Free Lust on the Rocks by Dianne Venetta

chair and walked around his desk to greet him.  Slacks and white button down, the guy rarely changed.  Save for his tie selection.  Nice, dull blue today.
    The two joined in a vigorous, but brief handshake.  “Not much,” Vic said and settled his hands on his hips.  “How’s Selena?  I haven’t seen much of you in the last few days.  Is she okay?”
    “Like nothing ever happened.  I saw her at my parents for dinner last night and she told me to tell you hello.  And thanks,” he added with a sheepish grin.
    “No problem.  I’m glad to hear she’s doing well,” he said, but his heart felt the bite.  She came close, but she made it. 
    Not everyone does.  Some die.  Vic felt the sharp pang to his heart.  “Tell her to stay out of the rip currents, will you?”
    “She’s been told.”
    “So listen,” Vic said, shifting gears, wrestling his mind back to the present.  “Is it true what I hear about you and Sam entertaining a settlement on Perry?”
    Diego’s brow furrowed.  “Who told you that?”
    “I overheard one of the secretaries.”
    “No.”  He turned and headed back to his desk.
    “Good.”  Vic relaxed his arms and strolled closer.  This case was going to trial.  Scaliano wasn’t going to skate the charges this time.  He gripped the back of a wingchair, the stiff cushion pushing back beneath the weight of his hands.  He was going to pay—in spades.  “How’s discovery coming?”
    Diego hitched his hip up and onto the corner of his desk.  “Stacking up the evidence.”
    “Using the cases from California?”
    “Those, and deaths in health clubs across the country.”
    “Tying them together, are you?”
    “Whatever it takes.”
    Vic was pleased to hear it. “Have you looked into the AED angle?”
    “Automatic external defibrillator?  Why would I?”
    “The fact Perry didn’t have one.”
    “They’re not legally required to do so.”
    “Precedent’s changing.  Should be easy to find a pile of court cases to support the argument for housing them in every facility.”
    Diego turned on like a light.  “Sounds interesting.  How about you join us for a session, man?  I think Sam might want to hear what you have to say.”
    Anticipation unfurled in his chest.  “Plan on it.”

    # # #

    “Vic, with all due respect,” Sam said, elbows perched upon her armrests, her pearlized Montblanc pen suspended between the fingers of one hand.  “I think you’re reaching.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    Sitting in the chair next to Vic, Sam noted Diego’s silence.  Nice, how her teammate remained mute, when he should be diving in with some common sense rationale.  But that was Diego.  Quiet and subtle, the man kept a low profile.  She slowly swung her scope back to Vic.  Quite the opposite from him, she mused.
    In both looks and personality.  Seated side by side, the contrast was marked.  While both men were muscular, Vic was tall and angular, where Diego was short and thick.  One was light-skinned and sharp-featured, the other dark brown with soft lines and curves.  Diego wore blue pants and blue ties while Vic tossed in yellow and red, or green-striped like he sported today.  But the one trait they did share?  Both were quick with a smile.
    A trait she especially liked.
    But where did he come up with this stuff?  Sam checked his history.  Vic had no prior experience with health clubs.  No big wins, no magic wands for success.  Once again, Raul’s insistence they team up crept into the back of her mind.  Why?
    She rocked back in her chair and dulled the blade of her dispute. “Listen, I admire your creativity, really I do.  But we need facts to back up our claim for wrongful death, not wishful thinking.”
    “And these are the facts,” Vic said, undaunted.  “A man died on Perry’s premises.  A man who most likely would have survived, had there been AEDs available for use.  Also among the facts are the five priors you cite.  Put them together