Laura slammed into the house, fumed into her father’s den and poured herself a glass of Merlot.
“Just who does that man think he is, insinuating that I would be willing to have sex with him. Second floor, indeed.”
She took a gulp of the red wine and dropped into her father’s chair. Slowly, she rotated the glass until the bright red liquid covered the sides of the glass with its rainbow. She began to think how she could reciprocate his insulting remark. A plan formed in her mind. Carefully, she went over each detail to make sure it would work. Smiling, she picked up the phone and called Patrick Ryan.
“Miz Laura, I’m so glad you got home safely. You left in such a stew.”
“Thank you, Robert, I was wondering if Mr. Ryan was available.”
“Yes’am, I’ll fetch him.”
He came to the phone and sarcastically said, “Don’t tell me you changed your mind.”
Laura smirked, “Well, Patrick, in a way I have.” She could hear the intake of his breath. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Well, why not come here to dinner tonight?”
“Er, not tonight but how about tomorrow night?”
“Perfect. I’ll pick you up about seven.”
“No, I’ll drive over myself. Seven o’clock, then,” and she hung up before there could be any argument on his part. Now she had to enlist someone to make the call. Someone who could be exact, to the moment. She thought of calling one of her friends in Richmond, but the explanation or hassle she wanted to avoid. Sue Bader came to mind. She looked into her father’s roll index cards and found the telephone number for the County Planning Commission. She dialed the number and Sue answered.
“Sue, this is Laura. I need your help.”
“Anything, Laura, what can I do for you?”
“Can I meet you at George’s tomorrow for lunch. I’ll have all the timing worked tonight to give you.”
Sue sounded baffled. “Ah, sounds like your planning something. This reminds me of when Millie and I were working together on the exchange murders.”
“Nothing that drastic. And if there is any murder committed, I’ll be doing it.”
Sue chuckled. “I’ve got to hear all this. Meet you tomorrow at George’s. Bye,” and she hung up the phone.
Laura took a writing pad from the drawer of her father’s desk and titled the sheet:
TIMES.
7:00 Hor d’oeuvres (if any) time elapse, 20 minutes.
7:20-7:30 Dinner - time elapse 30 to 40 minutes. It is now somewhere around 9:00.
9:00 After-dinner drinks. CRUCIAL TIMING REQUIRED.
PRECISELY AT 9:30 call my number, my “call forwarding” will call Patrick Ryan’s number and the butler will answer (I think), regardless, say you are from the law firm of Katz, Katz and Katz and must speak to Miss Laura Crowder. I will answer. Pay no attention to the gibberish I will say, but I will tell you, at the end, that this information is at the house and I will immediately go there to get it. At this point I will leave Ryan’s place.
She set down the pen and softly laughed. I think it just might work. He can cool off in the shower.
She folded the paper and put it in her shoulder bag.
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