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Tales of the City 05 - Significant Others

Tales of the City 05 - Significant Others

Titel: Tales of the City 05 - Significant Others Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Armistead Maupin
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car tonight?”
    “Tonight?” asked Michael.
    “Well … for the next three or four hours.”
    “I guess not.”
    “I thought I’d go look at the sunset, maybe eat dinner at that place in Jenner.”
    “By yourself?” asked Michael.
    “Sure.”
    “Brian, listen …”
    “I want to, Michael. I like being alone. I’ve had fun today.”
    “Are you sure?”
    Brian nodded.
    “Well …”
    “So …” Brian rose, picked up his copy of Jitterbug Perfume, folded the lawn chair. “The drive was nice, huh?”
    “Wonderful,” said Michael. “Great.”
    They walked back to the cabin together, Brian’s arm across Michael’s shoulder.
    “Oh,” said Brian, “I put fresh sheets on the sofa bed.”
    Michael looked at him and smiled.
    “Just thought I’d mention it,” said Brian.
    He left in the VW twenty minutes later. Thack turned to Michael and said: “Beer?”
    “Hug,” said Michael.
    Thack obliged him, kneading the knots in Michael’s back. “Shall we eat before or after?”
    Michael laughed. “Anything but during.”
    “Right.” Thack let go of him and headed for the bathroom. “I’m gonna shower.”
    “O.K.”
    Thack called from the bathroom. “Is it too warm for a fire?”
    “Not for me,” said Michael.
    “Great. Why don’t you build us one?”
    Michael gazed at the freestanding fireplace—hooded, orange and hideous—and decided that it was easily the finest fireplace in the Western world.
    His kindling had just begun to crackle when the phone rang. If this was Charlie again …
    “Hello.”
    “Uh … Michael.” The voice was velvet-gloved and unmistakable.
    “Wren? I thought you’d gone.”
    “Well … that’s sorta the problem. Something kinda weird has happened.”
    “What?”
    “My friend has disappeared.”
    “Your friend. You mean …?”
    “Yeah, him.”
    “What do you mean, disappeared?”
    “Well … it takes some explaining. Could you come up here?”
    No way, he thought. “Gosh, I’m really sorry. Brian took the car, so Thack and I …”
    “I could come get you.”
    “Now?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Wren … this is really not a good time.”
    “Oh.” She knew what he meant immediately. “I’m sorry.”
    “I hope you understand.”
    “Well,” she said, “you told me to call if I needed anything.”
    This was true, and he kicked himself for it. “Can’t I help over the phone?”
    “No,” she replied. “I have to show you.”
    The bathroom door opened. Thack emerged towel-wrapped, on a cloud of steam. “What’s the matter?” he asked, seeing Michael’s grim expression.
    “Wren’s friend is missing.”
    “What?”
    “Tell me where you are,” said Wren. “I’ll come get you.”
    Michael heaved a sigh and told her. He couldn’t help wondering if she always got what she wanted.
    The three of them stood on her deck above the river. “That’s where he’s supposed to be,” said Wren, pointing to a distant chunk of water. She was wearing voluminous white Bermuda shorts and a pink cotton blouse with the collar turned up.
    “What’s down there?” asked Thack.
    “The Bohemian Grove. Ever heard of it?”
    Thack shook his head.
    “It’s a club,” said Michael. “For society people.”
    “Not people,” said Wren. “Men.”
    “Right,” said Michael.
    “When did you last talk to him?” asked Thack.
    “This morning. I canceled my flight for him. He called and said he wanted to see me. He sounded really out of it and desperate.”
    Thack’s brow furrowed. “In what way?”
    “I dunno. He made me cancel my flight, for one thing.”
    “Made you?” asked Michael. He was still a little angry with her.
    “Asked me. He sounded desperate, so I did it. He said he’d be here no later than three, and I know Booter well enough to know that he would never—”
    “Booter?” said Michael. “His name is Booter?”
    “No jokes, all right?”
    “No…. I think I know him.”
    “Oh, God.”
    “Booter Manigault?”
    “Jesus,” said Wren. “How small is that town, anyway?”
    “Small,” said Michael. “Microscopic.”
    Thack turned to Michael. “He’s a friend of yours?”
    “No,” said Michael, “but I know who he is. My lover delivered his …” He thought for a moment. “Step-grandchildren.”
    “Oh, well,” said Wren dryly, looking at Thack. “Clears it right up, doesn’t it?”
    “Why don’t you just go down there and ask?” said Michael.
    “Where? The Grove? I did, darling. It’s strictly Tubby’s playhouse. No

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