The Girl with the Kitten Tattoo by Linda Reilly

Author:Linda Reilly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Published: 2020-01-28T02:25:09+00:00

Chapter 21

Before she headed to Gideon’s office, Lara made up two ham and cheese sandwiches with lettuce and tomato. She stuck them in a grocery bag, along with two wrapped dill pickle spears and a large bag of chips. Gideon always had water and coffee in his office, so she didn’t pack any drinks. Remembering the shortbread cookies she’d bought at Felicia’s store a few days earlier, she added those to the bag as well.

Ten minutes later, she knocked lightly on the door to Gideon’s office and poked her head inside. “Hey,” she said, when she saw him hunched over his desk.

He looked up sharply but didn’t smile. “Lara, I didn’t even hear the front door open.” He rose quickly and dashed over to take her bag and her jacket. “Still freezing out?”

She smiled, a gesture he did not return. “Well, it made it all the way into the thirties, so I guess that’s progress. It was seventeen degrees when I woke up. You looked like you were lost in thought there. Busy day?”

He nodded. “Isn’t it always?”

My, we’re chatty today, aren’t we?

It seemed as if things were devolving even before their conversation began. She took a seat in the chair opposite Gideon’s desk and set her tote on the floor.

“I hope you’re hungry,” she said, trying to sound upbeat. “I made two huge ham and cheese sandwiches, and I also brought along some shortbread cookies.”

“Shortbread?” He looked perplexed. “Did you make the cookies?”

“No, I bought them.” She decided not to reveal where. So far, Gideon’s demeanor hadn’t been too encouraging.

His face reddened. “Um, actually, Lara, I already had a quick bite for lunch. Marina grabbed a tuna wrap from the coffee shop for me before she left.”

Lara’s stomach dropped. Hadn’t she mentioned she’d be bringing sandwiches? Or had she left it vague? She couldn’t recall now.

“That’s okay. Save them for a snack later, or for supper if you’d like.”

Gideon didn’t bother asking Lara if she was hungry, or if she wanted one of the sandwiches. He plunged right in. “I understand you had a visitor this morning.”

“I…we, how did you know?”

He released a long sigh. “I decided to stop by your house around nine thirty. I thought maybe you’d had a few free minutes, and we could talk there instead of here.”

A few free minutes? Did he think that was all it would take to resolve their differences?

“But,” he went on, an edge to his tone, “I saw a familiar red car in your driveway, so I didn’t bother to stop.”

Oh no. Talk about lousy timing.

“She stopped by uninvited, Gideon,” Lara said, unable to keep the snark out of her own voice. “We talked, and I told her that I couldn’t help her. She opened up about a few things she’d lied about. I guess she wanted to get everything off her chest, so to speak. Bottom line, I don’t think I’ll be seeing her again. Besides, I’m not even sure she’s a prime suspect anymore. Plenty of other people hated Wayne Chancer.

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