“So why didn’t you tell him he couldn’t come in?”
“He went too fast.” She shrugged. “Besides, one of the guys in the men’s locker room would see he wasn’t on the list and tell him to leave if he went in to change.”
Security was really tight at the Athletic Club.
I stared blankly at an out-of-date magazine until Martin emerged, dressed for once in casual clothes.
When he held out his hand, I took it and rose, conscious of the receptionist’s gaze. She was really making those orange-and-pink stripes ripple for Martin’s benefit. But he was not in the mood.
Martin said over his shoulder to her as we left, “I’m going to have to call the manager today. You should have informed me Sam Ulrich was in the club, and I would have escorted him out.” I caught one glimpse of her dismayed and beginning-to-be-angry face as the door swung shut.
“Are you all right?” he asked. He put his arms around me. I was kind of glad to lean against him for a moment.
“Yes. It shook me up, though,” I admitted. “Who was that man?”
“A very recent ex-employee. Part of the deadwood I was hired to cut out of the company. He took it pretty bad.”
“Yes, I could tell,” I said dryly.
“I’m sorry you had to be there. If you see him again, call me instantly, okay?”
“Do you think he’d hurt me to get at you?” I asked Martin.
“Only if he’s a more complete idiot than I think he is.”
Not too good an answer, really. But how could Martin tell what the man would do?
“Are you really worried about Sam?” he asked. “Because, if so, I can cancel my trip and stay here.”
I thought for a minute. “No, not so much worried about him, though that did shake me up. It’s just been a down morning, Martin. I went to see Susu Hunter, and that was depressing. Then I went to Tonia Lee’s funeral.”
“You told me when it was and I forgot. I was so involved in getting everything assembled for my trip.”
“I didn’t expect you to come. It was pretty bleak, and very cold.”
“Where are we going to lunch?” he asked. “You need something to warm you up.”
I was recalled to my hostess duties. “Michelle’s, have you been there? They have a buffet lunch with lots of vegetables.”
“In my three months here living in the motel, I think I’ve visited every restaurant in Lawrenceton at least ten times.”
“I didn’t think about that, Martin. I’ll have to cook for you soon.”
“Can you cook?”
“I have a limited repertoire,” I admitted, “but the food is edible.”
“I like to cook once in a while,” he said.
We talked about cooking until we got to Michelle’s, where we collected our plates and went through the line. I saw Martin was careful in his selections and realized he was weight-and health-conscious as well as an exercise enthusiast. We sat on the same side of the booth, and even in that prosaic setting, his nearness was disturbing.
It had been a harrowing morning, and now Martin was leaving town. Ridiculously, I felt like bursting into tears. I had to get over this. This intensity was terrifying me. I sat with my fork poised in my hand, staring straight ahead, willing myself not to cry.
“Do you want me to ignore this?” Martin murmured.
I nodded vehemently.
So he kept on quietly eating.
At last, I gathered myself together and put some cauliflower in my mouth, making myself chew and swallow.
I was going to have to keep busy while Martin was gone.
After a while I said conversationally, “So you’re leaving this afternoon?”
“About five o’clock. I’ll have a meeting first thing tomorrow morning, and it may go on all day. Then I meet with another group Thursday. So I’ll stay over that night and catch the first flight out Friday morning. Will you cook for me Friday night?”
“Yes,” I said, and smiled.
“And Saturday night is the realtors’ thing?”
“Yes, the annual banquet. We’ve booked the Carriage House, so at least the food will be good. There’ll be a speaker, and cocktails. Usual stuff.”
“You handled that situation at the Athletic Club with great… aplomb,” he said suddenly. “I don’t think I’ve ever said that word out loud. But it’s the only one that fits.”
“Um. I figured I could rescue myself this time.”
“Let me do it next time. My turn, okay?”
“Okay,” I said, and laughed.
He took me back to the Athletic Club to pick up my car, and we parted there in the parking lot. He gave me the phone number of his hotel and made me promise to call if I saw Sam Ulrich again. Then we kissed, and he was gone.
Chapter Eleven
Madeleine had a checkup at the vet’s office scheduled the next morning. I got out the stout metal cage Jane had bequeathed me and opened the little door. I put one of Madeleine’s toys inside. I set the cage, door open, on the kitchen table. I put on gardening gloves.
I had profited by experience.
Madeleine knew the instant the cage came out. She could find places to hide you’d swear a fat old cat could never squeeze into. I’d quietly gone upstairs first and closed all the doors while Madeleine was in plain view on the couch, and even closed off the front downstairs living room and the downstairs bathroom. But still, Madeleine had disappeared.
I groaned and started searching.
This time she’d wedged herself under the television stand.
“Come on, old girl,” I coaxed, knowing I was wasting my breath.
The battle raged for nearly twenty minutes. Madeleine and I cursed at each other, and very nearly spat at each other. But after that twenty minutes, Madeleine was in the cage, staring out with the haunted expression of a political prisoner being filmed by Amnesty International.
I dabbed some antibiotic ointment on the worst scratches and pulled on my coat. I was bracing myself for the ordeal to come.
Madeleine wailed all the way to Dr. Jamerson’s office. Nonstop.
Sometimes I loathed that cat.
“Oh, good, Madeleine’s right on time,” said Dr. Jamerson’s nice receptionist with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. I returned a grim nod.
“Let’s see. What does Madeleine need today?”
She knew damn good and well.
“All her shots.”
“Charlie’ll get his gloves,” she said, heaving a resigned sigh. “He’ll be with you in just a minute.”
Charlie helped Dr. Jamerson with the really difficult animals. He was a huge cheerful young man, working at the vet’s office until he had enough saved to go to college full-time instead of part-time.
“Is she here yet?” I heard Charlie asked the receptionist apprehensively. A moment later Charlie stuck his head out into the waiting room.
“Right on time, as always, Miss Teagarden! And how is your kitty today?”
Madeleine yowled. The Labrador on the other side of the room began to whine and pressed his nose against his
