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He sighed. “Thank you for letting me know that, baby. Anyway, I didn’t tell her that I was putting up my house for your bail or that I was going to tell you how I felt. When you and I finally got it together last night, I felt I owed her an explanation and telling her the truth by phone felt cowardly.”
“Did Rosa do this to you?” I touched his eye and he winced.
“Yes. I went to see her this evening to tell her that we’re through. She didn’t handle it well at all.”
I kisse
d him on the lips and squeezed him hard. “I’m sorry.”
“I deserved what I got. It was wrong of me to use her just because you were interested in someone else.”
So Paul had bedded Rosa and then kicked her to the curb. Yes, he’d earned the punch and scratches, but I was still angry at her for hurting him.
He allowed me to put a cold compress on his eye as we relaxed on the bed upstairs. I told him about needing to give up the apartment and move my furniture into the brownstone.
“Damn, honey. I’m so sorry.”
The rest of my day spilled out. “My mother has been starving herself halfway to death because she can’t afford the high cost of medicine and the rent on my apartment is $2,000 per month plus utilities and cable. It won’t take me long to run through $10,000, which is all I have in the bank.”
“Hey, Jackie,” his tone was softer. “It’s gonna be okay. Keith and I will handle everything. We’ll have you out of the lease and your furniture in place by Saturday. Now, let’s talk about the case. Who do you think did this thing?”
I bit my lip. “Keith isn’t sharing much with me. But if you look at it logically, the only person who had both means and opportunity is Annabelle’s sister.”
“What about motive?”
“That’s what I have to find out.”
Paul sat up suddenly. “What does that mean?
“It means I can’t just sit in this house and do nothing.”
He took my chin in his hand. “Jackie, what are you planning to do?”
“I’ll tell you about it over dinner. Let’s find a good restaurant—I’m hungry.”
He motioned toward his eye. “This hurts. How about an indoor picnic?”
I gave him a half-smile. “I don’t feel like cooking.”
“Me, either.” He checked his watch. “Why don’t I go pick up some champagne, okay? What kind do you want?”
“Dom Perignon.”
“Damn. Who is paying for all this?”
“Keith. He told me to get whatever I want.”
“Okay. What about Cristal?”
I made a face. “Dom Perignon tastes better.”
“Fine. What would you like for dinner?”
“Lobster, shrimp, and caviar.”
Paul laughed. “When Keith gets this bill, he’s going to take back what he said, so we might as well enjoy his generosity for the night. Would you like me to rent some videos?”
“If you want.”
