The Deep Blue Alibi

'Hey, maybe Vic doesn't want to practice with me. But she didn't break up with me.'

'Schmegege.' Herbert doled out another insult.

'Uncle Steve, you don't understand women.'

Double-teaming him now, the grouchy old judge and the smart-ass savant. 'And you do, squirt?'

'You and Victoria are really different,' Bobby said. 'She likes that, up to a point.'

'How would you know?'

'Because she told me.'

'What! When?'

'When we talk about relationships and sex and stuff.'

'You're too young for that kind of talk.'

'I'm twelve!'

'I'm gonna report her to Family Services.'

'Shvayg!' Herbert commanded. 'Shut and listen to the boy. Maybe you'll learn something.'

Bobby leaned over the front seat. 'Women can't compartmentalize the way men can.'

'What the hell does that mean?'

'A guy argues with his girlfriend, then ten minutes later wants to do her,' Bobby explained, patiently. 'Women aren't like that.'

'You get that from Victoria?' Steve turned to face his nephew.

'Dr. Phil.'

Herbert slapped a hand on the steering wheel. 'You got nothing, son. No car. No client. No partner. And no gal!'

The Queen was going through Victoria's closet at the Pier House, making faces as she shuffled hangers and critiqued her daughter's wardrobe.

'A denim mini?' Irene arched her eyebrows. 'I suppose you've taken up country music, too.'

'Do you think, Mother, that you could be a tad more supportive?'

'You asked me to skip the luau and I did. Now, how much more support do you need?' Irene held up the mini, made a cluck-clucking sound. 'A ragged hem and rhinestones? Haven't seen that since Urban Cowboy.'

'Mother, we need to talk.'

'So talk. Do you suppose room service will deliver martinis?'

'Dammit, listen to me!' Victoria balled up a beige tank top and threw it at her.

'Wrong color for you, darling,' The Queen said. 'Go with something brighter, or you'll be all washed out.'

Victoria sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. 'I'm so humiliated.'

'About going nude? I find it liberating.'

'That's not it. I watched you and Uncle Grif today. You're lovers, I can tell.'

'So?'

'You lied to me. You said you didn't cheat on Dad.'

'I didn't. Grif and I made love for the first time last night.'

Victoria shook her head. 'You must think I'm a child.'

'I think you act like one. It was wonderful, by the way. Grif is extremely giving.'

'You expect me to believe the two of you weren't having an affair when Dad was alive?'

'Don't use that Nancy Grace tone with me.'

'Why not just admit it? Dad found out and killed himself.'

'Still singing that song?' The Queen held up a saffron cotton twill jacket. It must have met her approval because she didn't make a face. 'Your father had problems. Emotional problems. Business problems. And, of course, his drug use.'

'Dad a druggie? You're making that up!'

'Your father abused barbiturates. He was probably manic-depressive.'

'I don't remember him that way.'

'You were too young.' Irene smiled ruefully. 'And he was happier around you than he was around me.'

Outside the windows, the band on the patio was kicking up. More Jimmy Buffett, damn them. 'Simply Complicated,' the singer bemoaning the challenges of family life.

Victoria thought of Steve. Maybe she had treated him cruelly, but it was for the best. She should never have brought him into Uncle Grif's case. Look at the trouble he'd caused. She had planned to split up the firm at the end of the trial, anyway. So it was no big deal, right? As for the rest-their relationship-well, let's be honest. That wasn't going so hot, either.

Earlier today, after Steve left the all-nude all-thetime beach club, Junior had asked her to stay overnight in one of the cottages. A hammock strung between palm trees, the gentle caress of the sea breeze, Bahamian lobster steamed inside palm fronds.

No, thank you. Not yet. I don't jump from one man's hammock into another's.

Seeing her mother-all of her-lounging with Uncle Grif had convinced her she'd been right about them. Tonight, Victoria hoped her mother would come clean. Show herself naked in more ways than one. But no, she still claimed to have been the faithful wife, the innocent widow.

'Steve told me to stop asking you about your relationship with Uncle Grif,' Victoria said.

'For once I agree with him.'

'He said, when you dredge up the past, you never know what you're going to unearth.'

'He's not stupid, your Steve. Arrogant and uncouth, but not stupid.'

'He's not my Steve.' Victoria picked up the phone and punched the button for room service. Maybe they did make martinis.

Three generations of Solomons traveled in silence until they hit the plug-ugly stretch of Cutler Ridge lined with muffler shops, discount furniture stores, and fast-food joints. Herbert kept the radio tuned to NPR, which was airing an endless interview with the oboe player of the Seattle Philharmonic. A thrilling account of how to make your own reeds.

Steve felt himself growing crabbier by the moment. He was angry at the Griffins, father and son. He was angry at Victoria for choosing them over him. Angry, too, at Irene Lord. He could only imagine what direction she was pushing her only child.

'Princess, why go halfway? For heaven's sake, get out of his bed, too.'

But most of all, Steve was angry with Herbert. Why couldn't his father ever take his side? Naturally, the old buzzard had stuck up for Victoria. Then there was the Bar license case. He could have shown some appreciation. Instead, he tried to sabotage the case. Not knowing why only pissed off Steve even more.

Maybe I should just drop the lawsuit. But if I do, I'll never know the truth.

What dark secrets were buried in Judge Herbert Solomon's courtroom? A courtroom staffed by Pinky Luber and Reginald Jones. What could his father have done that would make him quit the bench and Bar without a fight?

And now, two decades later, what's my old man so afraid of?

Which gave rise to another thought. Why am I banging my head against the wall? The answer came quickly, though not without embarrassment. Deep inside, Steve knew he wanted to be a hero to his father. That unquenched thirst for approval.

Hell, no, I won't drop the Bar case. I'll show him. I'll get his license back and protect him from harm along the way.

With no murder case to try, he could just double his efforts in the case of In re: Herbert T. Solomon. 'So Dad, how's Reginald Jones doing?'

'Who?'

'The guy who used to sit in front of your bench stapling, spindling, and marking.'

'You mean Reggie. Nice kid.'

'The kid's Chief Clerk of the Circuit now.'

'Good for him. How's he doing?'