Before I headed north to my ski lodge in the Adirondacks, I invited Nick and his wife, Gloria, to join me. I called it a “working vacation,” but really, I just wanted Gloria along. I like hanging out with Nick—and can’t imagine a better partner—but Gloria is something special. Oh, man, is she something special. I wouldn’t call Nick ugly, but I wouldn’t call him handsome either. Probably a four on a scale of ten. Gloria, though, was definitely a ten, but only because the scale doesn’t go higher. She was tall and slender and captivating. She was also super smart with a fantastic memory. She would have made a great PI if her looks didn’t keep her from blending in.
“On the first afternoon, we can go skiing at Gore Mountain, and on the second day, we can try to catch Ralph at his lodge.”
Nick agreed to go, but added, “Only if you let me fly the plane.”
“You got a deal,” I said. “I’ll call Laurie and let him know we’re coming. I’m sure the runway has to be cleared.”
*****
I drove the SUV up the snow-covered driveway and parked under the pine trees next to the lodge. Two sets of ski tracks led away from the lodge. I assumed Nick and Gloria were breaking trails in the woods.
I never ceased to be amazed at Nick’s strength and stamina. The man was like a cat. He ate and slept, but instead of being fat and lazy, he was well-muscled without an ounce of fat he didn’t need. He had the strength of an ox and was fast on his feet, belying his huge body. In short, he was probably the most energetic man I have ever known. I suspect he was a closet athlete. Too bad he never went pro. He probably could have made more money as an athlete than as a PI.
I entered the lodge and tossed my ski jacket on a chair. Good shot, but it fell on the floor anyway. I poured myself a bourbon, took out my notes on the Hansen family, and spread them on the table. There were two things nagging at me: the large amount of money Mrs. Hansen was willing to pay for the safe return of the pigeon and the gnawing thoughts about the missing witness, Piel Esposar. On the surface, it looked okay, but I couldn’t rid myself of misgivings that Mrs. Hansen was not being completely truthful.
Loud voices outside took me away from my ruminations. Nick was bemoaning his fate at having married a health nut, and Gloria, as usual, fired back that she had married a prince who was turning himself into a frog.
“Do you believe that woman?” Nick said as he entered the room. “She dragged me over ten miles of snow in the wilderness—”
“Nick, stop your complaining. We didn’t ski more than two miles, and you loved every minute of it. If you’re so god-awful used up, then explain what you were trying to do with me in the woods.”
“If you two could hang it up now, I need your help here,” I said rather sternly, almost like a teacher talking to two unruly students.