Free Hunger by Karen E. Taylor Page A

She flopped down with a sigh.
    â€œTired?” I questioned, needlessly, for even in the dim light I could see the dark circles beneath her eyes.
    â€œTired doesn’t even come close to describing it, Deirdre. I don’t think I could move from this chair, even if the building were on fire. But you, you still look as good as you did first thing Monday morning. Come to think of it, you still look like you did almost ten years ago. However do you manage it?” Her tired eyes squinted at me.
    â€œClean living, Gwen,” I joked. “I don’t eat junk and I work like a dog. It’s the Protestant work ethic, you know.”
    â€œWhatever it is, it sure works for you. I feel like I’ve aged twenty years in the past five days. I had an argument with Nick about it; he wanted to go out tonight, but if I let him see me like this, the wedding would be off.”
    â€œYou’re such an ass, Gwen; he loves you very much, tired or not. Go home, take a hot bath, chill a bottle of wine and invite him to your place. You can spend the entire weekend in bed if you’re so tired.”
    â€œDeirdre, if I didn’t know better I’d think you were jealous. Don’t you and Max have plans? I just assumed that with all these flowers you two had something special going on.”
    â€œI hate to disappoint you, but there is nothing between Max and me, there never really was. Part of my secret is having no serious involvement with anybody.” I smiled indulgently at her. “But you are already involved, so my advice comes too late. Go home, Gwen, and have a nice time.”
    She rose slowly from the chair and was walking to the door, when the intercom on my desk buzzed. We jumped in unison, having both supposed the office was empty. I answered and the front desk receptionist’s voice filled the office.
    â€œMiss Griffin, I’m sorry to bother you. I just came back upstairs to get something and found someone here waiting for you. Should I send him back?”
    â€œI’ll be right out to get him,” Gwen broke in. She turned to me. “Nothing happening, huh? Finally I get to meet the great Max.” With no trace of her professed exhaustion, she rushed out of the office and down the hall.
    Unlike Gwen, I was not so sure that the visitor was Max. He had never before made any attempt to see me outside of the confines of the club, yet, given the precarious course our relationship had taken, he would have a better chance of making his explanations in person. Perhaps it was logical for him to make his appearance tonight.
    I didn’t have long to ponder the question, for I could hear Gwen’s chattering approach my office.
    â€œYou’re not anything like I pictured you, but it’s nice to meet you. I’m sure Deirdre will be thrilled to see you. She’s so maddeningly private about her life, she never even told me you’d be stopping here tonight. But I knew something was up, when all those beautiful flowers started to arrive. Here we are.” She was so excited about the visitor as she escorted him into my office, I felt it was cruel to disillusion her but it was necessary.
    â€œGwen,” I said as sharply as a slap and watched the smile fade from her face, “meet Detective Mitchell Greer.”
    â€œOh, God, I’m so embarrassed.” She flushed a bright red. “I’m sorry, Detective, I thought you were someone else.”
    â€œObviously,” he said with a kind smile, “but thank you for the greeting, anyway. People seldom meet me with such enthusiasm.”
    â€œNo, I bet they don’t,” she started, then blushed more deeply. “I mean, or I didn’t mean . . . oh, shit . . .”
    â€œGwen,” I said reassuringly, “you’re tired. Just go home, I’ll see you later.” With a muffled good night she scurried through the door and we were left alone.
    I cleared my throat. “Your visit is