On Wednesday of this week the Ladies' Sewing Society of Seaville celebrated its 90th anniversary by serving a delicious supper to nearly 150 guests, after which a most appropriate program was rendered. The original constitution states that its object was to furnish and beautify the House of God and also to promote social and friendly intercourse in the village. The initiation fee was 12 cents for the ladies and 25 cents for the gentlemen.
TWENTY-NINE
When Colin finally connected with Mike Rosler, telling him about the article that had appeared in Newsline, pretending to ask for advice, he'd found he was unable to come right out and accuse Mark of the murders. In fact, he told himself he was crazy to think Mark could do something like that. But later in the conversation, when he'd begun complaining a bit about the job, Mike offered something that made Colin suspicious all over again.
Mike said, 'Tell you the truth, Colly, I don't know how you can work for the guy.'
'Why do you say that?'
'I know I haven't seen Mark for a few years, but last time we had lunch all he could talk about was some chick he was balling. Christ, it was boring. It was like the guy was obsessed, you know what I'm saying?' 'Amy?' 'Huh?'
'The woman, was her name Amy?'
'Amy? Lemme think… no, not Amy. I can't think what it was.' 'Try,' Colin urged.
'Why? What difference does it make what her name was?' 'I just want to know, Mike.'
'Hell, I don't know. Lemme see. It started with a G, I think. Yeah, G. An old-fashioned name, too, It wasn't Gertrude. Or Greta. Grace! Yeah, that was it, Grace.' 'When was this?'
Mike said, 'What's up with you? First you're calling me about some Indian symbols and now you want to know the name of some broad Mark had a couple of years ago. What the hell's going on?
“Hey, does this have anything to do with the murders? Mark's chick, I mean.'
'No. Do you remember when this was, Mike?'
'A couple of years ago, I told you.'
'Since he lived out here?'
'No, before, when they were living in Philly.'
With Colin refusing to tell Mike why he cared who Mark was having an affair with a few years ago, the rest of the conversation deteriorated quickly and they'd hung up on a somewhat sour note.
Learning about Grace further convinced Colin that he really didn't know Mark at all. Adultery and murder were two very different things, but it was Mark's deceit that was so cunning, making Colin feel that anything was possible.
After Colin had come back from the library he'd spent the day lying on his bed, looking through old magazines, smoking. It was seven o'clock when he faced the fact that he wasn't going to Annie's and he wasn't going to call. He couldn't drag her into this. If he called she'd say she wanted to see him. She was that kind of woman. It was best to do nothing, let her off the hook. So when there was a knock on his door at eight he thought it was Mark again. Still, he was cautious and asked who it was.
'Annie,' she said.
He was in an old sweat suit and socks that had holes.
'Colin? Are you there?'
There was no choice. He opened the door. 'What're you doing here?'
'Say, that's a terrific opening gambit!'
He laughed, 'I'm sorry.'
'Are you going to let me in?'
'Of course.' He locked the door behind her. 'You shouldn't be here.'
'Why not?'
'Aren't you the one who told me people talk, know where everybody is at any given moment?'
'It's only five after eight.'
'It's not the hour I'm worried about. It's you being here at all, with me.' He ran a hand through his black hair trying to finger- comb it. 'Sorry I'm such a mess.'
Annie said softly, 'You look good to me, Colin.'
He felt it in his gut. Their eyes met, held. He wondered if it was possible that she hadn't seen the article. 'Annie, you know about me, don't you?'
'You mean the story in
He put his hands on her shoulders. 'And you came here anyway.'
'I've missed you,' she said.
He smiled. 'I've missed you, too.' He moved nearer and wrapped her in his arms. 'You're lovely,' he whispered.
'So are you.'
'Especially tonight,' he quipped.
'Especially.' She smiled.
He brushed her eyelids with his lips, then took a step back, held her hands. 'It's no good for you to be here, Annie.'
'Isn't that for me to decide?'
'I don't know. I'm not sure. Maybe you think you ought to be here, the proper minister doing good works.'
'I thought of that.'
'And?'
'I rejected it as a motive.'
'Then why?'
'I wanted to see you. I understood why you didn't show up, didn't call.' She touched his cheek. 'I'm so sorry about your family, Colin.'
He caught her hand near his chin, kissed the fingertips. 'I couldn't tell you.'
'I understand. And I know you had nothing to do with it.' She brought his hand to her mouth, kissed his palm.
He felt it to his toes.
She said, 'I'm here because I want to be here-with you.'
He placed his hands on either side of her face, met her lips with his. And then he felt her leaning into him. His hands fell away from her face as they embraced, mouths searching, exploring. When they finally broke the kiss, Colin said, 'Will you come upstairs with me?'
'Yes,' she said.
He led her slowly up the stairs to his room. She faced him, her back to the bed as he began to undo the buttons of her blouse. When they were both naked he gently eased her down on the bed, lay next to her, one leg across hers, his fingers tracing her nipples.
'You're beautiful,' he said. 'I knew you would be.'
Trembling, she slid an arm around his neck.
'Are you afraid?' he asked.
'Yes.'
'Listen,' he said, 'we don't have to.'
She said, 'Oh, yes, we do,' and pulled him to her.
– -
Hallock was furious. He couldn't get Colin on the phone and he couldn't get a plane out of Miami Beach. The weather, since the morning, had turned bad and planes weren't taking off. They were calling this one David. Hallock decided he liked it better when hurricanes had girls' names. He thought of Julia Dorman and laughed. That would have pissed her off. Good. Maybe he'd write her a letter to that effect, say girls too, not women.
