Free 5 Alive After Friday by Rod Hoisington Page B

at one of the most exclusive private clubs in the southeast.”
    “You fit in perfectly,” he had to tell the truth. “What’s
your favorite wine?”
    “You mean in my dreams or that I can afford? I’ll
take any Asda Beaujolais , when I can find one under thirty bucks.”
    “Have you been to the provinces?” he asked.
    “Sadly no, I skipped the wine country to hit
Cannes. That was a mistake—too many obnoxious tourists like me. I’d love to
hear what you think about them.”
    The martinis arrived; they feigned a polite toast
and took sips.
    “It’s okay if you invited me for drinks to pump me
for information, but I fear I’m going to disappoint you. It’s been two years.” She
didn’t know much about Cal Boyd to start with, she said, and had lost track of him
since the trial. She believed he’d moved back to Sarasota. “Did he say anything
useful before he died?”
    “Quite dead when Sandy found him.”
    “That’s what I read but I wasn’t certain. Let’s
see, what else...as I recall, Boyd told me he was arrested for car theft as a
minor. There wouldn’t be a record of that. I believe he mentioned that at one
time he worked at some marina over in Sarasota. Other than that—”
    “We do appreciate your giving us some background
on him.”
    They sipped in silence for a minute. Mild chatter
and piano sounds continued in the background. Then she said, “You’re fortunate
to have a professional connection with Sandy Reid. She’s a marvelous woman.”
    He nodded.
    “I bet you wish some of those evocative rumors about
the two of you were true.” She saw his frown and quickly added, “I’m sorry. That
was crude.”
    “I expected your remarks to be classier. You just flattered
me and slandered her.” He had a polite look on his face, but wasn’t smiling.
    “An affair with Martin Bronner might be scandalous
but never slanderous. Women would die to be in a scandalous affair with you.”
    “But wouldn’t dying defeat the woman’s purpose?”
He liked to exchange quips with her. She seemed challenging not at all
annoying. “You seem to be searching for my buttons to push.”
    “You’re right. I’m sorry. We don’t know each other
well enough for any of my hapless remarks.” She placed a finger over her mouth
for a second as if to silence herself. “I was attempting to change the subject
to us.”
    “I caught that.”
    “You’re annoyed.” She leaned back and shrugged. “I
was a little high on being here with you in this atmosphere even before the
drink. Sorry.” She took a sip and peeked over her glass at him. “I’m aware you’re
seeing Judy Nagler, the crime analyst. At least that is not a rumor. Even
so, I don’t believe you two are all that close as yet—”
    “If there was a question in there, I’m not going
to talk about Judy.”
    “Of course not. I didn’t expect you to.” She took
another sip and leaned toward him. “It is interesting that a man of the world,
such as you, is thinking of settling down so young. I assumed you’d be saving
yourself for some European Countess or whomever.”
    “I’ll say this, although she needs no defense, Judy
certainly isn’t beneath me. I’d be fortunate to connect with her. Having said
that, Marriage isn’t in the works for us. She has her hands full of parenting,
and I’m not ready.”
    Her martini glass slipped. Fortunately, it was half-empty
and she caught it short of disaster. “I should have played the lottery today,” she
said aloud and straightened in her chair. “So, if no marriage plans, then no
commitments, if I may be so bold.”
    “Makes sense to me.” No point in denying any of
it.
    “You’re forcing me to be honest. You seem a bit
sullen, yet you didn’t discard my pushy overture to have drinks with you here.”
She studied his face carefully for a long moment. “You guys just broke up,
didn’t you? No need to answer, it’s written on your face—and in all probability
in the stars.” She raised her