Flawless by P.C. Schneirla

Author:P.C. Schneirla
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Big Gem Publishing, LLC

C H A P T E R 22

Saturday Night

CHOOSING NOT TO ASK ANN ROSS about Gillespe, Tom now assumed it would just be he and Marla at dinner.

It was 7:45 p.m., and Tom had met almost everyone and secured two new client appointments and a dinner invitation. More questions than he would have liked on the robbery. Most of the guests had gone, and Tom was debating another drink when the English Maid came over to him, smiling, and said, “The lady asks that you follow me to the study.”

He smiled back. “Of course. How long have you been with Mrs. Wingate?”

“Please. I started with the family when her mother was sixteen. I’m Alice.”

They walked toward the double doors behind the bar. Tom glanced over his shoulder at the entrance to the room. Marla Wingate was looking directly at Tom and the maid. She was seeing several of the guests out.

Tom followed Alice through the room behind the bar. It seemed like a twin to the cocktail room. More impressive sculpture than impressive paintings. Then down a hall and into the study. This was a corner room and spectacular. Immense windows between bookshelves on the west and north walls. There were two massive desks at each end. Two doors led out on the wall opposite Fifth Avenue and the Central Park Zoo.

“What may I bring you?”

“Just a club soda, Alice. Thank you.”

“Please make yourself comfortable. She shouldn’t be too long.”

It was just before 8:00 p.m. Tom walked to the window closest to the corner. It had a clear view of the sea-lion pool in the Zoo. He checked his phone. Nothing from Mitchell or Napoli, and his business emails were unrelated to the robbery. As he was looking at his screen, a text arrived from Ashley Prescott. It was her contact information.

Alice returned with the club soda. Tom sat on the edge of the windowsill, looking down on the traffic headed downtown. He had a flash of turning off Fifth, three blocks south on the night of the shooting, and heading to the Melrose. He remembered how rattled and anxious he was, and how he had perspired.

It was just after 8:05 p.m. when Marla Wingate came into the room. She smiled broadly. “Alone at last. Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

Tom smiled slightly, not sure what to make of her comment. “I’ve been enjoying the view. And your apartment. Splendid.”

“Thank you,” as if only a fool wouldn’t be impressed. There was something different with her from earlier and from when she was in his office. Tipsy?

“Maria needs a few more minutes. Would you mind if I have a quick change of clothes?”

“Not at all.”

“I’ll be quick. Drink okay?”

“All set.”

Tom returned to the window and saw a man and a woman walk down the stairs to the Zoo and disappear into the bushes around the Administration building.

It was 8:20 p.m. when Marla Wingate returned wearing a surprising, and striking, lavender ensemble. The main article was a largely diaphanous, mid-thigh, dressing-gown/housecoat hybrid. The edges were trimmed in lavender fur.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.