[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.“Could I ask why you went to Mr.Medina’s party?”“Why? He invited me.I wanted to hear Yasmina.I’d have gone to that big bash Sony Records threw for her on Lincoln Road, but I was stuck in West Palm Beach giving a speech.Billy said come on by afterward, and I did.”“I wasn’t aware you knew Billy Medina.”“Absolutely.He’s always been a supporter.He’s a great guy.You know, C.J., politicians don’t spend all their time making speeches and sniping at each other.We occasionally like to get out and have a little fun.And before you ask, Diana was stuck at home with a bad cold.She knew I was going over to Guillermo Medina’s house.Is this important?” He looked at his watch.“Just one more thing.Richard Slater dropped you off, didn’t he? Then what? You told him he could leave?”“Yes.It was late.I said I’d find my own way home.I didn’t think it was fair to make him stick around waiting for me after he’d been on duty for twelve hours.”“Did he tell you he was going to come inside?”“No, I didn’t see him.Later, when I asked him about it, he told me he’d just wanted to take a look around, see what the party was all about.”“How has Mr.Slater managed to avoid talking to the police for this long?”“Well.I think they’re extending me a courtesy.”“Power has its privileges?”He acknowledged that with a smile.“Sometimes it does, but I try not to overstep.” He lowered his voice.“What are the chances this thing could blow up?”“I hope not, but yes, it could.It has all the ingredients.A missing girl.Miami Beach.Money, celebrities.And a link—tenuous, but it exists—to a wealthy, attractive, and very well-connected Congressman with presidential ambitions.The tabloid press are not known for extending courtesies.”Shelby’s lips tightened.“I should have fired him.It’s not too late.”“No.I think your first instincts were correct.” C.J.added, “You’re confident he told you the truth?”“So far I have no reason to think otherwise.If you learn anything different, I’d like to know about it.”“I can’t do that.He’s my client.”“Of course.” Shelby nodded.“Just take care of it, the sooner the better.”“I’ll certainly try.Please rejoin your family.I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”From her position behind the palms, she watched him walk toward the crowd near the entrance.Watched someone call to him, Shelby not responding until the man grabbed his arm, and then the photogenic smile, laughing, putting his hand on the other man’s back.More introductions, more handshakes.Expelling a breath, C.J.leaned against the wall.“What a phony.What a fucking politician.”She was aware of what she wanted, and that Shelby could snatch it away.Aware that she’d have nothing if his chauffeur told her to get lost.No, not chauffeur.Comrade in arms, a brother veteran, who would be left to rot if he became inconvenient.Finally remembering that someone had tried to call her, she reached into her bag for her cell phone.The screen glowed with white light.Billy.chapter FIVEa yellow sliver of moon hung over the city.The sky had turned dark enough to admit the first pinpricks of stars.Along the seawall behind Billy Medina’s house, up-lights skimmed over the trunks of the date palms and illuminated their pale green crowns.The pool glittered as Billy cut through the water, doing his laps.C.J.hadn’t counted; he was already swimming when she arrived.She sat on the edge with her skirt halfway up her thighs and her bare feet on the steps.Billy hadn’t greeted her, but their eyes had met as he made a turn, taking a breath, pushing off, his body rippling under the surface.They had been lovers for almost a year.Before that, their worlds had intersected at cultural events or, more often, the South Beach club scene—the late nights, the hangovers, the tired and trivial chatter, the crowd casting their razor eyes on newcomers, deciding if they were worthy.Billy had never been like that.He wasn’t out to matter to anyone.He didn’t care.This alone drew people to him, never mind the fact that he was rich and threw A-list parties.He lived alone, except for the shifting group of friends who came and went.If he had other women, they weren’t in Miami.C.J.had never heard any gossip.His ex-wife lived in Boston with their two teenagers.They rarely visited.Billy didn’t seem to mind.Billy dove under, coming closer.His right arm extended.A hand went around C.J.’s ankle, pulling hard, and she laughed and grabbed the handrail.Billy stood up in a cascade of water, raising his arms, pushing back his hair.It was prematurely gray, a contrast to black brows and dark eyes.He had a flat belly and long limbs.Not bad for a man of forty-eight.He waded closer and kissed her on the mouth with cool, wet lips.Droplets of water fell on her cheek and dotted her silk blouse.“Welcome back,” she said.“How have you been?”“I won the Harnell Robinson case.”“Of course you did.Let’s go in.”He went up the steps and under the palm-frond thatch of the cabana, where he stripped off his swim trunks, careless of anyone going by in a boat.He tossed the briefs aside and ran a towel quickly over his body.He put on shorts and a loose linen shirt and slipped into his sandals.“My flight was delayed, so Maria put my dinner in the refrigerator.I have enough for two.Are you hungry?”“Starving.”He let her go first through a sliding door, and she felt the air-conditioned chill on her face.A wall of glass overlooked the terrace.The floor was polished marble, and low tables and furniture upholstered in black leather formed several seating areas.Quiet, uncluttered, perfectly clean.As they passed the dining room, C.J.heard a splashing noise and looked around the corner to see a red-haired man squeezing water out of a sponge into a bucket.He had a perfectly square crew cut, and longer hair in back that touched the collar of his plaid shirt.The tiles under his knees were wet and shiny, and an old beach towel bore the residue of grout that he had apparently been cleaning from the cracks.He was working in a small area in the corner.His name was Dennis something, and he did odd jobs for Billy.Dennis Murphy.“Hello, Dennis.”He nodded in her direction, then said to Billy, “I’m about done here.”“Looks good [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]