A Vintage Murder by Michele Scott Page A

T-shirt—what was his name, Johnny?—excuse himself as Andy brought out one of his “pets.” She didn’t know what made her watch him, but after grabbing three drinks from the bartender, he disappeared around to the front. Again, she reminded herself that it was none of her business. She should’ve been relieved that the younger set had scampered away. She turned her attention back to Andy Burrow and Company and decided to let kids be kids. They were probably drinking out front and continuing to talk smack about everyone else.
    Andy did his thing with the snakes and even had a volunteer come up onstage. To her relief it wasn’t Derek this time but Nathan Cooley, who seemed as enthralled as Derek had been with the creepy crawlies. For the finale, Nathan sat down and Andy turned toward the river, where he commanded a massive croc to come out of the water and up onto the bank. He proceeded to hand-feed the animal. This elicited plenty of oohs and aahs, though Nikki couldn’t help feeling relieved when it was over. The jaws of that crocodile made her nervous.
     
     
    The evening ended on a high note with dessert and good port. Nikki noticed Liam take Derek aside, and their discussion looked intense. Whatever the problem was, be it business or something else, Nikki wanted to know what was going on.
    When the men were finished talking, good nights were said with an agreement to meet the following morning.
    In the car, Simon couldn’t stop carrying on about Shawn Keefer. He went on and on about how wonderful the actor was and how he felt certain that the man was gay.
    “Please, Simon. You think everyone is gay,” Derek said.
    “Uh-uh. I so know this. My gaydar was working overtime and that glorious, gorgeous sweetie of a man is simply hiding in the closet.”
    “Gaydar?” Nikki asked.
    “Of course, dear, like radar but gaydar. Look, I am not one to hide from the truth. I am a homosexual’s homosexual, so my gaydar is super-duper strong. Yours just wouldn’t be. You’re a heterosexual woman.”
    Nikki and Derek sighed simultaneously. Most of the time Simon’s banter was entertaining, but at this late hour it was too much to handle. Derek must’ve felt the same way. There had to be a way for Nikki to get Simon and Marco back together. The boys of summer—Nikki’s reference to the two partners—had to work things out. They were each other’s yin and yang, and Marco definitely kept Simon grounded. She would come up with a plan, the first part of it being to locate Marco and talk some sense into him. Granted, it was Simon who needed the sense knocked into him , but it really was like a piece of the puzzle had gone missing, and it couldn’t continue this way.
    As they entered their hotel, they had to deal with the tense situation of sleeping arrangements.
    Simon pulled out the sofa bed. “Don’t mind me, kids. I’ll wear earplugs. You just go on and do what lovers do.” He winked.
    “Simon!” Derek snapped.
    “What? I would. It’ll be dark and I’ve got a great pair of earphones. I’ll just plug in my iPod. Won’t hear a thing. What do you think? Twenty, thirty minutes should do.”
    “Oh my God,” Nikki said. Yes, getting in touch with Marco would be the first item on her morning agenda. “I cannot believe we are having this conversation. I’m taking the sofa bed.”
    “Like hell you are,” Derek said.
    She frowned. “Come on. This won’t work. I mean, not tonight anyway. It’s just too weird. It really is, don’t you think?”
    “I realize that, but we don’t have to sleep together. I slept on the sofa bed last night, so what’s another one.”
    “Whoa, ho, ho. What’s this?” Simon asked. “You two haven’t—?”
    They both yelled, “It’s none of your business.”
    Nikki shook her head. “No. I’m on the couch tonight.”
    “No. I’m on the couch,” Derek said. “You can sleep with Simon.”
    She sighed, crossed her arms, and looked at Simon, who shrugged. “Okay,