“How about Saturday?”
“Saturday? I—well, maybe I could take a raincheck on that? Things are really busy at work, and I just don’t know what my schedule’s going to be.”
“Hey, Bear, what’s up?”
Approaching from the right was a large man, pushing six-four, a smidgen leaner than Panda, with a buzz cut and a military gait. He carried a near-empty Platypus two-liter water bottle.
Dixon turned back to her new workout partner. “Bear?”
“Roxxann, this is a buddy of mine. James Cannon. Bear’s my nickname.”
Dixon squinted. Then she tilted her chin back. “Ah. Panda. Bear.”
Cannon gave Panda a shove. “George here didn’t like it when I’d yell out, ‘Hey, Panda,’ in the gym. Some of the bodybuilders gave him a hard time. They thought it was a pet name or something.”
“And let me guess,” Dixon said. “Your nickname is Cannon.”
“Actually, I go by ‘Bob.’” He laughed. “Just messing with you. Name’s Jimmy.”
“I thought you were working out.”
Dixon turned; Vail was coming up behind her, eyes bouncing from Panda to Cannon.
“We were. I mean, I was. Karen, this is George, and Jimmy.”
Panda extended a hand. This time he didn’t bother to remove his glove. “George Panda.” Cannon shifted the water bottle to his other hand and took Vail’s palm firmly.
“Karen Vail. Good to meet both of you. But,” she said, nudging Dixon in the side, “we’re running out of time. We should shower, get back to work.”
“You two work together?” Panda asked.
Dixon swiped at her forehead with a towel. “I’m an investigator with the district attorney’s office.”
“I knew someone who worked for the DA.” Panda shook his head. “That was a long time ago.”
Cannon leaned back and appraised Vail. “Let me guess. You must be one of the attorneys.”
Vail smirked. “God, no. I’m with the FBI. Out of Virginia.”
“FBI,” Cannon said. “Very cool.”
“Visiting the wine country?” Panda asked.
“That was the plan,” Vail said. “Work kind of got in the way.”
Panda’s gaze flicked from Vail to Dixon. “Uh-oh. Trouble in paradise?”
“Nothing we can talk about,” Vail said. “And believe me, it’s nothing you’d want to hear about anyway.”
Cannon bent his head to the side and asked Vail, “I feel like we’ve met before.”
Vail shook her head. “I’ve only been in town a few days.”
“And what do you two do?” Dixon asked.
George tightened the Velcro strap on his glove. “I’m a consultant.”
“Are you with a company, or out on your own?”
“Totally solo.” He moved to the other glove, adjusted the strap. “I worked for a corporation years ago and swore that was the last time I was ever going to answer to anybody.”
Cannon moaned. “Oh, not the big, bad corporation story again.”
“I’m not gonna tell them the story, Jimmy, don’t worry.” Panda turned to Dixon and Vail and held out an open hand in explanation. “It’s just that people think they know better than you, but they’re either wrong or just plain clueless. I got tired of it, is all.”
“And you?” Vail asked Cannon. “What do you do?”
He set the water bottle down at his feet. “I’m a winemaker. Herndon Vineyards.”
Vail’s eyes traversed his body. “You don’t look like any winemaker I’ve ever met.”
Cannon pursed his lips. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Dixon wrapped her towel around her neck. “Never heard of Hern—Hernd—”
“Herndon. Herndon Vineyards. You
Panda shook his head. “You gave me a hard time about telling my corporation story and you bore these nice ladies with your company’s sales pitch?”
Cannon gave Panda another playful shove. “My sales pitch beats your ‘woe-is-me evil corporation story’ any day. Beats your consulting stories, too.”
“Speaking of which,” Dixon said, “what kind of consulting do you do? What industry?”
Panda placed a hand on the upright of the shoulder press machine. “Despite what Jimmy says, I think consulting’s a pretty good gig.” He fiddled with the iron plate. “I do critical thinking, strategic solutions. Pay’s damn good, so no complaints.”
“I’m into critical thinking, too,” Vail said. She pointed to her wrist, where there was no watch. “And we’d better get back to doing that. I’ll meet you in the locker room.” She extended a hand to Panda. “Good meeting you, George. Jimmy.”
“Same here,” Panda said.
Cannon quickly glanced from Dixon to Vail. “You, uh, you two doing anything for dinner?” He indicated Panda. “Maybe the four of us could—”
“Thanks,” Vail said. “I’m busy. But thanks for asking.” She made eye contact with Dixon and waved a thumb over her shoulder. “Meet you inside.”
Cannon tucked his chin back and watched Vail walk off. “I think I just got rejected.”
“New experience for you?” Dixon said with a laugh. “Don’t take it personally. She’s seeing someone.”
Cannon turned to Dixon. His face seemed to harden. “Yeah.” He bent down to pick up his water bottle. “Catch you later, Bear. I’m gonna hit the showers.” He tossed a tight nod at Panda, did not acknowledge Dixon, then left.
Dixon swung her gaze toward Panda. “I didn’t—I didn’t mean anything by that. You think I hurt his feelings?”
Panda waved at the air. “Bruised ego is all. He’ll be fine. He doesn’t take rejection well.”
“Who does?”
Panda grinned. “This is true.”
Dixon blotted her face with the towel. “You done with your workout?”
Panda glanced around at all the equipment. “No, I’ve still got another hour or so on the weights, then I’m gonna do some cardio.”
“Why don’t I call you when I have a better handle on what my work schedule looks like?”
Panda nodded. “Sounds good.” He gave Dixon his number.
She committed it to memory and told him she’d call him. “You want, you can always reach me through the DA’s office. We’re listed.” Dixon gave him a broad smile. “Or maybe we’ll meet up again here.”
“I’d like that,” Panda said.
Dixon winked. “Thanks again for your help.
JOHN WAYNE MAYFIELD sat in his truck, slumped down in the seat, watching the exit to the Fit1! gym. Waiting around was not something he enjoyed, but it was often necessary in his line of work. So he continued to sit and surveil the entrance as the minutes ticked by.
Several men had left the gym, as well as a couple of women, but not the ones he was waiting on. He had followed Dixon and Vail to the gym, so he knew what car they had arrived in and where they parked. He had positioned his pickup so that he had a view of both the entrance and their vehicle. If they left through another exit, he’d still see them when they arrived at their car.
Mayfield checked his watch.
