Anatomy of a Crossword (40 page)
Read Anatomy of a Crossword Online
Authors: Nero Blanc
“Karen â¦?”
His wife turned; the difference in their physical stature made her eye level only slightly higher than Dan's. “Mm hm?”
“You haven't ⦠you haven't noticed anything odd, have you? I mean, no one's tried to follow you home or anything? Tried to approach you?”
Karen smiled. “Mothers with four-year-olds don't usually impress the guys-trying-to-make-a-pass-at-pretty-ladies crowd.”
“I don't mean men coming on to you ⦔
Karen looked at her husband. Her amused expression began to fade. “Why do you ask?”
“It felt like someone was following me when I left the clinicâ¦. It could have been a coincidence, I know, but ⦠well, there are some weird people out there ⦠and we ⦠we don't live in a house or community that's exactly low-profile.”
Karen didn't respond. It wasn't just the house, she thought, but the number and caliber of the cars Dan owned that gave away their wealth; three in the garage and three more left to rest resplendently on the drive.
“I don't know what I'm saying, Karenâ¦. I guess, just be careful, that's all.”
“I always am, Dan.”
“With Lily, too ⦔
“She's my daughter, Dan. Of course, I'm going to be careful with her.”
“That's not what I meant.” He drew in a long and heavy breath. “You're right. I
am
tired, and I'm probably overreactingâ¦. Working at the clinic isn't easy. The equipment's less than adequate ⦠and heck, the guys themselves are no walk in the park.”
“You don't have to do it, Dan. Jack doesn't bother to donate any of his timeâ”
“Don't get me started. If Jack Wagner had his way, none of my indigent cases would ever walk through the doors of our practice, no matter how much they needed the services I provide at the Bay Clinic. Unless, of course, Jacko could figure out a way to bilk the system ⦠sign 'em up for implants and make the government pay. He can't wait for the day Medicare gets a dental clause.”
Karen kept silent.
“I'm sorry, hon, I didn't mean to go off on a tirade. Lily's right. âCross words.'” He smiled at his wife and daughter. “Look, I'll grab a quick shower. You get her nibs tucked in, and thenâ”
But Karen interrupted, her pretty face serious and searching. “Look ⦠Dan ⦠if you think someone was really following you ⦠maybe you should do something about it. Tell the police.”
“The cops? I can't call the cops. What would I tell them? âIt felt like I was being tailed?' I can only guess what they'd say to that. Somehow I think the words âtoo much money and Gen-X paranoia' would be the first ones out of their mouths.”
“Okay ⦠how about a private detective â¦? Someone you hire toâ”
“We don't need a bodyguard, honey. Besides, private eyes are all a bunch of sleazy charactersâ”
“Rosco isn't.”
“Who on earth is that?”
But the question was overruled by Lily's shrill “Rock and Cookie and the park.”
“Are those names of dogs or people?” Dan asked with a forced chuckle.
“You know âCookie' as Belle Grahamâwell, you don't really know her since you two haven't met yet. âRock' is her husband, Rosco Polycrates. He's a private investigator, and from what people in the dog park say, he sounds like a pretty good one.”
Dan shook his head. “I don't know, Karenâ¦. I don't want to get into a âfortress' mentality. I probably just imagined that someone was following meâ¦. ” He bent down to his daughter's height. “Okay, Lily-white, you let Mommy help you take a bath and get in your p.j.'s and then we'll read a story.”
“The one about the elephants with the funny ears.” Lily was finally smiling.
“Whatever you want.”
As mother and daughter proceeded up the stairs, the phone rang.
“That's probably my altruistic partner right now, calling to see how many gold fillings I gave away today.” Dan walked into the living room.
“Hello?” Karen heard him say, “Hello?
Hello?
Who
is
this?” She then heard the angry sound of the receiver being slammed down into its base.
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The Answers
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GREETINGS!
IT'S JUST A STAGE
WHAT'S IN A NAME
THE REAL DEAL
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
Post scriptâ“THE NAME GAME”
Anagram Answers
G | = | I |
M | = | G |
C | = | C |
N | = | D |
L | = | C |
L | = | B |
L | = | W |
Q | = | A |
G | = | B |
S | = | H |
R | = | H |
A | = | H |
D | = | D |
W | = | J |
M | = | S |
D | = | C |
J | = | W |
S | = | M |
D | = | R |
J | = | J |
G | = | R |
L | = | L |
M | = | M |
D | = | R |
B | = | B |
N | = | S |
H | = | M |
G | = | G |
C | = | Y |
B | = | W |