[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.I had the distinct impression that the people at the nearby tables pulled away from his outburst.It looked like Wilson had violated some auction etiquette rule that hadn’t been on the list the auctioneer read.The next-to-last lot was presented about half an hour later.Wilson had paid top dollar for a couple more cases.I could imagine him bragging to his golf buddies at the country club about how much he had spent.I wondered uncharitably how much he spent on Heather, and if he bragged about that, too.This lot was three bottles of Burgundy, and it was instantly clear that William wanted the bottles.His posture went from relaxed to alert, and his eyes darted around the room as though assessing the competition.A few more people had drifted out as it got later, but the remaining buyers were treated to an actual bidding war between William Robinson and Phil Wilson; a battle between the connoisseur and the cowboy.The bidding rose quickly, then slowed.Robinson hesitated several times before bidding, and you could see him muttering to himself before each bid.I couldn’t actually read his lips, but I imagined him saying, “One more bid.Just one more bid, and I quit.”Wilson won of course.Not surprising, considering he had way more money than sense.I ignored his victory antics and concentrated on William’s reaction.He was obviously unhappy and disappointed.As soon as the auctioneer brought the gavel down for the last time, William reached for his coat draped across the empty chair next to him.Before Wilson had finished celebrating, William was headed out the door.chapter 23The last lot was anticlimactic.Wilson wasn’t interested and he created a minor disruption when he grabbed Heather and headed for the door.He paused just long enough to tell Spiky Hair to “make the usual arrangements” for payment and delivery.Paula and I took our time.We watched how the other buyers went through the protocol of paying for their purchases and arranging delivery.Some of them had come prepared, and auction staff members helped them load carts or bags with their purchases.The line for the parking valets began to grow.Paula drew my attention to a discreet sign to one side of the valet stand, “Vehicle Only, No Merchandise.”There was no one in the line.It still took a few minutes for the Corvette to appear, as I watched a steady stream of Land Rovers and upscale SUVs pull to the curb to accept their cargo.A young man in a valet uniform handed me the keys and I slipped a bill into his palm.“I feel like I ought to tip you.” He grinned.“Driving that beauty is the most fun I’ve had all night.”I grinned back.That Corvette made me feel that way, too.We pulled away from the curb and I pointed the ’Vette toward the freeway.It was late and I was anxious to get home.“Do you believe that girl?” Paula asked with undisguised glee.“Heather?” I said.“Cheers.” Paula mimicked Heather perfectly, and I started giggling as I made the turn into the on-ramp.Beside me, Paula’s laughter welled up.“And did you see the way the people around them kept moving back?”I accelerated into the light traffic and headed out of Portland.This late, the drive should only take fifteen or twenty minutes max.I might even get home early enough to spend some time combing through Gregory’s e-mail files I still hadn’t unlocked.Paula had clearly enjoyed the evening.We compared notes on the people we’d seen, laughed at Phil Wilson’s antics, and speculated on exactly what was going on between Phil Wilson and William Robinson.“What was that bidding war all about?” Paula wondered aloud.I shrugged and downshifted for our off-ramp.“Phil Wilson wants to own the wine and show off how much he paid for it.William Robinson wants to drink it.And I have the distinct impression that Wilson hates to lose.”“That’s not exactly news,” Paula said.“There was quite a flap a few years back when his sons took over the dealership.It was while you were gone, I think.One of the boys—well, he wasn’t a boy, really, he was in his thirties—anyway, he got into drugs and started having financial trouble that threatened the business.Phil came out of retirement and started throwing his weight around.“He managed to get the son into rehab and the whole thing was hushed up.But I heard there were some nasty arguments out at the cabin while it was going on.”I laughed.“Paula, I can always count on you to know absolutely every story about everybody in town! How do you do it?”Paula laughed.“Live anywhere long enough and you know where the bodies are buried.”Ahead of me, the empty road disappeared into the darkness outside the range of the headlights.I gave the ’Vette a little more gas, and felt it pull against me, the way the dogs pulled at their leashes.I was already at the limit of safety on the dark, winding road, and it took all my self-control to keep from giving the car its head.I backed off the throttle as we approached a bend, downshifting before I powered through the curve, then back into fourth as we came out onto the straightaway.This was the part I loved, using the engine and the brakes and the transmission together.When it all meshed, it felt like I was part of the car.We had dropped the name Veritas, and I was convinced Phil Wilson knew what it was.I still had more questions than answers, but I could feel myself getting closer to a solution.As a bonus, we’d had fun at the auction and now we were flying through the night on our way home.A perfect end to a perfect evening.I braked for another curve [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl milosnikstop.keep.pl
