Part 23 (1/2)
”Nothing before that, huh?”
”Unfortunately, my resources are limited right now. Maybe Jack can-”
”No.” I spoke firmly. ”I don't take money from my sister's husband.”
”Oh. Right. The family connection.”
Caleb turned in his chair and signaled to the waitress, who'd been hovering some tables away. When she came over, he asked for the ”afters” menu, which she supplied. For a man of limited resources, he was spending a bundle on this lunch. I suspected that one way or the other, Jack was paying for it.
”Would you like some dessert?” Caleb asked me.
”No, thanks,” I said. ”I don't eat a lot of sweets.”
”Which is one reason you're so beautiful, so slim and graceful.” He smiled in a sloppy sort of way. ”You're really amazing, Nola.”
”Thanks.” It came out a lot drier than I wanted, and he winced.
”Not just flattery,” Caleb said. ”I mean it, you're amazing. You know, when I was looking for a partner in this venture, I checked out a lot of guys with boats. I finally chose Jack because I wanted to meet Kathleen's sister. You're even more beautiful than I thought you'd be.”
”Well, then, thank you.” I heard various inner alarms go off. ”I will have some coffee, but just black for me.”
”All right. I was thinking of having an Irish coffee in your honor, but all that cream . . .”
”Don't feel obliged for my sake.”
”Just plain whiskey, then. Let's see what kinds they have.”
While he ordered, I glanced out the window, just casually. One vision trance with lunch was enough for me, especially with Caleb's interesting slipup to ponder. He'd chosen Jack to get at me, had he? I suspected that Belial lay behind the decision, not my pretty face.
The waitress arrived with our coffees, his so heavily laced that I could smell the hot whiskey from across the table. I turned back to pick up my cup and nearly knocked it over.
Someone else had joined us. Not a visible person, no, not even an invisible physical presence-but an intangible someone or something, a guest of sorts at the table, had taken the empty chair next to Caleb, who knew it as well as I did. I noticed how he slid over slightly in order to give the guest plenty of elbow room, how he glanced sideways at the chair. I decided to call the game.
”Who's your friend?” I said. ”Brother Belial?”
Caleb turned as white as the seafoam. The presence rose up, flowed my way, and vanished. I might have heard a very high-pitched, very faint bubbling sound as it rushed by.
”Uh, well, yes,” Caleb said. ”He wanted a look at you. Because of the venture, I mean, and all that.”
”I see.” I smiled, but I doubted if it was a nice smile. ”Well, I hope he approves.”
”How could he not approve of someone like you?”
If I hadn't wanted to pry more information out of Caleb, I would have thrown my coffee into his face. Flattery wasn't going to cover his gaffe, summoning his spectral friend to size me up! As it was, I had a sip of the coffee and put the cup down on the saucer. ”I'll have to think about your offer, of course. My partner will probably have something to say about it.”
”Ah, yes, the boyfriend.” His voice dripped sarcasm. ”Where is he today, anyway?”
”Probably working out at the gym.”
”He struck me as that type. What does he do for a living? I hope it's something that lets him support you in style. A woman like you shouldn't have to worry about money.”
”Oh, I love being in charge of my own finances.” Something twitched in my mind. I paused to look around and saw Ari striding down the ramp by the hostess station. ”Er, no, scratch my remark about the gym. He's right here.”
As Ari stalked across the dining room toward us, Caleb gulped down a hot mouthful of whiskey and coffee. He nearly choked, grabbed his water gla.s.s, and drank. Ari was scowling at us, his mouth set in a thin line, but his SPP told me that he was frightened more than angry. Something had come up, I figured, and I'd better play along. I could count on Caleb being too drunk to run an SPP of his own.
”Oh, G.o.d!” I said. ”He's really furious. Uh, thanks for the lunch! I'd better go.” I grabbed at my bag and pretended to nearly drop it, then picked up the sungla.s.ses. ”Sorry.”
Caleb got up, wobbling, just as Ari reached us.
”Business lunch, huh?” Ari said. ”Wine. Whiskey. Some guy.”
”Look, darling,” I said, ”I told you-”
Ari grabbed my nearer arm. ”Let's go,” he snapped. ”You can make your excuses in the car.”
”Now, here!” Caleb managed to put some authority in his voice. ”I'm Jack Donovan's business partner. You've met me. You know that I'm making Nola a job offer.”
Ari looked at him, merely looked, but Caleb sat down. I was aware of Brother Belial again, floating somewhere above the middle of the dining room, and watching us. He wasn't alone in that activity. The other lunchers were turning in their chairs and staring.
”Let's go,” Ari snapped again. ”I'm sick and tired of this! Stepping out on me every chance you get!”
A horrified squad of waitress, busboy, and maitre d' was making its way over to us. I felt a stab of guilt for upsetting them for nothing.
”Ari, for crying out loud!” I said. ”I am so sick of you being so jealous. All right, let's go home! We can fight about it there and not ruin everyone's lunch.”
The line of potential allies relaxed. Caleb summoned enough courage to say, ”You have my cell phone number. Call me if you're interested in the job.”
Rather than spoil the effect, I let Ari half-drag me out of the dining room and up the ramp to the lobby. As soon as we were outside, he came out with one of his half-smothered chortles.
”Nice bit of acting,” he said.
”Yours, too. What's going on?”
”I'll tell you in the car.”
In case Caleb had followed us out, Ari stayed in character by berating me in what was probably Farsi while we walked back to the car. I had no idea of what he was saying. I concentrated on looking oppressed. A scattering of people were walking downhill as we walked up. Most looked away and walked faster. Just as we reached the car, we pa.s.sed a well-dressed older couple. The woman had covered her hair with a beautiful silk scarf in teal and deep purple, which is why I noticed them. The silver-haired gentleman, however, had noticed us as well.
He reached out and caught Ari by the arm. I yelped aloud. Startling Ari that way could prove fatal. Ari spun around just as the man began talking to him in whatever language Ari had been using. Much to my shock, Ari ducked his head and stared at the sidewalk, a subservient gesture that surprised me further, mostly because it seemed so wellpracticed. Ari shook his arm free, but he muttered something that sounded apologetic. The fellow nodded in satisfaction, said a few stern words, and the couple continued on downhill.
I unlocked the car. As we got in, I made sure to take the driver's seat.
”What was all that about?” I said.
Ari buckled on his seat belt while he told me. ”I was being reminded that the Qu'ran teaches us to respect our wives, not yell at them in public.”
”It does? Maybe I should read it sometime.”
”You should. The actual text is quite different from the Taliban's interpretation of it. You Americans seem to think that all followers of Islam are fanatics. That's not true.”
”Well, yeah, I'm sure it's not. Besides, we have our share of gun-toting fanatics, too.”