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Maybe I wanted nothing more than a second look at that grotesque little figurine. Maybe I wanted nothing more than to dispel the nagging little suspicion that had haunted me since I got a good look at the creature stretched out in Palmer's cooler. |
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After I parked the Z, we trooped up the hill, threaded our way across the sagging porch and knockednot once, but three times. I did it loud enough that if the old girl had actually had neighbors, they would have been fearfully peeking out from behind their curtains to see what kind of creature was making all the racket. |
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"Obviously, no one's at home," B.C. offered, a bit testily. |
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"Obviously," I agreedand twisted the knob. |
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"I think the technical term is 'trespassing'or is it 'breaking and entering'?" |
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"Now look," I snapped back, "don't start developing lofty ethics on me. We need information, and if the old girl isn't around to answer our questions, maybe we can poke around and find it on our own." |
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"For what reason?" Brenda insisted. "What could an old woman like Glenna Austin have to do with that . . . that thing down in the meat cooler?" |
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To me, the answer was obvious. |
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I grunted, butted the door gently with my |
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