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CHAPTER 79

WHEN CINDY HAD emailed Brett Palmer to arrange this meeting, she knew he was flying that night from Portland, Oregon, to San Francisco. She’d written to him requesting a meeting and gotten his reply after midnight.

I can meet you for breakfast at the Ritz, he’d written. By the way, I enjoyed your book Fish’s Girl.

Thanks very much, Mr. Palmer.

Sure. And if you don’t mind me asking, how did you know my travel plans?

Lucky guess.

I don’t believe you.

Cindy had shot back, Okay, you got me. But, you know, reporters never reveal their sources, Mr. Palmer. Anyway, it’s just breakfast.

He’d sent a string of laughing emojis, then, Why do you want to see me, anyway?

I just need some background, she wrote. I’ll tell you when we get together tomorrow.

He’d written, Sure, then, Breakfast at 8 a.m. at Ritz-Carlton’s restaurant. Does that work for you?

Cindy arrived at the hotel’s restaurant a little early and found the ma?tre d’ podium unmanned. She scanned the dining room and saw a man in a business suit at a table by the windows overlooking the city skyline.

She started across the room but didn’t get far before she heard a voice behind her calling, “Miss? Excuse me, miss?”

Cindy turned to see the ma?tre d’ attempting to get her attention.

“Oh, hi. I’m meeting Mr. Palmer here. He’s sitting over there.”

“Sorry, miss. That’s not Mr. Palmer. He just called and said he was running a little late. Would you like to be seated at a table? Or would you be more comfortable in the waiting area?”

“A table will be fine,” Cindy said.

“Very good.”

The ma?tre d’ walked ahead of Cindy as they crossed the sand-colored carpeting to an empty table, where he pulled out a chair for her and asked her if she would like coffee or tea.

“Coffee, thank you.”

Cindy took her phone from her bag and started checking her messages as a waiter arrived with coffee and cream.

For the next fifteen minutes Cindy downed her coffee and answered messages on her phone. She sent an email to Richie. She also read the front page of the Examiner and then answered more emails before checking the time.

The waiter stopped by to refill her coffee, then asked, “Would you like to order now?”

Cindy looked up from her phone and said, “Could you ask the ma?tre d’ …”

“Ma’am?”

“Would you ask him if he has received another message for me from Mr. Palmer?”

The waiter slipped his order pad into his jacket pocket and, after speaking to the ma?tre d’, returned to Cindy’s table.

“No, ma’am. There is no further word from Mr. Palmer.”

Cindy looked around the room and saw that it was filling up.

“I’m going to wait a little longer. Thank you.”

She started to text Palmer but stopped without sending. Had Palmer decided to make her wait until she got the none-too-subtle message that he’d stood her up?

Well, Cindy thought, I’ll be returning the message. I won’t be leaving. At least not yet.