"Somehow, Al heard about it and wanted to thank me. He offered me a job at City Hall. He was mayor for eight years and I was his administrative a.s.sistant. Started selling real estate part time."

"You must have been pretty close to him. I heard about the disposition of his estate."

"A complete surprise. His attorney called me to his office. He said Al had changed his will recently, and left me those Chinese dishes and that rare Chinese trader's catalog that he told you about. I wouldn't know what to do with them. I'll give them to charity unless you want them. You're the only person I know that understands what they are. I know you'll appreciate them."

"That's far too generous. I could never accept them. And you must be very careful about disposing of those items. You'd be making a big mistake by giving them to charity. Promise me you'll not take any action until you talk with an appraiser. I've a friend at Sotheby's in New York."

"I'm sure they're very nice, but I've no use for them. She reached across and closed her hand over his. "You want coffee now or shall we stick with the wine?"

"I had coffee in jail. Let's stick with the wine."

She stood by the sink while he cleared the sorbet dishes from the table and handed them to her. She turned and gave him a quick, light kiss on the lips. "You know, you're very nice, Ray. I'm certain that you're innocent, and I hope everything works out for you."

He wondered what would happen if he just pulled her to him and kissed those lips hard. What he actually did was mutter, "Thanks."

They moved with their wine gla.s.ses to the couch and sat side by side.

He was aware that an unexpected degree of closeness with Tammy had begun. Although he had no particular expectation, he did know that he wanted to spend more time with this woman. He had detected a value and an attraction to her that went beyond her physical beauty.

He would need to move carefully. Let things progress naturally. If a friendship developed out of this then it would be worth it. He hoped the evening had gone pleasantly for her. He would wait a day or so. Not appear too anxious. Then ask her out to dinner. Would she accept? That would be the mighty test of whether she wanted to see him again. He didn't dare dream of what might happen after that.

Then he noticed Tammy had moved closer to him on the couch.

She reached over and rested her hand on his thigh, and said, "Now just because I made you dinner, I don't want you to feel obligated to sleep with me."

Chapter 34.

When Ray nervously phoned Loraine Dellin the next day, he was surprised she didn't hang up. In fact, she agreed to meet with him provided it was at some public place. He wanted some answers about why she had trapped him-he didn't know why she agreed.

They met in the parking lot of the public library. She backed into a parking s.p.a.ce but didn't get out, sat there with the window down and the engine running. Ray leaned at the window. "There's a bench over there, we could sit and talk."

She didn't budge. "This is fine, under the circ.u.mstances."

"Yes, the circ.u.mstances being you're ready to speed out of here as soon as I try to reach in there and grab you by the throat."

"Is that what we're going to talk about, retaliation? Just don't make any sudden moves. I'm not joking about that."

"What, you have that little Smithy Wesson next to you there in the car? Little risky carrying around the murder weapon, isn't it?"

"I didn't murder anyone but I know who did. That's why I agreed to meet you. I wanted to tell you. I figure I owe you that much."

"You owe me plenty, and I know you're not here to help me. Okay, let's have it, if you didn't do it, who did?"

"Norma Martin. Did you know Martin is a Hispanic name? She's actually Cuban."

"Cuban-American, and runs a Cuban cafe. Some secret."

"Don't you get it? Everyone knew Al was having an affair, well she's the one. He thought he could handle being involved with her. But she had him all s.e.xed up so the whole tribe could rob him blind. You sleep with one of them and the entire family climbs into bed with you. That's the way they operate."

"Where are you getting this nonsense?"

"Al was into some big Tampa real estate deal with her not knowing her family was setting him up. The deal went bad and he broke off with her. The family was afraid he'd reveal their secrets, so she killed him. She was actually seen leaving his apartment the day of the murder."

"Loraine, you're mixing up pieces of several different rumors. Who's your source on all this?"

"I can't tell you who. You might be wearing a wire."

"Me? No, are you? Don't forget which of us is the suspect. You're the one flitting around uncharged. You're the one causing all the trouble and for some reason the police are afraid to come after you."

"Prominent citizen trumps irrelevant stranger every time."

"You were quite the actress putting on that overs.e.xed and helpless routine at the motel."

