wrong tree. We’d just have to see.
    “You’re not a cop, are you?”
    “No. I used to be. In Saskatoon. But now I’m a private investigator. Like Jane.”
    Millie sighed. “I still can’t get over it. Her being killed and all. It seems so unreal, you know?”
    I nodded. “I’m curious,” I began. “I know you hired Jane to look into the death of one of your neighbours. But why did you
    hire a detective all the way from Regina instead of someone closer.” Not that Saskatchewan is crazy with people in the PI
    business, but er, uhm, what about me?
    “She was a friend of ours, that’s why. We’ve known Jane since…when was it, Barb?”
    Barb made an noncommittal movement with her shoulders and remained mute, as she’d done for the entire conversation thus
    far.
    “Anyways, we met at the Spring Valley Guest Ranch in Cypress Hills. Gosh, gotta be a dozen years ago now. We don’t see
    her all that much, with us living way out here and her in 44
    Regina. But we keep in touch on the phone and email. So when all this business with Hilda came up, we decided to ring her
    up.”
    “You decided,” Barb stated, keeping the lip of her coffee mug near tightly pursed lips.
    I regarded the younger of the two as I sipped on my own coffee. It needed a little something…like maybe a scoop of coffee
    grounds. “You didn’t think it was a good idea to call Jane?”
    Barb looked at me, as if surprised that I’d heard her, or maybe surprised that I’d say something in response to it.
    She put down her coffee cup and held up her wrinkled, work-worn hands as if in defence. “This is her story, not mine.” She
    gave Millie a look. “Thanks for the coffee. I’m going to get back to that woodpile. Never know when another storm is going to hit.”
    We watched in silence as Barb put on her coat and boots and left through the same door she’d entered.
    “She’s not really very social,” Millie said by way of explanation. “She didn’t know Hilda very well. Didn’t think we should
    get involved.”
    Millie rose and ambled into the kitchen area. I thought she was getting the coffeepot to offer refills. Instead, she dug out a bottle of Kahlua from one of the cupboards.
    “I think this coffee needs a little something, don’t you?” She held the lip of the bottle over my cup, waiting for my answer.
    I smiled. “Oh thanks, that would be nice, except I have to drive back to the city right away. My mother is expecting me for
    dinner.”
    “Okay for you then. Don’t say I didn’t offer.” She poured herself a double portion, mine and hers. Millie had obviously
    found a better way to keep warm. Why keep a fire going when