Free Longevity by S. J. Hunter Page B

make a suggestion that would bring a blush to most women accompanied by such a handsome man. Therefore, perhaps 50?" she asked, looking up at Livvy through her lashes and a fine veil of smoke.
    Chris didn't notice Livvy react to that either - her magnificent turquoise eyes had, in fact, seemed to have lost the need to blink - but Isabella responded with satisfaction. "Ah, I thought so. I'm an actress. I read people, and I am seldom wrong.
    "But how delicious. Detectives."
    The serving woman delivered an ornate silver tray with some iced water and tea, and hot coffee, all in silver urns. There were tiny cookies on a gold-rimmed plate. Isabella herself poured for them, displaying a languid fluency that nevertheless did not achieve elegance, and Chris glanced at Livvy to find her looking at him with lifted eyebrows. It was quite a performance.
    "But allow me to stop wasting your time. You're here to talk to me about Milo. I have no idea where he is. I wasn't expecting him and he never called, so I didn't even realize he was missing until your office called."
    "So the last time you saw him was when...? Thursday?" Chris asked.
    "Let me think," Isabella said. She lifted a beautifully manicured hand, placed her index finger against her lips and tapped them twice. "Yes, Thursday. No, no. Wednesday. He came by after work, had dinner with me, and stayed the night. He does that, or we go out, several times a week. We've known each other almost 60 years."
    "And was there anything he said or did during his visit on Wednesday that was at all unusual?"
    "No," she said.
    "And he hasn't mentioned any travel plans lately?" Chris asked, and waited while Isabella seemed to mull over her options.
    Chris noticed a small change in her breathing. "Isabella?"
    "You're a dear." She drew and exhaled twice and stubbed out her cigarette in a crystal ashtray before answering. "In the end, audiences wanted new young faces, or aging faces, and I had to make a choice. So I gave it up. Do you think they will still want me when I'm 200 years old and my allotment is gone and and I have to start aging? Enhancements and surgery..." here she shuddered, "can only do so much." She looked from Chris to Livvy and back again.
    "Never mind, how can anyone know. It's all still so unsettling.
    "You saw me act, didn't you, when we were both young?" she asked Chris.
    It seemed to be a hobby with her, Chris thought, to try to catch people off guard. "Yes. I probably even had a crush on you," he said, playing her game.
    "How sweet of you to say so. Forgive me if I doubt you. Men like you never have a crush on women like me." She turned to look at Livvy. "They don't, you know. They may want to protect us, but they don't want to make love to us.
    "Don't get huffy, my dear. By us, I don't mean you and me, Detective Hutchins. I mean me and women like me. Vulnerability, it was called. I wonder what they call it in a bicentenarian."
    Chris looked at Livvy. As far as he could see, she had neither moved nor changed expression. If anything, he would say she was projecting a hard-held tolerance. It was probably driving Isabella wild at some level.
    "You're right, there was a little something. We've been planning a trip to England and Scotland together and he said we might need to postpone it." She turned to Livvy at this point to speak directly to her. "There are so few places one can travel safely anymore. He did mention something about some special project. I never listen when he talks about work, unless he's found something new he thinks would suit me.
    "That's all, really."
    "Some special project at his clinic or some special project outside of the clinic?" Livvy asked.
    "You didn't pay attention, my dear. I said I don't listen when he talks about work."
    "When had you planned on leaving? On your trip?" Chris asked.
    "In two weeks, on Monday. You would be more than welcome to take his place," Isabella said. "Either one of you." She threw another smoky glance Livvy's way and