I got into the office early the following morning, Saturday, before eight. I did some routine chores, paperwork, made a couple of calls, feeling kind of like a fish out of water the whole time. I wasn’t used to not having Kate around. I made myself a cup of coffee and then just sat there, alone with the Dark Italian Roast and my thoughts. My cell phone rang. It was ten o’clock.
“Harry Starke.”
“Ah, Mr. Starke. You’re there.”
I sat bolt upright in my chair. She had my full attention.
“Senator Michaels?”
“Yes. Do you have a minute?”
“I do. How can I help you?”
“I think it’s more what I can do for you, or at least for Mr. Starke Senior.”
“Er… what do you mean?”
“I think I might have something for him, but I wanted to run it by you first. Could you meet me, this evening, perhaps?”
“Well, yes, of course, but wouldn’t it be better if you spoke directly to my father?”
“It might, but I’d rather talk to you first, if you are up to it, just to make sure that what I have in mind wouldn’t be a waste of his time. I’m sure you would know.”
“All right. What are you thinking?”
“Why dinner, of course, at that nice little restaurant where we met the other day, my treat. Would that suit you?”
I almost laughed out loud. “Yes, ma’am, that would suit me fine. What time would you like me to pick you up, and where?”
“I took the liberty of making a reservation for ten o’clock. Is that too late?”
“Not at all. I’ll pick you up… where?”
“I’m staying at the Read House. Shall we say nine o’clock? That will give us time for a drink before the meal.”
“Nine o’clock it is.”
“Good. I’ll be in the lobby. Goodbye, Mr. Starke.” She cut the connection, and I sat back in my chair and smiled.
Something for my father, my ass!
---
I was ready to go an hour early. I couldn’t stay still, not for a minute. I’d been that way all day. I couldn’t concentrate on anything but my impending date—if it was a date. I paced, watched TV, and fidgeted. I was excited and not a little apprehensive. After all, it’s not every day that one gets to dine with a United States senator, now is it?
It’s very rare that I bother to dress up, and by that I mean in a suit and tie. Don’t get the wrong idea. I dress well most of the time, but I prefer more casual clothes. The grungy gear I wear mostly at night, when I’m trolling the nightclubs and bars. That way I blend in. On rare occasions, though, I do make the effort; and this, I figured, was one of those occasions.
I chose a navy blue, two-piece suit with a white, V-neck cashmere sweater—the idea being to show off my pendant. I felt like a damned turkey, cooked and dressed for the table. Oh well. Sometimes we all have to make sacrifices. I smiled at the thought. Some sacrifice.
---
It was exactly nine o’clock when I parked the car out front of the Read House and went inside.
Now, before I go any further, you should know that I’d done a little research on our good lady senator. She was fifty-two, hails from Boston, and is tipped to one day make a run for the presidency. Yes, she’s that important, and when I walked through that door and saw her, I had no doubt she could win it. I have to admit, I was more than a little intimidated.
She was waiting for me in the lobby. She couldn’t have been there long, because she was standing by the reception desk. She was taller than I’d thought, and she was wearing four-inch heels that lifted her close to six feet two. She didn’t look a day over forty. The glasses were gone. The skin was smooth. Her figure was well proportioned and, so I assumed by the fit of her clothes, it needed no help from foundation garments. Her dark brown hair framed her face, covered her ears, and was cut so that it just brushed her shoulders. She wasn’t the most beautiful woman in the room, but she was the most attractive, and she owned it.
She was wearing a pale blue, waist-length satin jacket that shimmered under the lights over a black cocktail dress cut two inches above the knee. She carried a pale blue leather clutch, an exact match for the jacket.
She walked confidently across the lobby to meet me, took my arm and together we walked out into the night. She’d not yet said a word, not even hello. I was more than a little conscious of the looks we received as we left the hotel.
I opened the car door for her, and she slid into the front seat. I closed the door and went around to the driver’s side, got in, and pushed the starter.
“Good evening, Mr. Starke. You look… different.”
I looked at her and smiled. “Please, call me Harry. Different?”
“Yes. You look very nice. Shall we go?”
We did.
It was a Saturday night, so Ducat was quite busy, but she didn’t seem perturbed. We were escorted to a table that had obviously been chosen for its seclusion. It was at the front, at the extreme right corner of the restaurant; she sat with her back to the room. The only view anyone would have of her was her hair and shoulders; the chairs had high backs. The good senator had obviously done this before. The maître d’ took her coat. I slipped him a twenty; he smiled, dipped his head, and left us alone.
