Threnody’s a high-maintenance babe—a social light, as the saying goes. At least that’s what I’ve heard from your sister.”
“Kane! I’ve never thought of Threnody as a babe. High maintenance, yes. Meaning she has to wear the right kind of designer clothes, has to drive the right kind of car—probably a new car every year, has to get her name in the Citizen as a supporter of worthy causes.”
“Right. You’ve got the picture. According to Cherie, Threnody holds an office in the Lower Keys Women’s Club. She’s on the board that books top-notch entertainers to appear at the Tennessee Williams Theater. Also, she just finished a term on the school board.”
“She keeps busy.” I shrugged. “Some women enjoy those activities. Her kind of women need lots of financial backing so they can finance charity balls and that kind of thing. I leave that life to Mother and Cherie, but I do like Threnody. She has a kind way of listening to me and cheering me on when I’m discouraged. Writers lead lonely lives.”
“Sometimes I think you hide in your penthouse suite, hide and perhaps glory in the solitariness of your writing.”
“Nothing wrong with preferring to be alone. I learned that from my grandmother, Kane. She taught me to love fishing as a child. That’s a solitary occupation and I didn’t need to learn to love it. My love of fishing came naturally.”
“Maybe because practice made you so good at it. I’ve watched you cast lures almost into a fish’s mouth.”
“Got to be able to cast to a target, Gram always said. People used to watch us practice fly casting on the lawn at Bay View Park. Gram would drop hibiscus blossoms on the lawn as targets, then we’d back off several yards and practice casting to them. We kept score. Gram usually won. But back to the Vextons—Threnody.”
“Yes, Threnody.” Kane chuckled. “That woman spends money like water. I’m guessing she’d welcome the income from a hotel at their marina.”
“Sometimes it surprises me that she’s willing to sing a few numbers with the combo at The Frangi. ”
“You’ve heard her sing, Rafa. You know she has a trained voice. I heard her tell Dolly that when she was in her teens and early twenties she studied voice at Julliard’s. In Key West, her church choir is about her only outlet for singing. I can understand her wanting other places to use her talent. I’m guessing she doesn’t mind the applause at The Frangi, either.”
“If I were to investigate any murder, I’d start by trying to learn who last saw the victim alive.”
“In Diego’s case that might be a hard fact to learn. Fiesta Fest Parade night was in full swing. Dozens of people might have seen him helping with the floats, helping traffic control, or just mingling with the crowd.”
“True, but it’s strange that the murder took place at the marina. Who knew he’d be at the dock so late last night?”
“I have no answer, Rafa. None.”
I had no answer either, and for a while I said no more. Nor did Kane. Maybe I needed to sort out my own feelings, the true causes for the differences between Kane and me that kept us from growing closer. In my heart, I knew my feelings could be touching deep secrets, fueling buried reasons for my need to investigate Diego’s death. I could hardly bring myself to admit my secret life to myself, to admit the mistakes I’d made years ago, let alone to reveal them to Kane who might consider them reason to walk away from me forever. My deepest desire was for a home and a family. That certainly came before hostessing in The Frangi and before a writing career. But that desire was a secret known only to me. I wouldn’t let it cause me to break my deathbed promise to Dad.
“Kane, who will replace Diego on the commissioner’s board?”
“You’re already planning your investigation, right?”
“Wrong. I’m just asking myself some questions that need to be answered. Quite likely the police will be making similar
“Kane! I’ve never thought of Threnody as a babe. High maintenance, yes. Meaning she has to wear the right kind of designer clothes, has to drive the right kind of car—probably a new car every year, has to get her name in the Citizen as a supporter of worthy causes.”
“Right. You’ve got the picture. According to Cherie, Threnody holds an office in the Lower Keys Women’s Club. She’s on the board that books top-notch entertainers to appear at the Tennessee Williams Theater. Also, she just finished a term on the school board.”
“She keeps busy.” I shrugged. “Some women enjoy those activities. Her kind of women need lots of financial backing so they can finance charity balls and that kind of thing. I leave that life to Mother and Cherie, but I do like Threnody. She has a kind way of listening to me and cheering me on when I’m discouraged. Writers lead lonely lives.”
“Sometimes I think you hide in your penthouse suite, hide and perhaps glory in the solitariness of your writing.”
“Nothing wrong with preferring to be alone. I learned that from my grandmother, Kane. She taught me to love fishing as a child. That’s a solitary occupation and I didn’t need to learn to love it. My love of fishing came naturally.”
“Maybe because practice made you so good at it. I’ve watched you cast lures almost into a fish’s mouth.”
“Got to be able to cast to a target, Gram always said. People used to watch us practice fly casting on the lawn at Bay View Park. Gram would drop hibiscus blossoms on the lawn as targets, then we’d back off several yards and practice casting to them. We kept score. Gram usually won. But back to the Vextons—Threnody.”
“Yes, Threnody.” Kane chuckled. “That woman spends money like water. I’m guessing she’d welcome the income from a hotel at their marina.”
“Sometimes it surprises me that she’s willing to sing a few numbers with the combo at The Frangi. ”
“You’ve heard her sing, Rafa. You know she has a trained voice. I heard her tell Dolly that when she was in her teens and early twenties she studied voice at Julliard’s. In Key West, her church choir is about her only outlet for singing. I can understand her wanting other places to use her talent. I’m guessing she doesn’t mind the applause at The Frangi, either.”
“If I were to investigate any murder, I’d start by trying to learn who last saw the victim alive.”
“In Diego’s case that might be a hard fact to learn. Fiesta Fest Parade night was in full swing. Dozens of people might have seen him helping with the floats, helping traffic control, or just mingling with the crowd.”
“True, but it’s strange that the murder took place at the marina. Who knew he’d be at the dock so late last night?”
“I have no answer, Rafa. None.”
I had no answer either, and for a while I said no more. Nor did Kane. Maybe I needed to sort out my own feelings, the true causes for the differences between Kane and me that kept us from growing closer. In my heart, I knew my feelings could be touching deep secrets, fueling buried reasons for my need to investigate Diego’s death. I could hardly bring myself to admit my secret life to myself, to admit the mistakes I’d made years ago, let alone to reveal them to Kane who might consider them reason to walk away from me forever. My deepest desire was for a home and a family. That certainly came before hostessing in The Frangi and before a writing career. But that desire was a secret known only to me. I wouldn’t let it cause me to break my deathbed promise to Dad.
“Kane, who will replace Diego on the commissioner’s board?”
“You’re already planning your investigation, right?”
“Wrong. I’m just asking myself some questions that need to be answered. Quite likely the police will be making similar
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