"Harrington, Patricia - Stacie Mercer - A Murder Just Waiting To Happen" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrington Patricia)

Stacie laughed and looked up. "Hey, what's a seven letter word for faker?"

"How about phony?"

Stacie shook her head. "Not enough letters. Speaking of which, what do you think about Hal's pitch? Is it on the up and up? Should we meet him?"

Melissa swung her feet off the bed and planted her painted toes on the floor. "First we have a glass of wine in the lounge and then we decide."

Over her Zinfandel, Stacie said, "No one has anything good to say about Hal."

Melissa pointed to the bar. "She might. Then again, after this afternoon, maybe not."

Nancy, drink in hand, was walking wobbly-legged toward their table. When she reached the two, she pulled out a chair. "Mind if I sit down?"

Nancy stared belligerently at Stacie. "I know you're meeting Hal."

"He just wants to talk business."

Nancy snorted. "That's how Mr. Sincere always starts. Two years ago, he told me it was in Larry's best interests to sign with him. 'Work on him,' he said. Well, I did and then Hal worked on me. Now my kids live with my ex, and I hardly see them because Hal doesn't want them around. I'm nothing but a trophy wife." She added bitterly, "Hal won't let me go until he's good and ready."

Nancy didn't wait for Stacie to reply. Instead, she stood up, steadying herself with one hand on the table. She shrugged. "It's your funeral. Just watch yourself."

She had barely returned to her stool, when Greg joined Stacie and Melissa. "I see Nancy's getting a load on early." He shook his head. "Larry and she used to be such a great couple. Hal's some kind of con artist, with her--and with the athletes. Trouble is, he does it all legal. In the end you're screwed out of your money, and it costs too much to break your contract. I know...man, do I know."

Stacie twisted the stem of her wineglass between her fingers. "He's asked me to drop by his room."

Greg grimaced. "It's your call. But don't sign anything until a good lawyer's read the paperwork."

The three sat in silence because Greg's gloom was hard to break through. Finally, Stacie said, "That was sad about Kurt's brother."

"Yeah. There was a rumor Hal had something to do with spreading the drug test story."

"Do you think there was any truth to it?"

"Who knows?" Greg shrugged.

"Was Kurt older than his brother?"

"I don't know. I only met him once when Bobby was racing. It could be I didn't hear much about Kurt at the time because he wasn't getting write-ups. Or maybe he's one of those guys who's always cramping up before a race. Like today."

"He looks number one to me," Melissa said, raising an eyebrow and pretending to twirl a mustache. Stacie laughed and even Greg smiled.

Stacie blew out her breath, and said, "Well, I've stalled long enough and made up my mind. I'm not running--excuse me--rolling away from Hal. I'm going to his room." She started to push away from the table, but stopped and whispered, "Look!"

Nancy and Larry were leaving the lounge together. They paused in the doorway, and Nancy leaned down and kissed Larry.

Greg whistled softly. "Are they ever asking for trouble."

Stacie said, "Do you think Hal will find out?"