Page 15
Story: Puzzle for Two
“I’m not interested in Flint Carey. No way. I can’t think of anyone I’mlessinterested in. Or who would be less interested inme.”
Ben didn’t reply. He continued to study Zach as though waiting for the moment when he could jab his finger and burst out, “AH-HA!”
But it seemed the moment never came, so maybe he did, unwillingly, believe Zach’s protestations.
Zach said, “Ben, I don’t want to argue. It’s late. I’ve still got to pack. Can we—”
Mistake.
“Pack for what? Where are you going?” Ben questioned, his gaze boring into Zach’s.
The temptation to yell,None of your goddamned business!was powerful, but Zach managed a relatively mild, “It’s work-related. I’m sorry, but I can’t go into it with you.”
“Since when? You’re not a secret agent, you know!”
“Ben.”
“Are you going for the weekend?”
“Ben, will you stop?”
Ben was unfazed. “Who’s going to take care of Mr. Bigglesworth?”
“Mr. B. is staying with Mom and Brooke for the weekend.”
“He can stay with me.”
“It’s already arranged. He’s staying with—”
“Why can’t he stay with me?” Ben interrupted. “I love him. He loves me. He’s lived most of his life in the condo.”
“No.” Zach didn’t mean it to sound so harsh, but he’d hit his breaking point. “No. It’s already arranged.”
Ben shook his head as though once again Zach was fulfilling his worst expectations. “As usual, it’s just about what’s convenient for you. Whatyouwant. Nobody else’s feelings matter. Mr. B.’s feelings don’t matter to you.”
“Mr. B. loves Brooke and my mom, too.” Zach bit back the rest of it. Was he really going to stand here arguing about who the cat—hiscat, for the record—loved more? No. He wasn’t. This whole exchange simply underlined why he and Ben no longer worked.
He’d hoped at one point they could stay friends, but that looked less and less likely.
He moved toward the front door, saying, “Maybe another time, okay?”
“Sure.” The word was terse and unfriendly.
Ben followed him to the door, which Zach opened onto a chilly October night.
Not looking at him, not speaking, Ben brushed past Zach, going down the three little steps and cutting a diagonal across the straggly square of lawn.
“Good night, Ben,” Zach said quietly.
He didn’t expect, nor receive, a reply.
Chapter Five
“What made you decide to become a PI?”
It was Sunday morning, and Zach and Alton were having a lazy, luxurious breakfast on the mostly empty patio of Roy’s at Pebble Beach. The off-season chill was dispersed by strategically placed heat lamps and firepit tables. Over country omelets and Keoke coffee (a decadent concoction of Kahlúa, brandy, crème de cacao, and coffee), Alton read theWall Street Journaland Zach played Wordle and enjoyed the breathtaking view of ocean and golf links—or at least what could be seen of them through the mist.
Glancing up from his phone, Zach smiled ruefully. “Too much TV at an early age?”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103