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any others.
When a fat, red-faced man got up to go to the john, Helen
took his seat. She figured she was doing him a favor, saving
his liver. She ordered a club soda. Tammy brought her a tall
glass garnished with lime.
I m trying to find Laredo, Helen said. I need to give
her some money. Do you know where I can reach her?
Took off for greener pastures, the way I heard it.
Tammy poured something blue into a blender, added ice, and
switched it on. Over the noise she shouted, I don t think
she ll need your money.
Did she strike it rich?
Tammy poured the drink into a margarita glass, added a
plastic gator and an orange slice, and set it on a tray for a
server. She started washing glasses while she talked.
All I know is she was flashing lots of cash before she
left, and it was more than tip money. One night, she came in
48 Elaine Viets
and wanted change for five one-hundred-dollar bills. The
next night, she had another five hundred. Then it was a thou-
sand. That was cash, too.
Where d she get that kind of money?
Some charity gig. She wanted me to work it, but I said
no thanks. I m not giving up a job with health insurance, no
matter how much it pays in cash under the table. But Laredo
was too young to worry about medical bills.
Laredo never mentioned anything like that, Helen said.
Are they hiring? I could always use some extra money.
That was the truth, at least. Helen might need another job
soon, with stone-faced Penelope looking for an excuse to fire
her.
Well, she left me some cards. I ve got one here some-
where. I ve sent a couple girls there. Tammy dried her
hands on a blue towel, then picked through a pile of papers
by the cash register.
Here it is. You re supposed to call and ask for Steve. It s
OK to mention my name.
She handed Helen a business card. It was plain white,
with stark black numbers. No name, no address. There was
nothing on it but a phone number.
Helen thought the number looked naked and slightly sin-
ister.
Chapter 6
R
It took three calls before Helen found Savannah. That meant
three dashes to the lobby pay phone on her breaks, although
you could hardly call them that. Helen got five minutes each
hour. When she finally got Savannah, Helen was so rushed,
she sounded like a telegram: I found something. I m off at
one.
Me, too, Savannah said.
She d never noticed it before, but Savannah drawled her
words. It took precious time. Helen had to clock back in in
two minutes.
Sounds like we better meet, Savannah said, drawing out
each word with irritating slowness. I don t have the time or
money for lunch. How about we find a bench on Las Olas
about one fifteen?
Fine. Helen hung up and clocked in with thirty seconds
to spare.
There wasn t a bench free on the entire street. Whole fam-
ilies and entire offices roosted on them all. The best bet was
one bench occupied by a white-haired man primly eating a
tuna sandwich, but he didn t look like he d be moving soon.
Savannah sat down on the other end of the bench. The
man glared at her and rustled his lunch bag. Savannah said
50 Elaine Viets
loudly, Helen, my period is really awful this month. There s
so much blood that nasty black stuff and I . . .
The white-haired man picked up his sandwich and fled.
Helen was caught between horror and admiration. Today, Sa-
vannah looked like a dignified matron in a fussy ruffled dress
and pink high heels. But she d chased off a grown man with
a few words.
I hated to do that, but I only have ten minutes. Savan-
nah pulled two soda cans out of her floppy purse. Want a
Vanilla Coke?
Helen found two slightly melted chocolate energy bars in
her purse. Chocolate, caffeine and sugar. All the major food
groups are covered.
I don t know. The energy bar s a little healthy, Savan-
nah said. It might throw off my system.
The two munched and sipped, while Helen talked about
Debbie the waitress and her dramatic mood change.
Here s what burns my buns, Savannah said. You fig-
ured out Debbie was lying but the cops didn t.
Were they male cops? Helen said.
Yep. Cute young doughnut chompers.
There s your answer, Helen said. Debbie gives most
men an instant lobotomy.
I ve got good news and bad news, Savannah said.
Which do you want first?
Let s get the bad over with, Helen said.
Hank busted me. I followed him nearly four hours yes-
terday. He ran errands the dry cleaner, the bank, the gas sta-
tion and this fancy salon for a haircut. Then he stopped at
Publix. I pulled into the side entrance where I could watch
him go in and out, thinking I was real clever. Next thing I
know, he s standing by my car. Snuck right up on me, and I
didn t even know it till I smelled his cologne.
He said, Why are you following me in that junk heap?
Hank s a scary dude, Helen. Huge, too. And he s got this one
big old eyebrow all the way across his forehead. You d think
DYING TO CALL YOU 51
he d get that fixed. They could ve cut it in two when they did
his hair.
Savannah, Helen said. What happened?
Nothing. I hemmed and hawed and said I wasn t follow-
ing him, it was just a coincidence.
He said, One more coincidence and I ll call the cops and
have you arrested for stalking. I think he meant it.
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