Okay, I said she wasn’t the most beautiful woman in the Read House lobby, but in that restaurant? Oh yeah. The cocktail dress she wore was strapless, and she filled it beautifully. We were seated opposite one another, and I couldn’t help myself; I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
“Harry,” she whispered with a smile. “It’s rude to stare.”
“Yes, ma’am. It certainly is, and I’m sorry. No, no I’m not.” Again the smile. “But you look a little different yourself. That’s quite a dress, and, if I may be so bold, Senator, that’s quite a woman inside it.”
She laughed, quietly. “Well said, Harry, and thank you. It’s a rare thing to encounter a man with balls enough to say what’s on his mind, much less hand me a compliment—one that doesn’t have strings attached, that is. Please, Harry. My name is Linda. No more ma’am or senator, agreed?”
Balls? Methinks that maybe the senator is no lady. If she is, she’s a damned tough one.
I smiled back at her. “Yes, ma’am.”
That brought another low laugh.
“Would you like to see the wine list, sir?”
I looked up at the wine waiter and opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, she said, “No thank you, Louis. I’ll have a vodka tonic, my friend will have a gin and tonic, Bombay Sapphire with a small square of lime, and we’ll have a bottle of Opus One with the meal.”
Louis nodded and backed away. I looked at her. The question on my face must have been obvious.
“Oh come on, Harry. You don’t think for one minute that I wouldn’t have you checked out, did you? I know exactly who you are and what you do. In fact, I probably know more about you than you do. I even know what brand of toothpaste you use. Work for your father, my ass. You’re a private investigator, and a very good one, so I’m told. I might add that I need your word that everything said between us tonight stays between us.”
“Of course.”
“Good. Then let’s enjoy our meal and our time together. I need a damned break from the rabble I find myself constantly surrounded by, and I’m sure you do, too… and that brings me to the next item. How is that lovely young thing I saw you with the other day? A detective, isn’t she? Are you two an item?”
I shrugged my shoulders. I couldn’t believe this woman. “She is, and we were, but not anymore. She’s fine, I think.”
“Well, now you’re single. Isn’t that a turn up for the books?”
She leaned back in her chair, sipped her drink, and smiled at me over the rim of the glass. I felt so out of my damned depth, so uncomfortable… and why wouldn’t I? I was sitting in a restaurant, alone with one of the most powerful women in the world.
“Harry, you look very uptight. You must learn to relax. You’ll spoil our evening together. We’ll have a nice meal; the chef here is amazing. Let’s unwind and enjoy ourselves. Agreed?”
“Agreed, but I thought you wanted to talk business.”
“I do, but later. For now… Ah, here’s François.”
Yep, she knows this place, well.
“Good evening, madam.” He slid her napkin out of the silver band for her, shook it open, draped it over her lap, then took the menu from under his arm and handed it to her. She passed it over to me without looking at it. It was another set menu with two choices.
“I’m going to have the sole bonne femme, Harry. They serve it over wild rice. The sauce is delicious. You should try it.”
Well, if it’s good enough for her…
“Sounds good. I’ll have that, too, please, François.”
“Thank you, sir. Louis will bring your wine shortly. Would you like another cocktail before it arrives?”
I looked at her. She shook her head.
“No, thank you. We’ll wait for the wine.”
All that time I had a strange feeling that I was performing a part in some sort of weird ritual. Kate and I had not been treated the way Linda and I were being treated. But then, the lady was a United States senator.
Maybe that’s the reason for the VIP treatment. She doesn’t seem to mind being seen with me in public. Then there’s that damned pendant, and where are the Secret Service? Surely they don’t let her loose on her own.
“Linda.” I was having a tough time with that, too, using her first name. “I have to ask, where are the Secret Service? I can’t believe they’d let you out of their sight.”
She smiled. “They don’t. Look there.” She pointed through the slats of the blinds that covered the window, and there it was: a discreet, black, four-door Cadillac. Now I really was intimidated, and it must have showed, because I was treated to another of her low laughs.
“Oh, stop it, Harry. Of course I have protection, but there’s nothing to worry about. The three agents out there have been with me for a long time. I love them all. They know me very well, and they are very discreet.”
What the hell am I getting myself into?
“Ah, here’s the pâté. Do you like foie gras?”
Thank God I know what the hell she’s talking about.
The waiter placed a small plate in front of each of us. On it was a small, perfectly round portion of foie gras; it looked as if it had been turned out of a mold, and it probably had. Each portion was accompanied by four fingers of warm, unbuttered toast folded in a white napkin.
