Claire Gulliver #02 - Washington Weirdos (21 page)

“Fine time to ask,” she retorted. “I don’t see the life jackets.”

“I’m sure they’re under the seat. But don’t worry. This seems like a very stable little craft and, as you can see, no wind and no waves.”

“Luckily I do swim and very well, if I do say so myself. When I was a kid we had this gigantic saltwater pool down by the beach in San Francisco. I mean really big. The pool was almost as big as this little cove. No lie,” she smiled at him, “the lifeguards used little boats like this to monitor the swimmers. I guess it was getting too expensive and, of course, the property must have been worth a fortune. They pumped the water in from the ocean and heated it, but I remember it was cold, cold, cold. When we learned to swim across the pool, we were good. It was a long distance. Every summer I belonged to a swim club there until they closed it down. I kept up the swimming at the regular pools and was even on the swim team in high school, but finally dropped it in college. There were just too many other things to do.”

She noticed they were quite a ways out in the water now, moving along the rocky shore. The sounds of the crowd on shore barely reached them, just the screams of some of the gulls fighting over something on the rocks.

“You know when you learn something like swimming or roller skating or bicycling when you’re young, the skills seem to always stay with you. JoJo is a very good swimmer and, while Amy mostly splashes around, she has no fear of the water so she’ll probably be good before long.

“How about you? Where did you learn to swim?”

“How do you know I swim?”

“Look at you, so tan. That didn’t come from a tanning salon, did it? And you didn’t even hesitate about taking out a boat.”

He laughed. “I guess I’m more transparent than I thought. “ He began telling her about growing up on Cape Cod and the delights of his summers, which were now his favorite recreational activities. He water-skied, swam and sailed whenever he had the chance and even rowed when he was in college.

“So I suspect my offer of a turn at the oars won’t be necessary. Thank goodness!”

They rowed in silence, enjoying the light breeze on the water that tricked them into thinking they weren’t cooking in the sun.

“You did use sunscreen, didn’t you?”

“I’m slathered with it. Where I live outside San Francisco, we do have sun and heat, but I’m in the store most of the time. So I’m super careful when I do get out. I don’t want to go home blistered.”

He changed the subject. “I spoke to Wiley earlier and he told me about the meeting here yesterday. I’m very concerned about this situation, but it sounds like they are taking it seriously and doing what they can to keep you safe. How do you feel about it?”

She stared at the shoreline. The children looked very far away.

“I’m ready to go home. I had a wonderful time here in spite of the mugging and the problem with the Gala, but you know...at home I feel safe. And no matter what the Lickmans say, I can’t help thinking I somehow led this danger right into their home. I know these things could happen anywhere, but it doesn’t seem like it happens at home. I’m feeling pretty anxious.”

He nodded, his face serious. “Well, don’t take any chances. This Marcus Ng is pretty high powered in the Bureau. I’m sure he’s checking everything. And while it might feel confining, I’m sure keeping you on the estate for a few days is the right thing to do.

“Oh, oh, I see the guys digging up food from the pit. We’d better head back. We certainly don’t want to be late for lunch.” He skillfully used the oars to turn the little boat and reverse their direction, letting the tide assist him in returning to the dock.

Then, as they sauntered up the lawn to the crowd gathering around the tables heaped with food he said, “Look, I’m leaving tomorrow for London for a couple weeks. I have to say I’m a little uneasy about leaving and not knowing you’re completely safe. But I guess I have to do my job and rely on Marcus, Wiley and Jack to do theirs. But if you need me, call me. I wrote my numbers down for you. And I will be out your way, most likely before the end of the year. You promised me a dinner date, remember?”

She took the card and slipped it in her pocket, nodded her agreement and then turned in response to Masie, Wiley’s wife.

“I saw you out there, sailing around like the Queen of Sheba. I bet it was cooler there.” She fanned herself vigorously with one of the fans thoughtfully laid out on the tables. “So Doug, are you providing the rides for the day? If so, I’m next.” She laughed at his horrified expression. “Alright. Maybe I can get Wiley out there. I’ll just tell him how manly you looked behind the oars. He might fall for it.”

Marian, coming up at the end of that comment, shook her head. “No way. He’s not going to fall for that. Rowing a boat is work. Give it up.

