Part 28 (1/2)

'All right. I have to make a call.' Diane walked over to the telephone and called a number.

An operator came on. 'KIG.'

'I'd like to speak to Betty Barker.'

'Just a moment, please.'

Tanner had seen the blue light and was listening in on the conference line.

'Miss Barker is not at her desk. Can I take a message?'

'Oh. No, thanks.'

Tanner frowned. Too quick to put out a trace, he thought.

Diane turned to Kelly. 'Betty Barker is still working at KIG, so we'll just have to find a way to get to her.'

'Maybe her home number is listed in the telephone directory.'

Diane said, 'It could be, and the line could be tapped.' She picked up the directory next to the telephone and skimmed to the letter she was looking for. 'She is listed.'

Diane dialled a number, listened, and slowly replaced the receiver.

Kelly walked over to her. 'What's the matter?'

It took Diane a moment to answer. 'Her phone has been disconnected.'

Kelly took a deep breath. 'I think I want a shower.'

As Kelly finished her shower and started to leave the bathroom, she realized that she had left towels on the floor. She hesitated a moment, then picked them up and put them neatly on the rack. She walked into the bedroom. 'All yours.'

Diane nodded absently. 'Thanks.'

The first thing Diane noticed when she walked into the bathroom was that all the used towels had been placed back on the rack. Diane smiled.

She stepped into the shower and let the warm water soothe her. She remembered how she used to shower with Richard, and how good their bodies felt touching each other. . . . Never again. But the memories would always be there. Always . . .

There were the flowers.

'They're beautiful, darling. Thank you. What are we celebrating?'

'Saint Swithin's Day.'

And more flowers.

'Was.h.i.+ngton Crossing the Delaware Day.' 'National Parakeet Day.' 'Celery Lovers' Day.'

When the note with the roses said 'Leaping Lizards' Day,' Diane had laughed and said, 'Sweetheart, lizards don't leap.'

And Richard had put his head in his hands and said, 'd.a.m.n it! I was misinformed.'

And he loved to write love poems to her. When Diane was getting dressed, she would find one in her shoes, or in a bra, or in a jacket. . . .

And there was the time he had come home from work and she was standing inside the door, completely naked, except for a pair of high-heeled shoes. And she had said, 'Darling, do you like these shoes?'

And his clothes had dropped to the floor and dinner was delayed. They- Kelly's voice called out, 'Are we going to have breakfast or dinner?'

They were walking to the restaurant. The day was cool and clear, and the sky was a translucent blue.

'Blue skies,' Diane said. 'A good omen.'

Kelly bit her lip to keep from laughing. Somehow, Diane's superst.i.tions seemed endearing.

A few doors from the diner, Diane and Kelly pa.s.sed a small boutique. They looked at each other, grinned, and walked inside.

A saleslady approached them. 'May I help you?'

Kelly said enthusiastically, 'Yes.'

Diane warned, 'Let's take it easy. Remember what happened the last time.'

'Right. No spree.'

The two of them went through the store, picking out a modest number of necessities. They left their old clothes in the dressing room.

'Don't you want to take these?' the saleslady asked.

Diane smiled. 'No. Give them to Goodwill.'

On the corner was a convenience store. 'Look,' Kelly said, 'disposable cell phones.'

Kelly and Diane went inside and purchased two of them, each equipped with a thousand prepaid minutes.

Kelly said, 'Let's exchange phone numbers again.'

Diane smiled. 'Right.' It only took a few seconds.

On their way out, as Diane was paying the cas.h.i.+er, she looked into her purse. 'I'm really beginning to run out of cash.'

'So am I,' Kelly said.