[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
had been on the job nearly a week before Kyle
returned to work.
I can t believe I ever found this kind of work
exciting, Stevie said after our waiter had taken our
order for two thick steaks, medium rare. I feel like a
photographer for the coroner s office. I m ready to see
someone alive and kicking.
Thinking of giving up photography? I chuckled.
Actually I ve been thinking about moving over to
outdoor photography. I ve put out a few feelers to
nature magazines, she said as she munched on a
breadstick.
Not very exciting, but there s money in it. I
smiled. Anything new today?
Kyle s back at work. I went on a gang shooting
call with him this afternoon near the Old Market.
How s he doing? I asked as our waiter placed
salads in front of us.
Seems to be recovering pretty good, Stevie said,
stabbing at her lettuce. From what I could tell he
does a thorough interview.
Did you mention his story?
Not in so many words. Stevie shook her head. I
told him I heard he had been shot covering a story,
but he clammed up.
Anyone else in the newsroom talk about it?
Just that he was shot. Apparently they have no
idea what he was working on, and as far as I can tell,
no one is associating his shooting with any story.
They re all convinced it was a random incident.
It could have been, I said. I m thinking this is
all a waste of time.
Well, I ve got one more week to go. I ll do what I
can, Jo.
I know you will, Stevie.
How is your ex anyway?
The question surprised me and I shrugged. Okay,
I guess. I hadn t seen or talked to either of them for
nearly fifteen years until Cate showed up on my
doorstep a couple of weeks ago.
You still carrying that torch? She smiled.
Well, she does look pretty damn good, I
laughed. Surprised the hell out of me that she
contacted me.
Thinking about rekindling your relationship?
No. No interest there anymore, I said even
though I knew I was lying. Besides, how do you
know I don t already have someone at home? I
grinned.
I know you, Jo.
Yeah, well, I m getting too old to be chasing after
women.
Bullshit! Stevie exclaimed. You re a damn fine-
looking woman yourself, Jo. And remember, I ve seen
you in action.
BY WEDNESDAY OF Stevie s second week at the
paper, we were no closer to Kyle s story than when
we started. I had decided that if something didn t
drop in our laps within the next day, we would pack
it in. Late Wednesday afternoon, Stevie called and
asked me to meet her at a bar named Jeri s, a few
blocks from the newspaper.
Four or five Spanish tiled steps led down to the
entrance of Jeri s Bar and Grill. Refined wasn t the
right word, but Jeri s wasn t what I had expected. Jim
Beam tasted the same poured out of a brown paper
bag or delivered in Waterford crystal. Jeri s seemed to
pay quite a lot of attention to that intangible thing
called ambiance. The minute I entered, I was met by
an exquisite woman in her mid-forties the kind
anyone would like to see at the end of a rough day.
She wore more makeup than I personally liked, but
some things could be overlooked if other incentives
were strong enough. I had always been attracted to
taller than average women, and Jeri, who was barely
half a head shorter than my own five-ten frame,
certainly filled the bill.
Hello, the woman said warmly in a husky voice.
I m Jeri. Tell me what can I do for you today, sugar.
The greeting left itself open to a number of
possible interpretations, and I wondered what Jeri s
response would have been if she knew what was in
my mind.
I m supposed to be meeting someone from the
Light, darlin , I finally said with a smile.
Jeri wrapped her arm around mine and led me
away from the door. You don t look like a reporter,
she said, walking very closely next to me.
Photographer. I smiled.
Fascinating! Jeri drawled. Perhaps we can
arrange for you to take a few pictures of me
sometime. Privately, of course.
I m afraid I don t do portrait photography, I
said.
That s a pity. I ll bet you re really good at getting
people to relax and act naturally for you, Jeri said, as
she squeezed my arm.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
