Murder By Misdirection

They moved to a corner of the room as she hissed, “And you are embarrassing me.”

“I saw no harm in entertaining the officers,” Max responded. “And that girl—Trudy, her name badge said—”

Pro grabbed the paper from his hand, crumpled it, and threw it away. “For God’s sake, you were making goo-goo eyes at Mom this morning—”

Max smiled. “Your mother is a fine-looking woman.”

“And you are a bigger pig than I ever realized.”

“She gave the number to me. I didn’t ask for it,” Max assured with a shrug. “Also, crumpling it up didn’t help. You know I can memorize almost anything with one look.”

Pro fumed. “If you phone that officer, I swear—”

Max put his hands up defensively. “I have no intention of calling her. You need to calm down.”

“Calm down!” Pro shrieked, and then glanced about and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Since you showed up, my life has been turned upside down.”

“I’m sorry, Prophecy.”

“Pro!” she argued. “Call me Pro, dammit.”

“Honey, I was released on my own recognizance, but I have to turn in my passport by tomorrow.”

“Uncle Mark did his voodoo?”

“And the evidence backed up my story. But it’s nice to hear you call him ‘Uncle Mark.’”

“It was a slip of the tongue,” Pro muttered.

“I’m just waiting for your mother. I promised to take her out to dinner.”

Pro stopped dead. “What?”

“It’s the least I can do for her having to leave her office and come over here,” Max said breez

ily. “What’s good in the area? It’s been a long time since I was in New York.”

Pro’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, and she gave herself a quick shake. “This better not be a date.”

Max smiled broadly. “It’s two old friends having dinner. Plus, as a responsible parent, I want to talk to your mother about the career path you’ve chosen.”

Pro stared at him. “You want to…what?”

“Well, homicide,” Max frowned. “I don’t know if it’s the best choice. I want to talk to your mother about some ideas I have that could fast track you to becoming a lieutenant. Did you know that the mayor is an old friend of mine—”

Pro held up her hand and slowly balled it into a fist as she struggled to regain control. “Max, you need to stay out of my life.”

“But, pumpkin—”

“Don’t call me that,” she spat. “And stay away from my mother! She’s been vulnerable ever since Dad died, and I don’t want you taking advantage of her.”

“Stepdad,” Max corrected.

“The dad that didn’t try to mess up my life, how’s that?” Pro announced triumphantly. “Now, you’ve been released. Do me a favor and leave.”

For a moment, Max’s eyes appeared wet as he looked into her blue eyes the same shade as his own. “If that’s what you want, Pro,” he muttered sadly.

“Yes, that’s what I want,” she grunted. Then she turned, fully intending to walk away.