Martha followed her instructions and drew up before Amanda’s house. “Oh, it’s too perfect! What a wonderful place!”
“Thank you, dear,” Amanda said. “Let’s go inside.” She got the shopping basket from the rear seat, unlocked the door, and strode off toward the kitchen. “Don’t even take your coat off,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ll just get a bottle of wine, and we’ll have a picnic up at Steep Rock.”
“Where?” Martha asked.
“Steep Rock is a beautiful land preserve that borders my property. You’ll love it.”
“How far is it? I’m not much of a walker.”
“Oh, not far, and believe me, it’s worth the effort.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Amanda put a bottle of wine and a corkscrew into her basket, locked the door, and led the way at a brisk pace. “Come on, Martha!” she called out. “Let’s get that heart pumping!”
Martha hurried along behind her, already beginning to pant. “How much farther?”
“Not far; hurry up.”
At the top of the long hill Amanda spread out a tablecloth and opened the bottle of wine. She had already drunk half a glass when Martha came lumbering up the hill and flopped down beside her, completely out of breath.
“Take that heavy coat off,” Amanda said. “You’ll cool down much quicker. And here, have some wine.”
“Do you have any water?”
“I’m sorry, dear, I only brought the wine.”
Martha accepted the glass and drank it greedily. “I’m so thirsty,” she puffed.
Amanda refilled her glass. “Of course you are. It’s a very nice Chardonnay, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Martha was beginning to catch her breath now.
“Have some bread and cheese,” Amanda said. “It will fortify you for the walk back.”
“Thank God it will be downhill,” Martha said, digging into the food.
Amanda kept her glass full.
When they had finished their lunch, Amanda leaned back against a tree. “Now,” she said. “We’re all alone, just the two of us. Time for some frank girl-to-girl talk.”
Martha looked worried, but didn’t say anything.
“Why don’t we start with Jonathan Dryer,” Amanda said. “Tell me about him.”
Martha seemed to hold her breath for a moment, then answered, “Who?”
“Why, the young man you’ve been sleeping with,” Amanda said. “Did you think you could keep a secret from me?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know who you mean,” Martha said. She was blushing now.
“Martha, darling, it’s useless to play this game. I’ve had detectives following you, listening in on your telephone conversations. You were seen going into Dryer’s apartment and your phone conversations were taped. I think you’ll feel a lot better when you’ve told me everything.” In that part of the brain that deals with fury and revenge, Amanda felt a small explosion, but she kept her temper. “How did you meet him, Martha?”
Martha’s shoulders slumped. “At the grocery store,” she said. “We talked about food; he knows a lot about food and wine.”
“I’m sure he does, dear. When did you start talking about my business? Before or after you began fucking him?”
Martha blushed even redder. “I don’t really think that’s your business…”