Free Primary Justice (Ben Kincaid series Book 1) by William Bernhardt Page B

school that perceived dancing as a tribal rite of foreplay. She wriggled, she squirmed, she heaved. When they were close, Ben heard strange guttural noises emanating from between her teeth. And stealing occasional furtive glances over her shoulder, Ben saw that many eyes in the ballroom were understandably fixed upon Mona. And, by association, Ben.
    And then, just when Ben thought he had reached the apex of embarrassment, matters got worse. The band finished the Springsteen and began another song. A slow dance.
    “Well, thanks,” Ben said, edging away. “I enjoyed the dance.”
    Mona seized his hand. “You’re not slipping away yet, my sweet young thing. Come cuddle with Mona.”
    Ben felt his face burning. He was finished. He knew it. Might as well get the résumés back in the mail. He extended his arms to hold her in the traditional waltz posture, but she insisted upon the full-body press more popular in junior high schools. Blissfully, the lights dimmed.
    Ben tried to keep in step with the music, but he found Mona was more interested in groping than dancing. He felt her hot breath in his ear.
    “Let’s do something crazy,” she whispered, breathing hard.
    “Like what?” he responded, wishing he hadn’t.
    “Don’t play games with me, Kincaid. You’ve been teasing me all night long. You don’t give a girl a chance, do you?” She leaned forward and nibbled on his ear.
    “Stop that!” Ben said. He looked around quickly to see if anybody was watching. “You could get me fired.”
    “You could get me fired up.” She blew into his ear.
    “Please!” Ben pleaded. “You’re the senior partner’s wife. If anyone found out—”
    “So don’t tell anyone. I think boys who kiss and tell are naughty.” She licked her lips suggestively. “I’m ready to go.”
    “I can’t afford to lose my job the first week—”
    “Well, that’s just what will happen, Benjy, if you don’t meet me in the hallway outside the ballroom in two minutes.” Her voice had a new edge to it. “Don’t forget, I talk with the boss on a regular basis. I can have you out of this firm in a heartbeat.” She stroked him under his chin and smiled. “And I’d hate to see that happen. Such a waste. So meet me in two minutes.”
    Ben sputtered, “But what will I tell everyone?”
    “Tell them you’re going out for fresh air.”
    “Where will we go?”
    Mona released him and stepped back. “Come on, Benjy, this is a hotel, after all. And bring me a glass of champagne.” She lifted the hem of her gown and ran quickly off the dance floor. Ben walked slowly in another direction, doing his best to look as if he had come with someone else.
    Ben paced back and forth in the hallway with a glass of champagne in each hand. It had been five minutes. If she didn’t show up soon, he’d just leave and claim he thought he’d been stood up. But what if she told some lie about him to Raven? No, he needed to talk with her, to make her see the error of her ways. He was certain he could reason with her as one logical human being to another. He didn’t have anything personal against her; it was just an impossible proposition.
    He heard a commotion at the other end of the hallway, by the escalators that led to the hotel lobby one floor up. Louise Derek was standing at the base of the up escalator, facing her husband, who was riding up. They were arguing with one another, in loud, strident voices.
    “I’ve never even seen your goddamn cough drops!” Louise shrieked. For a petite woman, she could muster an extremely powerful voice.
    “Sure,” Derek said, not even deigning to look at her. “Right. Then where are they?”
    “How the hell should I know? Maybe you left them at your girlfriend’s place.”
    Derek stepped off the up escalator and stepped onto the down. “Don’t start that again. Every time you get upset about something you fail back on—”
    “Don’t tell me what to start up! I’ll start it up if I want to. You’re a