Hugger Mugger by Robert B. Parker Read Free Book Online Page B

she said. “A little white wine to be social, maybe.”
    â€œAnd as an executive VP?”
    She shook her head. “Cord’s very artistic.”
    â€œSo was Wallace Stevens,” I said.
    â€œIsn’t he some kind of poet?”
    â€œYes. He was also vice president of an insurance company.”
    â€œIsn’t that odd,” Penny said. “Cord isn’t really interested in business, I’m afraid.”
    â€œWhat’s he interested in?”
    â€œAre you being a detective again?”
    â€œI’m always being a detective,” I said.
    â€œWhy do you want to know about Cord?”
    â€œBecause I don’t know. Part of what I do is collect information. When I have collected enough I sometimes know something.”
    â€œWell, I think it’s time to stop talking about my family.”
    â€œSure,” I said.
    We were quiet for a while.
    â€œI know I introduced the topic,” Penny said.
    I nodded. Penny smiled. Her teeth were very white against her honeyed tan.
    â€œSo I guess I can unintroduce it,” she said.
    â€œSure,” I said.
    â€œI don’t want you to think ill of us,” Penny said. “All families have their problems. But all in all, we’re a pretty nice group.”
    I didn’t know what all this had to do with Hugger Mugger. But I was used to not knowing. I expected sooner or later that I would know. For now I simply registered that she hadn’t wanted to talk about Cord and Stonie. I decided not to mention what SueSue had told me.
    â€œOf course you are,” I said.

ELEVEN

----
    I SAT WITH Walter Clive at the Three Fillies syndication office in downtown Lamarr. He wore some sort of beige woven-silk pullover, tan linen slacks, no socks, and burgundy loafers. His tan remained golden. His silver hair was brushed straight back. A thick gold chain showed at his neck. His nails were buffed. He was clean-shaven and smelled gently of cologne.
    â€œPenny tells me you’re making progress,” Clive said.
    He was leaning back in his high-backed red-leather swivel chair, with his fingers interlocked over his flat stomach. There was a wide gold wedding band on his left hand. Past the bay window behind him I could see the white flowers of some blossoming shrub.
    â€œPenny exaggerates,” I said.
    â€œReally?” he said.
    â€œI have made no progress that I can tell.”
    â€œWell, at least you’re honest,” Clive said.
    â€œAt least that,” I said.
    â€œPerhaps Penny simply meant that you had talked to a number of people.”
    â€œThat’s probably it,” I said. “I have managed to annoy Jon Delroy.”
    â€œPenny mentioned that too.”
    â€œThanks for having her talk with him.”
    â€œActually that was Penny’s doing.”
    â€œWell, it was effective.”
    â€œJon’s been with me a long time,” Clive said. “He’s probably feeling a little displaced.”
    â€œHow long?”
    â€œOh, what, maybe ten years.”
    â€œReally. What was he doing?”
    Clive paused, as if the conversation had gone off in a direction he hadn’t foreseen.
    â€œI have a large enterprise here. There is need for security.”
    â€œSure. Well, he and I seem to be clear on our roles now.”
    Clive nodded, and leaned forward and pushed the button on an intercom.
    â€œMarge,” he said. “Could you bring us coffee.”
    A voice said that it would, and Clive leaned back again and smiled at me. The window to my right was partially open and I could hear desultory birdsong in the flowering trees.
    â€œSo,” Clive said, “have you reached a conclusion of any sort?”
    â€œOther than I’m not making any progress?” I said.
    â€œYes,” Clive said. “Are you for instance formulating any theories?”
    â€œI’ve mostly observed that this thing doesn’t make any sense,” I said.
    â€œWell, it