“Yeah. It’s been quite a morning.”
I folded my fingers around his cock and kissed his ear. Children. “Yeah, it has.”
* * * *
Later, over dinner, I told Wills about what had happened at Carnations and Roses and Orchids, Oh My.
“And you think the girl was involved?”
“Yeah.”
“It could be,” he agreed. “It’s a juvenile-type prank.”
“I felt sorry for the owner. He bent over backwards trying to make things right, but y’know, he didn’t really seem surprised. Maybe this has happened before. How many customers has he lost because of his daughter?”
“Not my concern. When I think of how miserable we both were because of the little witch…” The cold, flat look was on his face.
“It’s over, babe, and not only did he give me a new vase, but he refunded the charge and threw in two dozen roses to boot.” I rubbed his arm, hoping to soothe him. “Let’s forget about it. Now, finish eating, and then we can take a look at those websites your Aunt Charlie told us about.” To make it easier on his Matheson grandparents, we’d decided to have the wedding on Long Island. “Jericho Terrace sounds good, and so does Villa Lombardi, but there’s this new place, the Terryville Inn…”
I was in my office, working on the tax returns for Tim and Cris when the house phone rang. “Theo Bascopolis, accountant at large. How may I help you?”
“Theo, it’s Vincent.”
“Vince? What’s—Wills?” Vince never called during the day, and I felt my insides twist. Since I’d learned what Wills really did, I’d been dreading a call from his boss. “Is he all right?”
“Yeah, he’s fine.” I sagged in relief. “I sent him to take a nap.”
“Huh?”
“He was busy with work.”
“Oh, got it.” Wills had called early the day before to let me know he was working through the night, and I’d brought him dinner. “So what’s the skinny?”
“Paul’s in trouble.”
It was a good thing I was sitting down, or I’d have wound up on my ass, but I still had to swallow a bunch of times before I could speak. “What…what’s wrong?”
“Spike’s missing, and I’m flying out to deal with it. I need a favor.”
“Oh, Jesus…. What can I do?”
“I have a kitten—”
“You do?” The thought of Vince with a kitten was kind of adorable. I remembered how cute he’d been with Miss Su. “Since when?”
“Since…Theo, is that really important?” He sounded impatient, and I felt dumb for letting myself be distracted.
“No, I guess not. I’m sorry.”
“Can I leave her with you?”
“Sure. You want me to come pick her up? Just leave the key—”
“No!”
“Geez!” From the way he reacted you’d think I was volunteering to walk into a minefield instead of his home. “You don’t have to be so jumpy.”
“Look, you know where my condo is.”
“Sure.” For a few weeks this past fall I’d gone to Aspen Reach to oversee it being refurbished…the walls painted, the hardwood floors refinished, and the arrangement of the furniture. I’d had the best time, and I was pretty sure Vince was happy with the results.
“Meet me there, okay? Wait for me at the gate.”
Like I’d be able to get in—there were no guards there who I could charm into opening the gate for me. Which I wouldn’t have done anyway, since I was an engaged man. “I’m leaving right now.”
“Thanks, Theo. I owe you.”
“Vince, you don’t owe me a thing. You gave me Wills. And besides, you’re doing this for Paul.” And I knew how much Paul meant to him.
“I’ll see you in about fifteen minutes.”
“Okay.” I hung up, got my jacket and keys, and turned to my own kitty. “I’m going to bring a visitor home. Watch the house, okay?”
“Mrrow.”
“Good girl.”
I went down to the garage, got into the Corvair, and backed it out, scraping the driver’s side door again. Stupid narrow driveway.
Although…Maybe I should take lessons?
* * * *
I’d only just arrived at Aspen Reach when Vince pulled up to the gate, and it swung open. He drove through, and I followed him to his building and parked behind his car.
“I don’t have much time,” he said as he used a keycard through the swipe lock to unlock the door to the lobby.
“That’s fine. You haven’t heard anything else, have you?”
“No, but I know someone who knows someone on the CIA set, and I’m going to call him as soon as I get to L. A.”
Spike had been thrilled when he’d gotten that part on the TV show, the friend of a computer geek who hacked into an important lab’s mainframe. We’d all been thrilled along with him. It was his first role following up his appearance in the slasher flick that was slated to open over the Independence Day weekend. Even though the movie hadn’t been released yet, insider word praised Spike’s performance, and the CIA showrunner had been interested enough to give him a screen test.