Do You Want to Know a Secret? (28 page)

“Well, if Pete’s slide does continue, the rumor has always had it that you are next in line for the throne.”

“That may have been true once, but with my recent history, I’m not so sure now. I just hope that the
Mole
story didn’t do any permanent damage. Otherwise, Pete’s in like Flynn, bad numbers or not.”

Mack reached over and took Eliza’s hand.

“Look, you could always go public and tell what really happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do it on
Here’s Looking at You, America
. You couldn’t have a better forum. You can explain everything. Get it all out in the open. That is, if you think that America wants to know.”

Eliza felt the warmth of Mack’s touch, saw the look of tenderness in his eyes.

“Is America curious, or are you?”

“Both.”

“I’ll tell you all about it,” she promised. “But not now.” She looked down at Janie. Mack nodded.

Janie chirped, “I’m going to a pool tomorrow and Mrs. Twomey’s coming with us so she can see me swim.”

“I wish you could come to Louise’s party, Mack.”

“Well, somebody has to work and I have Memorial Day duty. So, ladies, today will be our holiday.”

Mack settled the check and the three walked along the street, wandering throughout the stores, poking around in antique shops, browsing through the art galleries. After having her face painted like an Indian by a sidewalk artist and eating most of a double chocolate ice cream cone, Janie fell asleep on the ride back to Manhattan and didn’t awaken when Mack carried her up to Eliza’s apartment.

“That’s what I love about Janie,” said Mack as Eliza came back from tucking the child in her bed. “She’s such a cooperative kid.”

Eliza felt a tightening in her chest. She’d been thinking about it all day. But she was afraid. Afraid to get close to someone else again. Afraid of letting herself love someone else . . . Afraid of letting go of John. She knew she had to get over it, knew she had to move on. But she just still wasn’t sure that she was ready.

“Do you want some coffee?” she asked, trying to delay things.

Mack came toward her and slipped his hands around her waist, pulling her near.

“No. I don’t want any coffee.”

He bent forward and his lips touched her neck. Eliza felt their warmth on her soft skin, felt a tingling that moved down her entire body.

“I don’t know.”

“I do,” he said.

“But Janie’s just down the hall.”

“Don’t worry,” he whispered.

Then his mouth was on hers and he pulled her closer still. Slowly, she felt herself letting go.

Eliza unbuttoned Mack’s shirt, at first tentatively, and then urgently. John was nowhere in the room.

Chapter 55

Janie splashed contentedly
in the sparkling water of the Bears Nest swimming pool. As the only child at the Memorial Day barbecue, she was getting lots of attention.

Keeping her eyes trained on her little charge, Mrs. Twomey pulled a deck chair to the pool’s edge. Jean rolled up her white slacks and dangled her feet, clapping as Janie, holding tight to the side, gave her pounding rendition of a flutter kick. Even William took a break from offering gooey nachos to watch Janie gingerly put her head under the water.

Close by, Eliza, Yelena, Range and Louise sat in a cluster of lounge chairs, sipping their cold drinks and enjoying the clear late afternoon.

“I love it out here,” Eliza said aloud to no one in particular. “I think Janie and I should move out. It only took us a half hour to get here.”

“That’s because there was no traffic today. During normal rush hour, it’s double or triple that,” Range warned.

“That wouldn’t be a problem for me. Not with my hours. I doubt many people are on the road at four in the morning.”

“Bill never seemed to mind the commute much. He said it gave him time in the morning to get his thoughts organized, and it was a chance to decompress at the end of the day.” Louise’s face grew solemn. “Poor Bill.”

The group was silent.

Louise went on. “I hate when people say things like this, but it was a beautiful funeral, wasn’t it?”

Everyone nodded in agreement and, from poolside, Jean spoke up.

“You know, I thought that Bill should have been buried from St. Patrick’s. I go to eight o’clock Mass there every single Sunday morning and it’s just so magnificent. But the cathedral in Newark was beautiful and all, and if that’s where Bill wanted it, I guess that’s all that counts.” She looked like she would cry.

“Okay, everybody.” Range clapped his hands. “Buck up. Bill wouldn’t want us moping around. I’m going for a swim.”

“You’re right.” Louise stood up. “I’m going to put the chicken on the grill.”

“Oh let me help. I love to barbecue.” Eliza rose eagerly. “Want to come, Yelena?”

“Sure, but I’m just an observer. Don’t ask me to do anything too hard.”

“Think you could husk some corn?” Louise teased.

“That I could probably handle. But I should tell you, it comes in cans nowadays.”

The grill was ready. Louise placed the chicken and Eliza brushed on the tangy orange sauce.

“How are you really, Louise?”

“Not great. I keep wondering if Bill was thinking about this for a long time. I wish I had known, maybe I could have done something.”

Eliza put her hand on Louise’s shoulder. “I think we all wonder that.”

Yelena came out from the sliding glass doors onto the deck carrying a large salad bowl.

“I was thinking of calling Bill’s psychiatrist,” Louise admitted to Eliza. “Maybe he could give me some answers or at least some peace of mind.”

Eliza considered. “I’m sure Dr. Karas would be glad to talk with you. He’s very understanding. I should know, he’s my doctor, too. When I needed help, Bill gave me his number.”

Chapter 56

There it was
. The inlaid mahogany box. It had no lock.

The box was opened and its contents extracted carefully . . . contents that were smooth and cool to the touch. Funny, that something so small could be so lethal.

As soon as the job was done, right back the gun would

go.

It was too bad, but there was no choice.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Karas knew too much.

June

Chapter 57