"Creighton, Kathleen - Eyewitness" - читать интересную книгу автора (Creighton Kathleen)

a valuable commodity on the streets. It was clean bedding, toilet
paper, protection from the rain and insulation against the cold. Nobody
was forgetting that it was October and that there'd be some nippy
nights ahead, even in San Diego. " " It's yours," Mary said, but her
voice trailed off, and instead of handing the newspaper over to Daisy
she went on holding it in both hands while she stared down at the front
page. " I'he faces of three men gazed back at her with the famous
self-confidenoe of political candidates. Beneath the faces was the
headline, Search for New Police Chief Narrows And below that, Three
Final Choices for Head of LAPD to Come from Rank and File. " " Give it
here," Daisy prompted from the back seat, wiggling outstretched
fingers.

"In a minute.. : Two of the faces were blurred and faded. The third
stood out stark and clear in the artificial twilight. As stark and
clear as a memory. " Oh, God," Mary whispered. " I don't believe it.
"

"What'sa matter?" JoJo asked, looking worried.

Daisy snaked a scrawny arm over the back of the seat and snatched the
newspaper. She scooted back, folding it and tucking it jealously away
inside her sweater.

"The world is the matter," Preacher said with a sorrowful sigh. " " A
mean and dangerous place. Filled with selfish people, hostility and
distrust. " He glared meaningfully along his shoulder at Daisy Pepper,
who squinted up her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him.

Mary started the Bronco and edged cautiously into the line of vehicles
winding slowly out of the parking lot.

"Mary?"

"Yeah, JoJo?"

The huge black man turned his head toward her and smiled, revealing
missing teeth. Under the right circumstances , JoJo's smile could be a
fearsome sight. "Thanks. You know-for the game and everything."

"Yes, indeed," Preacher drawled from the back seat, "we've all been
remiss. Thank you, m'dear, thank you. Except for the, uh, unfortunate
and completely unnecessary edict regarding alcoholic beverages, it has
been a most enjoyable evening."

"You're welcome," Mary said, "but I can't take the credit. We should
all thank the guy who donated the tickets : '

"Yeah, but you picked us," said JoJo.