"Stultz, Thomas - A Gift Of Murder" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stultz Thomas)

Mr. Naile stopped, and unconsciously drew the prop gun from his waistband.

"You just don't worry about him, okay?" Mr. Naile tapped the barrel of the prop into his empty palm as he made his point. "You just do like I tell you, and everything's going to work out fine."

And Mr. Naile believed it, because he knew. He had been living this life, secretly, for the past twenty years. Could he face a dead body? Lie to the police? Keep secrets? It was all coming naturally. Now to get rid of the evidence.

"Come on Kevin, give me a hand."

Beth felt the shadow of their bending bodies across her eyelids. Hands groped about her body, twisting the tarp around her. She held her breath, knowing she would have to fall deep into her part if she were to keep up the ruse. I'm dead. I'm dead. I'm... Ah hell, that tickles.

Mr. Naile exploded back from the trunk as the body began to laugh. The eyes opened wide, bright. Kevin made a show of stumbling back as well, but as Mr. Naile noticed his son's face, the actions were reduced to a weak pantomime. Mr. Naile clenched up, glaring at the pair of them as they tried to fight away laughter. They finally broke down, filling the garage with a roar.

"Kevin!" Mr. Naile shouted above them. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Dad, I'm sorry. Listen." Kevin showed his father both of his palms, and took a moment to catch his breath. "Since I've been a boy you've always read those mysteries. Sure, I could have just bought you another one this year, but I figured - why should he just read another one, when he could be in one?"

Mr. Naile let it sink in. Repeated the thrills he just went through: the fear, the planning. How long had Kevin been rehearsing this?

"I wanted this birthday to be special. You know, your fiftieth." Kevin's voice began to crack, eyes shining, hoping he didn't go too far.

As Mr. Naile stared at his boy his anger began to fade. At first he thought he had been made a fool, but hearing his son speak to him with such emotion - real this time - he felt himself flattered.

"You got me son. You really got me." Mr. Naile grabbed his son in a hug, rubbed wetness off his cheeks while Kevin couldn't see. "Oh my god, I've never felt excitement like that in all my years."

"Hey, let's get Beth out of there. She was great, huh dad?"

"Looked dead to me." Mr. Naile agreed.

Beth sat up, allowing the tarp to drop away.

"I insisted on riding in the trunk the whole way down. I'm a method actor, and this was a good exercise, although I think I fell asleep before you came out." Beth added.

Kevin lifted her out of the trunk, pulled off the tarp. Mr. Naile could see where the powder ended below her neckline. Beth reached up to Kevin's face and peeled off a latex scratch.

"You see honey, I knew the old man could take a plot twist." Kevin boasted.

"You let this go on much longer, I'd a had you six feet under young lady." Mr. Naile told Beth, then turned to Kevin. "You know, this acting thing just might work out for you Kevin."

"Brrrr. It was chilly in that trunk." Beth circled her arms around her shoulders. "You have anything leftover to drink from this party?"

"As a matter of fact, your boyfriend's uncle sends me a very good bottle of scotch this time of year, and there's plenty left."

"So that's what I smell on Kevin's breath. Seems like a perfect gift."

"Ah yes, but not the one I'm going to remember this year." Mr. Naile beamed.

"Happy birthday dad."

"Happy birthday Mr. Naile."