Iron Orchid (Holly Barker 5)

“So, how’s life as a spy?”

She looked around to be sure nobody could hear. “Actually, I appear to be still a cop, the way things are going. I’m looking forward to this thing being over.”

“He’s a very smart guy,” Stone said. “It may never end.”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” she said, “but the thought of it never ending is more than I can bear. Let’s talk about something else.”

Dino came back to the table and sat down. “So,” he said, sipping his drink, “how’s it going on the Teddy Fay thing?”

Holly sighed. “Dino, I don’t know what you’re talking about, and even if I did, I wouldn’t know what you were talking about.”

“I get your drift,” Dino said, “but I still want to know what’s going on.”

“Then you’d better have dinner with Lance,” she said, “and you’d better not tell him you even mentioned the subject to me.”

A waiter brought them menus.

“Shouldn’t you be getting home to your wife?” Stone asked Dino pointedly.

“I haven’t had dinner yet,” Dino said indignantly. “You want me to starve?”

“As I recall, Mary Ann is a very fine cook.”

“Yeah, well the last time she cooked for me was so long ago that I can’t put a date on it.”

“If you weren’t in here every night, maybe she’d cook for you more often,” Stone said.

“All right, you two,” Holly interjected. “Cool it; let’s order dinner.”

“You have any idea what a pain in the ass Stone can be?” Dino asked.

“Dino, I am not going to spend the evening refereeing, so if you and Stone can’t just remember what good friends you are and talk pleasantly to each other, then I’m having dinner elsewhere.” She put down her menu.

“All right, all right,” Dino said, patting her arm. “I’ll be nice if he will.”

“Stone?”

Stone nodded.

The waiter came back. “Is there any osso bucco left over from last night?” Holly asked. Wednesday was osso bucco night.

“I’ll check,” the waiter said. He left and returned. “Yep.”

“I’ll have that, too,” Stone said, and Dino joined the movement.

“Sorry, there’s only one order left,” the waiter said, “and the lady gets it.”

The two men grumbled and ordered something else.

MUCH LATER, as they finished their coffee, Dino stood up, “Well,” he said, “I guess I’d better go home and face the music.”

“You make home sound like a horrible place, Dino,” Holly said.

“Sometimes it is,” he replied. He gave her a kiss, put on his coat, gave Stone a wave and walked out.

“Well, now,” Stone said. “We’re finally rid of him; what are we going to do now?”

Holly laughed. “I take it you have a suggestion?”