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"How do you do, Miss Detweiler?" Mike Sabara said.
From the look on your face, Mrs. Sabara, Matt thought, it is evident that you have just identified the sweet-looking blonde you thought was my girlfriend as the poor little rich girl who took dope, was involved with the Guinea gangster, and was just freed from the looney bin.
"Couldn't you call me 'Penny'?" she asked plaintively.
"Hi, Penny," Wohl said. "Call me Peter."
"I'm Dave," Captain Pekach said.
"I like him, Martha," Penny said. "He's even nicer-looking than you told Mother."
"I like him too," Martha said, and kissed Captain Pekach on the cheek, an act that seemed to embarrass him.
"Please call me Helen," Mrs. Sabara said.
"My name is Tom," Officer O'Mara said.
"Hi, Tom," Penny said, and smiled at him.
Officer O'Mara, Matt thought, looks as stunned as Madame Sabara. I think he has just fallen in love.
"I think we're all here now," Martha said. "I thought we'd have some munchies and a drink or two to work up an appetite and then Dave will do the steaks."
"May I help in some way, Martha?" Penny asked.
"It's all been done, dear, thank you just the same."
I wish to hell she would let go of my arm, Matt thought. As a matter of fact, I devoutly wish she weren't here at all. And then he considered that for a moment. You are really a prick, Matthew Payne. She isn't at all interested in you as a male. She is hanging on to you because she's scared to death. She's floating around all alone in strange waters, and you're the only life preserver in sight. You are, whether you like it or not, the closest thing she has to a brother, and you have a clear obligation to try to help her.
"Nonsense," Matt said. "Put her to work. If nothing else, get her a broom and have her sweep the place up."
"Matt, that's terrible!" Martha said.
"No, it's not," Penny said. "I learned a long time ago that saying something rude is Matt's perverse way of showing affection."
She leaned up and kissed his cheek again.
"So go get a broom," Matt said.
"I won't get a broom, but I will pass the…what did you say, Martha, 'the munchies'?"
Matt glanced at Peter Wohl and found Wohl's thoughtful eyes already on him.
****
There was the muted sound of a telephone ringing, and Evans opened a small door in the low brick wall and took out a telephone.
"One moment, please, sir," he said, and covered the mouthpiece with his hand. "Are you available to take a call from a Lieutenant Malone, Inspector?"
"Sure," Wohl said, and got up and took the telephone from Evans.
"God," Pekach said. "I didn't think to ask him! Peter, let me talk to him when you're through."
"Hello, Mike," Wohl said. "What's up?" He paused. "Wait a minute, Captain Pekach wants to talk to you." He covered the microphone with his hand. "He says he needs to talk to me."
Pekach nodded, and took the phone.
"Mike, where are you? I've been trying to get you on the phone." There was a reply. "Okay, well, you come over here. No, you won't be intruding."
