pretty little proposals? I could make a bundle off these phone
company phonies.”
“Wow.” Judith leaned against the kitchen counter. “That
would pay off our Christmas bills and then some. Six hours,
right?”
“Right. We can come and go together, because my
presentation should take about two hours, plus Q&A, plus
the usual yakkity-yak and glad-handing. You’ll get to see me
work the room. It’ll be a whole new experience. I actually
stay nice for several minutes at a time.”
Judith couldn’t help but smile. Her cousin wasn’t famous
for her even temper. “How many?” she asked, getting down
to business.
“Ten—six men, four women,” Renie answered, also
sounding equally professional. “All their officers, plus the
administrative assistant. I’ll make a list, just so you know
the names. Executives are very touchy about being recognized
correctly.”
Judith nodded to herself. “Okay. You mentioned a lodge.
Which one?”
“Mountain Goat,” Renie replied. “It’s only an hour or so
from town, so we should leave Friday morning around nine.”
Judith knew the lodge, which was located on one of the
state’s major mountain passes. “I can’t wait to tell Joe. He’ll
be thrilled about the money. By the way, why did the other
caterers back out?”
There was a long pause. “Uh…I guess they’re sort of superstitious.”
“What do you mean?” Judith’s voice had turned wary.
“Oh, it’s nothing, really,” Renie said, sounding unnaturally
jaunty. “Last year they had a staff assistant handle the catering
at Mountain Goat Lodge. Barry Something-Or-Other, who
was starting up his own business on the side. He…ah…disappeared.”
“He
“Yeah, well, he went out for cigarettes or something and
never came back. Got to run, coz. See you later.”
Renie hung up.
Joe wasn’t excited about Judith’s bonanza. Indeed, Joe
didn’t really hear her mention the OTIOSE catering job. He
was uncharacteristically self-absorbed and depressed, though
the reasons had nothing to do with his wife.
“It’s these damned drive-bys,” he complained, accepting a
stiff Scotch from Judith. “They’re always kids, both victims
and perps, and sometimes they’re innocent bystanders. The
victims, I mean. God, it’s such a waste.” He loosened his tie
and collapsed into a kitchen chair.
Judith came up behind him and massaged his tense
shoulders. “It’s sad. What are they trying to prove?”
“That they belong.” Joe sighed. “It doesn’t matter that it’s
a gang of punks just like themselves. They fit in somewhere,
