High Heels and Homicide by Kasey Michaels Page A

eight miles and there are baccarat tables in every casino. Much akin to faro, I believe, or at least close enough as makes no matter.”
    And that’s how it came to pass that after turning in the rental SUV at Philadelphia International Airport, Saint Just embarked upon his first airplane ride with a six-figure cashier’s check tucked in his pocket.
    He left behind a small thank-you gift for his hostess, a five-carat diamond tennis braclet hidden inside a long velvet box tied with a silver ribbon.
    It was silly, a petty revenge, but he doubted that Tate’s floral excess looked quite so good to Mrs. Kelly anymore. Of course, if Maggie ever found out he’d put her name on the card, the entire world would not be large enough for him to hide in—but as duels were frowned upon, and punching the arrogant fool’s lights out would only upset everyone needlessly, thoroughly trumping the man’s magnolia would have to suffice.
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    We’re on a hook, we’re on a hook. The plane goes up, the hook comes out, it attaches to the line, and we’re on the hook until we land. It’s just a big bus, no, an old trolley car. And we’re on a hook…
    â€œMaggie? Do you intend to release that death grip you have on the arms of your seat and open your eyes? We’ve been in the air for at least five hours. I don’t think anything untoward is going to happen.”
    â€œDon’t bother me, Alex, I’m meditating,” she said, opening her eyes only slightly, not moving her head as she shifted her gaze toward him. “And don’t look out there. I never look out there. If I look out, and down, then the plane will drop. I’m holding this thing up with sheer willpower, and you should be damn grateful. Stop it! How can you keep looking out there?”
    â€œIt’s elementary, actually. I turn my head toward the window, and I look . But you’re correct. There’s nothing much in the way of a view, save the clouds below us. I once partook in a balloon ascension in Hyde Park, as you know, but that was tame indeed when compared to modern jet flight.”
    He leaned across her and spoke to Sterling, whose seat was on the other side of the aisle. “Enjoying yourself, Sterling?”
    Sterling’s grin was heartwarmingly naive, in Maggie’s opinion, clearly that of a man who didn’t understand the dangers of flight. “Oh, yes, Saint Just. Have you made use of the facilities? You really should. Completely fascinating…although one does wonder where everything, um, goes .”
    â€œSome of us wonder, Sterling. Others of us do not,” Alex said as Maggie giggled. “I’m so gratified that you’re amused, my dear. While you’ve been meditating, as you call it, Sterling here has been running amok in the aisles. I think we, in the role of parents, will soon be considering putting him in leading strings.”
    â€œOh, let him alone,” Maggie said, reaching over to pat Sterling’s hand. “You’re enjoying yourself?”
    Sterling nodded. “I’ve located all of the emergency exits, and I know that my seat cushion serves as a flotation device, and that I should put on my air mask when it drops down, then place one on my child.”
    â€œYou don’t have a child, Sterling,” Maggie pointed out.
    â€œTrue. I’ll concede that. But I am prepared.” He held out a small bag. “Pretzel?”
    â€œThanks, but no. I think we land soon, if I adjusted my watch correctly. Now, Bernie told me Heathrow Airport is a real zoo…”
    â€œWith—”
    â€œFiguratively speaking,” Maggie added quickly, before Sterling, always so literal, would ask if they had monkeys and elephants. “So we stick together, find our way to the luggage carousel, look for the limo the production company arranged for us, and get the heck out of there as fast as we can. Then it’s a straight