Page 152 of Blood Moon

“I assigned one of our female contributors to interview Carla and Crissy together.”

“Did Carla cooperate?”

“She still has a sting, but it’s not as vicious. Crissy has…” She searched for a word and used her hands to express it. “Blossomed. It’s miraculous.”

He took another sip of beer.

“She told me that you call her at least once a week to see how she’s getting along.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “The least I could do.”

Looking exasperated, she sat back against the booth, and for a minute neither of them spoke. Then she said, “You’re determined to make this hard, aren’t you?”

That angered him. First of all, it was she who was making it hard. It was so damn hard his eyes were probably crossed. Secondly: “Define ‘this,’ Beth. What isthis?” Then something occurred to him that made him furious. “Don’t tell me you lured me here again in the hope of getting an interview. Is that what you’re after?”

She fired back. “If that’s what I was after, I wouldn’t have specifically ordered everyone working on the episodenotto approach you.”

“Then why did you call and ask me to meet you here?”

“I didn’t want there to be an awkward scene at the christening tomorrow.”

“I wouldn’t have made a scene.”

She looked at him doubtfully, and she was right to. There might have been some monumental awkwardness if she’d walked into the church while he, as godfather, had a vital role to play. Questions to answer, pledges to make. Taken off guard by seeing her there, he probably would have flubbed it all and ruined the observance for Mitch and his family.

“And,” she continued around a unsteady breath, “I wanted to see you, talk to you, and not in the presence of Angela’s slew of kinfolk, which Mitch warned me would all be attending the after-party. John…” She extended her hand, but drew it back without making contact. “I wanted to catch up on you, on everything.”

“Seems to me you are caught up. I can’t think of anything to tell you that you haven’t already heard from your talkative sources.”

Miffed again, she said, “I know that Barker was indicted for murder, was considered a flight risk, denied bail, and is in jail awaiting trial, the date of which is TBD, but it’s not going to be speedy. Meanwhile, his wife has filed for divorce.

“Professor Victor Wallace is also incarcerated, awaiting sentencing on two counts of kidnapping, etcetera, etcetera. Prosecutors are pushing for at least twenty-five years for each count. His wife, oblivious to his hobby, has sold theirhome. She and her son have moved to Dallas to live with her parents.”

“Worse than that, he’s had to cancel all his scheduled lectures.”

She didn’t acknowledge his droll remark, but continued in the same vein she’d been using. “The two previously overlooked suspects in Galveston and Jackson are now awaiting trial. Patrick Dobbs has been granted an appeal. Cougar in Shreveport still hasn’t isolated a suspect in the disappearance there, but he’s more aggressively working on it.

“You and Mutt have moved closer to town. Molly loves your new house. Even more, she loves getting to spend half of each week there with you.”

“Roslyn and I worked out an arrangement. I think the stepdad is happy about it, too.”

“Molly has applied for the art school scholarship.”

“Fingers crossed.”

“She’ll get it,” Beth said with confidence. “Does Mutt like the new house?”

“He likes any place so long as there’s food.”

“And you.” She paused, then asked, “Have I left out anything?”

“Will you get Max his Emmy?”

He could tell she hadn’t expected that question. She said, “We’re talking about you.”

“Not anymore we’re not. What’s the status of that two-hour episode?”

“It’s done. Finished. It will premierCrisis Point’s fall season next month. It remains to be seen about the Emmy, but my goal was to create a program that Max would beproud to have his name attached to. In that I believe I’ve succeeded.