On the other side of the lobby, I went up a smaller, carpeted flight of stairs. An illuminated podium and a headwaiter whose name tag identified him as Vincent stood guard before tables with candles and white tablecloths. Vincent brushed his lips with a forefinger to indicate contemplation and conducted me to a table near the bar. He produced a parchment menu and a leather-bound wine list. My waiter's name would be Julian. A girl who looked like a Norwegian high school student poured ice water into a glass, and a Malaysian sourpuss came by with biscuits and bread sticks. I opened the menu and heard someone speak my name.
Ashleigh Ashton was moving across the room. From the other side of their window table, Laurie Hatch raised her eyebrows and gave me a look that weakened my knees.
• 31
• I ordered salad frisee, a hanger steak, and a glass of cabernet from Julian, a roguish pixie. As for the cabernet, he had a special little something he wanted me to try. If Laurie Hatch saw anything unlikely in Ashleigh's story of giving me a ride to Edgerton, she kept her reservations to herself. Ashleigh had invited Laurie to dinner by reason of her connection to the legal case, but the connection went unexplained. Julian delivered his special little something and awaited the verdict. I expressed my wonder at the majesty of the little something. Julian asked if the ladies would care for their coffee now, or would they like something else? Now, Ashleigh said, she had to go upstairs to make some calls. Laurie requested a glass of the little something.
'How is your mother doing?' she asked.
'Oh, God,' Ashleigh said. “I promise you, I've been thinking about your mother ever since you got out of my car. What was it, anyhow?'
'A stroke,' Laurie said. 'What do the doctors say?'
'They say she died this morning. They better be right, because I just bought a coffin and a cemetery plot.' They stared at me in shock. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have put it like that. It's been
Ashleigh said, 'At least you were able to spend a whole day with her. Could she talk to you?'
'She was able to say a few things.' For a brief time, I found myself unable to speak. The Malaysian sourpuss removed their plates, and the Norwegian girl refilled our water glasses. Julian scurried up with the coffee and the wine.
Laurie asked, 'Are you going to stay around after the funeral?'
“I might. I'd like to see more of the town.'
'Let me be your tour guide. After all, I'm in your debt.'
'Sounds like a great idea,' I said, and made myself stop looking at her. 'Ashleigh, what's happening with your project?' Her reasons for coming to Edgerton had entirely escaped me.
“If I don't get anywhere in the next day or two, I'll throw in the towel. The guy lives behind too many walls.'
'That's Stewart,' Laurie said, explaining everything. “I wish I could have been more helpful.'
Ashleigh gave me a rueful smile. 'We spent most of dinner trading dreadful husband tales.'
She had intended to pump her target's estranged wife, and the estranged wife was more than willing to talk. The next exchange between the women brought another clarification.
'Laurie, you won't be in any trouble, will you?'
Laurie shrugged. “I don't care if Stewart knows we had dinner together. Grennie can't hurt me.'
'Grenville Milton?'
'The one and only Groin Vile,' Laurie said. 'And his wife, your mother's old friend. Plus two other people who think I'm a terrible person. They left about five minutes before you got here.'
“Is Groin Vile a big old bald-headed character in a bow tie and a green linen jacket who thinks he owns the world?'
'You encountered our Grennie,' Laurie said. “I hope he didn't
'He told me that I probably wanted to act like a big shot and tipwaiters wild hundred-dollar bills. Then he advised me to visit the men's room and spruce up.'
Laurie groaned. 'Grenville felt good about it. His state of mind improved no end.'
“It took a turn for the worse when I called him an overbearing small-town shithead.' Laurie laughed, and Ashleigh opened her mouth in a disbelieving half smile. Julian, whom I had not seen approaching, placed my salad before me with only a trace of his former vivacity and retreated. “I must be on a roll,' I said.
'Julian has high moral standards,' Laurie said. 'Everyone in Edgerton has high moral standards, except me. If I'd heard you call Grennie a shithead, I would have brightened up immediately. I gather he's getting ready to dump Rachel. She's been leaving sad little messages on my answering machine.'
She gave me an apologetic look. 'When I married Stewart, Rachel Milton took me under her wing and helped me with the kinds of things she cares about, like finding a good hairdresser and the right caterer. She looked at me and saw herself.'
'Herself?' I said. 'Oh, I get it. A younger woman, an outsider . . .'
Laurie Hatch's dazzling face opened into beautifully ironic assent. 'Rachel was too busy identifying to see that ambition had nothing to do with my marrying Stewart.'
'Ned, let me put your dinner on my bill, will you?' Ashleigh said. “It's on the state of Kentucky. Laurie, thanks for a nice evening. I'll call you soon.'
She signed the check. Julian asked if I would like a second glass of wine. Laurie Hatch asked for another, too. Ashleigh pushed her chair away from the table.
I said, “I'll walk you to the elevator.'
The other patrons watched us wind through the tables.
“I wish Laurie had suggested another restaurant.'
'Didn't you get what you wanted?'
She smiled. “I called Laurie to see if she could confirm some details. I thought we'd do the whole thing on the telephone, but she said she was free for the evening. Basically, we spent the entire time complaining about our husbands.'
'Better than being alone.'
She tucked in her chin with a sharp little nod and pushed the elevator button. “It must be nice, having a woman like Laurie Hatch waiting for you.'
“I don't think Laurie has any special plans for me.'
'Don't he so sure.'
'Ashleigh, when dinner is over, I'm going to walk around for awhile. That's it.'
'You could come back here. I'm in room 554.'
I put my arms around her. “I need some time alone.'
Ashleigh bumped her head against my chest and pulled away. “I'msorry about your mother.'
The elevator opened onto mahogany and dark mirrors. Throughthe half inch of space before the doors closed, I saw her sag against the rear of the car.
• 32
• Vinnie glided a hand toward the far side of the room. I didn't fool him for a second, but he had to admit I had good moves.
Laurie Hatch looked at me with a relaxed, self-possessed amusement imbued with the innate consciousness that seemed to radiate from her. Julian snapped the cover from my plate and executed an about-face and a formal departure.
'Remember the old Julian? Remember the pixie?'
Laurie's flickering glance informed me that I had missed the point. 'Julian has to wait on Grennie and Rachel at least once a week. He puts up with more innuendos about masculinity than you'll hear if you live to be a thousand.'
It was like having my windows cleaned, like putting on new eyeglasses. I said, 'Ah. Uh-huh,' and cut into
