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Slowly, everything starts coming back to me, and it feels as if someone has put anvils on my shoulders. It has been almost three days since Kathy was killed. I’ve napped constantly, and I still feel this way every time I wake up. I glance up at Dek, and he smiles gently and runs his hand over my cheek.
“It will help keep your mind off things for a little while,” he says. “I’m going to insist, so please don’t argue with me. Just do whatever you need to do to get ready. No need to dress up; this place is casual.”
“What place?” I push myself out of bed and grab some clean clothes from the closet.
“A nice little steakhouse I’ve heard about but never tried. It’s supposed to be great.”
Deklan walks out of the bedroom as I head into the bathroom. I take a quick shower, fix my hair, and put on some makeup, hoping Deklan was serious about the place being casual. I’m not up for a dress and heels.
When I come out of the bathroom, Deklan is sitting on the couch and making a phone call.
“Yes, I’d like to report a theft.” There’s a pause for a moment before Deklan continues. “My Beretta appears to have been stolen. Yes, ma’am, that kind of Beretta. Well, the car was parked with the valet at the Hyatt, and I assume they keep everything locked up. I honestly don’t know when it might have happened. I just noticed a little while ago that it was missing. I kinda assume someone broke in over the weekend. Yes, ma’am, it is.”
I stare at Deklan open-mouthed as he gives all his personal information to the woman on the phone.
“I don’t know off the top of my head, but I should have it in my files somewhere. Would it be all right if I brought that by the station in the next day or two? Oh yeah? Well, I guess it makes sense you would have access to that. Yes, ma’am. That would be great. Just let me know if you find it.”
Deklan hangs up and smiles at me.
“What was all that about?”
“Nothing.” He stands and walks over to me. “You’re gorgeous, you know. Even in jeans and a T-shirt.”
“Were you talking to the police? What was taken from the car?”
“Nothing too important,” he says. “Just don’t worry about it, okay?”
“Deklan, what the hell is going on?”
“Have you ever heard the expression that the best lie is one anchored in the truth?”
“I suppose so. Something like that anyway.”
“Well, just know that if anyone asks you about our evening, you can be one hundred percent truthful, okay?”
“Who would ask?”
Deklan responds with a shrug. He’s obviously not going to tell me anything, so I don’t bother to ask again.
“Are you ready?” he asks as he checks his watch. He grabs my coat from the hook near the door and holds it out for me.
“I really don’t need a birthday dinner at this point.” I let him put the coat around my shoulders. I know arguing with him is useless, and he doesn’t even reply to my comment.
He leads me to the parking garage and helps me into the car. It’s a bit of a drive to the restaurant, and Deklan checks his watch at least five times along the way. I want to ask him about it, but he keeps me occupied with chatter about the weather, traffic, and basketball scores. In fact, he talks so much, I can hardly get a word in.
It’s probably best. I’m more in a mood for listening than talking.
“It will be about thirty minutes before I can seat you, Mr. Kearney,” the hostess says when we arrive at the restaurant. “Would you like to have a seat at the bar while you wait?”
“That would be perfect,” Deklan says as he glances at his watch again.
Deklan places his hand on the small of my back and leads me to the middle of the bar. There are several seats at the end, but he goes straight for the two seats surrounded by other patrons.
“Are these seats taken?” he asks the couple next to us.
“Not at all,” the man says. “Please.”
Deklan shakes his hand and thanks him profusely. It’s over the top, and I narrow my eyes at my husband as he pulls my seat out for me.
