Mayes, Casey - A Deadly Row

“Is it time for another test?” Sherry asked.

“You know it.”

“Tell him I said good luck.”

“Will do. It’s such a pleasure meeting you,” Betsy said as she shook my hand again.

After she was gone, Sherry explained, “Her husband wouldn’t let Justin take his driving test until he got a B average in school.You’ve never seen a boy study so hard. The bad thing is, he was so nervous when he finally did take it, he flunked his first test. It’s driving Betsy as crazy as it is him.”

“She seems nice.”

“She is, but she’s not you. I miss you, Savannah.”

“I miss you, too,” I said. “I’ll give you a call later when things settle down a little.”

“I won’t hold my breath,” she said with a grin. “Things never seem to calm down when you’re around.”

“Is that a crack at me, young lady?”

“Are you kidding? I miss the excitement. Call me.”

“I will,” I said.

After I got in my car, I drove off quickly, not wanting to linger a moment longer. My life had changed, but there was a part of me that would always be there on that street. It made me a little sad to leave it again, but that was far outweighed by the sense of warmth I’d felt, wrapped up again in my best friend’s love. Sherry was one of those friends that life gave us sometimes, but only if we were very, very lucky. It had been as if we hadn’t missed a day since the last time we’d seen each other, picking up exactly where we’d left it. I cherished her friendship, and all that she meant to me. I was glad she’d found someone in my old house to be friends with, but even more, that there was still such a big place in her heart for me.

I might not have a lot of money, or ever be famous, but in terms of my friendships and the love my husband and I shared, I was the richest woman in the world.

Chapter 6

“WOW, YOU’RE EARLY,” I SAID AS MY HUSBAND WALKEDinto our hotel suite later that evening.

“It’s nearly seven,” he said as he looked around and whistled. “Man, this place is something else, isn’t it?”

“Just wait. Let me give you the grand tour.”

“Forget that. Look at that skyline. I can’t wait until it gets dark.”

“While you’re admiring the view, let me order something from room service.”

“I thought you wanted to go out,” he said, stifling a yawn.

“I’ve got a feeling you wouldn’t be very good company,” I said. “We’ll eat in tonight, and you can take me somewhere special another night. Did you make any progress since I saw you?”

“You know how it goes. I’m still trying to wrap my head around things now. It will take some time to digest it all.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard,” I said.

He rubbed his eyes. “I would have stayed later tonight, but I kept falling asleep reading the police reports. Order me a steak, would you? I’m going to take a quick shower.”

I doubted he’d be able to make it quick. I’d already taken one myself. The shower was like everything else in the hotel, first class all the way. I’d never had a shower with water jetting out from three sides and above, and I doubted that I’d ever be content with a plain overhead nozzle again.

Night was creeping in as I placed our dinner order and settled in on one of the couches facing the bank of windows. I hadn’t had a lot of luck with room service in the past, but I had the feeling that the Belmont would be different.

I lost track of time staring out the window at the lights of Charlotte, and I was surprised when Zach came out dressed in one of the hotel’s luxurious bathrobes. He wasn’t the type of guy to wear robes as a general rule, and after a few failed attempts at giving them at Christmas and one birthday, I gave up trying.

“I didn’t think you liked robes,” I said.

“Normally I don’t, but I could get used to this.”

There was a knock at the door, and as I started to answer it, my husband shook his head. “I’ll do it.”

He pulled his gun out from his bathrobe pocket and moved to the door. I hadn’t even known he’d fetched it, but he must have had it in the bathroom with him. This case clearly had him more spooked than I’d realized.

“Who is it?” he called out.

“Room service,” I heard the muffled reply.

“What’s the order?”

“Two New York Strips, both medium, garlic mashed potatoes, cream spinach, and chocolate mousse for dessert.”

He looked at me, and I nodded.

When Zach opened the door, I could see that his gun hand was now in his robe, no doubt holding it on the unsuspecting waiter.

“Would you like me to set it up for you?” the man asked as he pushed the cart into the room.

“We’ll take care of it,” Zach said. “Hang on, let me get my wallet.”

“That won’t be necessary,” the waiter said. “Everything, including tips for service you receive, has been taken care of.”

“Then give the owner our thanks.”

The man looked at Zach as if he’d lost his mind, and I understood why. If the manager of the place had only spoken with Barton Lane a handful of times over the years, there wasn’t much chance a waiter would be able to talk to him.

He didn’t reply, but I could swear he bowed a little as he left the room.

“That smells great,” Zach said as he started lifting off lids.

“Did you really think that he might be a bad guy?” I asked.

“Are we talking about the gun? No, I realized he was probably exactly who he said he was, but why take a chance if I don’t have to?”

We decided to eat in front of the window, and the food was just as marvelous as I’d hoped it would be. The steak nearly came apart at the first touch of my fork, and as we ate, I knew exactly what I was going to order tomorrow. With delicious food like this available in our room, why go out and face the crowds?

“Want your mousse?” Zach asked as he uncovered his.

“I doubt I could enjoy it, I’m so full.”

“Great. That means there’s more for me.”

“Hey, hang on a second. I didn’t say you could have mine.”

He dug into his, and after a quick bite, he said, “You wouldn’t like it. It’s too rich.”

“Not that I don’t trust your opinion, but now I’m going to have to try it for myself.”

He wasn’t eager to give it to me, though. “You’re full, remember?”

“There’s always room for mousse,” I said.

It was everything promised, rich and creamy, with waves of chocolate in every bite. When it was gone, I was surprised to realize that I still wanted more, though I knew I would never be able to eat another bite.

I smiled with contentment. “I hope this place has a first-class spa and gym. If we keep eating like this, I’m going to have to start working out, or I’ll never fit into my clothes.”

Zach just grinned as he leaned back in his chair. “I hate the reason we’re here, but I’ve got to say, I like the way your friend Barton Lane is treating us.”

“He’s not my friend,” I said. “We’ve only spoken once.”

“Evidently that’s more than most folks around here can say. You must have made some kind of impression on him.”

“Don’t kid yourself. We’re getting all this so he can make your life easier and you can focus on who killed his assistant. The man sounded like he was still in shock over losing her when we talked.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Zach said.

I could tell that my husband was distracted as he continued to stare out the window.

“I’m thinking about redoing my hair.”

“Good,” he said, and then I knew he wasn’t listening.