.I had the distinct impression that the people at the nearby tables pulled away from his outburst.It looked like Wilson had violated some auction etiquette rule that hadn’t been on the list the auctioneer read.The next-to-last lot was presented about half an hour later.Wilson had paid top dollar for a couple more cases.I could imagine him bragging to his golf buddies at the country club about how much he had spent.I wondered uncharitably how much he spent on Heather, and if he bragged about that, too.This lot was three bottles of Burgundy, and it was instantly clear that William wanted the bottles.His posture went from relaxed to alert, and his eyes darted around the room as though assessing the competition.A few more people had drifted out as it got later, but the remaining buyers were treated to an actual bidding war between William Robinson and Phil Wilson; a battle between the connoisseur and the cowboy.The bidding rose quickly, then slowed.Robinson hesitated several times before bidding, and you could see him muttering to himself before each bid.I couldn’t actually read his lips, but I imagined him saying, “One more bid.Just one more bid, and I quit.”Wilson won of course.Not surprising, considering he had way more money than sense.I ignored his victory antics and concentrated on William’s reaction.He was obviously unhappy and disappointed.As soon as the auctioneer brought the gavel down for the last time, William reached for his coat draped across the empty chair next to him.Before Wilson had finished celebrating, William was headed out the door.chapter 23The last lot was anticlimactic.Wilson wasn’t interested and he created a minor disruption when he grabbed Heather and headed for the door.He paused just long enough to tell Spiky Hair to “make the usual arrangements” for payment and delivery.Paula and I took our time.We watched how the other buyers went through the protocol of paying for their purchases and arranging delivery.Some of them had come prepared, and auction staff members helped them load carts or bags with their purchases.The line for the parking valets began to grow.Paula drew my attention to a discreet sign to one side of the valet stand, “Vehicle Only, No Merchandise.”There was no one in the line.It still took a few minutes for the Corvette to appear, as I watched a steady stream of Land Rovers and upscale SUVs pull to the curb to accept their cargo.A young man in a valet uniform handed me the keys and I slipped a bill into his palm.“I feel like I ought to tip you.” He grinned.“Driving that beauty is the most fun I’ve had all night.”I grinned back.That Corvette made me feel that way, too.We pulled away from the curb and I pointed the ’Vette toward the freeway.It was late and I was anxious to get home.“Do you believe that girl?” Paula asked with undisguised glee.“Heather?” I said.“Cheers.” Paula mimicked Heather perfectly, and I started giggling as I made the turn into the on-ramp.Beside me, Paula’s laughter welled up.“And did you see the way the people around them kept moving back?”I accelerated into the light traffic and headed out of Portland.This late, the drive should only take fifteen or twenty minutes max.I might even get home early enough to spend some time combing through Gregory’s e-mail files I still hadn’t unlocked.Paula had clearly enjoyed the evening.We compared notes on the people we’d seen, laughed at Phil Wilson’s antics, and speculated on exactly what was going on between Phil Wilson and William Robinson.“What was that bidding war all about?” Paula wondered aloud.I shrugged and downshifted for our off-ramp.“Phil Wilson wants to own the wine and show off how much he paid for it.William Robinson wants to drink it.And I have the distinct impression that Wilson hates to lose.”“That’s not exactly news,” Paula said.“There was quite a flap a few years back when his sons took over the dealership.It was while you were gone, I think.One of the boys—well, he wasn’t a boy, really, he was in his thirties—anyway, he got into drugs and started having financial trouble that threatened the business.Phil came out of retirement and started throwing his weight around.“He managed to get the son into rehab and the whole thing was hushed up.But I heard there were some nasty arguments out at the cabin while it was going on.”I laughed.“Paula, I can always count on you to know absolutely every story about everybody in town! How do you do it?”Paula laughed.“Live anywhere long enough and you know where the bodies are buried.”Ahead of me, the empty road disappeared into the darkness outside the range of the headlights.I gave the ’Vette a little more gas, and felt it pull against me, the way the dogs pulled at their leashes.I was already at the limit of safety on the dark, winding road, and it took all my self-control to keep from giving the car its head.I backed off the throttle as we approached a bend, downshifting before I powered through the curve, then back into fourth as we came out onto the straightaway.This was the part I loved, using the engine and the brakes and the transmission together.When it all meshed, it felt like I was part of the car.We had dropped the name Veritas, and I was convinced Phil Wilson knew what it was.I still had more questions than answers, but I could feel myself getting closer to a solution.As a bonus, we’d had fun at the auction and now we were flying through the night on our way home.A perfect end to a perfect evening.I braked for another curve [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]