بخش 04 - فصل 07

7 Janey doesn’t come out of the bedroom until just after eight the following morning. She’s wearing her pantsuit from the

night before. Hodges, still in his boxers, is on the phone. He waves one finger to her, a gesture that says both good morning and give me a minute. “It’s not a big deal,” he’s saying, “just one of those things that nibble at you. If you could check, I’d really appreciate it.” He listens. “Nah, I don’t want to bother Pete with it, and don’t you,

either. He’s got all he can handle with the Donald Davis case.” He listens some more. Janey perches on the arm of the sofa, points at her watch, and mouths, The viewing! Hodges nods. “That’s right,” he says into the phone. “Let’s say between the summer of 2007 and the spring of 2009. In the Lake

Avenue area downtown, where all those new ritzy condos are.” He winks at Janey. “Thanks, Marlo, you’re a doll. And I promise I’m not going to turn into an uncle, okay?” Listens, nodding. “Okay. Yeah. I have to run, but give my best to Phil and the kids. We’ll get together soon. Lunch. Of course on me. Right. Bye.” He hangs up.

“You need to get dressed in a hurry,” she says, “then take me back to the apartment so I can put on my damn makeup before we go over to the funeral home. It might also be fun to change my underwear. How fast can you hop into your suit?” “Fast. And you don’t really need the makeup.”

She rolls her eyes. “Tell that to Aunt Charlotte. She’s totally on crow’s-feet patrol. Now get going, and bring a razor. You can shave at my place.” She rechecks her watch. “I haven’t slept this late in five years.” He heads for the bedroom to get dressed. She catches him at the door, turns him toward her, puts her palms on his cheeks, and kisses his mouth.

“Good sex is the best sleeping pill. I guess I forgot that.” He lifts her high off her feet in a hug. He doesn’t know how long this will last, but while it does, he means to ride it like a pony. “And wear your hat,” she says, looking down into his face and smiling. “I did right when I bought it. That hat is you.”