After Midnight

“Good one,” I said.

“I can’t wait to read it. It isn’t about intrigue in a law office, is it?”

“Not exactly.”

“Am I in it?”

Throwing him a mysterious smile, I said, “You’ll have to read it and find out.”

“Oooh. This is so exciting.”

“I’ll give you a copy if I can ever manage to get my hands on some.”

“You don’t have any?” He sounded shocked and appalled.

“Not at the moment. I only had twenty to start with. By the time I gave copies to my relatives and a few friends…and sent half a dozen to this film producer in Culver City…I’m trying to get more, but it isn’t easy.”

“That’s awful.”

“Well, it’s ridiculous. Seems like everybody has the book but me.”

“You don’t even have a copy for yourself?”

“Not at the moment. I loaned my last copy to a friend. But don’t worry about it, I’ll send you one the moment I get a new shipment.”

“I can hardly wait. Now, tell me about the movie version.”

This is the sort of crapola one gets into, on occasion, when one lies.

So I kept making up more lies, sometimes telling him to make turns, until finally we reached Serena and Charlie’s house.

“And here we are! Just go ahead and pull into the driveway.”

He slowed his car, made the turn, and the house came into sight.

I nearly panicked.

What if I missed something?

I’d done my best to clean up the place and get rid of every trace of Tony, but I suddenly wasn’t at all sure that I hadn’t overlooked something.

A gob of brain on the front stoop…

I should’ve kept my mouth shut, let Elroy drop me off at the curb, told him thanks and goodbye— not invite him in!

Better yet, I never should’ve gotten into his car in the first place.

Thanks for the offer, Elroy, but I’m not allowed to ride with strangers—and I don’t know anyone stranger than you.

“This is an absolutely lovely house,” he said, and stopped his car. “I can’t wait to feast my eyes on the interior.”

“It’s pretty nice,” I admitted.

Gosh, Elroy, you know what? I’m not feeling so well all of a sudden.

It wouldn’t be a lie.

Would you mind terribly if we didn’t do this tonight? Why don’t I give you a rain check? Better yet, why don’t you give me your phone number, and I’ll call you?

Very cute.

Only two problems with it. First, I would look like a creep. Second, I didn’t really want to get rid of him.

I did a fine job of cleaning up. He won’t find anything.

And if he does?

“Are you having second thoughts?” he asked.

“No. Are you kidding? This’ll be great.” With that, I opened the car door.

“Wait,” Elroy said, opening his door. “I’ll come around to your side and give you a hand.”

“No, that’s…”

He leaped out.

Clutching the backpack against my chest, I burst from the car. I made it to my feet about two seconds before Elroy arrived.

“Here,” he said. “Allow me to take that.”

“I’m fine.”

He reached for my pack, anyway.

“No!” I snapped, and whirled around to put my back in the way. “I’m perfectly capable of carrying it myself.”

“Whoa! Jeezle-peezle! Okay! Sorry.”

“That’s all right,” I said, and turned around to face him.

“What do you have in there, the Crown Jewels?”

Terrific. Now I’ve made him curious.

Grinning, I said, “Curiosity killed the Elroy.”

He laughed. “You are such a stitch, Alice. You haven’t changed a single whit.”

“I’ve changed my underwear once or twice.”

His face went crimson.

“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“Of course you meant to embarrass me. It’s part of your charm.”

“Really?”

“Such a naughty girl.”

“That’s me,” I said, and stepped around him. “Let’s go this way.”

He stayed by my side as I walked down the driveway. When we came to the rear corner of the house, I quickly scanned the pool area, the back yard and the edge of the forest. I saw no one. Everything looked fine.

“Why don’t you make yourself comfortable over by the pool?” I suggested. “I need to trot upstairs and take care of a few things, then I’ll be right down and make us some drinks.”

“Fine and dandy,” he said.

But as I headed for the garage, he kept walking beside me.

“Is this your garage?” he asked.

“It’s where I live. I just rent the upstairs.”

“I’d be curious to see what it looks like.”

I was beginning to remember why I’d formed such a strong dislike for Elroy.

“Maybe some other time,” I told him.

“I’ll stay out of your way.”

“Why don’t you just wait over there by the pool?”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to carry your pack up the stairs for you? You could go up first and unlock the door.”

“No, that’s fine. I can take care of it.”

“I’d be more than happy to help.”

“I’ll be down in a few minutes,” I said, hurrying forward.

This time, he stayed put.

I started trotting up the wooden stairway.

With the pack clutched against my chest, I couldn’t see the steps in front of my feet.

So, of course, I fell.

43

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Rammed myself down on my pack.

It contained my purse and the grocery sack with an open bag of pretzels, four lengths of rope, two denim legs, two sheets and a pillow case, my autographed copy of Deep Dead Eyes, and most