She relaxed, unhooked her seatbelt, leaned back, and smiled, "You went for it. Show a man some skin and his brains slide down into his pants." She changed to a slow, mocking voice, "Isn't my little bikini just the cutest thing you've ever saw? You do like to look at me, don't you?" Then back to normal, "Thank G.o.d I had to wear it only once. You're a regular Boy Scout aren't you, running around like that?"

"Pretty dumb of me, huh, trying to help a bunch of strangers."

"You and one other guy at the party were the type I was looking for, h.o.r.n.y and gullible. I was working both of you. I figured one of you would catch fire."

"What fun! And I was the winning stooge. The loser is happily going on with his life somewhere."

She looked directly at him. "You didn't seem to mind."

"No, I didn't at the time, but I paid an incredibly high price for that piece of s.e.x, wasn't worth five seconds of my freedom."

"You surprised me when you turned me down at the motel. The bikini was to get you going, and when I took it all off, you were supposed to go all stupid. I overestimated your horniness. I expected I'd have to screw you again to keep you properly motivated. You know, make you think there would be regular s.e.x if you kept doing what I wanted. But you didn't require it, thank G.o.d. You just charged off like Don Quixote to right the wrongs of the world."

"You must have known when Towson would be murdered, and you got me to his place at the proper time. I was the stranger with only some c.o.c.kamamie explanation for being there. It was supposed to appear that in my delusional mind I was in a love triangle."

"He was such a sick pup, your Honor. He imagined that with Senator Towson out of the way he'd have me all to himself."

"s.e.x is merely a weapon for you, isn't it?"

"I'm over seventy. No man is going to do anything for me without some manner of s.e.x."

He believed that was the first honest statement of her feelings he had heard from her. "That's not true," he said. "You're just afraid to find out."

"I'm getting what I want my way."

"You tried to get my fingerprints on that gun box in the motel room, didn't you? How did that box end up in Tammy's closet?"

"Now, wasn't I clever? I caught Barner going through some things in my bedroom when he was there exterminating months ago. I told him to never come back. When I failed to get your prints on the box, I called him. I bluffed him saying I knew he'd been pilfering things from customer's homes. He begged me not to turn him in. It would ruin his business. I told him I needed a favor. Such an ignorant man."

"You blackmailed him into leaving that small shopping bag in Tammy's closet when he serviced her place the next time. Naturally she would look through it and get her prints on the gun box."

"Yes, apparently he found time in between smelling her panties."

"Why did you bring Tammy into it anyway?"

"Two reasons, the first is strategic. If you'd just gone to see Towson and left, no one would know you'd been there. I couldn't count on you leaving fingerprints. I couldn't even count on him letting you in. My plan needed Tammy. I knew you'd find her and tell her you'd gone to Towson's. Then she'd give evidence you were at the crime scene."

"And the other reason?"

"Embarra.s.sment, the date-rape thing. I wanted to link her forever with Barner, start people talking about a s.e.x scandal, dream girl carrying on with the repulsive town creep. The rumor would ruin her. No brains or breeding yet she sailed through life because Al wanted to keep her magical b.o.o.bs within reach."

"They were lovers?"

"Of course they were lovers. He's a man isn't he? She turned him against me with all her jiggling around."

"You just admitted you planned to murder him."

"I admit I was thinking about it. Norma Martin saved me the trouble."

"That's too wild. You're telling me you planned this whole scheme but Norma Martin conveniently came by that afternoon and shot him for you?."

"Lucky me." She shrugged. "And the town won't be laughing at me anymore. They were saying the Mensa babe wasn't smart enough to hold her man. He had millions and they thought I would end up with only a piddling monthly alimony. They thought the good life was over for me. Did you see the faces on the town b.i.t.c.hes at the party when I left with you? Half hated me, half were cheering me on. And all knew they would be home in bed with their snoring pot-bellied old man while I was merrily getting laid by the eager young guy."

"This isn't just about jealousy and revenge. You're hurting for money and you stand to gain big bucks out of his death. Furthermore, I'm going to prove you did it."

She was definitely annoyed at that. Ray jumped back as she pulled away.

A fascinating confirmation of his suspicions and he needed to hear it to clear his mind. But it wasn't recorded so it would do no good toward her prosecution. He'd give Sandy the details. She wanted everyone together that night to discuss all that was known.

