Jonathan Kellerman - Flesh And Blood

Grinning anchorman. Overlays of familiar faces.

“Professor arrested in coed’s death!”

I’d taken a swallow, was listening to the whiskey whisper in my throat when the phone rang.

“Hi, it’s me.”

“Hi, you.”

“You all right?”

“Serene.”

“Guess where I was today?” she said.

“The zoo?”

Silence. “How’d you know that?”

“With San Diego, my first association is always the zoo.”

“Well, that’s where I was.”

“You and the dentist?”

“Me, myself. The dentist has a boyfriend, and they went down to Tijuana for the day. Invited me but…”

“Abandoned,” I said. “Sorry. So how’re the animals?”

“Fine – I can’t believe you guessed the zoo.”

“Blind luck.”

“Or no one knows me like you do.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Come join me down here,” she said. “I’ll rent us a room at the Del Coronado.”

“When?” I said.

“The sooner the better – You don’t want to do it. You’re angry at me.”

“No,” I said. “Everything you said was true. I’ve been trying to process.”

“It was true but, still, I walked out on you – It hit me, walking around the zoo, alone. How did I do that? Talk about abandonment. Will you come, Alex? Meet me at the hotel?”

“What about Spike?”

“Debby’s got a little Peke, and she and Spike are fast friends.”

“Till he steals her food,” I said.

“Alex?”

“It’ll take me a couple of hours. You’re sure you want this?”

“How can we work things out if we’re not together? If I react by… what does Milo call it – rabbiting?”

“San Diego,” I said.

“I know it’s not Paris, but… would you rather I come back home? I can go back to Debby’s place and pack up my stuff.”

“No,” I said. “I’ll be down there soon as I can.”

“I’ll arrange everything at the Del Coronado. Meet me up in the room – I love you, baby. Love you so much.”

“Even if I am crazy.”

“Even if.”

I locked up the house, was nearly at the door when I changed my mind.

Returning to my office, I booted up the computer, fooled around for a while until I found an on-line travel service. Did some comparison shopping and purchased two nonstop tickets to Paris.