stained-glass thingies.”
He looked at me critically. I seldom can slip anything by Matt, but explaining why I didn’t like Maddy would just complicate things right now. Luckily he didn’t press. “All right,” Matt said neutrally. “What is it you want from me?”
“Two things, I guess. One, can you tell me anything about the security in his neighborhood? Edge of the east side, overlooking the park. Two . . .” I paused, uncertain how to phrase this. “Is there anything I need to know about the guy?”
“As in, what? Is he mobbed up? Is he on the run from someone? That kind of thing?”
When he said it out loud, I realized how silly it sounded. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’m just trying to make sure there aren’t any problems on the horizon before I commit to doing anything. Right now I have no idea how much time this might take, but I don’t want to waste it.”
“Fair enough. Okay, the answer to the first question is that our taxpayers make sure that we keep a visible presence in that particular neighborhood, and we endeavor to keep them happy. And I understand some areas up there have hired supplemental security. I’d be willing to bet some of my force are picking up extra dollars doing that, on their own time. About the other, I can’t say that I know much. You want me to run a criminal check, that kind of thing?”
I thought for a moment, realizing what an awkward position this put him in. “No, I guess not. I mean, he’s a public figure, so if there was any dirt, like a criminal record, somebody would have found it by now. But if you hear anything out of the ordinary, would you let me know?”
“Of course. Are you going to meet the guy?”
“I already have, yesterday.”
“Ah. What’s he like? I only know what I’ve read in the papers.”
“Not at all what I expected. Smart—I figured that. But from what little I’ve seen, he really cares about glass. It’s not just, dare I say it, window dressing for somebody with a lot of money who wants to show off. Although apparently he does have lots of money. The collection could be worth millions.”
“Interesting. Well, thanks for the heads-up—it’s good to know he’s in town. Now, can we talk about something more interesting? Like dessert?”
After dinner we drove back to my home. Matt pulled in behind the building, where I normally park. He turned to me. “May I see you to your door?”
“Certainly, kind sir. And may I offer you the proverbial nightcap?”
“I would be delighted to avail myself of your hospitality. Um, you said something about Cam visiting?”
“I did, but he claimed he was going to be out this evening, so we should have the place to ourselves.”
“Excellent.”
We climbed the stairs and enjoyed the dogs’ welcome—they liked Matt, thank goodness.
“Would you mind giving them a quick walk around the block? That way I can slip into something more comfortable, and see if I can find that nightcap.”
“I am at your service. But once around the block, right? My patience only stretches so far.”
“Deal.” I handed him the leashes. “Now, go!”
I watched as he disappeared into the darkness with Fred and Gloria, then turned back to my space. Matt was a good man, and in many ways we were well suited. But as I looked around my home, which I had found and bought and shaped into exactly what I wanted, I wondered if I could give it up—not that he had asked—or if I could see him somehow fitting into it—not that I had asked. Somehow I had always thought that by this point in my life I would know what I wanted, and now I was finding I had been wrong. Enough, Em! There was no urgency to make a decision right now, and I should just enjoy the moment and let the future take care of itself.
I could hear Matt’s returning footsteps on the stairs, and I found myself smiling. The man really was in a hurry, so I headed for the bedroom and the filmy number I’d laid out, just in case.
Chapter 6
Matt was
He looked at me critically. I seldom can slip anything by Matt, but explaining why I didn’t like Maddy would just complicate things right now. Luckily he didn’t press. “All right,” Matt said neutrally. “What is it you want from me?”
“Two things, I guess. One, can you tell me anything about the security in his neighborhood? Edge of the east side, overlooking the park. Two . . .” I paused, uncertain how to phrase this. “Is there anything I need to know about the guy?”
“As in, what? Is he mobbed up? Is he on the run from someone? That kind of thing?”
When he said it out loud, I realized how silly it sounded. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’m just trying to make sure there aren’t any problems on the horizon before I commit to doing anything. Right now I have no idea how much time this might take, but I don’t want to waste it.”
“Fair enough. Okay, the answer to the first question is that our taxpayers make sure that we keep a visible presence in that particular neighborhood, and we endeavor to keep them happy. And I understand some areas up there have hired supplemental security. I’d be willing to bet some of my force are picking up extra dollars doing that, on their own time. About the other, I can’t say that I know much. You want me to run a criminal check, that kind of thing?”
I thought for a moment, realizing what an awkward position this put him in. “No, I guess not. I mean, he’s a public figure, so if there was any dirt, like a criminal record, somebody would have found it by now. But if you hear anything out of the ordinary, would you let me know?”
“Of course. Are you going to meet the guy?”
“I already have, yesterday.”
“Ah. What’s he like? I only know what I’ve read in the papers.”
“Not at all what I expected. Smart—I figured that. But from what little I’ve seen, he really cares about glass. It’s not just, dare I say it, window dressing for somebody with a lot of money who wants to show off. Although apparently he does have lots of money. The collection could be worth millions.”
“Interesting. Well, thanks for the heads-up—it’s good to know he’s in town. Now, can we talk about something more interesting? Like dessert?”
After dinner we drove back to my home. Matt pulled in behind the building, where I normally park. He turned to me. “May I see you to your door?”
“Certainly, kind sir. And may I offer you the proverbial nightcap?”
“I would be delighted to avail myself of your hospitality. Um, you said something about Cam visiting?”
“I did, but he claimed he was going to be out this evening, so we should have the place to ourselves.”
“Excellent.”
We climbed the stairs and enjoyed the dogs’ welcome—they liked Matt, thank goodness.
“Would you mind giving them a quick walk around the block? That way I can slip into something more comfortable, and see if I can find that nightcap.”
“I am at your service. But once around the block, right? My patience only stretches so far.”
“Deal.” I handed him the leashes. “Now, go!”
I watched as he disappeared into the darkness with Fred and Gloria, then turned back to my space. Matt was a good man, and in many ways we were well suited. But as I looked around my home, which I had found and bought and shaped into exactly what I wanted, I wondered if I could give it up—not that he had asked—or if I could see him somehow fitting into it—not that I had asked. Somehow I had always thought that by this point in my life I would know what I wanted, and now I was finding I had been wrong. Enough, Em! There was no urgency to make a decision right now, and I should just enjoy the moment and let the future take care of itself.
I could hear Matt’s returning footsteps on the stairs, and I found myself smiling. The man really was in a hurry, so I headed for the bedroom and the filmy number I’d laid out, just in case.
Chapter 6
Matt was
Similar Books
