The Jinx by Jennifer Sturman

Author:Jennifer Sturman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Boston (Mass.), Mystery & Detective, Suspense, Serial Murders, Mergers & Acquisitions
ISBN: 9780373895403
Publisher: Red Dress Ink
Published: 2004-12-31T05:00:00+00:00

A couple of hours later we were lazily seated around the pine table, the remains of what had been a magnificent feast before us. Hilary had spent much of the first course discussing her research on serial killers. According to her, the prostitute murderer was following a classic pattern of escalation. “The time period between victims is getting shorter and shorter. Some people say that’s because the killer starts losing control, and some people say it’s because he wants to get caught.”

“Well, I hope they catch him,” said Matthew.

“Me, too. Otherwise, how will I ever finish the book?” Hilary replied.

“We all hope they find him and we’re all looking forward to you finishing the book. Now can we talk about something else already?” interjected Luisa, sounding nearly peevish.

So we talked about Emma’s latest gallery show and the new series she was starting, and Matthew’s clinic and which room Jane and Sean would use for the nursery. Luisa was sufficiently beyond her breakup with Isobel to relate several amusing stories about the lesbian dating scene in Latin America. Between the champagne and the red wine we drank with dinner, the comfortable conversation among familiar faces, and the savory meal, I was feeling more relaxed than I had in days.

My friends didn’t bring up Peter or Jonathan, but I knew they were just waiting. Sean and Matthew had probably been prepped to excuse themselves after dinner, leaving the former roommates alone to talk about touchy personal subjects.

“Who wants dessert?” asked Jane.

“I don’t think I can handle dessert just yet,” said Emma. “Why don’t we get this stuff cleared up first?”

I was excused from the clearing up after I chipped a platter that had belonged to Jane’s great-grandmother, and Luisa wanted a cigarette, so at her invitation I stepped out onto the back porch with her to keep her company.

The snow had really begun to fall, and the backyard was already blanketed in white. A pool of light spilled out from the kitchen windows, and our shadows cast long dark silhouettes on the otherwise unsullied expanse. Luisa lit her cigarette with an engraved lighter and took a luxurious drag. “Much better,” she said, with obvious relief.

“Much colder,” I pointed out.

“That, too,” she acknowledged. She took another drag. “Rachel, there’s something we need to tell you.” She sounded suddenly serious. “And I drew the shortest straw.”

“What?” I asked, concerned. “Is everything all right?”

She glanced back toward the window. Inside, we could see our friends busily tidying the kitchen. “I’m not quite sure how to say this, so I’m just going to come right out with it. When we went to Newbury Street yesterday, Jane and I saw Peter.”

“Oh?” That seemed harmless enough. The convention center was only a block away, on Boylston Street.

“He was coming out of Cartier.” My heart gave a little lift. Maybe he’d been buying me a present, to make up for his neglect this past couple of days? And at Cartier, to boot. That could only be good. What a fool I’d been, doubting him.

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