scanner, and after it beeped, keyed in a combination. When a whirring noise quit, he knew the deadbolt had receded into the doorjamb.
He turned to Baldwin. “That’s why all the security. I can assure you that if you leave a coffee mug on the front stoop overnight, it’ll be gone in the morning. Luckily, in my town, the police advise residents on their security systems, so I can deduct from my taxes what the department doesn’t foot.”
They stepped into a room furnished entirely with gray metal cabinets, gray metal shelves, and gray metal closets. “Nice house,” she said. “Who’s your interior decorator?”
He laughed. “Storage room. Living’s upstairs.”
She pointed at what looked like metal wardrobe closets. “You must have a lot of off-season clothes.”
“ Wet suits. Beach gear. Gun safe.”
He led her up a staircase. “The beach has narrow lots, so they build up, like city townhouses. This house has three stories, each with a high ceiling so you can get an ocean view from the rooftop patio.” He continued to lead her up another set of stairs. “Living’s on the top floor.”
“ How far are you from the beach?”
“ Half a block. Normally two rows of houses, but I’m lucky. The lot behind me is vacant, so only one house stands between me and the ocean.”
“ I’ve made enough money on my books that I’ve begun to think about buying a house where I can step out right onto the sand.”
“ Yeah, that’s my dream too, but here oceanfront houses cost four times as much as this one, and it’s only spitting distance from the beach. Did you see that schoolyard across the street?”
“ Yeah. You like kids?”
“ These kids are okay. Elementary school. They made this house affordable for me because it faces the parking lot.”
They entered the living level, and she said, “Nice house … and I mean it this time.”
“ Thank you.”
He had decorated the house with comfortable contemporary furniture and accented it with glossy white custom cabinets to hold his entertainment center. The kitchen had natural maple cabinets and shiny white tile with light brown grouting. Bright blue pillows and glass art added splashes of color. He always enjoyed people’s first reaction.
Baldwin walked over to a white-framed painting on the wall. “This is original artwork.”
“ Local artist. Lots of them around, and they get hungry occasionally.”
She turned to face him. “In the movies, cop houses are always a disheveled mess. Beer cans strewn around, dishes in the sink, nothing eatable in the refrigerator.”
“ Street cops, maybe. Not detectives. Good detectives are meticulous.”
“ Then you must be very good.”
Another laugh. “Let’s hope so. Drink?”
“ You got anything other than scotch?”
“ No port, I’m afraid, but—” He went to a cabinet in the dining room and handed her a bottle. “I don’t know much about wine, but my brother gave me this for Christmas.”
She handed it back. “Yes, please. And your brother does know wine.”
“ He lives in Napa. If you don’t mind, I’ll revert to type and have a beer.”
Now she laughed. “Not at all.”
Evarts handed her a glass of wine and then led her to a front living room that he had converted into a library with facing love seats. Upon entering the room, she made a quick scan of his books but made no comment. After her inspection, she sat down on the love seat across from him.
Evarts wondered why she had wanted to come to his place instead of the motel. Normally, he would welcome a pretty woman into his house, but today wasn’t a normal day. She didn’t appear insensitive, so she must have motives unrelated to her comments about being attracted to him.
“ I think we dismissed the Cooper Union address too quickly,” she said, without preamble.
“ What do you mean?”
“ Douglass said the Shut Mouth Society members came from a powerful political family that went all the way back to the founding. Before
He turned to Baldwin. “That’s why all the security. I can assure you that if you leave a coffee mug on the front stoop overnight, it’ll be gone in the morning. Luckily, in my town, the police advise residents on their security systems, so I can deduct from my taxes what the department doesn’t foot.”
They stepped into a room furnished entirely with gray metal cabinets, gray metal shelves, and gray metal closets. “Nice house,” she said. “Who’s your interior decorator?”
He laughed. “Storage room. Living’s upstairs.”
She pointed at what looked like metal wardrobe closets. “You must have a lot of off-season clothes.”
“ Wet suits. Beach gear. Gun safe.”
He led her up a staircase. “The beach has narrow lots, so they build up, like city townhouses. This house has three stories, each with a high ceiling so you can get an ocean view from the rooftop patio.” He continued to lead her up another set of stairs. “Living’s on the top floor.”
“ How far are you from the beach?”
“ Half a block. Normally two rows of houses, but I’m lucky. The lot behind me is vacant, so only one house stands between me and the ocean.”
“ I’ve made enough money on my books that I’ve begun to think about buying a house where I can step out right onto the sand.”
“ Yeah, that’s my dream too, but here oceanfront houses cost four times as much as this one, and it’s only spitting distance from the beach. Did you see that schoolyard across the street?”
“ Yeah. You like kids?”
“ These kids are okay. Elementary school. They made this house affordable for me because it faces the parking lot.”
They entered the living level, and she said, “Nice house … and I mean it this time.”
“ Thank you.”
He had decorated the house with comfortable contemporary furniture and accented it with glossy white custom cabinets to hold his entertainment center. The kitchen had natural maple cabinets and shiny white tile with light brown grouting. Bright blue pillows and glass art added splashes of color. He always enjoyed people’s first reaction.
Baldwin walked over to a white-framed painting on the wall. “This is original artwork.”
“ Local artist. Lots of them around, and they get hungry occasionally.”
She turned to face him. “In the movies, cop houses are always a disheveled mess. Beer cans strewn around, dishes in the sink, nothing eatable in the refrigerator.”
“ Street cops, maybe. Not detectives. Good detectives are meticulous.”
“ Then you must be very good.”
Another laugh. “Let’s hope so. Drink?”
“ You got anything other than scotch?”
“ No port, I’m afraid, but—” He went to a cabinet in the dining room and handed her a bottle. “I don’t know much about wine, but my brother gave me this for Christmas.”
She handed it back. “Yes, please. And your brother does know wine.”
“ He lives in Napa. If you don’t mind, I’ll revert to type and have a beer.”
Now she laughed. “Not at all.”
Evarts handed her a glass of wine and then led her to a front living room that he had converted into a library with facing love seats. Upon entering the room, she made a quick scan of his books but made no comment. After her inspection, she sat down on the love seat across from him.
Evarts wondered why she had wanted to come to his place instead of the motel. Normally, he would welcome a pretty woman into his house, but today wasn’t a normal day. She didn’t appear insensitive, so she must have motives unrelated to her comments about being attracted to him.
“ I think we dismissed the Cooper Union address too quickly,” she said, without preamble.
“ What do you mean?”
“ Douglass said the Shut Mouth Society members came from a powerful political family that went all the way back to the founding. Before
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