air.
“Don’t think that, Cassie,” he said and took my hand again. “No one would kidnap Victor. He’s a man of great genius, but he isn’t wealthy. Criminals only kidnap for money.”
“That’s true.” I felt badly, keeping so much secret from Ronald. He was my oldest friend in the city. Here I was sharing my troubles with a total stranger when a good friend was at hand.
When he spoke again, it was about Sean, though Ronald didn’t know his name. “Mom mentioned you were with some man at the concert last night.” He didn’t sound jealous exactly, though there was a little of that mixed with the curiosity.
I downplayed Sean. “He’s just a tourist—an American I met at work yesterday. He was sorry he had to miss Victor’s concert, and since I had your ticket right in my purse, I gave it to him. I didn’t actually go with him—the seat was just next to mine.”
“Did you know him before, or was he just a chance acquaintance?”
“I’d never seen him in my life till yesterday. He’s a hardware salesman from Nebraska.”
“Oh, I see.” This killed the last shred of Ronald’s interest. “What do you want to do tonight? Would you like me to stay here with you since you don’t feel you can leave? I don’t want you to be alone.” Concern and sympathy were in his eyes. I hoped the impatience wasn’t too visible in mine.
"You look tired out, Ron. You must be, too, after your trip yesterday. Why don’t you go home and get a good sleep? I’ll be fine.”
“No, no, I insist. I don’t want to leave you alone, all worried and nervous.”
“I’m not nervous. I have dozens of things to do. I have to write to Mom.”
“Let me take you out for dinner at least. You can leave for an hour,” he urged.
I invented a late lunch and finally persuaded him I wasn’t a basket case yet. He finished his Scotch and put down his glass. “If you change your mind, give me a ring,” he said. “I’ll go home now. Mom’s in a state, too. Remember now, call us if you hear anything. Or even if you just get lonesome. We’ll keep in touch.”
I went to the door with him, trying not to hurry my steps. “Sweet Cassie,” he said softly, and stopped at the door to pull me into his arms for a kiss. This one wasn’t a peck; it lasted a few minutes and made me forget all about Sean and dinner.
I was troubled after he left. This was a considerate, thoughtful side of Ronald I hadn’t seen before. During our half dozen or so dates, I never felt he really liked me. I was always a little on edge with Ronald, a little too aware of the difference in our backgrounds, but he was proving a good friend. We’d be closer after this Victor affair was over.
But my immediate concern was to phone the restaurant and order dinner. I looked up the number and sat thinking what food would suit a hardware salesman from Nebraska without adding a zillion calories to a dieter. I didn’t know one single person from Nebraska unless you could count Johnny Carson or Dick Cavett. Maybe duck à l’orange was too pretentious, but a steak wouldn’t travel well. Something with a sauce that could be slipped into the oven for a few minutes before serving
I was at the phone about to order coq au vin for two to go when the doorbell sounded once more. I thought it might be one of the neighbors since Victor was popular in the building. When I peeked out the peephole, I saw Fred Marven, the plainclothes policeman, standing there. My insides were shaking like a leaf in the wind when I admitted him.
“Have you found him?” I asked, staring.
“No, Ma’am, I’m afraid we haven’t,” he said, and stepped in, looking all around.
I led him to the sofa where he immediately spotted the two glasses. “A friend just dropped in,” I said, before he spoke.
“I saw Mr. Strathroy in the parking garage,” he said, which gave me hope for his alertness and ability to put two. and two together. “I believe he was here this morning as
“Don’t think that, Cassie,” he said and took my hand again. “No one would kidnap Victor. He’s a man of great genius, but he isn’t wealthy. Criminals only kidnap for money.”
“That’s true.” I felt badly, keeping so much secret from Ronald. He was my oldest friend in the city. Here I was sharing my troubles with a total stranger when a good friend was at hand.
When he spoke again, it was about Sean, though Ronald didn’t know his name. “Mom mentioned you were with some man at the concert last night.” He didn’t sound jealous exactly, though there was a little of that mixed with the curiosity.
I downplayed Sean. “He’s just a tourist—an American I met at work yesterday. He was sorry he had to miss Victor’s concert, and since I had your ticket right in my purse, I gave it to him. I didn’t actually go with him—the seat was just next to mine.”
“Did you know him before, or was he just a chance acquaintance?”
“I’d never seen him in my life till yesterday. He’s a hardware salesman from Nebraska.”
“Oh, I see.” This killed the last shred of Ronald’s interest. “What do you want to do tonight? Would you like me to stay here with you since you don’t feel you can leave? I don’t want you to be alone.” Concern and sympathy were in his eyes. I hoped the impatience wasn’t too visible in mine.
"You look tired out, Ron. You must be, too, after your trip yesterday. Why don’t you go home and get a good sleep? I’ll be fine.”
“No, no, I insist. I don’t want to leave you alone, all worried and nervous.”
“I’m not nervous. I have dozens of things to do. I have to write to Mom.”
“Let me take you out for dinner at least. You can leave for an hour,” he urged.
I invented a late lunch and finally persuaded him I wasn’t a basket case yet. He finished his Scotch and put down his glass. “If you change your mind, give me a ring,” he said. “I’ll go home now. Mom’s in a state, too. Remember now, call us if you hear anything. Or even if you just get lonesome. We’ll keep in touch.”
I went to the door with him, trying not to hurry my steps. “Sweet Cassie,” he said softly, and stopped at the door to pull me into his arms for a kiss. This one wasn’t a peck; it lasted a few minutes and made me forget all about Sean and dinner.
I was troubled after he left. This was a considerate, thoughtful side of Ronald I hadn’t seen before. During our half dozen or so dates, I never felt he really liked me. I was always a little on edge with Ronald, a little too aware of the difference in our backgrounds, but he was proving a good friend. We’d be closer after this Victor affair was over.
But my immediate concern was to phone the restaurant and order dinner. I looked up the number and sat thinking what food would suit a hardware salesman from Nebraska without adding a zillion calories to a dieter. I didn’t know one single person from Nebraska unless you could count Johnny Carson or Dick Cavett. Maybe duck à l’orange was too pretentious, but a steak wouldn’t travel well. Something with a sauce that could be slipped into the oven for a few minutes before serving
I was at the phone about to order coq au vin for two to go when the doorbell sounded once more. I thought it might be one of the neighbors since Victor was popular in the building. When I peeked out the peephole, I saw Fred Marven, the plainclothes policeman, standing there. My insides were shaking like a leaf in the wind when I admitted him.
“Have you found him?” I asked, staring.
“No, Ma’am, I’m afraid we haven’t,” he said, and stepped in, looking all around.
I led him to the sofa where he immediately spotted the two glasses. “A friend just dropped in,” I said, before he spoke.
“I saw Mr. Strathroy in the parking garage,” he said, which gave me hope for his alertness and ability to put two. and two together. “I believe he was here this morning as
Similar Books
