California Fire And Life

50

Maybe the best view on the south coast is the one from the patio bar at Las Brisas, with its view of Laguna Bay and Laguna town stretched out beneath you like some old Mediterranean city with its white buildings and terra-cotta-tiled roofs. Especially at sunset, with the sky turning from blue to lavender and the red summer sun starting to kiss the ocean horizon.

"Thanks for coming," Nicky says. He tilts his vodka collins in a salute to Jack.

"Thanks for the drink," says Jack, raising his beer bottle.

Nicky says, "Well, I wanted to thank you for intervening in that ugly situation in the church the other day."

"No," Jack says, "you wanted to find out what Letitia del Rio told me."

Nicky smiles. "That, too."

"She told me some disturbing things."

"No doubt she did," Nicky says. "I am sure that she concocted some wild and wonderful tales for you. I imagine at times she even believes them herself. Letty is a sick woman."

"Yeah?"

"Well, they came from the same dysfunctional family, didn't they."

"Letty says that Pam went to rehab."

"Yes." Nicky laughs. "Would you like to see those bills?"

"And?"

"She stayed sober for about two weeks afterwards, I think," Nicky says. "Not a bargain."

They sit and drink and watch the progress of the sunset, a spectacular Southern Californian light show gone from lavender to purple as the sky turns into a violent red.

"This might be Paradise," Nicky sighs. Then he says, "Think about this, Jack. The next beneficiary on the life insurance policy after me is Letty, in trust for the children, of course. It would be in her interest to make up stories, wouldn't it?"

Jack watches the bottom of the sun melt into the ocean.

"You know what I think?" Jack asks. He takes a long belt of his beer.

"I wouldn't presume to guess, Jack."

Easy, relaxed, maximum cool.

"What I think," Jack says, "I think that you killed your wife and burned the house down around her. That's what I think."

Grinning at Nicky, who turns pale.

Nicky stares at him for a long moment, then forces his face into a condescending smile. Looks Jack square in the eyes.

Says, "Prove it."

Jack says, "I will."

Behind Nicky the sun, the sky, and the ocean are on fire.

This beautiful inferno, Jack thinks.

This drop-dead gorgeous hell.