A Crying Shame (64 page)

Male chauvinist pig!” she said, slapping his hand from her derriere.
You're incorrigible.” But there was no anger in her remarks, and in the semilight of the kitchen, he could see a twinkle in her eyes.

You're rather nice,” he said.

Oh ... get away from me!” She pushed him back, moving his solid bulk at least two inches.

He grinned at her.
Do be a good girl and fetch my leather gloves from my luggage. Dark brown suitcase. I want to store the Link in the shed for further study. As a matter of fact, I want to store several of them. Now that your brother is dead, and his objections—which I never quite understood—with him, I should like to call in some scientist friends of mine to examine the Links. I shall also want to purchase a half-dozen large freezers from town. Yes, we'll purchase those today.” He looked at his watch. 12:30.

Linda looked up at him. She slowly shook her head.
It's like I said, Badon—you're nuts!”

Hi!” Tammy Gray greeted Jon and Linda with a smile almost as bright as the morning sun over the bayous.
Guess what, guys?”

She stood on the front porch of the Despair house, dressed in denim and a checkered western shirt . . . with pearl snaps. Cute little cowboy boots. Little bandanna around her neck. The buckle on her belt must have weighed five pounds.

Linda thought she looked perfectly nauseating.

Jon looked out onto the front lawn, wondering where the woman had tied her horse.

Tammy wondered if it would be possible to get a threesome going? Like maybe tonight? Threesomes could be such fun. Once she'd had two guys at the same time. Really filled her up ... so to speak. Then another time this girl friend of hers had brought this positively gorgeous hunk of a man over and . . . well, everybody kind of got loose after smoking a couple of left-handed cigarettes.

I'm afraid to guess,” Linda said, enough ice in her voice to freeze meat.

Well,”—Tammy tossed her long blonde hair—
the governor sent me out here to try to change your mind, Mr. Badon. About helping us, I mean.”

What exactly did you have in mind, Miss Gray?” Jon asked, keeping his voice as unemotional as possible. There was something about this brash little blonde that set the bells of suspicion ringing loudly in his head, warning him to be on guard.

That's a stupid question, Jon.” Linda looked at him.
I'll bet when Parker asked for volunteers Tammy almost broke her arms waving.”

Tammy looked at Linda and smiled. About as sweetly as a Tasmanian devil looking at live lunch.
Why, Miss Breaux! Whatever in the world do you mean? I go where Jim . . . Governor Parker tells me to go.”

Her smile was returned; the only thing lacking was dripping bloody fangs.
And I'm sure he's told you where to go ... several times.”

Ladies ...” Jon stepped between them. Not, he decided, a terribly wise move on his part.
Why don't we remember our manners and discuss this like rational adults?”

Why, of course,” Linda said, shoving the mercenary aside like a sack of potatoes. She waved her hand in an exaggerated grandiose gesture of welcome.
Do come in, Miss Grub.”