Bad Business

20

I was back in the Eisens' flossy new condo looking at the view I again, and drinking a light scotch and soda. Ellen and Bernie were having martinis that Ellen had made while we men got comfortable. Sadly, Darrin couldn't join us.

"I don't know what to tell you, Spenser," Eisen was saying. "I simply did not hire anyone to follow Ellen."

I was particularly fond of people who barely knew me calling me by my last name.

"Well, Eisen," I said. "Somebody was following her."

"That's ridiculous," Eisen said.

"It is," I said. "But there you have it."

"Honestly, Mr. Spenser," Ellen said. "I don't believe anyone was following me."

I smiled at her.

"You got it wrong, pal," Eisen said.

I was even more fond of people who called me pal. I tried to remain focused.

"How about Gavin?" I said.

"Gavin?" Eisen said.

"Who's Gavin," Ellen said.

"My information is that Gavin had Ellen followed."

"Jesus Christ," Eisen said. "Will you stop it. Why the fuck would Gavin hire somebody to follow my wife?"

"Darling," Ellen said more firmly, "who is Gavin?"

"He's the chief of security at the shop," Eisen said.

"So why would Gavin have your wife followed?" I said.

"He wouldn't, you idiot, don't you get it?"

"This might go better if you were more restrained," I said.

"Restrained? You're lucky I don't throw you out."

"One of us is," I said.

"What the fuck does that mean?" Eisen said.

I took a deep breath, but it was too late. I found myself standing.

"It means that if you don't settle down I'm going to stick your foot in your ear," I said.

He took an involuntary step backward and realized he had, and tried to compensate.

"You want to try it," he said in a commanding voice.

"Oh, you men," Ellen said. "You're just overgrown boys."

"True," I said. "But it's worth keeping in mind that I'm about thirty pounds more overgrown than your husband." I looked at Bernie for a moment,

"And, I would guess, four inches taller."

"You think I can't handle myself?" Bernie said.

"You've probably been handling yourself too much," I said.

E llen giggled. I think we were both startled.

Bernie said, "Ellen, for God's sake."

E llen said, "Well, it was kind of funny. And, Bernie, get real. Look at him. He's much too big and strong."

"Thank you," I said.

She smiled at me and said, "You're welcome."

"Okay, okay," Bernie said. "We'll let it go for now."

"Whew," I said.

"But I want to know your scam."

"Somebody spiked your open-marriage poster boy three times in the head."

"Open marriage?" Bernie said.

"Darrin and I explained our arrangement to Mr. Spenser," Ellen said.

"I would have thought it was none of his business," Eisen said.

I thought he had a point.

"Oh, aren't you funny?" Ellen said. "Darrin felt it was the right thing to do. You know perfectly well that a relationship cannot be truly open if we are not truly open about it." Eisen nodded.

"I know, darling. I know." He looked at me.

"All the more reason that your story doesn't hold water. In a relationship like ours, there's nothing to hide. Why would someone follow either one of us."

"My question exactly," I said.

"Well, my man," Eisen said to me. "If your story is anything but some sort of clumsy attempt to extort money, then I guess you'll have to talk with Steve Gavin. I know nothing about any of this, and I'm sure Ellen doesn't either."

"I don't," Ellen said, "really."

I t was quite possible that they didn't. But Bernie knew it had happened. It would have been forcefully explained to him by Gavin, the moment after I left Gavin's office. It had almost certainly also been explained that his mouth should remain firmly shut on the matter. Which it would until I had something to pry it open with. I finished the last of my scotch and soda and put the glass down, centering it on the coaster. Tough guy like Eisen, you couldn't be too careful

"Thanks for your time," I said. Eisen didn't say anything.

E llen stood and said, "I'll walk to the door with you." After she closed the door behind me and while I was waiting for the elevator, I put my ear against the door. But I couldn't hear anything. Maybe there was nothing to hear. Maybe in open marriage you didn't get too attached to your non-spousal partner. Ellen had shown no sign that Trent Rowley's death made any difference to her. I wondered if she'd mourn Bernie. Or Darrin O'Mara. Maybe in open marriage you didn't get too attached to anybody. Easy come, easy go. Maybe open marriage was a crock. In the elevator, going down, I decided that it was.