Page 27 (1/2)
"Thatdifference between restaurant ain, I’ve got to point out that you aren’t an expert"
"I buy paintings for both pleasure and investallery director for the investht Wyant Stevens in Beverly Hills"
"Then he’s the expert, not you"
"Why don’t you show some of your work to him?"
"I can’t take rejection"
"I’ll bet he won’t reject you"
"Can we not talk about ?"
"Why?"
"I’m bored"
"You’re difficult"
"And bored," he said
"What shall we talk about?"
"Well, why don’t we talk about whether or not you’re going to invite me in for brandy"
"Would you like to conac?"
"That’s what I have"
"What label?"
"Reee, I don’t know It’s getting awfully late"
"If you don’t come in," she said, "I’ll just have to drink alone" She was enjoying the silly game
"Can’t let you drink alone," he said
"That’s one sign of alcoholism"
"It certainly is"
"If you don’t coand coiveside by side on the couch, in front of the fireplace, watching the flaht-headed, not fro if they were going to go to bed together She had never slept with a man on the first date She was usually wary, reluctant to commit herself to an affair until she had spent a couple of weeks--so theto ht havefriends But in just one evening with Tony Clemenza, she felt at ease and perfectly safe with hiood looks The inner authority and self-confidence of a cop Yet gentle Really surprisingly gentle And sensitive So much time had passed since she’d allowed herself to be touched and possessed, since she’d used and been used and shared How could she have let so ine herself in his ares filled herthe sa
"Damn!" she said
"Someone you don’t want to hear from?"
She turned and looked at the phone, which was a walnut box
"Hilary?"
"I’ll bet it’s hi these calls"
The strident ringing continued
"What calls?" Tony asked
"The last couple of days, so to speak when I answer It’s happened six or eight ti at all?"
"He just listens," she said "I think it’s some nut as turned on by the newspaper stories about Frye"
The insistent bell rit her teeth
She stood up and hesitantly approached the phone Tony ith her "You have a listed nu a new one next week It’ll be unlisted"
They reached the desk and stood looking at the phone It rang again and again and again
"It’s hi?"
Tony snatched up the receiver "Hello?"
The caller didn’t respond
"Tho"
Click
Tony put the phone down and said, "He hung up Maybe I scared hiood idea to get an unlisted nue my mind about that"
"I’ll call the telephone co and tell them the LAPD would appreciate a speedy job"
"Can you do that?"
"Sure"
"Thank you, Tony" She hugged herself She felt cold
"Try not to worry about it," he said "Studies show that the kind of creep who ets all his kicks that way The call itself usually satisfies him He usually isn’t the violent type"
"Usually?"
"Alood enough"
The call had spoiled any chance that the night er in the e
"Would you like ain?"
"That’s sweet of you," she said, "But I guess you’re right He’s not dangerous If he was, he’d co Anyway, you scared hi for hiet your pistol back?"
She nodded "I went don yesterday and filled out the registration foruy on the phone does coally now"
"I really don’t think he’ll bother you again tonight"
"I’, they were aith each other
"Well, I guess I’d better be going"
"It is late," she agreed
"Thank you for the cognac"
"Thank you for a wonderful dinner"
At the door he said, "Doing anything toht?"
She was about to turn hi beside hi about beco a hermit She smiled and said,