“Actually I do, but we don’t see it very often here in the South. Southern folk don’t like goose liver, or any other kind of liver. This looks wonderful.” And it was, and so was the sole; the fish was cooked to perfection, followed by a white chocolate crème brûlée for dessert.
It was almost eleven thirty when we finished the meal, but the night was not yet over. The restaurant was almost empty. Just one other couple remained; they were enjoying a final cup of coffee three tables away.
“Coffee, Harry?”
“No, I don’t think so, thank you.”
“How about some brandy then?”
I thought about it, and then nodded.
She attracted Louis’s attention and ordered Domaine Dupont Calvados, whatever that was. I’d never heard of it, but it was smooth, and a perfect end to a perfect evening.
“I’ll get the check.” I reached for my wallet.
She chuckled. “It’s already paid for, Harry, and so is the tip. I have an account here. I did say it was my treat.”
“Yes, you did, but—”
“Harry. Enough!”
I sighed and shook my head. “Okay.” I looked around. “I suppose we should leave.”
“What on earth for?”
I squinted, frowned, and looked her in the eye. I didn’t have to ask. My question was obvious.
“You’ll see. Be patient.”
We waited until the restaurant was empty. The last couple left at a little after midnight. She rose from her seat, and François rushed over with her jacket. She didn’t bother to put it on.
“Come with me.”
“What about…?” I nodded in the direction of the black car outside.
“Oh, don’t worry about them. They’ll leave when I do.”
I raised my eyebrows, but she didn’t elaborate.
I got up from my seat and followed her to the door in the rear wall, the one with the painting of the two serpents over it. There was an audible click. Someone, somewhere, had pushed a button. We walked through into a passageway that ran the entire length of the rear of the building. She turned left. At the end of the passageway was a flight of stairs that led to the upper floor and another passageway that ran the length of the front of the building. It reminded me of a hotel. There were doors at intervals from one end to the other.
She walked ahead of me, her hips rolling gently under her tight black dress. I could see the outline of every muscle. High heels really do something for a woman, don’t they?
The doors weren’t numbered, but she seemed to know which one she wanted. She stopped, withdrew a key card from her clutch, and swiped it through the lock. The door opened, and she stepped inside. I followed.
Now I knew what the mall was all about. Apart from providing Shady with an office, a place from which to conduct his business, it was also a place for like-minded people to get together. The fact that the five businesses on the ground floor made money was an added bonus.
We were inside a small luxury suite, with a large bedroom, a sitting room, a bathroom, utilities for making coffee, and a small but well-stocked bar.
“Make yourself at home, Harry. Pour the drinks. Sorry, I don’t have any Laphroaig.” She smiled as she said it.
I grinned and shook my head. “What can I get for you?”
“Vodka tonic; easy on the ice.”
She tossed her jacket onto a chair by the door.
“I’ll be just a minute.” She stepped into the bathroom.
I poured the drinks and sat down to wait.
After a moment, I heard the toilet flush, then the sound of running water.
“Now then, Harry.” She took the drink from my hand and sat down on a chair directly opposite me. She looked me squarely in the eye and said, “We’re alone now so we can talk freely.”
“You sure?”
“What do you mean? Oh, you mean… Don’t worry. This place is swept for bugs on a regular basis. It’s secure.”
Again, I wondered what I’d gotten myself into, but what the hell. Here I was, alone with a beautiful woman. Why not enjoy the moment?
“You said you might have something for my father.”
“And you believed me, didn’t you? Really, Harry.” The sarcasm was unmistakable. “What the hell did you think I would do when you dangled that thing in front of my face? Offer you a job? Be serious. You knew exactly what you were doing, but you weren’t expecting anything, were you? After all, very few men on this planet get to screw a sitting United States senator, especially this one. And you’re not there yet.”
I was speechless, struck dumb.
“Oh, don’t look so shocked. You know the ropes.”
I do?
“You know what this place is. As I said, it’s secure. I come here every once in a while, mostly just to rest, to get away from it all. I’m not married; well, I’m a widow, as you probably know. I don’t engage in casual relationships. I can’t afford to. Mystica was a gift from the Gods, an answer to many of my needs, needs that are unique to me and what I am, and before you ask the obvious question: only once before have I brought a man to this apartment. This is my refuge, a place to be alone and to think. Although, it does provide a unique opportunity, should I ever need to… Well. I’ll let you figure it out.”
She sipped her drink, staring at me over the rim of the glass. She put the drink down on the coffee table, leaned forward, put her elbows on her knees and clasped her hands together in front of her.
“I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to think very carefully before you answer it. Don’t lie to me. If you do… Tell me, why are you a member of Mystica?”
