Susan was holding a glass of pinot grigio, from which she had, in theory, been drinking for an hour and ten minutes. It was down nearly half an inch. She took another sip, and swallowed, looking at the room. Her lips were slightly parted, the residue of wine making them gleam. I knew that jumping over there and sitting on her lap was unseemly. I fought the impulse back.
'We only assume something to be an accident when all other explanations fail,' she said.
'Wow,' I said. 'Is that the royal we? Or are you talking about you and me?'
'You and me,' she said. 'I only use the royal we for state occasions.'
'So you think it's an accident?'
'No.'
'Couldn't you have said that to start?'
'I have a Ph.D.,' Susan said. 'From Harvard. If I had done postdoctoral work I wouldn't be able to speak at all.'
'Of course,' I said.
'Everyone appears to work out,' Susan said.
'And spend a lot of time in the sun,' I said.
'There are other ways to appear tanned,' Susan said.
'And everyone has even white teeth.'
'There are several ways to achieve that also.'
'My God,' I said. 'Is nothing as it appears.'
'You and me, Cookie.'
'Besides that,' I said.
'I think Hawk looks pretty much like who he is.'
'I'll tell him,' I said. 'He'll be proud.'
'What do you suppose he and Pearl are doing?'
'Right now?'
'Yes.'
'Running along the river, scaring people.'
'How nice for her,' Susan said.
Set up around the lobby were display posters listing the various events. Every event was a competition in which points could be earned: sailing, fishing, tennis, golf, bocce, badminton, horseshoes, skeet, archery, and a three-mile run. There were shopping trips arranged for the few wives in attendance.
'You think bringing your wife is the mark of a loser?' I said to Susan.
'Absolutely,' Susan said. 'It certifies that you're pussy whipped.'
'I brought you.'
'I rest my case,' Susan said.
Bob Cooper appeared before us with a drink in his big strong-looking hands. Gavin was with him.
'Spenser,' he said, 'it's great you could come.'
'It is,' I said.
'This the sort-of wife?' he said.
'Bob Cooper,' I said. 'Susan Silverman.'
He bowed and shook her hand, smiling at her full wattage. 'If you were sort of my wife, I'd make sure it was the complete deal,' he said.
'Actually sort of is as far as I want to go,' Susan said. Cooper straightened and put his head back and laughed. It was a big laugh, full of authority.
'Well hell,' he said. 'Just like a man. I never thought of that.'
He glanced at Gavin.
'Gav, you know Spenser, this is, ah, Ms. Silverman.'
We shook hands with Gavin just as if we were glad to see him.
'Room suitable?' he said.
'Lovely,' Susan said. Cooper nodded like it actually mattered to him.
'You need anything you call Delia, she's here. Room eleven.' I nodded. Susan smiled.
'I've saved a couple of seats at my table,' Cooper said. 'For dinner. I hope you can join me.'
'We'd be thrilled,' Susan said, just as if she meant it.
