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“They already have a long reserve list,” Sicily said. “Customers wanting signed copies.” She sat observing Charlie. “You haven’t said a word. Aren’t you excited?”
“Excited? I’m ecstatic! My second one-man show, and my first book signing-and one of your wonderful parties.” She took in Sicily ’s costume, delighted as always by her friend’s choice of clothes. Her jewelry today was silver, wooden beads and small, handmade clay medallions, her tunic nipped in by a wood-and-silver belt, her dark hair piled high and held by silver clips.
“You’ve finished the gallery work,” Charlie said, looking back through the archway at the new, movable walls all freshly painted-all waiting for Charlie’s drawings and prints, most of which were stored in the back.
“Cora Lee’s cousin Do
“He’s cute, too,” Charlie said, watching Sicily.
Sicily gri
Charlie laughed. “Do
Sicily shrugged. “Well, cute is cute. And maybe I still have a chance. From what I hear he’s a shameless flirt, comes on to every attractive woman he meets. Maybe Gabrielle won’t tolerate that for long.”
“And would you?” Charlie said, teasing. “How long would that last, with you?”
“Not long,” Sicily said, laughing. “I just said he was cute, not that I have my sights set on him. Although…” They both laughed. But Sicily Aronson wasn’t a fool over a good-looking man; she was a keen businesswoman, clever and skilled and no pushover for just any cute guy.
“He has done nice work,” Charlie said, considering the beautiful plastering job around the archway and the smoothly installed, curved molding. The gallery was done in off-white, the tall white exhibit panels reaching, on one side, to within a few feet of the balcony where smaller paintings and drawings were hung. “He seems skilled at so many things. You’re right, I don’t know why Ryan hasn’t hired him. She’s always complaining about having more work than she has reliable men.”
“Maybe Do
Charlie looked blankly at Sicily. “I don’t think Davis has any grandchildren, but I could be wrong.” She shrugged. “Some of the other officers have little kids. Maybe Davis is babysitting. On company time,” she said, laughing.
She had no idea why Juana Davis or Cora Lee hadn’t warned Do
“And what was that about, in the paper this morning?” Sicily said. “A body someone thought they saw, under the village tree? That’s pretty bizarre. Some prankster call, I bet. I heard the sirens-what a pity, to bring out practically the whole department for nothing, on a stormy night.”
“Max left so early, and I had the horses to feed-we didn’t talk much this morning. I was hoping that, during Christmas, Max and the men might have some time off.”
“It would be nice if you and Max could have a little vacation. If you don’t even have time to talk to each other…You’re not…Having problems?”
Charlie laughed. “We’re fine, Sicily.”
“You were cheated out of your honeymoon.” Sicily picked up the empty pot and signaled the waitress for more coffee. Then, more gently, “Maybe you’ll have time, now, to get away. With the book long finished and this exhibit put together-and already three great reviews on the book-you do need a breather. When you leave here, go on over to the station, Charlie, see if you can entice Max away for an early lunch. He can’t be that busy.”
“It’s a thought,” Charlie said. She was used to Sicily ’s managing ways, they didn’t usually a
She didn’t mention the incident to Sicily. That, too, was not yet public knowledge. She would talk to no one about it except those who already knew-including three nosy cats, she thought uneasily. Probably the cats were at the station right now, slyly absorbing newly arrived electronic intelligence-fingerprint information, DMV records…She was more than a little curious, herself.
“Why the grin?”
“Thinking about the show,” Charlie lied. “About Saturday night, about these rooms crowded with people, about the wonderful parties you always throw.” But then suddenly a wave of panic struck her. “What if… Sicily, what if no one…?”
Sicily laughed. “Have you ever been to one of my openings that wasn’t packed, and with the most elegant and influential people?”
“Never,” Charlie said, smiling in return. “I just…”
“Nerves,” Sicily said, patting Charlie’s hand like a solicitous mother. “Go have lunch with Max. Go shopping, spend some money, buy something frivolous, that’ll brighten your day.”
But Charlie wasn’t in a mood for shopping. Leaving the gallery, she headed straight for Molena Point PD. Maybe Max could tear himself away, if not for lunch, then for a late-morning coffee break-and maybe she’d see Juana, and the little girl. She wanted to tell Davis and Max that Do
The morning after the Christmas-tree incident, Max had looked distressed and angry when he told her about the three cats snuggled up with the little girl, and she could do nothing but brush it off. “ Clyde lives right behind the plaza, Max. I imagine his cat does roam in those gardens, that’s safer for a cat than the street.”
“And the other cats? Wilma’s cat? Greenlaws’ cat? Why would…?”
“They hang out together,” she’d said with a shrug. “You know how cats are.”
“No, Charlie, I don’t know how cats are. I know dogs hang out together. I know horses hang out together. I’ve always believed that cats were loners.”
“No.” She’d laughed. “Cats are just as social. They’re simply quieter about it. You’ve never been around cats very much. Look how Clyde ’s cat hangs around the station. That’s about as social as a cat can get.”
“That’s because Mabel feeds him.”
She shook her head. “Joe is a very sociable cat. I’ve watched him, and I think he likes you and Dallas. Cats are fascinating, Max. They’re all so different from one another.”
Max had to take her word for it. Charlie, having studied cats for her drawings and for her new book, had gained a reputation with him as an unchallengeable authority on the subject. And that, Charlie thought, is just the way I want it. As long as Max considered her an authority, she might be able to sidetrack his doubts.
But maybe I am an authority, she thought, hiding a laugh, considering what I know about the talents of certain felines.