Holly was about to reply when Lauren walked into the room, looking smashing in a tight dress. “Is everybody drunk yet?”
“No,” Josh said, “but we’re working on it.”
“Dinner’s in twenty minutes,” Teddy said, looking at his watch, “so you’ve got time for a refill.” He got up and freshened the drinks.
Twenty minutes later, Teddy was slicing boeuf Wellington and serving vegetables. Holly had nailed him, or had she? Maybe she had only caught a whiff of his identity and had already dismissed it. In any case, she hadn’t taken a shot at him yet. He poured the wine and sat down to dinner.
46
They had finished dinner and were on brandy.
“Lauren,” Holly said, “you’re a lucky woman to have a man who cooks like that. It was the best dinner I’ve had in years. And beef Wellington! You don’t see that anymore.”
“Thank you,” Teddy said. “I like the old dishes best,
the ones before cholesterol was invented.”
“My father died of things like beef Wellington and bacon cheese-burgers,” Josh said. “But he loved every minute of it.” He turned to Lauren. “By the way, I haven’t congratulated you on capturing your serial killer.”
“Well, thanks,” Lauren replied, “but I’m afraid he captured himself before we could. Fact is, we were getting nowhere fast.”
“I’m sure he would have tripped himself up soon,” Teddy said. “These criminals always do, don’t they?”
“Nearly always,” Holly said. “It’s tough when you have a police officer as a repeat criminal; he knows all the investigative techniques and how to avoid leaving trace evidence.”
“Well, in any case, good riddance,” Teddy said, raising his glass.
“Good riddance,” they all said, and drank.
“I have some other news,” Lauren said. “Jack and I are thinking of…”
Teddy held up a hand. “Stop,” he said, laughing, “that’s still a secret.”
“Does it have to be?” she asked.
“For the time being.”
“Oh, all right,” she said.
“Then your answer is yes?” he asked.
“That’s still a secret, too,” Lauren said.
“Holly,” Teddy said, changing the subject as fast as possible, since he didn’t want her to know his plans, “you’re on vacation?”
“Yes, but I’m having to start thinking about going back.”
“Have you enjoyed yourself here?”
“Very much.”
“Where are you staying?” he asked.
“Oh, I still have my house here, from the old days,” she said.
“Are you considering selling?”
“No. I think I’ll always want it to come back to,” Holly said. “Why? Are you thinking of buying?”