The rain grew heavier. For the first time, Cat heard it rattling like pellets against the kitchen window. Ben looked around, noticing.
Duke spoke. The man could not be deterred. “Why did he come out here to write a book?”
Ben smiled sadly. “I thought he came for me.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Duke answered. For a few more minutes, he appeared to be looking at something far away. “Larry didn’t ask for a lot. Just to tell a good story and to have his own family. I guess you gave him that, Ben. Thanks.”
Ben nodded, his face sagging once again.
Duke rose then pulled out his cell. “Let me text you so you’ll have my number. If you think of anything...”
“I doubt I will. But if I do, I’ll call Cat.”
Cat was surprised that Duke didn’t bridle. He’d just been effectively dismissed by Ben.
But Duke did no such thing. “Let me know if you need anything. I’ll help however I can.”
THE RAIN WAS still coming down heavily, the distant sky and land meeting in an impenetrable gray. Driving them back to town, Cat tried not to drum her fingers impatiently on the steering wheel. She had so many questions.
But Duke remained mute beside her until she finally asked, “Are you going to run in this weather?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“I’m sure, but the question stands.”
“The answer is probably.”
“Well, I want to talk with you, so fit me in.”
At that he turned his head. She glanced his way then returned her attention to the road. Too dangerous to get distracted.
“Pick a time,” she continued. Getting pushy with this guy seemed like the best route.
“As soon as we get back. I’d like a drink.”
An interesting non sequitur. She wondered if he felt a need after that conversation with Ben. “What do you want? I don’t keep anything strong at my house, but I’ve got a few bottles of beer. Or we could go to Mahoney’s bar. It probably isn’t busy at this hour, and they do make a good sandwich. In fact, I’m getting very hungry.”
“It’s late afternoon already.” He sounded surprised.
“Yup.” Not much else she could say.
More silence. The rain fell heavily enough that water couldn’t run off the road fast enough. She slowed even more and waited.
“Any place we can get takeout?”
“Of three places, two of them do it. Well, the market also sells subs. Depends on what your preference is.”
“You’re the one who’s hungry. Me, I eat whenever I can, whatever I can.”
Cat decided instantly. “Then it’s a sub. I’m starved, and a loaded one just might do it for me.”
The rain let up just as they reached the edge of town. The city looked sad in the gray light and rain. It suited her mood perfectly.
The market deli was quick, making the eight-inch subs in a relatively short time. Duke ordered an extra one and insisted on paying.
Cat greeted some of the other customers. Part of the job, although she didn’t mind the casual hellos. People around here rarely ignored someone they knew, and much of the time when you passed somebody in a vehicle, fingers would lift while the palm remained on the steering wheel. A friendly gesture that had almost faded in a lot of places she’d been.
Back at her house, she didn’t bother with plates. They could eat off the wrappers with the assistance of a couple of napkins. Her only effort was to get two bottles of beer out of her fridge and put them on the table.
Duke pulled the tops off both. My, she thought, wasn’t this cozy? Hardly. He looked grim, and she braced herself.
“What was going on back there?” she asked, unable to bury her questions any longer. “It was like the two of you were speaking in code some of the time.”
“It probably sounded that way. I don’t know which part of it I want to discuss right now.”
“You want me to ask questions? Or wait until after you’ve eaten.”
By then he was chewing on a large bite of his sandwich. She joined him as her hunger won over her curiosity. Food first, she decided. She had him temporarily corralled, and everything else could wait. Why ruin good food with heavy emotion?
“You know,” she said presently as food settled into her stomach and quieted the gnawing hunger, “I’ve got a treadmill in my basement. Some weights, too. If you’d rather do that than run in this rain, I’ll share.”
“Thanks. I might take you up on that.”
“No barbells, though. It would be too dangerous when I’m alone. But I do have a curling bar.”
He nodded, then gave her a faint smile. “Got any additional weights for those dumbbells?”
“Oh yeah, iron plates. Can’t make it with those pretty little ones that come in different weights.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Given his career, he was probably an exercise demon. She almost looked forward to watching him wrestle those plates around.
When he finished his first sandwich, he offered her half of the second, but she shook her head. “I’m full, thanks.”
The beer went down smoothly, icy cold and tangy. Then she was done eating, and he was close to it.
“What happened back there?” she asked. “At Ben’s.” As if he needed the elucidation.
“I think Ben and I came to an understanding. At least as far as Larry is concerned. Kind of feeling our way there.”
“What happened between you and Larry?”
His face darkened, and she wasn’t sure he was going to tell her anything. She was pretty sure it was a sore point for him.
He finished eating and wrapped up the other half of the sandwich. “He wrote an investigative piece about the Army. Heads rolled. I was collateral damage.”
A succinct but unrevealing
