Part 27 (1/2)
Thirty-six.
J ohnny stopped by Nicky's office shortly be fore lunch. Deliberately. After being introduced around, he said, ”Do you have time for lunch at Chez Panisse?”
”No, but maybe I could make time, if you felt like paying me back later tonight,” she said with a smile.
His plans were highly equivocal, but he lied and said, ”Sure,” because he wanted what he wanted. A bad habit, perhaps, but one of long standing.
And as though lying always required its reckoning, as they were eating lunch, Johnny's cell phone rang. Kazuo had information on Yuri. Johnny tried to keep the conversation short, but even though he spoke as vaguely as possible, by the time he hung up, Nicky was looking at him strangely.
” That was mysterious. Is some woman on your trail? Not that it's any of my business,” she hastened to add.
”It wasn't a woman,” Johnny said, quickly. ”Just a friend of mine I haven't seen for a while.”
”A friend who's apparently going to Europe.” The word Zurich had come up.
”Yeah.”
”I got the impression he wanted you to go along.”
Johnny debated his reply. Although, he'd have to tell her eventually that he was leaving-like soon with Kazuo warming up his plane-would it be better or worse if he let her know now. f.u.c.k it-what was he waiting for? ”Actually, I might fly out with him this afternoon. He wants me to scout out a hot new band with him.”
”This afternoon?”
”You'll be safe. Barry and Cole are on duty.” He felt like saying Yuri was meeting his buyer in Zurich, so you really are safe. But that might give a clue to why he was traveling to Europe. And the less Nicky knew the better. He didn't want her involved in this. He didn't want her to ever have to think about Yuri and Raf again. Mostly, he didn't want her to worry. Like Jordi, he wanted to protect her from all the major and minor road b.u.mps in life.
”On duty?” she hissed, her gaze heated.
”Look, it won't be for long. Just until things settle down a little.”
”Until I met you, I didn't have to worry about things settling down,” she muttered.
”I know, and I apologize. Believe me, people like Yuri and Raf aren't normally in my life, either.”
”But these honest-to-G.o.d gangsters are in your ex's life! Don't forget that!”
The waitress who had come up with their desserts looked startled.
”We're discussing a movie script,” Johnny said with a smile. ”The creme brulee is mine.”
”You lie well,” Nicky murmured, as the waitress walked away.
”Would you prefer I tell her the truth?”
”No, I suppose not,” Nicky said with a sigh, knowing he'd prefer not dealing with his ex's friends any more than she. ”It's just that all of this is so outside the normal context of my world, I'm not sure which way to turn.”
”Eat your chocolate cake. You'll feel better.”
”Do you mind? I'm not a child.”
”Sorry; I didn't mean it that way. I promise this will all go away. Very soon. Guaranteed.”
”What the h.e.l.l does that mean?” Her voice had taken on an edge.
”I'm just trying to be rea.s.suring.” White lies weren't really lies were they? They were just social necessities. ”Look, I'll be back before you know it. In the meantime, though, I have a favor to ask. After work, would you mind going to that store with the rope swings with Jordi? She's been nagging me something fierce about taking her. She wants to pick out a rope swing for her tree house, and that's more your territory than mine.”
Nicky gave him a jaundiced look. ”Are you changing the subject?”
”No, I just thought of it, that's all.” Add another lie to the lengthening list. ”Ve rn ie has my charge cards, so buy whatever looks good to you and Jordi.” He smiled. ”And thanks in advance.”
”Don't think I'm falling for this diversion,” she grumbled, her fork poised over her slice of cake. ”But I'll do it for Jordi.”
No way was he going to argue about diversions. ”I'll be back in a day or so,” he said. ”And if my friend, Kazuo, has time, I'll bring him around so you can meet him.”
She didn't even want to know who someone called Kazuo was; not if she wanted to sleep tonight. Better to deal with the reality she knew. ”I don't want Barry or Cole stepping on my toes. Agreed?”
”They'll keep their distance. It's just a temporary precaution anyway.”
”So you say.”
”Trust me on this one.”
”It's not you I don't trust so much as your untrustworthy ex.”
”She won't bother you again.”
Each word was cold as the grave.
And on that point if nothing else, she believed him.
Thirty-seven.
Kazuo had a tail on Yuri, so he called to get an update as they were being driven to their hotel in Zurich. Setting his phone aside after a brief conversation he turned to Johnny. ”Yuri's still waiting for his buyer.” He grinned. ”You wouldn't be interested in Catherine the Great's coronation ring if the price was right, would you?”
”No thanks, Kaz. Play it safe-that's my motto.”
Kazuo's grin widened. ”What if Yuri wants to give it to you?”
Johnny laughed. ”Somehow I can't see Dutov the elder going along with the deal even if his son caved.”
”I could guarantee you ready compliance.”
”Much as I appreciate your offer, I think I'll stick to shopping at Costco.”
”I was just looking to make this more interesting.” Kazuo's gaze was amused.