Offensive Behavior

He rang off and began the painstaking process of trying to isolate Kathryn’s number on his called list. It would still be there from the time she called to thank him for their breakfast. He made a number of wrong number hang-ups before he got her.

“Kathryn?”

“Yes, who’s this?”

“It’s Reid McGrath.”

“Oh, hello.”

“I’ll get to the point. Do you know where Zarley is now?”

“Hmm. Said any guy trying to find a woman who clearly doesn’t want to be found.”

“Right. I see why you’d think that.”

“Glad we have that straight.”

“I’m not stalking her.”

“But you don’t know where she is.” Kathryn stopped talking and Reid didn’t feel the need to help her out, then she said, “What’s your definition of stalking?”

He sighed. This wasn’t getting anywhere. “About a million years ago, I was probably rude to you when you rang to thank me for breakfast, so I deserve this.”

Kathryn laughed. “Goddamn. You were so cold. But that was a great test.”

“Test of what?”

“You don’t know. Oh. Zarley asked me to make that call. She wanted to be sure you weren’t going to hit on anyone else who knew their way around a pole.”

Was there a pun there or was Kathryn being straight with him? “Zarley wanted you to hit on me?” He remembered the thank you part but not Kathryn hitting on him. It was like Zarley said, he was oblivious.

“You passed with flying colors. It must be a thrill to know what she’s planning with Vi for Lucky’s. I’ve got my fingers crossed they get through the fire inspection today.”

The thrill was in the clue. He hadn’t considered Lucky’s, thought it was long closed.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, I guess.”

Kathryn sounded confused. There was a lot of that going around.

He was at Lucky’s in fifteen minutes. There was a light on inside though there was a closed sign posted on the door. He knocked and Vi answered.

“Hello Back Booth, you know we’re not open.”

“I’m sorry about Lou.”

Vi pressed her lips together. “I still don’t believe it. You’d think he could’ve told me he’d made me his beneficiary. You’d think the man could’ve dressed better, got a decent haircut, given he was a real estate mogul. Zarley has been wonderful helping me deal with the paperwork, the lawyers and the accountants and the real estate people. Had the fire inspector eating out of her hands today. She thinks I’m crazy agreeing to open an upmarket Lucky’s but I’m a rich woman now, I don’t have anything to lose and she’s insisting on putting her own money in, so we’re partners.”

Vi tilted her head, put a finger to her lip. “I’m watching your face, honey, and I don’t think you know any of this, do you?”

He shook his head.

“Now I know why she’s not herself. What did you do?”

“I fucked up, Vi.”

“And maybe she did too. You’d better come in. I’m on my way home, so if she asks you to leave I want your promise you will.”