"Okay, but just one. I didn’t just happen to be here."
"What?"
"I knew you were going to be here, so here I am."
"How did you know I was gonna be here?" she leaned forward and asked.
"I can’t tell you that."
"Why not?"
"You said tell me one, if I told you that would be two."
"That’s not fair. Come on, tell me. And don’t give me that line about having to kill me. That line is so worn out."
"All right, I’ll tell you," I leaned forward and motioned for her to move closer. Mrs. Childers leaned toward me and I whispered, "I’m a private investigator, I wanted to see you so I found out where you were going to be."
"You’re not goin’ to start stalking me, are you, Nick?"
I love the way she says my name. "No, Mrs. Childers, nothing like that."
"I don’t have to be afraid of you, do I?"
"You never have to be afraid of me. I’ll never let anything happen to you."
"Oh, so you’re my own personal protector, huh?"
"At your command," I replied quickly and playfully. But I knew that at this point I would have done anything for her.
"Well if that’s the case," Mrs. Childers said and smiled at me. "I could think of a person or two that I wouldn’t mind getting rid of."
I thought about Chésará, Something we can share. I like the thought of that. "Now see, I could say something now, but then I’d be giving away somebody else’s secret."
"So," she said. "Tell me anyway. Then it will be a secret we can share."
"No. Who do want to get rid of?"
"My husband. Remember, that is way I hired you."
"To get rid of your husband."
Then Mrs. Childers got very still and looked me straight in the eye. "Yes."
We sat there staring at each other for a few seconds before she sat back and said. "And don’t try to change the subject. Tell me is this secret somebody, somebody your involved with?"
"No. She’s just somebody I met on a case."
"A woman. Is she pretty, Nick?"
"Not as pretty as you."
"Then I know you don’t look at her the way you look at me."
"How do I look at you?"
"Like you want me."
"Do I really? And what if I do?"