Reach of Destiny

Untitled Part 45

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Toronto Rowing Club

At 7 pm sharp Murdoch pulled his Indian behind Bungalow 5 at the Toronto Rowing Club, cutting the engine and putting the kickstand down. He hung his helmet and goggles on the handlebars.

He took a second to make sure his exterior looked presentable even if his insides were feeling disordered, went around front then knocked softly. Julia answered wearing a sleeveless, layered ice blue chiffon ensemble with a dropped waist, plunging neckline in the front and back, with an underskirt hemline that fell, daringly, just above her knees. A gossamer over-dress floated over the whole affair.

She looked so lovely the sight took his breath. As he stepped in, a waiter was setting a table for two -- white linen, candles, flowers, dishes under silver covers next to chilled champagne.

The waiter bowed and Julia slipped him a bill, dismissing him. Locking the door behind her, Julia turned and leaned against the door, smiling back at him.

"William," she murmured.

He was getting used to hearing his name. "Julia, you look beautiful...this color suits you."

"Thank you, unfortunately the style is not too practical for work, but I do like to have a bit of fun now and then."

"Yes, I do believe fun is essential -- now and then." He walked forward to pull her into his arms. He savored the feel of her against his body and stifled a growl of wanting before pushing her back.

"There'll be time for that later, William. You know, when I first met you, for a long time I thought you were much too serious for any kind of fun. What did you think about me?"

He started. He remembered very clearly exactly the moment he laid eyes on her, bending over a corpse, thinking she was kissing it or otherwise compromising the scene. Then, for a long time I thought you and Dr. McDaniels were an item. He tried not to laugh at how absurdly wrong he had been. "I thought you were a pagan and a hedonist. I wasn't wrong."

"Touché." She laughed. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm famished."

He thought her laugh was delightful. "It has been days since I had a proper meal," he laughed back. When he was with her, laughing came so much easier now.

She put a record on the Victrola and winked at him. He recognized The Stolen Kisses foxtrot. Helping her into her chair, they sat at the table, savoring the meal. He did not often get to enjoy such fare: seared scallops, asparagus, and poached pears. He got the first few delicious mouthfuls down when she asked about his investigation.

"Closed, thanks to you. I did a little more digging for you as well. The Hamilton Constabulary found that Rocco Perri was paying Olive Routledge's bills, meaning she was his mistress...well, second mistress. He left his first wife for a woman named Bessie Starkman. She runs his business interests for him now."

"But she did not hold his other interest for long, it seems." Julia popped a bite of asparagus into her mouth with her fingers. "As for the rest, I promised I'd never speak of it again. So, shall we move on to safer topics?"

"My pleasure, Julia." He wasn't absolutely certain, but did he detect some trepidation about a woman holding a man's interest?

During the rest of dinner they spoke of current events and recent articles in Scientific American about forecasting earthquakes. Having an intellectual equal, and one so beautiful made the time fly. He tried to keep focused on the food and conversation, and ignore the growing angst within his chest, but eventually the food was gone and dessert consumed.