‘The fair, Tom, the ladies’ fair.’
‘Great. Attendance is up this year.’
Abel looked at him askance. ‘Tell me you’re kidding.’
‘I’m kidding.’
‘Christ, for a moment there I thought they had you in their clutches.’
‘No danger of that,’ said Hollis. ‘Where’s Lucy?’
‘Sulking. We had an argument. She thinks I’m seeing someone on the side.’
‘Are you?’
‘I sure as hell wouldn’t tell you if I was. But no, as it happens, I’m not.’ He lit a cigarette. ‘How’s the President?’
‘The President?’
‘Mrs Calder. You remember, the one who invited you to a party, the one you were spotted with in Springs the next day.’
‘We went walking,’ said Hollis. ‘She likes to walk.’
‘You’ve got to start somewhere, I guess.’
‘I guess.’
‘Why the hang-dog expression? No, don’t tell me—you fucked it up.’
‘I might have.’
‘You idiot, Tom.’
‘Coming from you?’
‘Well, go and sort it out. Tell her she’s invited to dinner over at my place later. You can come too…assuming you survive.’
‘What about Lucy?’
‘Don’t worry about her,’ said Abel, ‘she’ll be okay by then.’
Hollis waited till three o’clock before making his move. The fair was in full swing, the village green thronging with people clustered around the booths, the gypsy caravans, the wishing well and the wheel of chance, or waiting in line for boat rides on Town Pond. Mary’s little entourage had thinned out, and she was sipping a drink in the shade of a tree, the glass beaded with sweat.
‘Hi.’
‘Here—’ said Mary, handing him the glass.
He took a gulp of the cold lemonade.
‘Finish it,’ she said.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Believe me, I’m sure.’
He drained the glass, dabbed at his face with his handkerchief and looked around. There were some children playing nearby, romping and running about.
‘Edward…?’
‘The big one with the stick chasing the small one without a stick.’
‘Seems like a nice kid.’
Mary laughed, and he felt his heart soar.
‘How have you been, Tom?’
‘Oh, you know…terrible.’
‘Really? Why?’
‘Take a guess.’
‘Don’t blame me,’ she said, hardening.
‘I’m not. I let you down, I know that. And I’m sorry.’
‘So am I.’
Her words sounded so final, but he wasn’t going to give up, not now. ‘There’s a lot I need to tell you.’
‘You mean your investigation.’
‘That came to nothing.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘Other things,’ he said.
‘I’m not sure this is the time.’
She didn’t want to hear it, thought Hollis, not now, not ever. She just couldn’t bring herself to tell him
