3rd Degree

Chapter 51

I CAN BE WOWED.

“If I wasn't a Homicide lieutenant,” I said, “I might believe that line. The vice president just called you?”

“I might press *69 and show you,” Molinari said. “Except that it's important we begin to establish more trust.”

“Is that what we're doing tonight?” I asked, smiling in spite of myself.

Whatever was starting to happen, those little pinballs pat-tering inside were now crashing around my ribs like the drums in “Sunshine of Your Love.” I was aware of the tiniest film of sweat at my hairline. My sweater was starting to feel prickly. Molinari reminded me of Chris.

“I hope we're starting to trust each other,” he finally said. “Let's leave it at that for now, Lindsay.”

“Aye-aye, sir,” I said.

He paid the check, then helped me on with my jacket. I brushed against his arm and, well, electricity flared. I glanced at my watch. 9:30. Forty minutes to the airport to catch that flight I needed to be on.

Outside, we walked a block or two along Vine Street. I wasn't really paying attention to the shops. The night was cool but very pleasant. What was I doing here? What were the two of us doing?

“Lindsay” - he finally stopped to face me - “I don't want to say the wrong thing....” I wasn't sure what I wanted him to say next. “My driver's down the block if you want.... But there's always the six A.M. flight.”

“Listen...” I wanted to touch his arm, but I didn't. I'm not even sure why not.

“Joe,” he said.

“Joe.” I smiled. “Was this what you meant by being out of the field?”

He took my bag and said, “I was just thinking it'd be a shame to waste a perfectly good change of clothes.”

I do trust him, I was thinking. Everything about Joe Moli-nari inspired trust. And I definitely liked him. But I still wasn't sure if this was a good idea, and that told me all I needed to know for right now.

“I think I'm just gonna let you think I'm a bit harder to get than I really am” - I bit my lip - “and make that flight at eleven.”

“I understand....” He nodded. “It doesn't feel right to you.”

“It's not that it doesn't feel right.” I touched his hand. “It's just that I didn't vote for your administration....” Molinari laughed out loud. “But just for the record, it wasn't the wrong thing to say.”

That made him smile, too. “It's getting late,” he said. “I have some things to attend to up here. I'll be seeing you soon enough.”

Then Molinari waved down the block for his car. The black Lincoln drove up. The driver climbed out and opened the door for me. Still not completely sure that I was doing the right thing, I got in.

Suddenly something hit me and I rolled down the win-dow. “Hey, I don't even know what flight I'm on.”

“Taken care of,” Molinari said. He waved and slapped the side. The car started to pull away.

As soon as we were on the highway, I shut my eyes and began to review the day, but mostly my dinner with Molinari. After a while the driver said, “We're here, ma'am.”

I looked outside and saw that we were at some remote part of the airfield. Yep, I can be wowed. Waiting for me on the tarmac was the Gulf stream G-3 jet I had flown up in that morning.