the second level-and above that, a thirty-foot beamed cathedral ceiling supported by log trusses.
“The kitchen and breakfast room are over there,” Kate said, pointing to the opposite side of the room.
He looked past the table and chairs into the kitchen. There was a stainless-steel industrial stove and Sub- Zero refrigerator-freezer. He liked it, big open floor plan.
Jack said, “How many bedrooms?”
“Four. All upstairs.”
Kate took a check out of her purse and handed it to him. “I was going to give this to you earlier, but it slipped my mind. For your real estate deal.”
Jack held it in his hand. Stared at it-fifty thousand.
“I couldn’t remember the name of your company,” Kate said.
“Eldorado Estates,” Jack said.
“You can fill it in,” Kate said. “I’m sure there will be some papers to sign, huh? You have them with you?”
Jack couldn’t believe it. “Why’d you change your mind?”
“I didn’t. You obviously think it’s a good deal. So I’d like to take advantage of it and help you out.”
Jack shook his head.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” Jack said. “I’m just surprised, that’s all.”
Surprised didn’t begin to say it. He was floored. He was thinking of the things he could do with fifty thousand dollars-cash the check, be on his way. He saw himself on the beach in Cabo, living like a king for years in Mexico. But, on the flip side, he saw the money running out, and then what? Fifty grand sounded like a lot to him at the moment, but wasn’t enough to even make it interesting.
Jack handed the check back to her. “You’re too late. Deal closed yesterday at five o’clock.”
“You sure?”
No, not completely, but he said, “Yeah, positive.”
The way Jack looked at it, all he had to do was win her back and there’d be a whole lot more than fifty grand.
Teddy got a tree stand-gun hunter’s special, plus climbing spurs and T-pads and seven-by-fifty Bushnell binoculars-at an outfitter in Northport. The owner was an old guy with a long gray beard, reminded Teddy of the bass player in ZZ Top. Man smelled like dead meat his dad used to hang in the cellar. Jesus, he was ripe. It was a strange place, filled with animal heads.
Old guy said, “You’re a little early for deer season.”
Teddy-thinking, you can’t even buy a goddamn tree stand without somebody getting in your business-said, “Am I too early to see grosbeaks and warblers?”
The old guy perked up and said, “Ever see a Kirtland’s warbler?”
“Kirtland’s warbler?” Teddy said, pretending to be interested. “No, I don’t believe I have.”
“And you’re not going to unless you go downstate between Grayling and Mio,” he said, pointing at Teddy with the mouthpiece of his pipe.
Old graybeard was a real sexual intellectual, a fucking know-it-all. Teddy said, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Only eight hundred pairs still in existence,” he said, wanting to tell Teddy every goddamn thing he knew about them.
That had all happened earlier. Now he was forty feet off the ground, setting in the tree lounge, drinking an MGD, watching Jack’s rich lady’s place that was about thirty yards away, just inside the tree line, and it was some place. Neither DeJuan nor Celeste knew from tree stands, so Teddy was elected.
Got up before dawn, drove over, walked a couple miles through the woods and found the tree.
DeJuan said, “Can’t miss it. Biggest one near the house on the east side.” He strapped on the spurs and T- pads, climbed the tree and set up the stand. He was drinking coffee, relaxing as the sun came up over the water.
He saw Jack’s rich lady sleeping and saw her get out of bed, watched her through the binoculars-filling up the tub and then taking her clothes off and getting in, making faces as she got used to the water. Teddy zooming in and holding on different parts of her-looked like she was close enough to reach out and touch. She soaked for a time and then stood up and got out and dried off. Seeing her naked body warmed him up against the chill of morning. She was a looker. He’d drink that bathwater she was setting in.
SIXTEEN
The bar was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with men in work shirts and fertilizer caps, drinking beer and shots and smoking cigarettes. Kate and Jack sat at a table and ordered bottles of Bass Ale. They had their backs to the door and could feel the draft move across the floor when somebody came in. The band, four long-haired Indians, kicked it out from a stage at the far end of the room.
Luke was out for the evening, on patrol with Bill Wink-“seeing a real cop in action” was how Bill put it. Kate grinning, thinking about it. She took Jack to the Happy Hour Tavern for sauteed perch and now they were at Boone’s Prime Time in Suttons Bay.
“I forgot why we came here,” Jack said.
Kate said, “How many chances you get to see Crazy Horse live?” She tapped a cigarette out of her pack and lit it. “They take requests, I understand. What’s your favorite speed-metal song?”
“I’m going to have to think about that,” Jack said, “there are so many.”
The band finished their set and said they were going to take a break. Jack got up, said he was going to the men’s.
Kate was thinking about Jack’s reaction when she gave him the fifty thousand. She’d agonized over it. She didn’t trust him and figured that was a way to find out if he was still working a con. He could’ve taken the check, cashed it and disappeared, if money was what he was after. He shocked her by giving it back, and now felt bad she doubted him. It looked like he’d changed; he was a different person after all.
Kate felt someone staring at her, looked over and met the gaze of a rugged-looking guy standing at the bar. He winked at her and she looked away. Now he came over to the table and sat in Jack’s seat. He had a longneck Rolling Rock in his hand.
“When they start letting injuns play instruments?” He drank his beer and said, “How you doing?”
Kate said, “I’m with someone.”
“Yeah, I know and you could do a lot better if you ask me.”
“I didn’t,” Kate said.
He had a square jaw and looked strong under the dark T-shirt and nylon jacket, like someone who worked construction his whole life. He had a mullet too.
He said, “How we going to get to know each other with that attitude?”
He was leering at her and it made her uncomfortable.
“What do you do,” Kate said, “that makes you so confident?”
“I’m good.”
“Yeah? What’re you good at?”
“Anything I set my mind to.”
He grinned, showing tobacco-stained teeth, and drained his beer bottle.
“Why don’t you set your mind to going back where you came from, try that,” Kate said.
He stood up but continued to stare at her.
“I’ve got a feeling we’ll be seeing each other again.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Kate said.
He moved to the bar, looking back at her, grinning and put his empty on the bartop. He was sleazy, scary- looking. He creeped her out-made her nervous.
