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Page 184
just long enough at the diner to get us some coffee. The bribe worked.
When she crawled back in the Z carrying two oversized styrofoam cups, she had an announcement. ''Remember the gal that waited on us the first night we were here?''
I pried the lid off the cup and greedily went after the contents. "Uh-huh."
"Her name is Vernice."
"Nice name," I grunted, trying to get the Z's cranky old gearbox into first.
"Jake Madden is sleeping with her."
"That's nice. Everybody ought to sleep with somebody," I declared.
"Oh," Brenda replied, arching her eyebrows, "and who does the infamous Elliott Grant Wages sleep with?"
"None of your business," I snarled.
About that time, the Z relented, leaped into first and we were back on the road headed into town. I didn't say anything, but the question bothered me. It had been a long time since Gibby. Images were starting to materialize, and I didn't need that now.
Despite the fog, the journey from the diner to Palmer's Market took no more than five minutes. Again I had B.C. do the legwork. While she went into the store to check on Kelto, I grabbed a cigarette and polished off the coffee. When she crawled back in the car, I already knew what the answer was.
"No sign of him, huh?"

 
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