“Graduated Georgetown with a CPA and then a law degree, joined the bureau fourteen years ago, and have been happy ever since. But what about the rest of your story? You know — the non-career stuff? Kennedy? Life?” Richard probed.
“Kennedy is the best thing that ever happened to me. Her father is probably the worst. We got married twelve years ago after a whirlwind courtship once I finished with training. A classic Cinderella story. He was a New York wheeler-dealer from a privileged family, and I was a girl from the sticks, in the big city with no friends. I was pretty much all about getting straight A’s so I didn’t do the usual college party thing. I met him my last year in school, and he was charming and smooth. One thing led to another, and we were sort of a couple until I went to Quantico. He would come to town every few weeks to visit me, and I thought it was true love. Once I was an agent we moved in together, and I’d commute upstate during the weeks before we got married six months later. Kennedy was a surprise, but the best one I could have ever had.”
Silver finished her drink and motioned to the waiter that she wanted another. Richard polished his off and held up two fingers.
“How long have you been separated?” Richard asked.
“Divorced. About five years.”
“Do I dare ask why?”
“I could say irreconcilable differences, but the truth is I discovered he was chronically unfaithful — probably throughout the marriage, including when I was pregnant. I decided I could do better than that, so I folded up my tent and filed for divorce. It was devastating for Kennedy at first, but she’s adjusted now, for the most part.”
The waiter arrived with their second round of drinks and assured them that their entrees would be out shortly.
“And now? Boyfriend?” Richard asked.
“Honestly, that hasn’t been a big priority. Between running task forces and being a single mom, there isn’t a lot of disco time, if you know what I mean,” Silver admitted.
“Then it sounds like you could use this drink even more than I could.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Silver said and took a noisy slurp.
She set her glass down and studied Richard. “Since we’re on the full disclosure path, what about you? What’s your deal?”
“My deal?”
“Sure. Ever been married?”
“Nope. Came close once, but I chickened out at the last minute, which was for the best. I loved her, or thought I did, but she wanted this whole structured life that she’d already planned out, and I got to feeling like I was just another slot to fill — the loving husband slot — in her vision of what a life well lived would entail. Nothing wrong with that, but I sort of felt like if it wasn’t me in the slot she would find someone else pretty quickly. Which is exactly what happened. In hindsight, it was the best thing for both of us. She has an insurance executive husband who does the nine-to-five thing and goes to the kids’ soccer games on weekends, and she’s a stay-at-home mom working on the great American novel. She was a literature major at Georgetown. We hit it off after meeting at a friend’s party.”
“And since then? Girlfriend?” Silver smiled as she echoed his question.
“A few, but nothing that stuck. Last relationship lasted almost three years, but I spent the first year falling head over heels, the second asking myself what the hell I was doing, and the final one trying to end it. So no, nothing going on in my love life. Which leaves a lot of time for poring over financial data.”
The waiter arrived with their dinners, setting them down with a gentle precision before retreating from their table.
As they chatted, Silver realized that he was calm and humble; two traits she’d always found attractive. Richard seemed like the real thing — a nice guy who was comfortable in his skin, not struggling to impress.
“What about your analyst — Stacy? She seemed like she’d be receptive.”
“Stacy? Nah. Not my type. I mean, don’t get me wrong. She’s smart and attractive…but after working together for a few years, let’s just say that I know enough to know it wouldn’t work. So why go there?” Richard took a forkful of his fish and tried it. “Mmmm. This is excellent. You have to try some.”
He cut a piece for her and slid it onto her plate.
She popped it into her mouth and nodded approval. “You’re right. That’s great. What is it?”
“Pesto crusted halibut. Baked. Melts in your mouth.”
“My eggplant is wonderful too. Can I tempt you?”
“Maybe later…”
Silver wondered how he intended that, then decided she wasn’t worried about it. She was having a good time with a handsome, nice, eligible man. She could turn her brain off for a while.
They finished dinner and lingered over a nightcap, chatting easily, any trace of awkwardness in each other’s company now completely gone. She decided that she liked the way Richard looked when he talked — his facial expressions, and the way his eyes fixed her with a palpable intensity.
When they pulled up to her building, Richard surprised her by leaning over and kissing her; a slow, gentle- yet-passionate kiss that seemed to go on forever. She closed her eyes as their tongues danced, and when he pulled back, she realized she’d been holding her breath.
“I…that…”
“I had a wonderful time, Silver.”
She studied him, taking in his serious demeanor; confident, and yet with a hint of something else. Was he afraid she was going to say something to ruin it? Scold him, or chastise him? That was it. He looked just a little uneasy, as though afraid he’d crossed a line she hadn’t wanted him to cross.
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, savoring his scent and the feel of his face against hers.
“I did, too. Especially this part.” She held her hand up and stroked his chin, then slid out the door. “Goodnight, Richard. It was a perfect evening.”
He waited until she unlocked her front door and then waved as he pulled off.
She ascended the stairs slowly, thoughtfully, her mind a whirl of conflicting impressions. What was she doing? This was so unlike her — the methodical, cautious, orderly Silver she was comfortable with. This had come on like some kind of a force of nature, a storm rolling into previously calm skies. The feel of his lips on hers, the taste of him, lingered as she reached her landing. She paused to take stock of how she felt.
Giddy, she decided — like she wanted to run back down to the street and chase after the car, grab Richard, and drag him someplace private.
Whatever this storm may bring, she welcomed it.
It had been too long.
She took several deep breaths and patted her hair as she waited for her heart rate to return to normal. Richard had triggered a reaction in her that was completely unexpected, one that she’d long ago decided was part of her past, not her future. She didn’t know how that would develop, but she did know that she wanted to see him again outside of work and damn the consequences. There had been a promise of unfinished business in that kiss, and she wanted to confirm whether her attraction to him, so powerful and immediate, was a product of the night and the booze, or something more.
There was only one way to find out.
Chapter 10
“We’ve got another one,” Seth said, his voice sounding muted on the cell phone.
“Damn. Where this time? What are the details?” Silver asked, as she struggled to pour cereal into Kennedy’s bowl while she held the phone to her ear with her shoulder. She moved to the refrigerator and pulled out a milk carton. Kennedy held her hands out to take it from her.
“Here, in the city. Upper East Side. Head of a mid-sized brokerage firm. Suffocated in his car.”
“Who found him?” Silver watched Kennedy carefully pour the milk, trying to be neat.
“A custodian. Car was running, so he checked it, and the victim was sitting behind the wheel with a plastic
