Cruel Zinc Melodies

16

Playmate’s stable was quiet when I went by. I didn’t stop in. His brother-in-law was covering for him while he was away. I’d only met the man once. That was once more than I’d needed.

Play was turning the other one like a self-flagellation machine with that villain. But he loves his baby sister.

We tolerate crap from family that we’d butcher strangers over.

I couldn’t resist taking a turn past The Palms. I didn’t drop in, though. I stayed across the street. Morley’s henchman, Sarge, came out to dump a bucket of filthy water. He scowled my way. I waved and kept going. Sarge scowled a whole lot more.

Morley didn’t run after me. Not that I expected he would. Sarge probably didn’t mention that he’d seen me.

No problem. No pain. I’d decided to continue giving Morley Dotes a rest.

Then I saw Playmate, heading home from my place. He waved but didn’t stop. His business and life were at the mercy of a brother-in-law who should’ve been drowned at birth.

The people of TunFaire were still out enjoying the weather. Several stopped me and wanted to talk, usually about something I couldn’t have found less interesting.

We all have our quirks and special passions. Mine are beer and beautiful women. Lately, beer and beautiful woman, redheaded and blessed with a surfeit of attitude.

One of whom was waiting in ambush. She overran me when I got home.

When I got a chance to come up for air, I gasped, ‘‘Hunh! Hunh! Hunh!’’ When my heart slowed down and the rest of me stopped shaking, I just had to check the gift horse’s teeth. ‘‘What’re you doing here?’’

‘‘I thought I made that obvious.’’

‘‘You know how my head works. If it looks too good to be true, I figure it is.’’

‘‘Should I be flattered or offended?’’ Tinnie asked.

‘‘You’ll decide that no matter what I say. I’m in the camp that figures you’re too good to be true.’’

‘‘Ah. You sweet talker. Too bad you have all these other people around here.’’

Singe could not stay away. She turned up to ask, ‘‘What did the principal have to say?’’

‘‘He said do the job. Stop coming round getting underfoot. Come back when it’s done. Go have a beer. I’m busy here.’’

‘‘You have a room. You do not have to mate in the hallway.’’

Tinnie snickered into my neck.

The woman is shameless when it suits her.

My partner amazed me by favoring discretion. I heard nothing from him.

Dean did appear to offer us an evening meal.

Singe saw the lay of the land. Sullen, she went back to one of her private projects.

‘‘What’s her problem?’’ Tinnie asked. ‘‘She trying to seduce you again?’’

‘‘That was just a phase. Adolescent fantasy. She got over it. Now she thinks she’s a storyteller. She says she’s written a book about me. And now she needs some interesting stories to put in it.’’

‘‘I should get together with her. I could tell her about you before you met.’’

‘‘I’m sure you could. And I’m just as sure that she don’t need any more ideas than what she’s got.’’

A faint fragrance of amusement tainted the psychic air momentarily. Old Bones no doubt conceiving a wicked notion that could find life only at my expense.

There was no one in the hallway but Tinnie and me now. And she was having no trouble with the invisible eye that’s always there when the Dead Man is awake.

It didn’t take her long to make me forget, either.

She’s got skills, that girl.