6 - The Eye of the Virgin: Ike Schwartz Mystery 6 by Frederick Ramsay

faculty senate meeting tomorrow morning. If I get in the car with you I may never get home.”
    “Nonsense. I’ll take you straight home—unless you’re packing plum sauce. Then I will not be responsible for my actions.”
    “There, you see? I can make you jump through hoops.”
    “You are an evil woman, and you will pay for this. The day will come when you run out of M&Ms, and I will be there with a quart of chocolate sauce. Then we will see who has power over whom. Ha.”
    “I’ll meet you at Frank’s. And don’t wear the purple tie with the ducks on it. It makes you look dopey.”
    “I’ll wear the one with the plum sauce stains on it.”
    “That’s not where I remember the stains were. See ya.”
    Ike closed his phone and concentrated on his driving. Abe with a lady friend. How did he feel about that? His mother had died over a year ago. Abe had not taken it very well, even though the disease that took her had been drawn out. It still took a while to get used to the silence. Why shouldn’t Abe have a girlfriend, or two or even three? He liked the larger number better, he decided. Less chance of a permanent attachment.
    Another woman.

Chapter Ten
    A cool Monday evening, breezy and who knew, perhaps a hint of snow, certainly possible in the Shenandoah Valley in early March, rare, but possible. The custom was light at Frank’s. If Ike trusted his olfactory senses correctly, tonight’s special would be roast beef. It was the only dish Frank’s served that had been edible in the restaurant’s previous manifestation as
Chez Fran
ç
ois.
Ike spotted Abe at a corner table. Alone. Something not right with this picture. He’d expected Abe to be seated with an elderly matron. He’d scoured his brain to turn up likely candidates. He couldn’t quite bring himself to say “lovers,” and even “girlfriends” stuck in his throat. He walked to the table, pulled up a chair, and sat. Abe was deep in conversation with the mayor and his wife at an adjoining table. Ike acknowledged the mayor and waited.
    “I’m here, Pop, and Ruth is on her way. Where is the person I’m supposed to meet? You weren’t stood up. Were you?” Ike almost hoped it was true.
    “Stood up? No sirree. In the little girl’s room is where, powdering her nose. Be out directly. I was telling the mayor here he ought to think about finding something for you to do after your term as sheriff is up.”
    Ike sighed, an intentionally audible one. “Pop, you promised me no politics. I’m leaving.”
    “Sit still for a minute, Ike. Land sakes, I’m just saying.”
    “I could run for reelection, you know. And besides, the mayor has candidates for office ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. He doesn’t need my name added to the list.”
    “Law enforcement is a waste of your God-given talents, and that’s the truth. Ain’t that right?” He turned to the mayor for support. He, in turn, smiled and shrugged. Ike took the gesture as polite but noncommittal. “Ah, here she is.” Abe stood and turned toward the rear of the restaurant. Ike stood as well and looked in the same direction.
    “Aunt Dolly,” he said.
    “My, there you are, Ike. It’s been dog’s years. How are you keeping yourself? My, and you remembered my nickname. Bless you.”
    “How could I forget?”
    Dolly Frankenfeld had been his mother’s best friend in the years Abe served in various elective offices in the state. The Schwartzes kept a house in Richmond and spent weekends on the farm in the valley. Dolly became Ike’s adopted auntie when her inability to have children of her own had been confirmed.
    “See, there she is.” Abe gushed. Like a school boy, Ike thought. “Ain’t she something?”
    “You’re looking fine, Aunt Dolly.”
    “Tush, I bet you say that to all the ladies.”
    “In the past, I confess. Not often lately.”
    “Ike has himself a lady, too.” Abe winked.
    “So I hear. Are we going to meet her?”
    “She’s on her way. So, how did you