Chapter 19

The scent of coffee tantalized Maggie’s nose. Her eyelids fluttered then peeled open one at a time. She blinked and looked down. A steaming cup was beneath her chin.

“Thought you could use some vitamin C after your late night,” Constantine said, nodding toward the heavily creamed mug of joe.

Maggie smiled and sat up. “And by vitamin C you mean caffeine or Constantine?”

“Both?”

She laughed and slid over. “Will you be this sweet when we’re married?”

He sat beside her. “Sweeter, like a banana left too long on the counter.”

Maggie wrinkled her nose. “Nice analogy.” She inhaled the coffee’s aroma and took a sip, relishing the warmth as it traveled down her throat.

“What did your insomniac pursuits net you?”

“Other than dark circles under my eyes? Not much. The victims’ only connection seems to be the drugstore.”

“And your motive/means/opportunity suspect list?”

She took another sip. “Under development. After I finish this and meet Ada at the gym. Hopefully this time I won’t make a fool of myself.”

He kissed her on her nose. “All part of your charm. See you when you get back.”

  

Ada was waiting for Maggie at the GymRatz front counter, pulling her heel to her glute in a deep quad stretch. “I already checked you in. I’ve got two more guest passes for you then you’ll have to commit.” She rolled her neck, whipping her long, dark ponytail around. “My favorite is the SpinCycle. What do you think of it?”

Maggie thought of her previous exploits: underwear clinging to her tights, stationary cycles she’d sent crashing into each other in a spectacular cascade of metal dominoes. “I think I’ll be lucky if they let me back in.”

Ada laughed. “Don’t worry. Sloane’s cool. Couple more sessions and you’ll be able to bounce a quarter off your ass.” Maggie wondered about her odds with dimes and nickels and whether she could put coin-responsive musculature on a future resume. “Besides,” Ada continued, “Spinning will get your mind off all the news coverage.”

Maggie groaned. “Thanks for reminding me.”

Ada laughed and looped her arm through Maggie’s. “Don’t worry. Everyone knows you’re innocent.” Maggie rolled her eyes. “Hey, I’m a cop in training. Trust me.”

They strode past the locker rooms, around a snack counter laden with wheatgrass smoothies and gluten-free “bagels,” and into the SpinCycle. “I’m going to refill my water bottle, check to see if that cute guy is lifting free weights. Be right back.”

With the early hour, the SpinCycle was dimly lit, transforming the cycles into hulking, predatory shadows.

At least no one will recognize me, Maggie mused.

“Back again, new girl.” Sloane slapped a meaty hand on her arm. “Great to see you.”

Maggie resisted the urge to rub her arm. “Thanks.”

“You’re Ada’s friend, right? Maggie? The one on TV.” Sloane took a step forward, lowered her voice. “With the poisonings?”

Maggie with the Poisonings. Maggie thought that would make a great band name. “Um, I guess?”

Sloane bobbed her head slowly. “I thought so. Helluva deal. All those deaths. The pharmacy closing.” She leaned even closer, the stale powdery smell of overworked deodorant encircling her. “The chance that we could have something poisonous in our medicine cabinets right now.”

Maggie licked her lips. “Yeah, helluva deal.” She looked over her shoulder. Where was Ada?

“And all that stuff about you,” Sloane continued, “your past. Your exploits.” Exploits. As if she were Ponce de Leon. “I just don’t understand why they’re not talking about that other girl.”

Maggie concentrated on keeping her face neutral. “Other girl?”

The Boulder made duck lips, reviewed her form, anterior and posterior, in the room’s mirrored walls. “Francine.”

“Francine? Checker Francine? At Petrosian’s?”

Sloane put a hand on her hip, inflating her bicep appreciably. “We used to train together. Body building.” She flexed the bicep, which rippled beneath her smooth tanned skin, gave the mirror another glance. “That bitch has problems.”

“What kind of problems?”

“Alcohol. Drugs. Trouble with the law.”

“Drugs? Trouble with the law? Francine?” Maggie thought of her coworker’s holier-than-everyone attitude. “Are you sure we’re talking about the same person?”

Sloane barked out a laugh. “Oh yeah. I saw her the last time I was in Petrosian’s, getting in some kid’s face. I mean, kids can be a real pain in the ass, but you have to let ‘em know who’s in charge. Keep ‘em on a tight leash, if you know what I mean.” Maggie thought Sloane used the same philosophy in her Spin class. “Why a pharmacy would hire someone like her is beyond me.”

Maggie opened her mouth to ask about Francine’s run-ins with the law, to inquire about her coworker’s drug history, when the room suddenly came alive with other cyclists.

Sloane gave Maggie a sympathetic look. “Listen, I’d like to dish more about Francine, but duty calls. Get ready to get your heart pounding.”

Maggie was way ahead of her.