I didn’t even have to think about it. “I’m not.”
“Not what? Not going to tell me?”
“I’m not a member, Linda. Never have been, never will be.”
“But you have the pendant.”
“I do, but…”
“Tell me, Harry. What you say next—”
I interrupted her, “Linda, it doesn’t even belong to me. It belongs to a young woman who committed suicide. I’ve been retained by her father to investigate what happened to her. She was wearing it around her neck when they took her out of the water. When I spotted your pendant the other night, I had to try and find out what it meant. Look, if you want me to go, I will.” I started to rise, but she waved her hand for me to sit down again.
I’m not sure, but I thought I saw her breathe a sigh of relief.
“I believe you, Harry.” She picked up her drink, took a sip, and then set it down again.
“Now.” I looked at her. “Can I ask you the same question?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Why not?”
“For several reasons, the foremost of which is that I don’t want you to. Another is because I don’t want to become part of your investigation.”
“I understand. I do need to know about Mystica, though.”
“Then you’ll have to find out from someone else. That should be easy enough for a man of your talents.”
I didn’t press the point. I was happy just to still be there.
She downed the rest of her drink, got up from the chair, and walked over to the bar.
“Would you like another, Harry?”
“Better not. I’m driving.”
“No, you’re not. You’ve already had too much to be allowed to drive home, much less drive me back to the hotel, and my friends have already left for the night. Same again?”
I looked at my watch. It was already past twelve thirty. “Sure, why not?”
We talked for maybe another thirty minutes, though I wasn’t watching the time. Mostly, I was watching her, and she was asking questions; she was relentless.
“Are you in love with your detective friend, Harry?”
It was on the tip of my tongue to give her a quick answer, but something made me pause. I lowered my head so she couldn’t see my eyes, and I thought about it. Was I? I’d always thought so, but then I realized something, and I looked up at her. She was watching me intently. I took a deep breath. Here we go.
“Linda, I have known Kate for a long time, more than fifteen years. We’ve been seeing each other for almost ten years and, until you asked me that question, I really thought I was in love with her, but then I realized something. Ten years and I’ve never asked her to marry me, and she’s never mentioned it either. So while I do love her, no, I’m not in love with Kate.”
She nodded. “Good. I believe you. I need to use the restroom. I’ll be just a moment.”
I sat back in the chair and gazed up at the ceiling. Again, the toilet flushed, the water ran, and then I looked down and there she was.
Oh. My. God.
She was standing in the backlight from the bathroom. The dress was gone. All she had on was a black strapless bra and tiny black panties so sheer I could see right through them, and she was still wearing her heels.
Now I have to tell you, I’d been fantasizing about where I hoped the night might be going, but that’s all it was: a fantasy. Never in my wildest imaginings did I expect anything to actually happen. She glided across the room, kicked off the shoes, and then she sat down on my lap. I could barely breathe, and it wasn’t because she was heavy; she wasn’t.
I put my arm around her waist. Her skin was cold, but it felt like silk. She put her hands together on my shoulder and leaned her head on them, breathing gently, as if she was about to go to sleep. I could smell her perfume, and I know it sounds stupid, but I actually wondered if that was what heaven must smell like.
We sat like that for a long time, saying nothing. I thought for a moment she’d fallen asleep, but then she sat up and looked into my eyes.
“Make love to me, Harry.”
It was after nine the following morning when I drove her back to the Read House. The black Caddy followed at a discreet distance. I pulled up outside the front entrance to the hotel. She leaned over and gave me a peck on the cheek.
“Thank you, Harry. I had a lovely time. I hope you did, too. Until the next time, then?”
She didn’t give me a chance to answer. She flung open the car door, swung herself out, and then breezed in through the front door. I could only sit there and shake my head.
What the hell has just happened to me? Better yet: there’s going to be a next time. Oh my God. Thank you, Lord.
I put the car in drive and pulled away from the front of the hotel. My intention was to continue on MLK to the interchange on Highway 27, but as I cruised past the multi-level parking lot, I also drove past the silver Honda. I didn’t notice it until I was alongside it. Maybe I was tired, distracted by thoughts of my oh-so-amazing experience. I don’t know. Whatever it was, my reactions were slow. I must have driven twenty yards past the Honda when I caught on. I slammed on the brakes, jammed the car into reverse, and floored the gas pedal. I almost hit the Honda as it made a right on Walnut and screamed away. By the time I made the turn and went after it, it was gone. Disappeared.
What the hell?
I cruised around several adjacent blocks, but there was no sign of it.
Damn!