That Summer by Joan Wolf

Author:Joan Wolf [WOLF, JOAN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC027020
ISBN: 9780446550079
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2008-11-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

There was indeed a sign on Washington Street when we drove into town. “In three weeks time that sign will read TRIPLE CROWN WINNER,” I said to Liam as we drove by it.

“God, I hope so.”

He dropped me at my house and came in to see Mom. She met us at the door. “You won!” She hugged Liam and then she hugged me. “I'm so thrilled for you.”

“We're pretty thrilled ourselves,” Liam replied.

I wondered if he noticed how he always seemed to refer to the two of us as a couple.

“I have a carrot cake in the fridge,” she said. “How about a slice to celebrate?”

“You don't have to ask me twice,” Liam said. He put my suitcase down in the hall and we all went back to the kitchen. Mom put the kettle on for tea.

“Do you have anything cold to drink?” Liam asked.

“I have iced tea.”

“That would be fine.”

“I'll have some too,” I said. I was very thirsty. I thought it must be part of the hangover.

“You don't look well, honey,” Mom said to me. “You're so pale!”

“She celebrated a little too much last night,” Liam said casually.

It took Mom a moment to get it. Then she said, “Oh, you mean she drank too much.”

“You got it,” I said. “And I can assure you that I'm never going to do it again.” I drank my iced tea thirstily.

Mom took out the carrot cake and cut us generous slices. My stomach looked at it and stayed quiet. I accepted a plate. Before I took a bite, I got up and poured myself another glass of iced tea.

“So tell me all about it,” she said. “I saw the race on television, of course, but tell me about the stuff I didn't see.”

So we told her all about the Alibi Breakfast and the lack of respect shown to Someday Soon by the press and the bettors.

“I bet it will be a different thing for the Belmont,” Mom said.

“It's going to be crazy for the Belmont,” Liam said. He had some icing on his upper lip, which I pointed out to him. He licked it off.

“Where is Buster going to train?” Mom asked next.

“We're going to ship him to Belmont. John said he'd like to gallop him over the nice wide track there. I think that's what he's going to work on: endurance. He says the speed will take care of itself.”

“The Belmont is a very long race for a three-year-old,” I said.

“It's a long race for any thoroughbred, no matter what his age is,” Liam said.

“That's true.”

“What's been going on here?” Liam asked my mother. “Anything new?”

He didn't say it, but we knew he was talking about the case.

“Not that I've heard. I know they've had crime scene people out in the woods where Leslie was found. I don't know what they're looking for.”

“They're looking for something that might finger the killer,” Liam said soberly. “I hope they find something. I'm sick of being a suspect.”

I said hotly, “It's such a shame this had to happen right now, when you're in the middle of a campaign for the Triple Crown.

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