said. “But perhaps we should go somewhere else tomorrow.”
“Why? Breakfast today was lovely.”
“Let’s just say that it might be nice to get out of the Belmont once in a while.”
Lorna looked around the beautifully furnished restaurant. “I don’t see how that’s possible.”
“Trust me,” I said, allowing a slight laugh to escape my lips.
“So, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I hadn’t really agreed on meeting with her the next day, but she was fun company, and I heartily approved of the changes she’d made in her life, and her attitude about the world. “Tomorrow it is. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”
“Make it a good one,” she said.
I left her, nodding my thanks again to our waitress as I left. She smiled brightly, but there was also an air of curiosity to her expression. I couldn’t imagine why she thought the hotel owner was picking up every check in sight for me, but I couldn’t exactly tell her, either. For now, I was just going to have to remain a mystery for the staff. I liked thinking of myself that way, Savannah Stone, woman of intrigue.
I couldn’t stall anymore, though.
It was time to create a puzzle, and do it in time to have lunch with my husband at the police station.
AFTER I FINISHED THE LATEST BRAINTEASER, IT WAS TIME to write my snippet; a nice little addition to whatever puzzle I’d chosen to create.
That might mollify my die-hard fans, and still be enough of a nudge to get others to try a puzzle themselves. Either way, I was finished for the day, and I could see what Zach was up to, as soon as I faxed this to my editor. If I had time, I’d work on a harder one for tomorrow, but right now, all I cared about was seeing what my husband had come up with while I’d been playing with numbers.
“STEVE, HAVE YOU SEEN MY HUSBAND?”
The officer looked up at me as I walked into the hallway in front of the task force headquarters at the police station.
“He’s meeting with Davis,” he said. “The chief said to tell you if you showed up, to wait for him.”
“It must be odd having Zach back here. He was your boss a long time, and now you’re answering to someone else.”
“Davis is doing the best he can, but he can’t hold a match to your husband.” He realized how that must have sounded, because he quickly amended, “Not that I don’t respect my new boss, too.”
“Zach said you were up for the job yourself.”
He shrugged. “Sure, I took a stab at it, but I knew it was a long shot. I’m ten years younger than Davis, and he’s got more seniority on the force than me, too. My time will come.”
“That’s the spirit,” I said.
Steve’s face brightened as he asked, “Did you finish your puzzle?”
“How did you know I was doing one?”
“The chief mentioned it before he had his meeting. I’m a big fan, you know.”
“Of my husband? Of course, I understand that. I’m a big fan of his, too.”
“No, I mean of you. I do your puzzles every chance I get. Those puzzles are great. I’ve tried a few others, but I like yours the best.”
“Thanks. That’s always nice to hear.”
“What is?” my husband said as he walked into the hall.
“He was just complimenting me,” I said.
“Was he, now? What was the topic?”
“It wasn’t anything like that, Chief,” Steve said quickly. “I told her how much I liked her puzzles.”
Zach frowned for another second, and then laughed. “Relax, I’m just pulling your leg. Savannah’s a real wizard with numbers, isn’t she?”
“Just like you are with clues,” Steve said.
“Not that you could tell that so far.” Zach looked at me a second, then added, “Would you mind if we had lunch here again? I’m not fit to be around people today.”
“Hey, as long as I don’t have to get it, that’s fine with me.”
“Steve, would you mind?”
“You’ve got it, Chief. Do you need to see any menus from around here?”
“I haven’t been gone that long,” my husband said with a smile. “I’ll have a cheesesteak from Greg’s.”
“Make that two,” I said, remembering the way the cheese melted into the sandwich, and the way the peppers and onions had a smoky, grilled flavor.
