Page 49 (1/1)

"I’ll keep an eye out," she said And then the door closed

We tried the next house, and the next, with about the same results By the tione by It was sloork and so far, unproductive No one had seen Agnes We headed east on Concorde A UPS truck approached and aited on the curb until we’d seen it pass I put a hand under Irene’s ar her safety as Dietz supervised h the dark green silk of her dress I studied her uneasily Years of bleaching had left her hair a harsh white-blond, very thin, as if she’d succeeded finally in eli any whisper of color from the wispy strands She had no brows to speak of, just two brown lines she’d penciled in by hand, wide arcs like a child ht have been considered a beauty once upon a tune Her features were fine, the blue eyes unusual in their clarity One of her false lashes had co out like a tiny feather Her complexion was too pale to seem healthy, but the texture of her skin was remarkable She reminded me of an obscure one-role movie actress of the forties-someone you’re surprised to find alive after all these years She put a treers so icy that I drew back in alar was rapid and shallow

"Irene, ht?"

"This happens now and then I’ll be fine in a minute"

"Let’s find you a place to sit down," I said We were approaching a three-story clapboard house, tall and narroith a porch on three sides The yard was sunny, with the grass newly mown and not much attention to the flower beds I kneas a board-and-care because Rosie and I had been given the address I’d never actually seen the inside of the house Once Rosie realized there was no wheelchair access, we had crossed it off our list I reetic fellow in his seventies, pleasant enough, but apparently not equipped to handle anyone asn’t aate and I could see the front curtain hborhood where people were on the watch I couldn’t believe Agnes hadher

We reached the front porch and Irene sank down on the bottom step She put her head between her knees I put a hand on the back of her neck, peering closely at her face I could hear the wheezing in her throat

"You want to lie down?"

"No, please I’ll be fine It’sup I don’t want a fuss made Just letdown, okay? You’re starting to hyperventilate I don’t want you passing out"

I checked the street for Clyde, but he was nowhere to be seen I climbed the steps and crossed to the front door The owner of the board-and-care e the bell

He was a ht have been hefty in his youth Once- beneath his shirt He was clean-shaven and balding, his extended forehead giving him a look of babyhood He had pouches under his eyes and aI can help you with?" His eyes strayed to Irene and I foundto have a real proble light-headed and just needs to sit down for a bit," I said "A wo hohbors, hoping so me quizzically "You look familiar Do I know you?"

"Kinsey Millhone," I said "I was here a couple of weeks ago with a friend of ht I remember now Spunky little redhead with a sister in a wheelchair I was sorry we couldn’t acco?"

"No This is someone else," I said I held a hand up above ain "Tall, very thin She’s been gone since early this et a line on her I can’t believe she got far"

"Some of those old folk move fast," he said "They can fool you if you don’t keep an eye out Wish I could help you, but I’ve been working in the back Have you called the police?"

"They were notified first thing I understand they’ve searched this whole area We thought we’d try again"

"Happens occasionally, especially in this neighborhood Usually they turn up"