Although he normally seems to have preferred tea, he had ordered coffee with sugar that morning, just like the other two, so there was no difference between his cup and the others. He set it down on the tray, put the books on the shelf and then picked up the
'Poison in
'Aren't we all?' said Leyden.
22
'I hope you have another pipe. That wad of adhesive tape looks pretty asinine.' He ignored it. 'I'll pick you up ats even.'
'Pick me up for what?'
'Dinner. I've decided we ought to start fresh.'
'You've decided-' His gall left her speechless.
'Wear your green suit,' he said. 'The one with the purple and indigo blouse.'
The elevator doors slid open on the ground floor.
'You looked in my closet yesterday? How dare you! That's invasion of privacy!' Indignantly she hurried to catch up with him as he strode down the hall. He held the door for her at the back entrance of Van Hoeen Hall where Detective Tildon waited with the car.
'Seven o'clock,' Nauman repeated. 'Green suit. And leave your hair loose.'
'Be damned if I will!' she said angrily as she slid into the car beside Detective Tildon and banged the door shut.
Tillie looked shocked at her unprecedented display of emotion, but Sigrid ignored his curious face. Never had she met a man so willful, conceited and infuriating!
Even so, as they drove through the college gates, she found herself wondering if she could finish all the reports in time to stop by Anne's apartment and hunt for those jade earrings.
Margaret Maron
Born and raised in central North Carolina, Margaret Maron lived in Italy before returning to the USA where she and her husband now live. In addition to a collection of short stories she's also the author of 16 mystery novels. Her works have been translated into seven languages her Bootlegger's Daughter, a Washington Post Bestseller won Edgar Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity awards. She is a past president of Sisters in Crime and of the American Crime writers' league, and a director on the national board for Mystery Writers of America.
