Blow Out

“You know, I don’t remember hearing the car running, but then, I wasn’t really paying any attention, until I saw this guy heading toward that car on a dead run, that Burberry coat flapping around his legs. I guess someone in the car saw him coming, and that someone had to turn on the ignition key. The driver’s side door wasn’t shut, yeah, it had to be partly open, that’s it, because, like I told you, that guy comes running up—he wasn’t even out of breath, I remember that too—and he pulls the door open, jumps in, his foot slams down hard on the gas, and he fishtails it away from the curb.”

Callie’s foot was tapping. She was sitting forward.

Mr. Avery pulled Luciano back up on his lap. “Jeez, yeah, now I see it, you know what else? Someone moved inside the car, in the passenger seat. I remember when he floored the gas and the car fishtailed a little bit, someone’s head jerked back. It had to be a woman because her hair sort of fanned out. Yeah, it was a woman waiting for him, a woman who turned on that car. That or some sort of weird hippie guy with long hair.”

It was close, but Ben avoided picking up Mr. Avery and Luciano and waltzing them around the living room.

Ten minutes later, Ben was on his cell to Savich, telling him how smart old Mr. Avery turned out to be.

Savich said, “You’re sure the old man has it together and he wasn’t spinning a good story for you?”

Ben said, “He’s a piece of work, I’ll grant you that. Initially he comes across on the flaky side, but his brain is intact, Savich. I’m as sure of that as I am that my mother found my stash of Playboy magazines when I was eleven years old.”

“Okay. You’re right, Ben, this could be big. Well done. Tell Callie she’s a princess. Oh yeah, did you guys enjoy Filomena’s?”

“Probably as much as you intended us to.”

“Well, that’s good.”

When Ben hung up, he turned to Callie. “Savich said you were a princess. Does that make you proud?”

Callie laughed, then sobered quickly. “All right. What are we going to do now?”

“I’m taking you home. I think we’ve got enough for tonight.”

“I agree. So there was a woman in Günter’s car. I suppose now Savich will find out where every woman involved in the case was last night. Oh, Ben, you will call me the minute you find out anything about Giffey?”

“You got it.”

He turned the Crown Vic around and headed toward Margaret Califano’s house on Beckhurst Lane.

After about five minutes of staring straight ahead through the windshield, Callie said, “You know, you did look like a natural.”

“What? A natural what?”

“When you were holding Sean last night. You looked like a natural.”

“Oh yeah, well, I got four nieces and nephews, two of each. I’ve changed a couple of diapers in my time.”

Now she did turn to face him. “Really? You’ve really changed diapers yourself?”

“It isn’t rocket science, Callie. What with the Velcro tapes, I’d bet you a baby could do his own diaper. Where’s this coming from?”

She shrugged. “We did have a lovely dinner, didn’t we?”

“I was salivating more over that dress of yours than I was the swordfish.”

“It’s been just over a week. It doesn’t seem real.”

He nodded, turned smoothly onto Caledonia Street and continued west. He wanted to ask if she’d like to neck with him, but managed to hold his tongue.

“Hey,” she said, “Mr. Avery is something else, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is, and that little dog is a ridiculous little bit of fluff, but you know what? I liked him. Happy little critter. Can’t believe I’d say that about a poodle. A miniature poodle, for God’s sake. Thing is, I can see him crawling all over me at six in the morning, licking my face off.”

As a matter of fact, Callie could picture it too, and that was a surprise. What wasn’t a surprise was that she could also see herself, lying next to Ben Raven, laughing, waiting for Luciano to leap over on her. Why did feelings and attachments have to sprout like weeds at a time like this?

Ben shot her a look, but didn’t say a word. When they got to Margaret’s house, he walked Callie to the front door. The lights were all off except for the porch light.

“Looks like your mom’s friends have gone for the evening.” He waited until she’d unlocked the door and stepped inside.

“Callie, about this natural thing.”