The Rare Coin Score (1967) – Gold Medal

A Parker Job (#9)

Also published as The Naked Plunderers in For Men Only magazine, December, 1967.

___“Do you want to drive?”
___“You know this town?”
___She shrugged and made a face and said, “Fairly well.” As though what she meant was, more than I like.
___“Then you drive,” he said, and walked around to the passenger side and got in.
___She looked after him in surprise, then opened the driver’s door herself and slid in behind the wheel. She put the key in the ignition, but instead of starting the engine she sat back and began to study him, frowning to herself.
___Parker waited, but she just kept sitting there and looking at him as though she was trying to read something written on the inside of his head, so after a while he said, “Okay, get it over with.”
___“I’d just like to know,” she said.
___“Ask.”
___“Are you just naturally rude, or are you trying to antagonize me for some reason?”
___Parker shook his head, “All you do is drive the car.”
___“In other words, I don’t matter.”
___“Right.”
___She nodded. “Fine by me,” she said. “It just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

Buy it here:

Gold Medal, 1967 (PB)
Avon, 1985 (PB)
Alison & Busby (UK), 1984 (HC)
University of Chicago Press, 2009 (PB)
E-Book, 2011
Audio Book, 2012