'She must know something worth hearing. And she doesn't like those men.'
'And might take pleasure in ratting them out?' I said.
'Discreetly,' Susan said. 'By innuendo. In the guise of being feminine, or witty, or simply so cute and sexy.'
Susan put her head against my shoulder while we looked at the ocean.
'I don't want to sound sexually incorrect,' I said, 'but do you think she slept her way up the corporate ladder?'
'Adele?' Susan said. 'Does a cat have an ass?'
'Okay,' I said. 'It's a job that's got to be done.'
'And don't you dare enjoy it,' Susan said.
I t was getting dark. The beach had emptied. The wind was quiet. The water moved more gently. The blue distance had shortened and darkened as it closed down onto the horizon.
'Pretty much,' I said. 'I think we enjoy each other.'
'Yes,' Susan said. 'A lot.'
30
Coop gave it one more try at breakfast. Susan and I were at a C table by the window, where I was eating corned beef hash with a poached egg, and Susan was nursing half a bagel. Carrying a cup of coffee, Bob strode across the room trailing a gentle hint of expensive cologne. He pulled over a chair from another table, turned it around and sat straddling it with his forearms resting on the back.
'Hope I'm not interrupting,' he said.
'Not at all,' I said. 'We were just speaking aimlessly of our hopes and dreams.'
Coop smiled.
'You are a kidder, aren't you?'
'Makes me fun to be around,' I said.
'Sure does,' Coop said. 'Whadda you think, Susan.'
'Fun,' she said.
She broke off a corner of her bagel and dabbed on a teardrop sized smudge of cream cheese. Coop watched her for a moment. Then he looked back at me.
'Well,' Coop said to me, 'on that very subject, I'd like to make you a little offer.'
'You'd like to employ me to look into Rowley's death,' I said.
Coop was startled. It was maybe the first actual feeling I'd seen him show.
'Well,' he said. 'Yes. How did you know?'
'Because I turned down your pipe surveillance offer in Tulsa.
'Tulsa?'
'Yeah. Tulsa in June is always tempting, but I couldn't leave Susan.'
Coop looked genuinely confused. 'Who made you that offer?' he said. I grinned at him.
'Gav,' I said.
'Oh, well, I try not to micromanage. Are you interested in my offer?' He grinned. 'I'm the CEO, it supersedes Gav's offer.'
'Rank has its privileges,' I said.
'Damn straight,' Coop said. 'You interested?'
'No,' I said.
'Could I ask why?'
'I have a client,' I said.
'And our interests coincide. Wouldn't it be better for Marlene if we assumed the cost of investigating her husband's death? She's a widow. Her resources may not be limitless.'
'I don't know if your interests coincide,' I said. 'The only way I'll know that is by doing my work.'
'You might consider working for us both. We could certainly improve upon your fee.'
'Same answer,' I said.
'He's a stubborn one, Susan.'
'But fun to be around,' Susan said.
Coop studied me for a moment. The rest of the Kinergy revelers were drifting in for breakfast, most of them lining up for the vast buffet.
