violated it. We're going to have a hard time getting around that.”
“But she called and said she wanted me.
She
called
me.
What am I supposed to do? She's a good-looking woman.” I'd seen Bert's ex. She'd been a swimsuit model in her youth and carried her good looks and healthy lifestyle into middle age. “She called me.”
“That's not what her statement says.”
“She said she missed me, and I knew what that meant.”
“So you went over to visit even though she has a restraining orderforbidding you to be within one hundred feet of her residence. Then what happened?”
“Her boyfriend showed up.”
“And?”
“He was supposed to be at work. He works the night shift down at Nucor Steel in West Seattle. You think somebody tipped him off? Maybe the government? I've been seeing more undercover federal agents in town. Did I tell you that? I'm being followed by government agents. I ditched one this morning on the way here.” Bert's paranoia showed up in almost every conversation, though it was usually under some degree of control by the time he headed to court, as if the sweat factor snapped him out of it.
“Okay. What can you tell me about the car?”
“They can't prove a thing.”
“They have a witness who ID'd you. And it is quite a coincidence that the boyfriend throws you out of the house and three hours later his car burns down to the rims.”
“Coincidences happen all the time.”
“We drew Anderson and she's tough on domestic cases. It would help if you could show some remorse in court.”
“Sure. I can fake remorse.”
“Genuine remorse would be better.”
“No problem. I can fake that, too.” He must have made a comical face, which he was prone to, because Kathy laughed.
“You're laughing. They say that's the key to a woman's heart: Make her laugh. Check out how many comedians have married beautiful women. What do you say? Costa Rica? Just you and me and a thatched roof under the stars. We could be there in two days. We'd never have another care in this world. I would read Emily Dickinson out loud and massage your feet after long walks on the beach. Haven't you ever wanted to have a man who made you laugh, worshipped your every move, and knew how to skin a rabbit?”
“The man I have makes me laugh and worships my every move, and what's more I believe he's sitting outside that door.”
“Can he skin a rabbit?”
“Probably not, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was about to tanyour hide.” Tuning them out, I lost myself in some work on the computer. By the time I looked up, Kathy was alone in her office, on the phone but alone. I was due across the lake at Maddox's headquarters, but I needed to talk to her. Bert was long gone and Beulah was missing, too.
I got up and wandered into Kathy's office. Neither of us had spoken on the drive home from the governor's ball. Sunday we'd been polite but distant, and this morning Kathy left the house before I rolled out of bed. She spoke on the phone for another minute.
“So who's chartering the plane now?” Kathy asked. “She still thinks that's a good idea?” She watched me while she finished the conversation, then hung up the phone.
“I'm sorry for the other night,” I said. “I was out of line. I set you up, and I'm ashamed of myself. Can you forgive me?”
“I knew he was hard of hearing, but I forgot. I'm sure I'll tell the story at a party someday and everybody will get a big kick out of it, including me.”
“You forgive me?”
“Of course, I forgive you.”
“I think we need to take a couple of days just for ourselves.”
“But we've got—”
“Commitments? Our first commitment is to each other. And we're beginning to get a little off track. I really think we need to carve out the time.”
“We
have
been at each other's throats.”
“I was thinking a trip to the ocean. How about that rust-bucket motel on the beach where we stayed last fall during the storm?”
“You sure it's not too plush for
“But she called and said she wanted me.
She
called
me.
What am I supposed to do? She's a good-looking woman.” I'd seen Bert's ex. She'd been a swimsuit model in her youth and carried her good looks and healthy lifestyle into middle age. “She called me.”
“That's not what her statement says.”
“She said she missed me, and I knew what that meant.”
“So you went over to visit even though she has a restraining orderforbidding you to be within one hundred feet of her residence. Then what happened?”
“Her boyfriend showed up.”
“And?”
“He was supposed to be at work. He works the night shift down at Nucor Steel in West Seattle. You think somebody tipped him off? Maybe the government? I've been seeing more undercover federal agents in town. Did I tell you that? I'm being followed by government agents. I ditched one this morning on the way here.” Bert's paranoia showed up in almost every conversation, though it was usually under some degree of control by the time he headed to court, as if the sweat factor snapped him out of it.
“Okay. What can you tell me about the car?”
“They can't prove a thing.”
“They have a witness who ID'd you. And it is quite a coincidence that the boyfriend throws you out of the house and three hours later his car burns down to the rims.”
“Coincidences happen all the time.”
“We drew Anderson and she's tough on domestic cases. It would help if you could show some remorse in court.”
“Sure. I can fake remorse.”
“Genuine remorse would be better.”
“No problem. I can fake that, too.” He must have made a comical face, which he was prone to, because Kathy laughed.
“You're laughing. They say that's the key to a woman's heart: Make her laugh. Check out how many comedians have married beautiful women. What do you say? Costa Rica? Just you and me and a thatched roof under the stars. We could be there in two days. We'd never have another care in this world. I would read Emily Dickinson out loud and massage your feet after long walks on the beach. Haven't you ever wanted to have a man who made you laugh, worshipped your every move, and knew how to skin a rabbit?”
“The man I have makes me laugh and worships my every move, and what's more I believe he's sitting outside that door.”
“Can he skin a rabbit?”
“Probably not, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was about to tanyour hide.” Tuning them out, I lost myself in some work on the computer. By the time I looked up, Kathy was alone in her office, on the phone but alone. I was due across the lake at Maddox's headquarters, but I needed to talk to her. Bert was long gone and Beulah was missing, too.
I got up and wandered into Kathy's office. Neither of us had spoken on the drive home from the governor's ball. Sunday we'd been polite but distant, and this morning Kathy left the house before I rolled out of bed. She spoke on the phone for another minute.
“So who's chartering the plane now?” Kathy asked. “She still thinks that's a good idea?” She watched me while she finished the conversation, then hung up the phone.
“I'm sorry for the other night,” I said. “I was out of line. I set you up, and I'm ashamed of myself. Can you forgive me?”
“I knew he was hard of hearing, but I forgot. I'm sure I'll tell the story at a party someday and everybody will get a big kick out of it, including me.”
“You forgive me?”
“Of course, I forgive you.”
“I think we need to take a couple of days just for ourselves.”
“But we've got—”
“Commitments? Our first commitment is to each other. And we're beginning to get a little off track. I really think we need to carve out the time.”
“We
have
been at each other's throats.”
“I was thinking a trip to the ocean. How about that rust-bucket motel on the beach where we stayed last fall during the storm?”
“You sure it's not too plush for
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