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Greer proceeds to go into this long story about how she and my dad were at the same restaurant in Los Angeles. He was there on business about six months ago. Greer was at the bar, Daddy was dining with an associate. And apparently Greer had a little too much to drink and accidentally went into the men’s room while my dad was there. She was so horrified that she bolted out of the room, and Daddy came and found her, apologized, and proceeded to share his most embarrassing moment with her. They spent the next two hours talking and one thing led to another, and the rest is history.
“For me, it was love at first sight. I mean, you know, from the neck up.” She starts giggling and even though I want nothing to do with imagining my dad in the bathroom, I can’t help but laugh with her. It’s nice, this casual banter between us. But the awkward moment is interrupted by a beep on my phone. It’s Rigger.
Be there soon. Is the gate open?
I message back that I’m about to open it.
“I’ll be right back. I forgot to put some food out for Ritz. You want anything?”
Greer holds up the bottle and shimmies it side to side.
“One more bottle of wine, coming right up.”
I walk to the front door, peek out the long window. It’s quiet, dark. I press the button to open the gate then go outside to get my suitcase out of the car. I see headlights pull into the driveway up ahead but go inside so I can shut and lock the door. Rigger said he was just going to walk around and make sure everything is okay, that he wouldn’t hang around very long, so I don’t feel compelled to stay outside and greet him.
I haul my suitcase to my room. Ritz is lying on my bed so I leave him alone and sprinkle some food and water in his ceramic bowls that are still out from our last stay here.
When I get back downstairs, Greer is standing by the front door, peering through the sidelights.
“Is that someone you know?” She points outside.
“That’s my friend, Rigger.”
“Does he want to come in? He’s just walking around out there.”
“No. He wanted to come by and make sure everything was safe and sound since Daddy is out of town and I’m staying here.”
She flashes me a weird look. “And he’s not your boyfriend?”
“No,” I answer, brushing my hair back nervously. “He’s just being cautious, since that guy Peter Snowden was killed a few weeks ago. And he knows they’re still looking for the killer.” I swallow, feeling rocks settle in my gut.
Greer lowers her head, and her voice. “And he thinks they might show up here?”
“Not necessarily. He’s just being overly cautious. I was going to say something but I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Well …” She turns her attention back outside. “You’re going to have to go out there and tell him to stay away from the pool house. Your father doesn’t want anyone down there. Friend or not.”
When she pulls the door open it’s obvious she means for me to tell him immediately.
“Yeah, no problem.”
I don’t know why this is such a big deal but I head out there and catch Rigger as he’s walking to the end of the circle drive. I shoot a look back at the front door and Greer is still there at the sidelight, the glow from the inside framing her body in dark edges.
“Hey!” I call out to Rigger before he disappears around the side of the house.
He stops in his tracks. “What’s up?”
“Not much. Greer and I were just drinking some wine and now she’s all freaked out because she saw you.”
His eyes drift behind me. I’m sure he sees her watching us. “What’d you tell her?”
“Just that you were being a good friend … Peter’s killer still on the loose … the usual, predictable BS. You know, this isn’t going to be easy, keeping up this lie until King is found and arrested.”
“You can do it.”
“Didn’t say I couldn’t do it, just that it would be hard. By the way, Greer is freaking out because my dad does not want anyone at the pool house. He’s been talking about renovating it for several years and he’s finally on it. Greer wanted to be sure you knew that.”
“Stay out of the pool house. Got it.”
