“It’s not what you think,” Jacquie said. “Kenny is my friend.”
She glanced up at him. The way he looked back at her said, as clearly as words, that the feeling wasn’t mutual. Kenny was smitten. Or horny. One or the other. Or more likely both.
“I’m sure he is,” I said, even as I locked eyes with Kenny. He made a face.
An awkward silence descended, until Greg cleared his throat. “I’m Greg Newsome. A friend of Gina’s.”
Kenny’s eyes sharpened with interest. “The writer?”
Greg nodded. “Guilty as charged.”
“I’ve read all your books.” Kenny actually smiled, a real smile instead of the polite grimace he’d been giving me. “I’m Kenneth Kelly, Gina’s stepson.”
He took his arm away from Jacquie’s waist and stuck it out. “Dark Water is one of my favorite books.”
They talked about Greg’s genius for a moment while Jacquie and I stood there in uncomfortable silence. “How are you doing?” I ventured finally. She looked like a chastised child, and I couldn’t handle it any longer.
Her eyes lit up. Probably at the relief of being spoken to, because what she had to say certainly wasn’t happy. “I’m a mess. Everything’s awful.” She sniffed, even as her eyes started to fill with tears again. “But I couldn’t stand to look at the walls of my apartment anymore, so when Kenny called, I said yes, because I thought it would be better than sitting at home by myself.”
“I didn’t know you and Kenny knew each other.”
“Oh, I met him through David,” Jacquie said, flapping a hand as if it didn’t matter. “Him and Krystal both.”
Of course. Getting the children’s permission before replacing me with a model younger than both of them.
I bit my tongue, because that was all in the past now, and there was no need to dredge it up.
“Can I come see you tomorrow?” Jacquie asked.
I hesitated. What were the chances that she’d try to talk me into giving back the retainer she’d given us, now that Nick was dead?
On the other hand, she might be his murderer, so a discussion couldn’t hurt. “I’ll be there at nine. Any time after that.” And no matter how much I felt like we had earned that retainer, I’d probably give her some of it back if she insisted. Her boyfriend was dead, and while it wasn’t my fault, I still felt bad for her.
She nodded. “I’ll see you then.”
Finally, Kenny seemed to remember where he was.
“We should get going,” he said. “We’re done, and the waiter is waiting to take your order.”
He was: hovering a few feet away, looking anxious.
Kenny turned to me, and his expression hardened slightly. “I’ll talk to you later, Gina.”
Oh, would he really?
“I’ll be in the office tomorrow after nine,” I told him coolly. If he thought he could intimidate me, he had another think coming. “Feel free to stop by any time. You remember where it is, I’m sure.”
It had been David’s office for much of the time Kenny had been alive, after all.
He scowled and steered Jacquie away. I watched them go, through the dining room, past the maître d’ stand, and out the door. Jacquie didn’t look back, although Kenny gave me a final, threatening look before he passed through the door and out.
“Well,” Greg said once they were gone. “That was exciting.”
“That’s one word for it,” I agreed, and dropped back down on my seat.
He eyed me across the table. “Want to talk about it?”
“Later.” I picked up my menu again. “Let’s just order.”