“I see a nice shaded table over there I’m going to claim. Get your food and come back.” Then as they turned toward the tables she added, “And remember to save some for me.”

The lines moved very quickly down both sides of the tables and the metal trays provided for the guests filled quickly with clams, potatoes, corn on the cob and what seemed to Claire to be a huge lobster. When they arrived back at their table, two other couples had arrived and at Marian’s suggestion they all introduced themselves. Both couples were members of the Yacht Club and one couple was also a neighbor.

Marian reminded them to save her place and one for her husband and left to get her plate. A waitress brought the utensils, big lobster bibs, melted butter and salt and pepper. She took their drink orders and left promising to return right away with the drinks and bread and butter.

“As if we need more to eat,” Claire muttered, eyeing the lobster warily.

“Have you done this before, Claire?” Masie asked.

“No, but in San Francisco, we have Dungeness crab which takes a little doing. I’ll give this a try. But I hardly know where to start.”

“Start with the bib. Trust me on this. It’s the right way to start.”

They all laughed at Doug’s droll statement, and then everyone tied on the big bibs and layered their laps with the matching napkins. Masie ladled the melted butter into the little dishes and passed them around while Marian’s husband, who had joined them, dipped the first clam into the butter before popping it in his mouth.

“Yum. Nothing better. Helps get us through the end of summer. Labor Day is always such a paradox. The joy of a holiday hampered by knowing winter is just around the corner. And, of course, for the kids it means time to go back to school.”

Then they all began to eat in earnest. This kind of meal required full attention. Wiley and Jack stopped by on their way to the buffet table but when they offered to squeeze closer to make room for them at the table, they declined. They needed to talk to some other folks and promised they’d see them around. Then Percy Imamura stopped by to introduce his wife to Claire. She stood, but was confused when she realized her hands were covered in butter and so she didn’t dare shake hands.

Mary, Percy’s wife, laughed. “Don’t worry, Claire. I’d prefer not to shake hands with you right now, but I’m very glad to meet you. Percy told me how much you admired the gardens. I always like people who appreciate plants and flowers. Sit down, sit down; don’t let your dinner get cold. I’ll get back to you before the day is over and we can talk then.”

Claire got a variety of instructions on how to deal with her lobster. When she finally cracked the large resisting claw and the shell flew three tables over to land in the lap of another guest, everyone applauded. The woman held it up, good-naturedly, for everyone to see. Claire hoped this kind of thing happened with some frequency at a lobster and clambake.

Neil stopped by their table and schmoozed with the Yacht Club members. It didn’t surprise Claire to learn that one of the men was on the Club’s membership committee.

“Claire, Great Auntie Maude is going to teach me how to play poker. Wanna play?”

Claire was so full, she didn’t know if she could move. After saying her good-byes, she had found a secluded chair for a little rest. But obviously it wasn’t as secluded as she thought. “I don’t think so, but aren’t you a little young for poker?”

“No, Great Auntie Maude and I are going to play together. We’re going to win everyone’s money. Come on, it’ll be fun.” She pulled at Claire’s limp arm.

“I’m sure it will be, but I think I’m too full of lobster to even hold my cards.”

“Jack’s gonna play, and Hal. JoJo is playing with Hal. And Grandpap said he’d play later. But we need some more people and almost everyone is leaving. Pl...lease.” She tugged at Claire’s arm again.

“All right. Okay. Sur’ nough. Just help me get out of this chair.” She was only gong to be here another day and if Great Auntie Maude had enough energy to play cards then, by gosh, she could too.

“You will?” The smile on Amy’s face was worth the struggle to escape the clutches of the chaise lounge. Amy was already headed toward the house tossing over her shoulder, “We’re going to play in the solarium so we’re out of the way of the people leaving.”

When they arrived the card players were already settling in. David’s cousin Boyd was there, “Hey, Claire, do you know this game?”

She nodded.

“Then get your money because it’ll cost you to play here.” He grinned, obviously anticipating easy pickings.

She turned to head for her room and her purse, but Jack waved her back. “I’ll spot you twenty and you can pay me back out of your winnings.” He grinned at Boyd. “You think twenty will be enough?”

Boyd looked at Great Auntie Maude and said seriously, “You never know playing with the big guys.”

