Applaud the Hollow Ghost
Page 26
If that ever happened, Steve would be sorry the dogs hadn’t finished their job.
CHAPTER
46
“ISN’T THIS A LOVELY old-fashioned village, Malachy? Look, that could be the bank where James Stewart worked. In that Christmas film, I mean.”
“Uh-huh,” I said.
We were somewhere in Ohio. Or maybe it was Pennsylvania already. Sunlight sifted through the leaves and fell in patches on the grass in the town square. It was warm, early September.
“Have you had any news regarding that unfortunate woman?” After God knows how many hours of driving in silence, the Lady wanted to talk. “The one who robbed a bank. Carol Colter.”
“Karen Colter. You’re slipping, Helene.” We were on our way to visit Lammy, so it wasn’t surprising the Lady was thinking about what happened more than six months earlier. “And she didn’t rob the bank, exactly,” I said. “It was theft. Robbing implies going in with a gun or some—”
“And her two little boys,” the Lady said. She swung her old Lincoln Town Car into a hard right turn to get back on the state highway. “Have you heard anything?”
“Not much. I had Herb Gatsby take a look. You remember Herb Gatsby?”
“Oh yes. The private detective. I always intended to invite him for dinner. He must have such interesting stories to—”
“He just runs an agency. Anyway, Karen got her kids back. And then disappeared again. Herb says—”
“Oh look!” the Lady said. “A sign for the interstate. I suppose we should get back on.”
“I guess, if we’re gonna get to New York before the semester’s over.”
“I do hope your Lambert does well. I wonder how he’s adjusting to the school.”
“Actually, I called him last night. He loves it. Even his voice sounds different—a little, anyway.”
“You called him? Last night? But we didn’t check into the motel until nearly midnight. Those hot dogs and French fries made you sleepy and you wanted to stop.”
“Right. And when I got to my room, I fell asleep right away. But I woke up about two in the morning and called Lammy.”
“Oh my. Wasn’t he sleeping?”
“Sure. But he deserved it. He woke me up first. By showing up in that dream again.”
“You mean the boy in the river. Did you see his face this time?”
“The face is never clear. He’s sort of transparent, like a ghost. But it’s obviously Lammy.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“It’s obvious. It’s a boy in a basketball uniform—reaching out to me. I really thought he’d go away once I helped him. But he keeps on showing up. And it’s not just the French fried potatoes.”
“You told me he didn’t make the basketball team, so maybe it’s not Lammy at all.”
“It’s Lammy, damn it.” My voice came louder than I’d intended. “Excuse me. But it is Lammy. I keep him out of jail. I save his life. And now I’ve got him started in dog grooming school. So why does he have to keep showing up? Still acting like he wants me to pay attention to him?”
“Maybe your ghost keeps showing up because it isn’t who you think it is, Malachy,” the Lady repeated.
“You keep saying that, Helene.”
“I know, but the boy keeps appearing in your dream, after all. So … maybe the boy who wants your attention is you.”
I stared across at her, but she was on the expressway entrance ramp and she kept her eyes on her driving. “You know, Helene,” I said, “sometimes I think you read too much.”
She smiled. “Anyway, one couldn’t really say it was you who got Lammy started in dog grooming school. As I recall, it was my suggestion. Then your new veterinarian friend, Dr. Daniels—who’s very, very nice, by the way—found that school in New York that would take him on short notice. And it was Casey who actually talked him into giving it a try. Really, all you’ve done is supply the money.”
“Yes. Well, actually it was Gus Apprezziano’s money. I thought I should give it away because I never really earned it.” I leaned my head back to try to get some sleep. “Anyway … Helene?”
“Yes, Malachy?”
“I’m kinda glad you like Lynette Daniels.” I smiled. “I called her last night, too.”
About the Author
David J. Walker, a lawyer, is the author of the Edgar Award-nominated Mal Foley series, including No Show of Remorse. He lives in Chicago. You can sign up for email updates here.
Also by David J. Walker
Fixed in His Folly
Half the Truth
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraphs
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
About the Author
Also by David J. Walker
Copyright
APPLAUD THE HOLLOW GHOST. Copyright © 1998 by David J. Walker. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
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First Edition: February 1998
eISBN 9781250112729
First eBook edition: January 2016