Palindrome
in the direction of the dining room. Liz turned to see a nineteen-year-old male backside in tight jeans pointed at her as Ron, the waiter, swung a mop back and forth across the floor.
    "You're kidding," Liz said.
    "Nope. The first year or two I ran the inn, I nearly went nuts I was so horny—we almost never get a single man as a guest here. Then I discovered the pleasures of young flesh. They come here to work for the summer. It's perfect."
    "Well, I'll be damned," Liz said.
    "Me too, probably, but it's worth it. The funny thing is, they love it, being with an older woman. At that age they've maybe screwed a cheerleader or two, but that isn't much experience. I send 'em away ready for anything."
    She leaned close. "Ol' Ron, there, will be the hottest thing on campus when he gets back to school. And the nice thing is, I'm having to make him go back. He wants to stay on for the winter!"
    "You salty old thing, you!"
    "Damn right. I'll be forty next month, and I'm still nuts about young flesh!"
    The two women dissolved into laughter, so much so that Ron turned and looked questioningly at them. "Girl talk, sweetheart," Germaine called to him. "Don't mind us." Ron gave her a broad wink and went back to his mopping. "To tell you the truth," Germaine said, "I was thinking of offering him to you, you seemed so lonely, but I guess that's all taken care of, and I can't say I blame you. I've always thought my baby brothers were the dishiest things around."
    "Well, I don't know where this is going. He seems pretty slippery, your brother."
    "That's true enough. He might just get up and go; you should take that into account."
    "I'm not looking for anything permanent," Liz said truthfully, then she grinned. "But I do hope he sticks around for a little longer."
    They burst out laughing again. When they had recovered themselves, Germaine looked at her more seriously. "It's been awhile, has it?"
    "Awhile."
    "How long you been divorced?"
    "It was final after I arrived here."
    "It ended badly?"
    "He put me in the hospital."
    "Shit," Germaine said. "My ex slapped me once, and I broke his nose with my fist."
    Liz laughed in spite of herself. "I was outclassed in the muscle department, believe me."
    "I hope you stuck him for a lot."
    "I did, but if he ever gets his hands on me..."
    "Jesus, no wonder you wanted to come someplace like this."
    "Well, when Ray made the offer, it did seem the answer to a prayer."
    Germaine grinned. "And Keir was the answer to another prayer?"
    "Well, let's just say he's awfully nice to have around."
    "I'm glad to hear it. I've been worried about both of you. Just don't get too involved; he really is capable of vanishing into thin air. Does it all the time."
    "I'd thought as much." Germaine slapped her palms on the table and rose. "Well, I've got a grocery order to make up and phone in. You finish your coffee, and we'll talk some more another time."
    "Thanks, I'd like that." Germaine headed for her desk, and Liz idly turned her attention to the newspaper that Hamish had left behind.
    A banner above the masthead read, BOBCATS' HOPES DASHED AS RAMSEY BASHES KNEE IN L.A. OPENER. Once again, she pushed Baker Ramsey out of her mind. She scanned the front page and stopped at the bottom. ATLANTA LAWYER FOUND DEAD IN BEVERLY HILLS POOL. She read on: Albert Schaefer, a prominent Atlanta trial attorney, was found dead on Sunday morning in the swimming pool of the Beverly Hills Hotel by a lifeguard who arrived for work. His body was fully clothed when found. A Beverly Hills Police Department spokesman confirmed that death was by drowning and stated further that the alcohol content of Schaefer's bloodstream was elevated.
    The investigating detectives surmised that Schaefer had fallen into the pool while drunk, during the early hours of Sunday morning, and had been unable to save himself. The lawyer's ex-wife confirmed that Schaefer was a nonswimmer with a fear of water, and the spokesman said that foul play was not suspected. Liz

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