werenât
too
embarrassed. At least they didnât call you my boyfriend on TV.â
âIâve had people call me a lot worse.â
We both laughed at that.
âMaybe we should get those skates off. I delivered your supplies to the Biscuit Bowl before I came to find you. The power is back on.â
âThatâs great news. Thanks.â I sat on the edge of the bed. Delia was still out.
Crème Brûlée walked over to me and meowed for me to pick him up. Heâd never try something as big as jumping up on the bed next to me. I lifted him, and he cuddled next to me, purring.
âI guess you already know my history.â He knelt in front of me and untied my skate laces. âIâm not a stranger to bad publicity.â
âI know.â Should I have admitted that I knew almost
everything
about him?
âThen you know about my wifeâand the scandal, as my grandmother calls it.â
âYes. I know you ran for district attorney and you were accused of breaking the law.â
Was this leading up to something?
He smiled up at me as he eased my right foot out of the skate. âThen you know why Iâm a little camera shy. I hope I didnât hurt your feelings back there. I certainly wouldnât mind them calling me your boyfriend, except for that.â
âReally?â
He took off my left skate and helped me to my feet. âReally.â
He was going to kiss me again. We were so close, and then the hotel phone rang.
âDid you want to get that?â His lips were only a breath away from mine.
âNo. Not really.â I moved the short distance between us and closed the deal.
The phone continued to ring and we continued to ignore it. Then came the pounding on the door.
âOh, for goodnessâ sake!â I moved away from him, reluctantly, and went to answer it.
âExcuse me, maâam.â A hotel employee interrupted with a red face. âIâm looking for Zoe Chase. There are two police detectives downstairs to see her.â
He smiled and held out his hand. I certainly wasnât going to tip him after heâd interrupted something wonderful between me and Miguel to tell me about Helms and Marsh.
âThanks!â Miguel put some money in his hand and then closed the door. âZoe?â
I explained about meeting with the two detectives from Charlotte while he was gone to get supplies. âI didnât promise them
much
, reallyâjust that Iâd let them know if I heard or saw anything unusual.â
âThis potentially puts you in a very awkward place,â he said. âIf anyone finds out that youâre working with them, it could be bad for you. If a killer
is
part of the race, your life could be in danger.â
I kind of laughed it off. âItâs not like I know anything, at least not anything that anyone else doesnât know. I thought it was better to humor them, you know? They promised to stay out of my way. What have I got to lose?â
Before Miguel could answer, there was another loud rap at the door.
âZoe?â Alexâs voice came through the door. âItâs
me
. Could I have a word?â
Miguel opened the door. He and Alex exchanged a few inquisitive stares and shook hands while I put on my shoes. Miguel left the door open, standing right in the middle of the opening. The smile on his face was challenging.
I didnât like Alex, knowing what I knew, but it wouldnât do me any good to antagonize him. I looked up and smiled. âWhat can I do for you?â
Alex chuckled. âWorking on tomorrowâs challenge, I see. Good job! Iâm sure youâll be fabulous.â
âThanks. Was there something in particular you wanted to talk about?â
âZoe, Iâve heard an ugly rumor about someone in Charlotte saying that
I
had something to do with what happened to Reggie Johnson. You wouldnât know anything about that, would
C. J. Cherryh
Learning to Kill: Stories
John O'Riley
Brenda Sinclair
Christopher George
Stephen Lloyd Jones
Karl Iagnemma
Celya Bowers
Jill Gregory
Aria Cunningham