127 deadtime

. i considered lying to merideth . but i wasn't eager to raise any suspicion with her that sam and i were avoiding each other , she could be tenacious when she smelled conflict - at least conflict that didn't involved her . i didn't lie . i said ." i was hoping it wouldn't ne necessary to bring him in . i thought i'd try carmel first . i .... i never expected this to get so complicated ."
"it's necssary . okay ? please give him a call ."
"why not hire a private detective , merideth ? a firm ."
" i told you that i want somebody from out of town . somwebody discreet ."
" hire somebody from out of town . i think that anyone who's good will be discreet . that's what they do ."
"i'm hiring somebody from out of town - sam . what's going o with you , alan ? you have a problem with him ?"
"no , i said ." but before i call him , i want to see what you have . whatever is giving you the feeling the girl is dead . nexis-lexis . i don't care ."
she sighed ." that's  it ?" then you'll call sam ?"
i immediately wondered what else i should have asked for . " yes ."
"i'll messenger it over ."
we got to her town car , still stuck in traffic . a cement mixer was parked on one sidee , emptying its load . a double - parked fresh direct truck , steam pouring from its engine , was on the other . i open the back door of the car for her . i said ." i'll walk from here ." as soon as i said it . i realized she hadn't planned to offer me a ride .
she began to climb onto the backseat . one foot inside the car , her hand onthe top of the dorrframe , she turned to me and whispered ." it's not just that i think she's dead .i'm afraid someone killed her ."
i saw fear in her eyes ." the grand canyon girl ?or lisa ?" i said .
" the grand canyon girl ."
"do you know something , meri ?"
it's just feeling ." her eyes welled up ."i miss my baby . is that a meaaenger delivered a large sealed envelop from merideth a few minutes fater three .