Nemesis by Bill Pronzini Page A

dependable?”
    â€œAbsolutely.” The word came out hard, as if pushed through a blockage. Canaday unclenched his hands, looked at his wristwatch. “I don’t mean to be rude, Mr. Runyon, but I have an appointment at five-thirty and I really should be leaving soon. If you don’t have any more questions…”
    â€œNot unless you have anything to add.”
    â€œNothing, no,” Canaday said. “Nothing at all. I’ve told you everything I know about the woman.”
    No, he hadn’t. Hiding something, covering up—man with a guilt complex. Runyon would’ve bet Canaday had had something going with Verity Daniels at one time or another, and that it hadn’t had an amiable ending.
    *   *   *
    The man who opened the door of the house in one of Martinez’s older tracts wore a uniform shirt that had the words Riteway Gutter Installers over one pocket. He was short, squat, with a blocky face dominated by a thick black mustache that bracketed his mouth and small, deep-sunk eyes under bushy brows. The eyes narrowed to slits when he saw that Runyon was nobody he knew.
    â€œMr. Avery? Hank Avery?”
    â€œSo? If you’re a salesman or a religious nut, you better just haul ass. Like the sign right there by the bell says, no solicitors.”
    â€œI’m not a solicitor.” Runyon proved it with his ID.
    Avery stared at the license. “A private eye? What you want here?”
    â€œA few minutes of your and your mother’s time.”
    â€œYou don’t get any of her time. She’s not well, she’s sleeping. I asked you how come you’re here.”
    â€œVerity Daniels.”
    The name made Avery jerk a little, tightened his mouth. He said, “What the hell?” and came out quickly onto the porch, closing the door behind him as if he were afraid his mother might overhear. “What about her? You investigating her?”
    â€œI’m not at liberty to say.”
    â€œDamn well should be, if you’re not. She killed my brother two and a half years ago. You know about that?”
    â€œI know your brother drowned. And that it was ruled an accident.”
    â€œAccident. Bullshit. She killed him, all right. Even if she didn’t hold his head under the water, she killed him. He’d still be alive if he hadn’t gone on that camping trip with her.”
    â€œI understand he was thinking of calling off the wedding.”
    â€œDamn right he was. Should never of had anything to do with her in the first place.”
    â€œWhy was he backing out?”
    â€œHe wouldn’t tell me or Ma. Said she wasn’t what he thought she was. No shit. Screwing some other guy, probably. Jason, he was big on a woman being faithful.”
    â€œIf she was involved with somebody else, any idea who it might have been?”
    â€œNo. Could’ve been anybody.” Avery cracked thick-knobbed knuckles. “She do something to somebody else? That what this is all about? Man, I hope so because then maybe she’ll finally get what’s coming to her.”
    â€œAnd what would that be?”
    â€œJail time, a busted head, whatever hurts her the most.”
    â€œDo the hurting yourself, Mr. Avery? If you had the chance?”
    â€œDon’t think I didn’t think about it after Jason died.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œMa talked me out of it. Didn’t want to lose her only other son on account of that bitch.”
    â€œThe last time you had any contact with Verity Daniels was when?”
    â€œNot since Jason died. Not long enough.”
    â€œKnow where she’s living now?”
    â€œNo, and I don’t give a crap. Unless she’s dead or about to be, so I can go to her goddamn funeral and then spit on her grave.”
    â€œSo you hadn’t heard about her inheritance.”
    Blank stare. “Inheritance? What inheritance?”
    â€œFrom a wealthy relative. Six months