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

Robert?”
    “Yes,” he said, pulling on his curls. It was a wonder he wasn’t bald. “She called from her folk’s home in Toledo. Needed time to think.”
    If her blood could have pumped hard enough for her to blush, Sally would have. She realized their luncheon conversation had surely sent Penny off to Toledo. “When is she coming home?” Sally asked, cagey with her polite inquiry.
    “She’ll be here before her morning class,” Robert answered, head held a little higher with rightful pride.
    “A pretty child,” Harvey mentioned. “Gorgeous, really.”
    The men refused to comment on the inappropriateness of the liaison, and Sally certainly did not want to be banned from the brotherhood or sisterhood of Robert’s admirers. Penny would have to fend for herself.
    Here they were. Educated, with resources available for ample entertainment and they were all bound by this Prospero as easily as Airele or Caliban were tied to Shakespeare’s character in the Tempest. Sally was held by her lack of companionship at home, Harvey was vacating his own unhappy scenario, Andrew was of immediate service. Those present in spirit if not in body were also tethered securely to Robert. Ed was tied by his father’s memory, Henry by real affection. More a grandfather than father, Robert was a role model who didn’t expect anything and left all the doors open to careers, the future, desires. Possibilities were as open as Robert’s need for a family, too.
    Robert’s only brother, Ted, had committed suicide at eighteen during the great Depression when college funds were lost in the great disaster. His mother and father had both been felled by strokes while Robert was married to his first wife, who had paid her dues, twice in Robert’s life. Sally was happy to hear she was pregnant, just a little put out Robert had not shared the news.
    “Andrew is there anything else; we can do to help Robert out of this mess?” Sally asked, happy to be of service, sad to be so outnumbered by his friends, vying for his affection with supposedly both Mary Jo and Penny at the same time.
    “Does Mary Jo know you well enough to visit her in Florida?” Andrew asked.
    “Sure,” Sally said.
    “Well,” Andrew told the group, “With the addresses you found for her, your trip would save the expense of hiring a detective to roust Mary Jo out. Besides, a stranger might spook her into running again, if Mary Jo thinks her husband is having her followed.
    “Would you?” Robert held out his hand for Sally to take.
    If Robert had had a ring, Sally would have kissed the blessed metal before leaving for the further quest of Mary Jo’s whereabouts.

Chapter Four
    Thankfully for Sally, her relatives with the wherewithal to do so migrated south from Illinois to Florida as soon as they hit retirement age. Her widowed eldest sister, Madelyn, who Sally judged to look ten years younger than her age, possessed plenty of official contacts in Vero Beach. Sally was sure one of Madelyn’s friends could be of assistance in her search for Mary Jo.
    September was a bit early for her yearly visit, but she invited herself down anyway.
    “Tuesday, I’m busy with ‘Nu-2-U,’” Madelyn said.
    The assisted-living complex, with apartments for the more robust members of the married couples, sold used furniture, clothing, books, and other belongings of the deceased when their families were too disinterested in the worldly remains to haul them away… the paraphernalia, not the dead bodies.
    “I’ll drop by Loretta’s and see you on Wednesday,” Sally said. “Madelyn, could you invite someone for me to meet from the police department, or a detective agency. My friend, Robert Koelz, has gotten himself into a jam and I need to find a missing person in Florida to clear him.”
    “Why do you do this?” Madelyn asked, in an accusatory tone. “I thought your analyst told you to give up disasters. I’ll be glad to see you, but do we need to tell all my friends that you’re