Great Auntie Maude just sat there shuffling the deck with professional ease while she instructed Amy on how to arrange the poker chips they had sitting in front of them. JoJo and Hal were whispering, and two spaces at the table were still open.

“Isn’t David playing?” Claire asked while stacking the chips Hal and JoJo had shoved across the table in exchange for Jack’s twenty.

“He’ll be here soon, after he says goodbye to everyone. And MiMi might join us for a while then.” Maude looked around the table, then announced dryly, “Watch out for MiMi. She’s a card shark if there ever was one.” Amy giggled at that.

Claire was a little nervous. She remembered playing croquet with Maude and Hal. She could only imagine how they played poker. But then she reasoned, with Amy and JoJo there, how bad could it get?

And she approved of the girls getting an early education in poker. She had only recently learned to play. When Mrs. B discovered Claire had never played, she immediately rectified that lapse in her education. Mrs. B said all children should learn poker as it taught them risk analysis and math. And a child who learned to maintain a poker face would go far in the world. Claire had come to agree, and it looked like Great Auntie Maude shared that philosophy.

“Hey, have room for one more?” Neil came in the solarium and headed for one of the empty chairs.

“Plenty of room for suckers willing to donate,” Hal said with a sly grin. “It’ll cost you twenty.”

Neil fished his twenty out of his wallet and passed it to Hal while JoJo eagerly counted out another stack of chips.

“All right, ladies and gentlemen, this is a friendly game of Dealer’s Choice. Chips are dimes, quarters and dollars.” Maude pointed to white, red and blue chips before continuing with her instructions. “Minimum first bid is a dime, and we’ll see where we go from there. Remember we have young ears with us and so the language should be appropriate. Now shall we draw for deal?” Maude slapped the deck in the center of the table and everyone drew for high card.

“Hoo, and I’m hot.” Boyd flashed his king around the table. “I’m gong for Five Card Stud, jacks or better to open. Ante a dime.”

Amy was so excited when she put Maude’s dime in the center of the table, Claire thought she was going to fall off her chair.

Boyd took that pot and became even more enthused as he passed the deal to Jack. Jack quietly played the same game but the pot went to Neil. The deal passed to Hal and after he shuffled, he let JoJo deal out five cards to each player. This time it was Five Card Draw, low card in the hand and all like it were wild. Maude and Amy selected a game of No Peeky, and then it got to Neil who introduced Texas Roll’em. Claire won that pot and the deal. Her shuffling was adequate but not flashy as was Maude’s. After Neil cut the cards she announced her favorite, Seven Card Stud, low card in the hole and all like them wild. She had to repeat it twice, but then they started to play.“Eight of clubs, no help. There’s Boyd’s ace. Three of diamonds, possible straight flush. Hal, pair of sixes, still bets.” She waited until everyone decided if they were in or not and dealt another round.”

“Hey, Neil, it was good to see you again today. It’s been a while. Let’s see, I think it was the end of May, or was it the first of June. Anyway, London, wasn’t it?” Boyd asked.

Claire dealt a new card to Neil and saw how the tick in his eye jumped, but his face remained calm as he studied his cards.

“Yep, I’m sure.” Boyd nodded certain of his facts. “It was London!” He directed his comments to the entire table. “It’s so strange when you run into someone you know clear across the world.” Then he peered with interest at Neil. “How did your trip go? Business, was it?”

“Humm, that’s right.” Neil’s face was partially obscured by the cards. “I was on my way to Brussels and stopped over a couple of nights at Claridge’s. Actually, I’m on the road so much it’s hard to remember which trip is which.” He tossed two chips in the pot. “I’ll raise a quarter.”

“So, you were in London when Claire was there?” Jack asked while he deliberated whether or not to fold his cards.

Neil sat up straighter. “No, as a matter of fact, I had just arrived in Istanbul when I was notified. I was going to head straight back to London, but David said he had it covered. So I finished up my trip as planned.” He smiled at Claire as he folded his cards, unwilling to gamble on the final card.

Claire dealt the last card and amidst the groans around the table discovered the low pair of fours she had down had been neutralized by a three. But Great Auntie Maude and Amy gleefully raked in the huge pot and, while Amy was busy sorting and stacking the chips, Boyd started shuffling the cards for the next game.