And Sandy has a proclamation-says she's figured out the killer's ident.i.ty.

Chapter 35.

"Just give me the rest of my money and I'll get out of here." Sonny Barner felt awkward sitting on the white-cushioned porch chair across the table from the woman. Sitting like socializing, he thought. Like the dumb b.i.t.c.h actually wanted him in her house one second longer than necessary. Why have him sit anyway? Couldn't she see his dirty coveralls?

"Stink kinda bad today, Mrs. Dellin. You know, the chemicals." Why talking nice to her anyway, like she cares what s.h.i.t he gets into.

"You smell to high heaven and you've been drinking."

"Had to crawl around under some guy's house to treat scorpions. Got special stuff that I use. Dumb guy said he'd been throwing old boards into his crawls.p.a.ce for years. Said you never know when you might need a piece of lumber. Okay by me if he wants to breed scorpions under his house and then pay me to kill them." Barner thought that was sort of funny, but she didn't even smile. When she hands him the money she can go f.u.c.k herself.

"Did you carry any of them in here, in your cuffs, in your shoes?"

Should tell her tough s.h.i.t if he did. Hold off until the cash is in his hand. Feeling good about things. Stopped on the way over here and had a couple shots and beer. Anybody would need something under his belt to face this woman. Would really celebrate later. Stop at Discount and buy a case of Daniels. Can buy it by the case now. Go home spread that pretty green paper all over the floor: twenties, fifties, lots of hundreds. Flip them up in the air if I want.

"The money-Mrs. Dellin." Should call her by her first name, she can't stop him. Call her Loraine like she's nothing special, see how that grabs her. Loraine, I'm sitting on your white f.u.c.king cushion, Loraine. What's she gonna do, tell him to bring the senator back to life? She's the one has to play nice now.

"I've got your money. Do you have my gun?"

He put his palms on his cheeks, pretending to act surprised. "The gun?"

"Don't play with me, Sonny. You know the deal. I want that gun back. No gun, no money."

He knew what she's thinking, knows that gun ties her in. Maybe he'll just keep it for insurance. Let her worry about the gun turning up someday and then needing to give him more money or else explain it to the police. Physical stuff like a gun is good, not a bunch of words. Just keep that little .38 she bought, the one out of the gun box she had him plant in Tammy's closet. Hold it over her head. Who's the dumb one now, rich b.i.t.c.h? Get on your knees and beg. Get more money out of her. She's getting millions anyway. Feeling good now.

She said, "You know that gun must be destroyed."

"Maybe I got rid of it already."

"Not good enough. I want to see it destroyed. If you don't have that gun, buster, you just blew ten thousand dollars. I don't know what you think you're pulling, but you better consider whether it's worth ten thousand."

She was serious. He frowned. Okay. He reached in his pocket and came out with the gun pointed directly at her head.

"Idiot!" She reached across with both hands and grabbed the gun, pointed the muzzle away and pulled it from his hand. She flipped open the cylinder. "Chamber's empty, where are the bullet casings, Sonny? I gave you the gun with five bullets and told you to leave the spent casings in the cylinder."

"Forgot that part, thought I was supposed to throw them away."

"You know those little casings can carry fingerprints? Did you think of that? I wiped each cartridge before I loaded the gun. Where are they? Are you sure they won't be found?"

"Look lady, I took them out. I didn't set them down on the floor in the middle of his apartment." Stupid woman.

"How many did you fire?"

"Couple."

"Police said he was killed with one shot."

"Maybe it was only one."

"How could you not know? Not advanced math. You started with five. How many did you use on Al and how many were left?"

Talking to him like he's some child. He'll get even with the smarta.s.s b.i.t.c.h. "Well, guess I was nervous, you know confused. Don't remember."

"What did he do when you pointed the gun at him?"

"Don't want to talk about details, okay? He's dead ain't he?" She wanted the senator dead. So he's dead. Why doesn't she just shut up? "What, you writing a book?"

"You're right, it's done. We each got what we wanted." She pushed her chair back and stood. She put the gun in the pocket of her short terrycloth robe. "Okay, Sonny, celebration time. What'll you have?"

"My money."

"No problem, my friend. Now we're square."