Elaine Viets & Victoria Laurie, Nancy Martin, Denise Swanson - Drop-Dead Blonde (v5.0) (pdf) by Unknown (best classic books .TXT) 📗

When they finished their meal, Simon excused himself to use the restroom. Skye sat back, sipping the rest of her soda and looking around the restaurant. It was a nearly twelve thirty, and the place was packed. Most Scumble Riverites ate lunch strictly between the hours of twelve and one.

Her gaze slipped over the diners until she came to a small table in the corner by the kitchen. It was generally reserved for the restaurant's owner, who did all of her busi- ness from that location, but today a man sat there with his back to the wall.

Skye squinted, but she couldn't see his face. He was read- ing a newspaper that hid all of him but his hands. A huge diamond ring sparkled on his right pinkie.

Wait a minute. She had seen that ring before. Had the gorilla-masked comic been wearing it? She closed her eyes, thinking back to Monday night. Yes, she could visualize it on his hand as he held the microphone. Then Tuesday she had noticed it glittering on the man standing in the shadows after the fire alarm went off. And last night the Elvis imper- sonator had had on the same ring. DEAD BLONDES TELL NO TALES 221

Skye wiggled in her seat. This could be the guy behind all the stuff that had been happening. She kept him in her sight until Simon returned; then she slid out of the booth and grabbed Simon's arm, whispering in his ear, ``Don't turn around, but there's a man at the table near the kitchen who I think has been hanging around the bowling alley since Monday. Maybe he's the one after Ruby.''

Simon took Skye's elbow, and they started to walk toward the cash register to pay their bill. Suddenly he stopped and turned around, saying loudly, ``Just a second. I forgot to leave the tip.''

Skye turned too, glancing immediately toward the mys- tery man. The table was empty. She scanned the rest of the restaurant. He was nowhere to be seen. She touched Si- mon's arm and said in a low voice, ``He's gone.''

Simon put a few dollars on the table and moved back to Skye's side. ``How did he get past us?''

``I don't know.'' She shrugged. ``We were between him and the exit. You need to check the men's room.''

``I just came from there,'' Simon protested. ``People will think I have a bladder problem.''

Skye gave him a little push. ``Go.''

Once Simon left, Skye approached Tomi Jackson. She was a tiny woman, though her platinum-blond beehive added several inches to her height. Ageless, she had been a part of Scumble River for as long as Skye could remember.

During busy times the restaurant owner often doubled as a waitress, and Skye caught her as she approached the kitchen with an order. ``Hi, Tomi. Did you see that guy sitting at the back table?''

``Sure, I waited on him.''

``Did you notice how he left the restaurant?''

Tomi looked at her a little strangely, but answered, ``He asked me to let him go out through the kitchen. He said he wasn't feeling well and his car was parked out back. Why?''

``I thought I knew him from somewhere, but he disap- peared before I got over to talk to him.''

``Oh, that's too bad. Well, if you see him tell him thanks for me. He left me the biggest tip I've gotten since the place opened.'' Tomi a waved a hundred-dollar bill in the air before returning it to her apron pocket. ``He must be a real nice man.'' Chapter 11

Of Blondes and Men ``You can't go up there. Ruby's still sleeping.'' Bunny stood on the bottom step of the stairway with her arms straight out, blocking their way to her apartment.

``It's time she woke up.'' Simon gently moved his mother aside.

``Then I'm going with you.'' Bunny followed Simon as he climbed the steps.

Skye trailed them both.

He tapped on the door and waited. Nothing.

``Maybe she left through the outside exit,'' Bunny offered.

Simon didn't answer, just pounded harder.

Skye bit her tongue to stop herself from commenting. He was obviously not in the mood for chitchat.

Finally, after a third round of knocking, the door was flung open, and Ruby stood before them rubbing her eyes. She wore baby-doll pajamas made out of an eye-catching electric-blue stretch lace. ``Where's the fire?''

Simon's face darkened, and he snapped. ``I don't know. Did you set another one?''

For a moment Ruby looked sheepish, but she stood her ground. ``I said I was sorry about that. Why did you wake me?''

``We need to talk. Now.'' Simon moved forward.

``I'm not dressed.''

``We'll wait.''

She started to close the door, but Simon put a foot out. ``We'll wait inside.''

Ruby grudgingly moved back and allowed them into the apartment, but stopped Bunny. ``It's better if I talk to them alone.''

222 DEAD BLONDES TELL NO TALES 223

``Are you sure?''

Ruby nodded. ``You and I'll talk later.''

Bunny patted her friend's arm and went back down the stairs.

Ruby closed the door and said to Simon and Skye, ``I may be a while.'' She started toward the bedroom, words floating over her shoulder: ``And I could really use some coffee.'' She turned her head toward Skye. ``Bring me a cup when it's ready, hon.''

``Skye ignored the blonde's request, and tugged Simon over to the sofa to wait for her reappearance.

A half hour passed, and Ruby still had not come out of the bedroom. Simon was pacing up and down the small living room. It looked like a tornado had gone through, strewing clothes, shoes, cosmetics, magazines, and empty plates and glasses on every possible surface.

On one of his passes by the couch where Skye was sitting, he gestured to the mess and said, ``Bunny likes things tidy, so this mess must be Ruby's. She's