"I"m joking! But I really was arrested on suspicion of murder. But afterwards a surveillance camera proved it wasn"t me. I just happened to be there when it occurred. Seriously, pull over and let me drive! If I am stopped by the police, I will plead ignorance."
"So we are going only to Salisbury?"
"Yes, if you will let me drive!"
"As you wish. Here is a place to pull over."
She pulled over and parked. They got out and swapped seats. "I have never driven a high performance car before." He released the brake, put it in gear, and burned rubber as he got back on the road. "Wow! This baby has some get up and go! Handles like a dream!"
"Yes, the ultimate driving machine. The automobile is a reflection of her owner. I also handle exceptionally well! Driving me, you can hug the curves, and feel the raw power of my revved up engine! I am truly a high performance loving machine!"
Travis seemed not to notice her deliberate attempt to sell her attributes, as he was so amazed at the car. "I could get used to driving this kind of car!"
"Yes, it is almost an addiction! Once you have experienced the luxury of high performance, nothing else quite measures up. Eh, remember now, Travis, you must stay on the left side of the road! It requires thought when making a turn."
"Yes, it takes some getting used to."
"Right is wrong, and left is right!"
"I got it."
"So you are pleasantly surprised by how my car handles?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then you might also want to see how I handle! You might be pleasantly surprised with me as well!"
"You never give up, do you?"
"Hey, a bet is a bet! I intend to win that five pounds!"
When they came into Salisbury, she directed him down one lane, and then another, until they arrived at a neat little country cottage, nestled back in the woods, on the side of a lake. She got out and unlocked the gate, and he drove through.
"So this is the house of a friend?" he asked, as she unlocked the front door.
"Yes, it is the Summer cottage of one of Father"s friends. But this summer he and his wife have decided to avoid the heat, and are snow skiing in New Zealand."
"That must be nice."
Inside, the furnishings were perfect, yet cozy and inviting. From the living room, a patio door opened to a large outdoor pool, surrounded by marble replicas of Greek and Roman masterpieces. "Your friend must be rich."
"Yes, many times over."
"Where is the phone? I need to call the hotel in London, to tell them where I am."
"In the den. Do you have the number? I will call it for you. It can be a bit tricky." She dialed the number, and asked for his room number, then handed him the phone when it began ringing. "I"ll put on a pot of coffee." Angel said, and left the room. Drew answered the phone.
"Where are you, Dad?"
"I"m in Salisbury. The book signing lasted until 10, and by the time I got away, it was 10:30. I am bone tired, and decided to stop in Salisbury for the night. I"ll be back in London by 9 or 10 in the morning. What is on the agenda for tomorrow?"
"It"s our free day in London, but lots of the students are planning to go to one place or the other."
"Where are you and Mama Lee going?"
"Well, she is going with Mrs. Parker and the older ladies to do some shopping downtown. Me and Audrey were planning to take our subway pa.s.ses and ride to every subway station in London! What do you want to do?"
"I guess I"ll see who is left there, when I get to London. If I can catch up with you guys on the subway, I"ll try that. How about this? You and Audrey meet me at Trafalgar Station at noon, and we will eat lunch somewhere nice. There is supposed to be lots of restaurants there."
"Okay, Dad. Oh, you should have seen the latest antics of Professor Foust! He almost flipped out this evening when some of his students went out to the real seedy side of town! Fred had to calm him down before he had a stroke!"
"Dr. Foust needs to recognize that he can"t control a group of college kids, like a mama hen controls her chicks! They are old enough to decide their own actions. They probably know more facts of life than he does."
"One of the girls, I think her name is Donna, told him that she was going out to a bar, and was going to find a naked man, and that she would catch up with the group when we get to Dover!"
Travis cringed. "Now that doesn"t sound very smart. A girl with that att.i.tude can get into a lot of trouble, at home or abroad. I hope she was joking."
"I think she was. She was just jerking Foust"s chain, and he took the bait, hook, line, and sinker!"
"Fair warning: If you do something stupid like that, I will kick your a.s.s!"
"Yes, Dad! Hey, did you call Mom yet?"
"Not yet, but I will as soon as I hang up from you. See you tomorrow."
Angel returned as he was hanging up. "Trouble?" she asked.
"No, just kids being kids! Now I need to make a call to the States. Can I do that from this phone?"
