Infernal

3

Jack helped Gia and Vicky clear the dishes while Tom read the paper.

"I can see it now," Jack whispered while they were in the kitchen. "I'll never get rid of him. He'll be the man who came to dinner. I've got to find him a hotel."

She said, "You and he are the only ones left in your family. You should find a way to get along."

Jack nodded—not because he agreed, but because he didn't want to get into a discussion about this. At least not now.

Gia was right in theory, but he saw no way the two of them would ever have much in common.

"Hey!" Tom called from the table. "The Merry Widow is at the Met tonight!"

"Really?" Gia gravitated toward the front room. "That's one of my favorites."

"And Noelle Roberts is playing Hanna."

"I saw her as Mimi in La Boheme last year. She's wonderful."

Jack followed her in, snapping his fingers. "La Boheme… La Boheme … is that the one where somebody dies at the end?"

Gia laughed. "Someone almost always dies at the end of an opera. And you know that."

Tom slammed his hand on the table. "Let's go! Let's all go tonight!"

Listen to him, Jack thought. The feds are after him and he wants to go to the opera.

Of course, that was probably the last place they'd look for him.

"I'd love to," Gia said, "but I can't get a sitter on such short notice."

"Bring Vicky along. My treat."

Listen to Mr. Big Spender.

Gia shook her head. "No, she wouldn't like it. She's fine at the ballet where it's all music and movement, but at an opera… she'd be asking me every two minutes what they're saying. That wouldn't be fair to the people around us."

Jack looked at Gia. "You really want to go?"

"I'd love to see Noelle Roberts again."

"Then go. I'll take care of Vicky."

She smiled that smile. "Would you really? You don't mind?"

He knew Tom had the hots for her, but this was Gia. She wasn't a tease, didn't play games. It would be a friendly date. And she'd get to see her Noelle Roberts.

Jack put a finger to his chin and struck a pose of deep concentration.

"Hmmm… let's see… comes down to a choice between hanging out with Vicky or going through the auditory equivalent of a root canal without anesthesia… I'd say that's a no-brainer."

"Great!" Tom cried. "Then it's settled. I'll reserve the tickets and find a place to rent a tuxedo."

"Oh, you don't have to—"

"Oh, but I do. With such a beautiful woman on my arm, attiring myself in anything less would be not only a breach of manners, but an affront to all of nature."

Jack closed his eyes. He had to get him out of here.