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He gestured toward her condo. “Because I told you I wouldn’t.” He watched her unlock the door and throw it open. “I thought you’d probably be back soon.” His gaze raked her face. “You probably wish it had been even sooner. Do I detect impatience and perhaps disgust?”
“You do.” She threw her handbag on the couch. “And you should have opened the damn door. I didn’t need to see you leaning out there like an orphan. You make rules for yourself and then I’m supposed to feel rotten when you end up like that. I refuse to feel rotten.”
“That’s good, I’d hate it if you got any worse-tempered.” He smiled. “Could I get you a drink?”
“No, people seem to be continually pouring alcohol down me.” She went to the refrigerator and got a Coke. “Though that idiot woman gave me tea. Maybe she wanted to prove something or other. That seemed to be her plan for the day.”
“Jackie Gabert? She apparently pissed you off.”
“How did you guess?” she asked. “The woman was certifiable. I couldn’t decide if she was hitting on me or just spinning a tall tale. Perhaps a little of both.”
“Hitting on you?”
“I don’t really think so. It was all bullshit about power and how Barrett should never have paid attention to anyone but her.” She grimaced. “Like I said, certifiable.”
“Nothing about Tricia Walton?”
“Only that Barrett said that she’d been taken care of.” She took a swallow of Coke. “The only thing that was interesting was that she thought that Barrett was paying attention to someone else’s advice, and she didn’t like it.” She shrugged. “I got the impression she might have been jealous of him.”
“Him?”
“That was how she referred to him. No name. Evidently Barrett didn’t give her any details about anyone in his past. If she thought she was succeeding in controlling the bastard, she had a long way to go.” She had a sudden thought. “She didn’t like it that Barrett listened to anyone else. Listening? Controlling? I believe that she was thinking of it as the same thing. She believed that the mark she’d chosen was being controlled by someone else. It would have been a bitter blow to her.”
“Could you go back and try to squeeze a little more out of her?”
She slowly shook her head. “She kept saying that she never asked questions. She was clearly walking a tightrope even if she swore she was making progress in her game with Barrett. But it’s something to know that there might have been someone out there who could make Barrett jump through hoops. It almost makes putting up with Jackie worth it.” She dropped down on the couch. “Thanks for listening to me vent. Did you have any luck with your contacts?”
“A strong possibility that I might be on the right track if Ula comes through for me.”
“Ula? A woman?”
“An exceptional woman, but not one that I’d want to compare with the lady you spent the last couple hours with. Well, perhaps in one category. Ula isn’t as much into control as she used to be, but there still lingers a bit that may prove valuable to us. But any control she exerts is always razor-sharp and clearly defined. Actually, you might like to meet her. She could act as a palate cleanser after what you went through with Jackie Gabert.”
“You could have taken me with you before.” She shrugged. “But I did learn a few things.” She smiled. “And I wouldn’t have wanted to get in your way while you were dealing with your ‘exceptional’ friend.”
“I believe I could tolerate it.” He got to his feet. “Now do you want to go out to dinner, or should we go downstairs and see if we can persuade Olivia to make us one of her fantastic salads? I vote for Olivia. I think you need to be exposed to sanity and affection after your bout with a crazy megalomaniac.”
“I’ll vote for that, too.” She finished her Coke and threw the can in the recycling bin. “Now all we have to do is persuade Olivia. But she’s usually willing to—”
Lynch’s phone rang.
He held up his hand and punchedANSWER. “You’ve got it, Ula?” He listened. “Okay, I’m on my way.” He ended the call and looked at Kendra. “Olivia and sanity? Or are you coming with me?”
She was already heading for the front door. “Where are we going, Lynch?”
***
Lynch and Kendra stopped at BB’s Café in National City, a Filipino restaurant on one of the community’s main thoroughfares. The place was busy even though it was well after lunchtime.
Ula waved from a table near the back of the dining room. “Over here, Adam Lynch.”
Kendra smiled. “Does she always call you by your first and last names?”
“Always.” As they approached, he made the introductions. “Ula, this is Kendra Michaels.”
Ula waved to the seats opposite her. “Please, please sit down.”
Lynch glanced around. “I’ve never been here. How’s the food?”
