a strange time to do it. The decision has been made to fight James. Elma has given Richard her proxy. In fact, the fight is over because James can't buy enough stock in the open market to ever have more than a minority interest. The best he can hope for is perhaps one seat on the Board of Directors. If he will be satisfied with that, fine. If not, he'll probably sell the stock at some point.'
When the meeting concluded I walked Arrow out to her car, hoping to mend fences. I said, trying to speak lightly, 'It might not be so bad, working for James. He thinks very highly of you.'
'Ha! About as high as any woman is going to get with James is receptionist, and only because most of the people he deals with are men. He needs someone with short skirts and nice legs to distract them until he can get in their pants.'
How did she know about the receptionist? 'I guess Elma is firmly in Richard's camp now.'
'You saw the proxy form.'
'You've done your job, it appears.'
'Karl, you're acting very strange today,' Arrow said, with a puzzled look on her face. 'Maybe you need a vacation.'
'Tell me again why you asked me out to dinner-not that I'm complaining.'
Elma sat across from me with her green eyes smiling. She wore a dress that matched her eyes and complimented her red hair. Her freckles on an almost unlined face and youthful figure completed the picture of a woman who couldn't possibly have three grown children.
'I'm not satisfied that everything possible is being done in the investigation of Ned's death,' I said, making it up as I went along. 'I was just hoping that in talking to you I could pick up some clue that maybe…perhaps I could pass along to the police.'
'I'll help you and the police all I can; you know that. But I've told about everything I know that I thought might be of use-which is practically nothing. However, I really appreciate the opportunity to eat a genuine steak for a change. Since I've been cooking just for Sarah and me I've made mostly salads and vegetarian stuff. And she eats practically nothing. I'm worried about her-I’ve been reading up on anorexia.'
Elma chewed a bite of meat slowly, swallowed it and added, 'It certainly helps the ambiance to have a handsome young man seated across the table from me.'
'Thank you. Er, did Ned have any friends in San Francisco-other than James?' I asked, trying to sound offhand.
'None that I know of. Why do you ask?'
'No Asian friends, then?'
'No. Why do you ask?'
Even if the police had told Elma about the gun Ned had, they wouldn't know where it had come from. I couldn't very well say to Elma, 'Did Ned have a female friend who he knew well enough to leave a gun with?'
Whoever this mysterious woman was, nobody but Pat Wong's uncle would even admit to knowing her, and even he wouldn't give her name. I was at a dead-end on that alley.
A live piano player tinkled the tune 'Born Free' in the background. Although I had brought Elma here, intending to try to convince her to revoke her proxy to my father, somehow, the more wine I drank the less important that seemed.
I picked up my wine glass and said, 'I would like to make a toast to a beautiful woman with a ton of courage.'
With a impish grin, Elma said, 'I'm afraid I don't know the lass you be toasting, but I'll drink to anyone with those attributes.' And she drank from her own glass.
At least I could tell James I had tried. 'James, I took her out to dinner, but she beguiled me the same way she beguiled you 30 years ago. Since you know what I mean I'm sure you will understand.'
'I understand, Karl. I understand that you're a worthless shit. Stan, give your men the signal.' Bang. Bang. All's well that ends well.
When I escorted Elma to her door she invited me in. I had enjoyed being with her and savored the prospect of a few more minutes. We had conversed easily on many topics, something Esther and I didn't do, and she didn't talk business, like Arrow. In fact, I had been so entranced conversing with her about non-business subjects I had never found a way to bring up her proxy.
'Sarah's on a sleep-over at a friend's house,' Elma said as she ushered me in. 'Tomorrow is a school holiday for some reason or other-perhaps it's national political correctness day. Why don't you sit in the big chair and I'll make us some tea.'
She indicated the chair I had seen her sitting in before. I protested mildly, but she playfully shoved me into it. Since I was feeling no pain I went easily. I was glad I had driven the few miles back to her house very slowly and reflected that I could use the additional time and tea to sober up for the drive home.
Elma was back in five minutes with a tray, a teapot, cups, saucers, etc. She set them down on the table in front of me and said, 'It's a big chair. Do you mind if I share it with you?'
I was in no shape to protest, but even if I had wanted to she sat down before I could open my mouth. There was just room for the two of us as long as we nestled together and I kept my left arm behind her on the back of the chair.
I sipped my tea, using my right hand while Elma used her left. Her right arm was half on my leg. We sipped in silence for a few minutes. My heart beat like that of a teenage boy the first time he is in close proximity to a girl.
After a while I twisted my head so I could see Elma's face. I had to pull my head a few inches away from her to prevent her from being a blur to my farsighted eyes. There were tears running down her cheeks.
She saw me looking at her and said, 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do this. It's just…I miss him, Karl. I miss the feel of him; do you know what I mean? He was such a physical person.'
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Elma turned her body toward me and buried her face in my neck. I felt the wetness of her tears and I faintly smelled a delicious perfume that I realized even then I would always associate with her.
I put my left hand on her shoulder and patted her right arm awkwardly with my right hand. It was a scene I wouldn't mind lasting for a long time. We became still and I almost drifted off to sleep.
Then Elma lifted her face to mine. I started kissing away her tears, my lips roaming over her eyes and cheeks and lips. Our kisses grew more passionate and my right hand discovered a gap in the top of her dress. It fit easily inside. Her skin was surprisingly soft and smooth. I found out she was as excited as I was.
'Come to the bedroom,' she whispered, starting to get up.
'Are you sure?' I asked. We shouldn't be doing this.
'Very sure,' she said. She stood and with a firm grip on my arm, pulled me toward the bedroom.
Chapter 28 GEORGE AND MARTHA
I ran extra hard on Wednesday morning, perhaps trying to wash the guilt out of my system with the sweat. Images went through my mind as I ran: Elma laughing, Elma crying, Elma clinging to me. It occurred to me that I could easily get a crush on her. She was a very lovable woman.
Of course I couldn't afford to get a crush on her. Or if I did I couldn't do anything about it. This had been a one-night stand. But as my urgency to cleanse myself abated and my brain started to function normally, I began to realize that I need not have any guilt on Elma's behalf.
Elma had needed me in a way that was too complex for me to understand. Her last words to me as I left had been, 'You saved my life.'
