Jack, you should have been a lawyer.

“I live in Washington, D.C. I rushed up as soon as I heard about Grandmother. Do you know where the Waldorf is?”

“Heard of it.”

“Why don’t we meet in Peacock Alley at six?”

I do believe I’m being asked out for a date. Well, why not?

“Sure. How’ll I know you?”

“I’ll be wearing white.”

“See you at six.”

He hung up, wondering at his reckless mood. Blind dates were not his style at all.

But now for the hard part: a call to Gia. He dialed Nellie’s number. After precisely two rings, Eunice answered with “Paton residence,” and called Gia to the phone at Jack’s request. He waited with a curious mixture of dread and anticipation.

“Hello?” Her voice was cool, businesslike.

“How’d things go last night?”

“That’s none of your business, Jack!” she said with an immediate flare of anger in her voice. “What right have you got to pry into—”

“Hey!” he said. “I just want to know if there’s been any ransom note or phone calls or any word from Grace! What the hell’s the matter with you?”

“Oh… sorry. Nothing. No word at all. Nellie’s really down. Got any good news I can tell her?”

“Afraid not.”

“Are you doing anything?”

“Yeah.”

“What?”

“Detective stuff. You know, tracing clues, following up leads. That kind of thing.”

Gia made no reply. Her silence was eloquent enough. And she was right: Wisecracks were out of place.

“I don’t have much to go on, Gia, but I’ll be doing whatever can be done.”

“I don’t suppose we can ask for more than that,” she said finally, her voice as cool as ever.

“How about lunch today?”

“No, Jack.”

“A late dinner, then?”

“Jack…” The pause here was long; it ended with a sigh. “Let’s just keep this businesslike, okay? Just business. Nothing has changed. Any lunches you want to have, you have them with Nellie. Maybe I’ll come along, but don’t count on it. Capisce?”

“Yeah.” He had an urge to rip the phone out of the wall and hurl it out the nearest window. But he made himself sit there, say a polite goodbye, hang up, and place the phone gently on the table, right where it belonged.

He forcefully removed Gia from his thoughts. He had things to do.

2

Gia put the phone down and leaned against the wall. She had almost made a fool out of herself a moment ago when Jack had asked her how things had gone last night. She’d suddenly had a vision of Jack trailing her and Carl to the restaurant, and from the restaurant to Carl’s place.

They had made love for the first time last night. She hadn’t wanted their relationship to get that far this soon. She had promised herself to take this one slow, to refuse to rush or to be rushed. After all, look what had happened with Jack. But last night she had changed her mind. Tension had been building up in her all day since seeing Jack, building until she had felt it was going to strangle her. She had needed someone. And Carl was there. And he wanted her very much.