Rohn Federbush - Sally Bianco 01 - The Legitimate Way by Rohn Federbush Read Free Book Online

interrogation of Mrs. Clankton.
    “She was nude in my bathroom on Sunday morning,” Mrs. Clankton was saying. “She could have at least locked the door.”
    “Mary Jo?” Penny asked.
    “Yes,” Mrs. Clankton said, reclasping her purse with a bang.
    “My apologies for her,” Robert called out, waving his soupspoon.
    Mrs. Clankton grinned. Another smitten female. Mrs. Clankton was over eighty. The range of Robert’s conquests was phenomenal. The poor ladies, all needing a male ear more than any other item of Robert’s physique.
    Penny was glaring.
    Robert offered her his emptied Styrofoam cup of soup for disposal. She threw it away for him and returned to his outstretched arms, cuddling in his lap as he rocked his desk chair.
    No harm there.
    “Call a cab for Mrs. Clankton,” Andrew directed Sally as he left. “I’ll be back this evening. Harvey might be in town with more information. You did a great job in Illinois, Sally.”
    When the cab finally arrived, Sally shielded Mrs. Clankton from the wind. She offered her arm and Mrs. Clankton clung to it. Such a frail body, Sally worried the wind might actually pick the woman up and sail her home. She owned the house on Ann Street Robert lived in. Sally was sure Mrs. Clankton’s family didn’t know the opera and concert companion they had agreed to house, entertained livelier company.
    Good heavens. Robert could have at least lent a robe to his latest guest. Sunday morning. Three days before Robert was arrested. How far could a fugitive from the hands of an abusive husband travel in three days? Mary Jo Cardonè could be in Florida. Sally wondered if Mary Jo owned a passport. Andrew would know that. At least the police were looking for her van with her license number.
    Sally hoped Mary Jo was safe. Then Robert would be free to find his own salvation. Sally thought she should suggest Penny follow Alanon’s directions to muddle through the next few months of court dates without permanent damage. Poor kid, in a way two fathers were letting her down, one to suicide and one to a slower self-destructive act of alcoholism.
    After a long afternoon nap in her condominium, Sally cooked a substantial supper for herself of baked sweet potatoes, a pork chop, and corn. A shower and change of attire and lots more make-up allowed Sally to return to the Bibliopole around eight o’clock at night, the usual time for her appearance. Andrew, Harvey and Miss Poi attended the bookman. Penny was nowhere in sight. Sally failed to inquire about her.
    “Ricco Cardonè killed his second wife in Missouri,” Robert said, quite cheerfully, by way of greeting.
    If Sally could have believed Robert was sober, she would have. But Sally knew his habits too well. She turned to Harvey for confirmation.
    “Only a remote possibility,” Harvey said.
    “We would have to pay to have the body exhumed,” Andrew explained.
    “He drove nails through the heads of puppies while his children watched.” Robert was sober for a moment.
    “Children?” Sally asked.
    “With the second wife apparently,” Harvey said. “At least, his first wife is still alive. She’s taking care of the four children.”
    “Will she testify against him?” Andrew asked.
    “She said to send her a train ticket and she would be here,” Harvey said. “Her sister was Ricco’s second wife. All his children, two boys and two girls, are named Ricco.”
    A chill went up Sally’s spine in spite of her cashmere sweeter. “A monster is on the loose.”
    “With apparently no way to rein him in,” Harvey intoned. He raised his head from petting Miss Poi. “We should put a bounty on his head.”
    “No,” Andrew said. “The police are keeping an eye on him.”
    “Well that’s good news,” Sally said. “That will do a lot of good, if he decides to harm any of us.” Sally looked around again. “Where is Penny?”
    Robert sat straight up. “He wouldn’t.”
    Andrew straightened in his chair. “Do you know where Penny is,