“I didn’t think you liked robes,” I said.
“Normally I don’t, but I could get used to this.”
There was a knock at the door, and as I started to answer it, my husband shook his head. “I’ll do it.”
He pulled his gun out from his bathrobe pocket and moved to the door. I hadn’t even known he’d fetched it, but he must have had it in the bathroom with him. This case clearly had him more spooked than I’d realized.
“Who is it?” he called out.
“Room service,” I heard the muffled reply.
“What’s the order?”
“Two New York Strips, both medium, garlic mashed potatoes, cream spinach, and chocolate mousse for dessert.”
He looked at me, and I nodded.
When Zach opened the door, I could see that his gun hand was now in his robe, no doubt holding it on the unsuspecting waiter.
“Would you like me to set it up for you?” the man asked as he pushed the cart into the room.
“We’ll take care of it,” Zach said. “Hang on, let me get my wallet.”
“That won’t be necessary,” the waiter said. “Everything, including tips for service you receive, has been taken care of.”
“Then give the owner our thanks.”
The man looked at Zach as if he’d lost his mind, and I understood why. If the manager of the place had only spoken with Barton Lane a handful of times over the years, there wasn’t much chance a waiter would be able to talk to him.
He didn’t reply, but I could swear he bowed a little as he left the room.
“That smells great,” Zach said as he started lifting off lids.
“Did you really think that he might be a bad guy?” I asked.
“Are we talking about the gun? No, I realized he was probably exactly who he said he was, but why take a chance if I don’t have to?”
We decided to eat in front of the window, and the food was just as marvelous as I’d hoped it would be. The steak nearly came apart at the first touch of my fork, and as we ate, I knew exactly what I was going to order tomorrow. With delicious food like this available in our room, why go out and face the crowds?
“Want your mousse?” Zach asked as he uncovered his.
“I doubt I could enjoy it, I’m so full.”
“Great. That means there’s more for me.”
“Hey, hang on a second. I didn’t say you could have mine.”
He dug into his, and after a quick bite, he said, “You wouldn’t like it. It’s too rich.”
“Not that I don’t trust your opinion, but now I’m going to have to try it for myself.”
He wasn’t eager to give it to me, though. “You’re full, remember?”
“There’s always room for mousse,” I said.
It was everything promised, rich and creamy, with waves of chocolate in every bite. When it was gone, I was surprised to realize that I still wanted more, though I knew I would never be able to eat another bite.
I smiled with contentment. “I hope this place has a first-class spa and gym. If we keep eating like this, I’m going to have to start working out, or I’ll never fit into my clothes.”
Zach just grinned as he leaned back in his chair. “I hate the reason we’re here, but I’ve got to say, I like the way your friend Barton Lane is treating us.”
“He’s not my friend,” I said. “We’ve only spoken once.”
“Evidently that’s more than most folks around here can say. You must have made some kind of impression on him.”
“Don’t kid yourself. We’re getting all this so he can make your life easier and you can focus on who killed his assistant. The man sounded like he was still in shock over losing her when we talked.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Zach said.
I could tell that my husband was distracted as he continued to stare out the window.
“I’m thinking about redoing my hair.”
“Good,” he said, and then I knew he wasn’t listening.
“I’m going to start with a blue base, and then add red and green highlights. It should be nice, don’t you think?”
“Nice,” he mumbled.
“Zachary Harlan Stone,” I snapped.
That got his attention. My husband hated it when I used his full name.
