Double Take

Ancilla was standing in the doorway, tapping one mule.

Cheney said as he rose, “Thank you for seeing us. Would you be willing to tell me your real name?”

“My name is only the slightest modification of the actual name my beloved parents bestowed on me at my birth.”

“What was that name, sir?”

But Soldan Meissen only waved his hookah at them. Cheney gave him a small salute, took Julia’s arm and followed Ancilla out of the pasha’s chamber.

CHAPTER 46

Tuesday night

Today has been one of the strangest days in my life,” Julia said. She yawned, stretched, and leaned against the wall of the Sherlocks’ upstairs hallway, her head resting just below a painting of a young girl repairing a fishing net.

“And one of the longest,” Cheney said, resting his hand against the wall beside her head.

Her eyes suddenly brightened, and she leaned close, whispered against his ear, “You want to know what would actually have been more fun, if I hadn’t been so terrified—car racing on the beach.”

He laughed. “Don’t forget that, it’s even better in a dune buggy.”

“You got him away from us, Cheney, that was a really good plan you had.” She sighed. “I only wish I’d been a better shot.”

“No, I was the one who should have nailed him.” He lightly trailed his fingers down her cheek. “Anyone else I know would have been scared stupid, but you were enjoying yourself.”

“Are you seeing me as some kind of maniac like you?”

“I’m thinking a maniac is a good thing in some settings. Actually, though, what I’m seeing right now, right in front of me, is a very beautiful woman.”

She gave him a brilliant smile, both exhaustion and excitement clear in her eyes, at least to him. Now wasn’t the time. He stepped back. She said, “Is that an example of a maniac talking?” Cheney shook his head. “No, that’s the plain truth.” He streaked his hand through his hair, making it stand on end.

She laughed and smoothed it down, her hand resting a moment on his cheek. “Cheney—”

“You know, I was thinking Wallace sure read Dix right this evening. His frustration is building fast.”

“Poor man, I can’t say I blame him. The not knowing if his wife was alive or dead for over three years, I can’t imagine going through that. And he still doesn’t know where she is. You’ll find out, Cheney, I know you will.”

He could do nothing but stare down at her, and marvel at the utter certainty in her voice. He said, “That deal with Wallace—I have to say we got what I expected. Exactly nothing.”

She nodded. “But you know what I found fascinating? It was the way Wallace looked at Dillon—with acceptance, only it wasn’t really that, maybe some sort of recognition, no, that sounds absurd. I don’t know.” She gave a big yawn, clapped her hands over her mouth, and said through her fingers, “I’m sorry. Long, long day.”

He took her hands, looked at the length of her. “It’s time for you to get some sleep. Me too.”

He dropped her hands, opened the guest room door, and pushed her inside. “Nice room,” he said, looking around at the pale yellow walls and the white bedspread, and started to close the door.

“Hey, wait, don’t go just yet,” she said, holding the door open, but then she stalled. What was she to say? I’ve known you for all of five days and I want to jump you? She managed a smile. “So much has happened to me since Thursday night, it’s really set me to thinking about my life and what I was going to do with it.

“When I met Sean Savich, I saw Linc in him and I wanted to cry, and forget about the past and the future both. I was sucked right back into that black hole of grief. But then that adorable little boy took my hand, told me he beat his mama at computer games, and he began explaining the strategies of a game called Pajama Sam. And I laughed, couldn’t help myself, and I climbed right back out of that hole.” She paused a moment. “Do you know he told me his dad was giving him a skateboard for his next birthday? He said his dad had been a champ a way long time ago, and he was going to give him lessons. I wanted to yell at him never to get near a skateboard, but then I realized, perhaps for the first time, that what happened to Linc ... it had been a stupid accident, tragic and heartbreaking, but no one’s fault, and it was over, not forgotten, never forgotten, but over, no one to blame, certainly not the skateboard Linc loved so much.”

“So what did you say to Sean?”