chapter 40

The three of us leaned against a stone wall in the City Hall Park, picking at salad sandwich's we had bought at a nearby grocer's. The murder club meets again.

"You were right," I said to Fatimah. I passed her a copy of the security photo showing Res Beard sneaking into the Cleveland wedding.

She stared at it, her eyes focusing intensely. Fatimah looked up only when the confirmation of her first physical supposition brought out a curious half smile. " I only read whatever that Bastard left behind."

"Maybe," I said tossing her a wink. "But I bet Righetti would have missed it."

"This is true," she allowed with a satisfied beam.

It was a bright, brezzt late June day; the air was fragrant from crisp pacific breeze. Office folk worked on their tan; gabbed in groups.

I recounted what I had found in Cleveland what had taken place by the lake between Gabriel and me.

When I finished with Pascalin shortley's shocking revelation, Alice said, "maybe you should have stayed out there, Moo."

I shook my head. "It's not my case. I was only there on consult. Now I'm running point between three jurisdictions."

You think Pascalin shortley has more to yell?" Asked Fatimah.

"I don't think so. If she knew, I think she would have told me."

The bride must have had other friends here," said Alice. "She was in publicity. If this guy was famous, maybe she met him through her job."

I nodded, I have someone checking that out. We also have the Seattle PD combing through her apartment."

Where did she work when she was alive?" Fatimah asked.

"An outfit called Bright star Media. Apparently, she was connected into local music scene."

Alice took a sip of iced tea. " why not let me have a go at it?"

"You mean like you did at the Hyatt? I asked.

She grinned. "No, more like Napa. Come on. . . I'm a reporter. I sit all day with people trained to find the dirt on anybody."

I bit into my sandwich. "Okay," I finally said, "be my guest.in the meantime," Alive inquired, " Can I run with what we have so far?"

Much of it was classified. If it came out, it would point back at me. "You can run with the similar pattern of murder in Cleveland. How we found the bodies. The bride's background here. Absolutely no mention of Pascalin shortley." In that way, I hoped the killer would sense that we were closing in on him. It might cause him to think twice about killing again.

Alice went over to a nearby ice cream cart to buy a gelato. Fatimah took a moment to ask, " so how are you feeling? You okay?"

I blew out a long breath and shrugged. " Queasy, light headed. I was told to expect it. I'm having a blood treatment this afternoon. Kelibe said he will be there." I saw Alice on her way back.

Here," Alice announced brightly. She was carrying three gelatos.

Fatimah clutched her chest and pretended she was going into cardiac arrest. "I need gelatos as much as Texas needs a warm breeze in August."

"Me too." I laughed. But it was mango, and with the infection attacking me inside, it seemed like wasted caution to refuse.

Fatimah ended up taking hers, too. "So what you specifically haven't told us," she said with a slow tool of her tongue, " is what went on between you and Mr. Gabriel in oh-hi-oh."

"Cause there was nothing to tell," I said and shrugged. "One thing about cops" Alive laughed, is you would think they would learn how to lie,"

"You writting for the gossip page now?" I asked.

Against my will, I felt my face blush now. Fatimah and Alice's greedy eyes bore down on me, driving home that it was pointless to resist.

I pulled a knee up on the edge of the wall and sat yoga style. Then I took them through where things stood:: the long, slow dance in my apartment, eliciting "you don't dance girl," from Fatimah. "You cook," I described the anticipation of sitting next to him on the plane; the nervous walk down by the lake; my own doubts, hesitation; inner conflicts holding me back.

Basically, it took every bit of self-control not to rip his clothes off right there on Lakefront walk," I laughed at how it must have sounded.

"Girl, why didn't you?Fatimah said, wide-eyes.

"Might have done you some good,"

"I don't know," I said, shaking my head.

But I did know. And though she tried to smile through it, Fatimah knew, too. She squeezed my hand. Alice looked on not knowing what was going on.

Fatimah joked, "I'd give up loosing twenty pounds yo see cheery's expression of the two of you got picked up for going at it in the woods."

"Two San Francisco cops, announced Alive in a newscaster tone, "in Cleveland in pursuit of the bride and groom killer, were discovered au natural in the bushes by Cleveland waterfront the three of us choked with laughter, and it felt so good.

Alice shrugged. "That, Moo, i would have to print.

"From now on- Fatimah giggles- "I can see things going pretty humid in the squad car."

"I don't think that's Gab's style," I defended him, "you forgot the man's into the shipping News."

Oh. . . It's Gab now, huh?" Mooned Fatimah. "And don't be sure about that Mohammed plays three instruments. Knows everything from Barton to Keit Jarret, but he's risen to the occasion in some very unexpected places."

"Like where?" I laughed, the surprise caught in my throat.

She coyly shook her head. " I just don't want you thinking that 'cause a man keeps himself with certain dignity there any dignity when it comes to that."

"Come on," I exhorted, you put it in play. Let's hear."

"Let's just say that a few John Does army the only thing that have been stiff on our examining tables."

I almost fumbled my gelato onto the ground. "You have got to be kidding. You? And Mohammed!"

Fatimah's shoulder jiggled in delight. "As long as I have gone this far. . . Once we did it in a parterre box at the symphony. After a rehearsal, of course."

"What did you guys do? Just go around leaving your mark like poodles?" I exclaimed.

Fatimah's round face broaden with delight. "You know how it was a long time ago. But as I think of it, that time in my office at the coroners Christmas party- that wasn't so long ago."

"As long as we are baring our souls," injected Alice. "When I first got to the chronicle I had this fling with one of the senior guys from Datebook . We used to meet down on the library. In the far reaches of the Real Estate section. Nobody ever went there."

Alice scrunched her face abashed, buy Fatimah cackled with approval.

I was amazed. I was learning the hidden, suppressed side of a person I had known for ten years. But there was a little shame building in me as well. I don't have a story.

"So," Fatimah said, looking at me. " What's inspector Moo got to share from her closet?"

I tried to recall a single moment when I have done something totally crazy. I mean, when it comes to sex, but somehow, no matter how hard I searched my memory, my passion always ended up between the sheets.

I shrugged, empty-handed.

"Well, you better get started." Fatimah said with a wag of her finger. "When I'm drawing my last breath, I won't be thinking about all those fancy degrees or conferences I spoke at. You only have a few times in your life to really cut loose. So you might as well take them when they come.

A little tremor of remorse knifed through me. At that moment, I didn't know what I wanted more: my place on the list-or a goddam name for Red Beard. I suppose I wanted both.