Murder On The Mind

Murder On The Mind - Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

A secretary gave me directions to Maggie’s office. She greeted me with a sunny smile that almost made me forget how crappy I felt. She had on a navy suit with a powder blue blouse, and the same gold chain around her neck. It made her look like a high-powered executive. Despite my own office attire, I felt like someone you might avoid on the street.

“Hey, I thought we were going to meet downstairs.”

“I’m a few minutes early. I can wait.”

“Thanks. I’ll be right with you.”

I took one of the chairs in front of her desk and she turned back to her computer. She made a call, switching back and forth between two databases as she spoke. The fact that she was busy gave me the opportunity to think up various topics we might discuss over lunch. Only, with my head about to explode, I didn’t feel like talking. I didn’t feel like eating or even thinking. At that moment the whole lunch idea seemed like a big mistake.

“Sorry about that,” Maggie said at last. “I’m in the middle of organizing a conference and it’s turning out to be a bitch.”

She grabbed her coat and we headed for the elevator. A minute later we were waiting for the light to change at the corner outside the bank. A ripple of pleasure shot through me when she grabbed my hand as we crossed the street. Her gloved fingers curled around mine and held on tight.

We ended up at a pizza joint around the corner. I wasn’t interested in food, but Maggie ordered us a small pepperoni and mushroom pizza and a couple of Cokes. My broken left arm rested on the table as I rubbed my forehead with my right hand.

She touched my sleeve. “Are you okay? You don’t look well.”

“Since the mugging, I get these miserable migraines.” I braved a smile. “I have to admit you’re the bright spot in my day.”

She smiled. “How’s your case going?”

“I have a few more people to talk to.”

“You’re really treating this like a job. Have you thought about doing it for a living?”

“I did. I was an insurance investigator, remember?”

“No, I mean being a cop. Or a detective. It’s never too late to start over.”

“‘Fraid not. In fact, I thought about being a bartender. Just until I figure out what I want to do. My brother’s been on my back. He says I shouldn’t even think about work for another few weeks.”

“He’s a doctor. He should know.”

“He’s my big brother and he still thinks of me as a fourteen-year-old kid.” That came out sounding a whole lot angrier than I’d meant. “Don’t listen to me. I don’t know what I’m saying.”

She changed the subject. “Have you had a really good fish fry since you got back to Buffalo?”

I shook my head. A mistake.

“You’ve got to have one on Good Friday and I know the perfect spot.”

“I’d like that.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up at your house about six.”

“Good. You can meet Rich and Brenda, too.”

Her expression darkened, but amusement flashed in her blue eyes. “Uh-oh. Meeting the family already?”

“Hell, you’ve met Rich before.”

“As a client, not a person.”

I had to smile. “And you have to call him Richard. He hates being called Rich.”