He winced as Reader’s cursing came over the receiver.“What the fuck! What happened?”“Well, something’s happened with St. Ives. I didn’t go over there this morning.”“Why the fuck not? Didn’t I tell you...”“I didn’t have to. He ain’t there no more.”“Meet me at Sally’s, Eddie. That place you hang out in Metry. Don’t say any more on this phone. Be there in twenty minutes.”***Sally was gone; he was downtown picking up condiments for the kitchen, but Veronica was at the bar when first Eddie and then Reader came in and took a seat at a table in the back. She walked over to their table.“Stinger, Eddie?” she asked, smiling. “You?” She turned in Reader’s direction.“Jack and water. Make it a good color.”Back at the bar, she found her husband’s little black book and thumbed through until she found Grady’s name and motel number. She made both drinks stiffer than she usually did and brought them to the table.She dialed the number on the phone kept beneath the bar.