"Certainly. Give me the number."
The phone rang at the Lee residence in Laurel Grove, and Rebecca answered.
"Rebecca, is that you?"
"Yes, Dad! I am glad to hear from you. Mom has been trying to reach you."
"Better put her on the phone then."
"She is not here right now."
"Where is she?"
"Gone to town."
"Man! I was hoping to talk to her! Do you know what she tried to call me for yesterday?"
"Yes, but I don"t think it is important now. Did you know Bob Deason?"
"Yes. Why?"
"He died in a house fire yesterday. His house burned to the ground, with him in it."
"That must be what she wanted to tell me."
"I think so."
"Is everything okay there at home?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Well, this call is probably costing someone a fortune, so I"d better go. Tell Janice that I called, and if she needs me to call the Hotel."
"Will do, Dad. Bye!"
"Is everything hunky-dory in Alabama?" Angel asked.
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Good! Then there is nothing to worry about! I can have your full attention!"
"If that"s what you want."
"Would you care for a drink?"
"No thank you."
"What about a cup of coffee?"
"That sounds better."
"So, come to the kitchen, and over a cup of coffee you must tell me all about your arrest in Canada for murder!"
"Sure, but there"s not much to tell."
"Oh poppy-c.o.c.k! I have seen how you write! There is always something to tell. I am three-fourths of the way through your new ma.n.u.script, "Behind the Green Door", and it is unbelievably spine-tingling!"
"So you like it?"
"Yes! I love it! Over coffee, you must tell me how it is going to end!"
"Nope, it"s best that you read it for yourself."
"Yes, you are right. Have a seat, and I will pour the coffee."
When Rebecca got off the phone with her Dad, she felt bad, because she had deceived him into thinking that everything was fine, when it really wasn"t. But she had done it on orders from Janice.
An hour earlier, Janice had been, not arrested, but "brought in for further questioning" by the Arlington County Deputies. This was in response to their questioning of Penelope, which had raised some questions about Janice"s earlier statement. As she was being led away, Janice told Rebecca not to mention any of this to Travis, if he should call. That was why she felt as though she had lied to him.
She had supper ready and on the table, but the boys were out in the garage, working on their play costumes. They didn"t know that their mother had been hauled off. And on Janice"s orders, she was not to tell them where she really was. No need to blow this all out of proportion. They could come eat when they got ready.
The phone rang again, and she almost dreaded to answer, for fear that it could be more bad news.
"h.e.l.lo, Rebecca? This is Miranda."
"Oh! h.e.l.lo Miranda! So good to hear from you again! What have you been doing lately?"
Not being able to tell Rebecca what she had really been doing lately, namely, cutting up the body of a Federal Judge, and hiding it, she decided not to mention it. Instead, she got to the reason she had called.
"I just had a new pool put in, and so I an having a pool party on Sat.u.r.day. I called to see if you, Janice, and the boys want to come to the party."
"That sounds wonderful! Janice is not here right now, but I"m sure she will be free by Sat.u.r.day. At least, I hope so. I know the boys will jump at the chance. I know I will be there. Can I bring my boyfriend, Stan?"
"Sure! The more the better!"
"What time Sat.u.r.day?"
"11:00 am until whenever. I will cater all the food and drinks, so bring nothing but your bathing suits. I will e-mail you the directions to my new house out here in Kellerman. I a.s.sume your Dad is still in England?"
"Yes, I just talked to him on the phone. Oh, did you know that his book is #1 on the best-seller"s list in England?"
"No, I didn"t! Well, it seems that he is finally getting the recognition he deserves for his writing. Tell him to call me when he gets back, so I can congratulate him!"
"I will.
Back in England, Travis was seated at the kitchen table in the country estate, Angel was pouring him a cup of coffee. "Cream and sugar?"
"Cream, but no sugar, and ice."
"Ice? In a cup of hot coffee?"
"Yes, I can"t drink hot beverages because of a war injury. Half my intestines were blown away in Vietnam."
"You don"t say! Was that the only injury you received in Vietnam?"
"No, I am covered with scars. I was awarded five Purple Hearts."
"So did you lose any other organs in the war? Any more important organs?"
"By "more important" I suppose you mean s.e.xual organs?"
"Of course!"
"No, I have had five kids since the war."