Ray said, “Well, I can’t thank you enough. I’m going to miss you.” He reached across the table for her hand and held it for a moment. “I’ll come visit you if it’s all right. And if the charges against me ever get dismissed.”
“…you didn’t let me finish. And then I’m driving back here so I can give my new brother a ride in my new convertible.” She locked eyes with Raymond. “I want to spend some time with him. We’ve lots of catching up to do, now that I’m a sister again.”
Ray was delighted. “Why don’t you look for a law school down here? Consider your tuition paid; you borrow the money and I’ll make the payments.”
“And I want to give proper notice up there and clean up some loose ends. Like a certain guy who has to move out or take over my lease. He won’t be happy. Anyway, it’ll take awhile to have my new MX-5 delivered. I’ll need an apartment down here. I can’t afford much.”
“Rents are high,” Tammy said. “My place has two bedrooms. If necessary you can stay with me until I find a nice place for you.”
“Sorry to spoil your merriment here, but you’re talking as if the show’s over.” Kagan was serious. “Ray remains under arrest and unless the real killer gets caught, the possibility remains we still might have to go to trial. Things can easily go wrong in a murder trial.”
“I know, and I’ll get back on it when I return. But not to worry,” Sandy said. “Chip will get the bad guy. He and I have an idea who the killer is.”
“Our thanks to you, Jerry. You were right in there and did all you were supposed to do,” Ray said.
“If they drop the charges, then I think I’ll keep my office open for a few more years,” Kagan said. “I’ve been feeling better lately. The phone has started ringing again. I was invited to speak at a Rotary Club luncheon, how about that? Sandy, I have an unused desk if you want some work or just need somewhere to spread out and study for the bar exam. I could use the help, and you’re definitely welcome.”
An hour later, the drinks were finished and the chatter quieted. Meg and Kagan left. As Tammy and Ray were leaving Sandy said, “Come in quietly tonight, Raymond, and remember I’ve got your bedroom. You’ve got the couch.”
“I can’t wait to sleep on my old couch.”
“And I don’t do breakfast.” Then Sandy stood and said, “Linda, let’s go check out that special bar of yours for a couple of hours, I want to watch you dance.”
“Let’s go. I might hook up with Miss Right. You’re not the only Coca Cola in the desert, you know.”
Chapter 33
Ray sat back and breathed the sweet air of freedom. He watched the Florida scenery flash by, and dreamed it would always be like this. That morning he had left a sweaty orange jumpsuit and some meaningless papers behind in a smelly jail cell, and now a beautiful woman was swiftly driving him to her barrier island condo apartment. From the ridiculous to the sublime in mere moments. He owned the earth and the sky. He’d settle for much less, in fact, he’d settle for zero as long as he was free.
Locked in jail had given him time to think. Acquaintances would no longer just come and go in his life. He’d be alert to the possibility of new friends. And perhaps one of his new friends would call him if needed someday, even at four a.m.
After ushering him in to her apartment, Tammy said, “I need to get out of these clothes. Make yourself at home.” She disappeared into the bedroom.
From her small kitchen, he walked across the dining space to the adjoining living room area with sliding glass doors. The balcony was just large enough for a small table and two lounge chairs, but it had an unobstructed ocean view. Her place was modest, informal, and nicely decorated. A comfortable place to live, he thought.
She called from the bedroom, “You can do the wine. The bottle I want is on the counter. Opener is somewhere.”
He opened the wine and found two glasses. “This view is great,” he yelled back.
“The value is in the view. I couldn’t afford to buy it at today’s prices. I should sell it straight away before they squeeze in another building in front of the ocean.”
She came out wearing what he would always remember as perfect: a pink-flowered silk top with matching pants. Not sheer but close fitting enough for him to suspect she wore nothing underneath. Her remarkable body was definitely liberated under there.
She shuffled through some CDs. “Classical guitar okay?”
They walked out on the balcony. They sipped their wine, listened to Villa-Lobos, and looked out at the waves. The contrast between this scene and jail was wider than the ocean that stretched out until it met the sky.
There was a half-hour of daylight left. The air was warm. The ocean breeze playfully tugged at her hair and blew her lounging outfit so tightly against her body it appeared she wore only a silky layer of paint. Instinctively he stared.
She slowly turned to put the light wind at her back. “It must feel great being out from behind bars. You and your sister have worked hard. How’s your defense going? Is there anything I can do?”
She had interrupted his image of her posed there like a poetic goddess heroically facing the ocean naked, with the taut nipples of her breasts boldly aimed at the horizon. “Jail isn’t on my mind just now. I don’t want to be reminded of it tonight.” He politely changed the subject. “It appears you’ve been in Park Beach quite a while.”
“Has to be fifteen years or so. I remember it was an election year and Towson was running for mayor. I was clerking in a department store. I was young and idealistic and got interested in his campaign. He was so tall and distinguished looking. That year was the first I’d ever voted, even though I was twenty-something. I remember a lot of excitement as there was also a Presidential election that year.”
“Who was running for president?”
“Good question, let’s see, fifteen years ago who was running? You know I don’t remember. You’re the history expert, you tell me,” she laughed.
“So, the wide-eyed young girl joins his campaign and ends up working for him?”
“Well, there’s a story in that. The salad’s already done. Let me start the pasta, and I’ll tell you.”
He followed her into the kitchen.
She fussed around with the kitchenware, and then began, “I was at the election night gathering of all the campaign workers at the Legion Hall. As word of the victory spread, well-wishers poured in from the street. Air conditioning couldn’t begin to handle the overflowing mob plus the TV lights. The hall was hot and we were exhausted. It had been a long day. I took off my painful shoes, and they got kicked over, I didn’t know where. I remember I was soaked, trying to keep my damp stringy hair out of my eyes and sipping on a beer. Looking as I did, I kept ducking to avoid all the cameras.” She watched the boiling water and gave stir to something in a small saucer. “I’m skipping the garlic tonight.” In between her cookery, their eyes would reconnect.
“A special time for you.” He wondered if she could feel his eyes on her body whenever she looked away.
She went on with the dinner preparations. “I was running on adrenaline, and couldn’t have been happier. An hour later, the cameras were gone and the crowd thinned. Tony Hackett, his campaign manager, came over as I hunted for my other shoe. He said Mayor Towson wanted to meet me. Tony obviously enjoyed saying ‘The Mayor.’ I told him no way. I was a mess. I needed to freshen up, which was impossible there. Tony said just come on the mayor is waiting. I asked if the mayor was thanking all the block workers. No, he was alone and asking for me by name.” In time, she finished in the kitchen and they moved to the dining table.
He refilled the wine glasses and she proposed a toast to “new relationships.” Ray was all in favor of new relationships—could she mean them?
“I had never formally met him, and I never dreamed he knew I existed. So, there I was in my bare feet carrying one shoe and following Tony to some room in the back. He introduced me to the great man. When Al noticed I wasn’t wearing any shoes, he reached down and slipped off both of his own shoes. Wasn’t that sweet? I’m
