The Body in the Big Apple by Katherine Hall Page

Author:Katherine Hall Page [Page, Katherine Hall]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths
ISBN: 9780380731305
Google: l8uHPwAACAAJ
Amazon: B0073PFYRE
Publisher: Avon Books
Published: 1999-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

upset. A highly unusual state for her. Faith remembered with a pang that she had never called Hope to arrange a time to have dinner with Phelps. Maybe she should ask if they were free tonight? They could

come to the Algonquin afterward. No, scratch that thought.

“It’s about Phelps—”

“I know. I’m really sorry I didn’t get back to you about dinner, but it’s been crazy.”

“No—or rather, I mean yes. Let’s have dinner to-

gether sometime. But he just called, and I’m in a 148

quandary about what to do. This kind of thing has never happened to me before.”

It sounded like she needed more than simple advice to the lovelorn.

“What’s wrong?”

“Probably nothing. It’s just that Phelps has the

chance to invest in—”

Faith interrupted again. It was getting to be a habit.

“He wants to borrow money?”

“Yes, rather a lot of money.”

“This is an easy one. A no-brainer. You know the

golden rule. Never loan money to men, especially the ones you’re dating.”

“I know, I know. But it’s a short-term loan. With interest. His lawyer will draw up the papers.”

“This sounds like more than ‘rather a lot’ of dough!

What does he need it for?”

“He has the chance to get in on the ground floor of a terrific new software company. It all makes sense, except—”

“Except he doesn’t have the money and wants to

borrow it from his girlfriend.”

There was silence on the other end. Faith didn’t

know whether Hope was enjoying the appellation or pondering her decision.

“Look, sweetie, I’m not just being flip. Think

about it. You loan him the money and he can’t pay it back. This places a strain on the relationship and you break up. You loan him the money and he does pay it back, but he’s always aware he was dependent on

you for his new good fortune or whatever. Men don’t like that kind of feeling, so you break up. Now there is also the possibility that your lighthearted refusal to loan him any money—Mother always said never do

149

things like this; you can even hum a few bars of that other classic, “Mama said there’d be days like

this”—will cause him to break up with you, too. But you’ll still have your money and will have saved

even more on Doritos, which you know you eat when you’re depressed.”

“Oh, Fay, life is so simple for you!”

“What!” Faith exclaimed in astonishment.

“Well, you always know what to do.”

This was a complete revelation. Faith viewed her

younger sib as the one with the Filofax lobe, the life plan. Faith tended to make snap judgments, go on a gut response . . . but it was true, when it came to questions of the heart, that she was quicker to ring in than her well-programmed sister.

“True or not—and we have to talk—the question

now is, What are you going to do?”

“Dunno. Stall. Find out more about the company.

Might be a good investment for me, too.” She perked up.

“Hope!”

“I’ll think about what you said. Got to run. Love you. Bye.”

If there is a company, Faith thought as she ran a bath. That would definitely solve Hope’s dilemma—if she asked for a prospectus and none existed.

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