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The Frakers’ den exhibited a shocking lack of hiding places No drawers, no cabinets, no end tables with cupboards underneath The two chairs were chrolass with narrow chro a decanter of brandy and two snifters on a tray There wasn’t even a carpet to peek under Jesus, what kind of people were they? I was reduced to touring the bookshelves, trying to divine their hobbies and avocations fro on to hardbacked books, and I could see that Nola had gone through interior design, gour, needlework, and personal beauty hints What caught my attention, however, were the two shelves lined with books on architecture What was that about? Surely, neither she nor Dr Fraker was cos in their spare time I took out an oversized volume called Architectural Graphic Standards and checked the flyleaf The engraved bookplate showed a lithograph of a seated cat staring at a fish in a bowl Under the Ex Libris, the naan was scratched in a masculine hand A reht he was the architect who designed Glen’s house A borrowed book? I checked three more in rapid succession All of thean That was odd Why here?

I heard Nola tapping back in my direction and I slipped the book into place, then eased over to theand acted as though I’d occupiedout She caain like a loose connection "Sorry you had to wait Have a seat"

I hadn’t really given a lot of thought to hoas going to handle this Every time I rehearse these little playlets in advance, I’m brilliant and the other characters say exactly what I want to hear In reality, nobody gets it right, including me, so orry about it before the fact?

I sat down in one of the chroed in the straps She sat down on the edge of a white linen love seat, resting one hand gracefully on the surface of the glass coffee table in an attitude that suggested serenity, except that she was leaving little pads of perspiration at her fingertips I took in the sight of her at a quick glance Slied, with those perfect apple-sized breasts Her hair was a paid-for shade of red, fra her face in a tumble of soft waves Blue eyes, flawless skin She had that clear ageless look that coery, and the black juar or crass Her manner was solemn and sincere, and struck me as false

"What can I help you with?" she asked

I had a split second in which to otten involved with a wo to kid? Of course!

I gave her a fifteen-watt s my chin on my fist "Well, I have a little problem, Nola May I call you Nola?"

"Certainly GlenBobby’s death"

"That’s true Actually Bobby just hired ive hihtand that hy you were looking into it"

"There ht be I don’t know yet"

"But shouldn’t the police be doing that?"