Part 29 (1/2)

I was innocently nestling them into Eddie's box when it occurred to me that maybe I had knocked them out of focus, or out of alignment, or whatever. And how else could I check except by aiming them at something? That brightly lit window, for example, would be a perfect way to test them out...

Whoa. Nothing wrong with the focus. With the lenses at my eyes, the Hot Spot's rear window leapt into brilliant clarity, as did the Saint Nick chick. She had shed the padded red trousers and the beard, and while I watched, fascinated, she strutted back and forth, moving to music I couldn't hear, in just her fur-trimmed jacket, ta.s.seled red hat, and high black boots.

If I were a young man-or an old one, or one in between-I would have said she had thighs to die for.

Santa's audience, mostly cut off from my downward view by the edge of the cafe's roof, seemed not to realize that they were sharing the show with any pa.s.sing sailboat-or hidden observer. But in fact, you'd have to be up in a crow's nest, or up where I was, to get just the right angle.

If the bachelors had thought of that, they sure didn't care. As I watched, Frank Sanjek sat heavily on the floor at his comrade's feet, and someone invisible to me poured a beer on his head. He didn't appear to notice.

I could see why. Dipping and swaying, always in motion, Santa dropped the jacket off one smooth bare shoulder, then the other, each time letting the white fur border of the garment slip lower and lower down the curves of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Then, perhaps responding to some climax in the music, she suddenly turned her back to the boys and her front to me, bent forward, and flipped the jacket up behind. If she was wearing much of anything under the jacket, it was too small for the binoculars to pick up. Frank fell over sideways.

I was hastily putting the binoculars down-honest, I was- when my phone rang again. Something told me it wasn't Jason this time.

It was my erstwhile hostess, wondering when I'd be home for the night.

”Oh jeez, Lily, have you been waiting up for me?”

”No, but I'm going to bed now, and I wanted to be sure you have your key.”

”Yep, I've got it. I'll probably be there soon.”

”Did you find your photo?”

”No, I should have given up hours ago. Then I wouldn't have gotten dragged over to the Hot Spot.” I told her about Jason's summons, and the arrival of Santa.

”So did you stay to watch?” she inquired archly.

”Of course not!” I glanced over at the binoculars. The back of my neck was damp. ”Why would I do that?”

”Just kidding. Seriously, though, you didn't happen to see Darwin, did you? I shouldn't worry but I can't help it, I still feel like he's my baby brother. And he was so out of control before he got this job-”

”Actually, I talked to him,” I told her. ”He seemed OK. Come to think of it, he seemed sober. Doesn't he drink?”

”Not any more. He's been in A A for a year now.”

Lily had never disclosed this about Darwin before, and I wasn't sure how to reply. ”Oh...well, I wasn't at the party for long, but honestly, he was fine.”

”Forget I asked, OK?” She hastened to change the subject. ”Did you see Aaron?”

”Aaron Gold?” I almost dropped the phone.

”Are you in love with some other Aaron?” I could hear the wicked smile in her voice. ”Dar said he was invited tonight.”

”You know perfectly well I'm not in love with Aaron. I'm not sure I ever was.”

Just to prove it, I should have changed the subject myself. But I couldn't. ”I thought he was still in Boston, anyway. How does he know Frank?”

”I don't think he does, really,” said Lily. ”Darwin told me Aaron's working on some book about the CEO of Meet for Coffee. He's gotten friendly with the guys in Creative Services, so they asked him to the party. I guess he didn't go, though.”

”I guess not.” Unless he was in that side room shooting pool with Jason. I wonder...