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“I take it you never had kids?”
“Never found the time.”
“If you wait around for the perfect time or situation, you’ll be waiting forever. And no, I don’t regret having them. They’re the best thing I ever did. But I guess all mothers say that.”
“Not all mothers,” said Clarisse.
Yet another clue?thought Gibson. She said, “Come on, why do you think he wanted to meet? You must have an inkling.”
Clarisse replied, “Well, considering he was murdered before I got there, I would imagine he wanted to see me because he was fearful for his life.”
Finished, Gibson slid Tommy’s pants leg down and tousled his hair. “And what could you do about that?”
“Not sure. But then again, maybe he didn’t have many friends left.”
“Were you surprised to hear from him?”
“No, because people are unpredictable.”
Gibson thought,That may be the only completely true thing she’s said to me.
Clarisse said, “So what are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure. In fact, I’m not sure I’m going to do anything.”
“I thought you were in.”
Gibson looked down at Tommy and then glanced at her daughter, who was making grass angels. Her father’s warning came back to her.
“I’ve got other priorities, more important things in my life. So you might have to find another patsy after all.”
“Well, that is very unfortunate. But you’re a smart girl, so you surely realize you’re already knee-deep into this.”
“That’s your opinion.”
“And there’s something else,” said Clarisse.
“What?”
“I sense we are running out of time.”
“Running out of time for what?” asked Gibson sharply.
“Until the next person dies, of course.”
The line, appropriately, went dead.
CHAPTER17
WHY THE HELL SHOULD Itell you anything else?” barked Rick Rogers in a clearly annoyed tone on the phone with his daughter the following morning. “Since you clearly didn’t take my advice.”
Gibson said, “Look, don’t get pissed at me, but I have to work this thing a little longer. And I’m not saying I won’t go to the cops. In fact, I tried to, but it didn’t work out.”
“What happened?”
“It doesn’t matter. I went in for cover and got none.”
“What are you angling for here, Mick? I’ve told you all I know about Langhorne.”
