traveling.â
âIâm starting to do more.â He hesitated before adding, âI recently got divorced, and I suddenly find that my schedule is a whole lot freer.â
âDo you believe this place?â Phil Diamond plopped down at the head of the table and glared at the other four journalists. âHow do they expect people to have a good time if they canât even light up a cigarette? And Iâve already had a hell of a day. Would you believe it started in Milwaukee, where I spent two days researching a piece on some ridiculous ice-sculpting competition? This morning, I flew to JFK at dawn, then got stuck on this ridiculous overbooked flight run by sky Nazisâ¦. Itâs enough to make anybody need a cigarette.â
âPerhaps you should consider giving up smoking, Phil, dear,â Frieda suggested. âItâs such a nasty habit. And so bad for you, not to mention everyone around you.â
âSpeaking of things that are bad for you,â Phil grumbled, snapping his fingers at the waitress, âI could definitely use a drink. Anyone care to join me?â
Once again, his eyes drifted around the table. When they reached Mallory, they suddenly narrowed.
âOh,â he said disgustedly. âItâs
you.â
âI didnât think you two knew each other,â Frieda commented.
âAre you kidding? Weâre old friends,â Phil replied, his voice curdling with sarcasm. âJust this morning, this delightful lady and I had the pleasure of flying into Orlando together.â
Fortunately, their waitress came trotting over, her pad and pen in hand. âIs there something I can get for you, sir?â she asked Phil.
âCan I get a gee-and-tee, pronto?â
The waitress, who looked young enough to be en route to Disney World herself instead of working at a restaurant, immediately became flustered. âIâm sorry, sir. I donât know what that is.â
âYou donât know what a gee-and-tee is? Itâs a gin and tonic. The recipeâs simple. See, you take ginâa lot of ginâand you add tonic. Voilà !â
âIâm afraid we donât serve alcohol here.â
â
What?
How in hell am I supposed toââ
âWell, it looks like youâre all having fun!â chirped a young woman whoâd just trotted over to their table. âIâm Courtney Conover, and on behalf of the Florida Tourism Board, I want to welcome each and every one of you!â
She clutched a clipboard in one hand, and with the other nervously pushed her overly long bangs out of her eyes. Mallory noted that she didnât look much older than their waitress. And thanks to her straight platinum blond hair, courtesy of Clairol, and her bright emerald-green eyes, courtesy of Bausch & Lomb, she looked more like Barbieâs little sister than someone in a position of authority.
âSorry Iâm late,â Courtney continued. âThings got a little crazy at the office this morning. But I want to start out by telling you how thrilled we are to have all of you here.â
âYâknow, thereâs such a thing as being too damned jolly,â Annabelle muttered. âEspecially before lunch, when everyoneâs blood sugar is low.â
âNow, now,â Frieda returned. âSheâs just cheerful. Thereâs no law against being cheerful.â
âBefore I start boring you with details,â Courtney said, âthereâs someone Iâd like to introduce. Mr. Farnaby,â she called across the room, âcould you please come over here? If you have a moment, Iâd like you to meet our distinguished group of writers.â
Mallory glanced around the table, blinking.
Distinguished?
Mr. Farnaby was all smiles as he scurried over to the table. âWell, of
course
I want to meet my honored guests!â he gushed.
âEveryone, this is Desmond Farnaby, general manager of the
James Holland
Erika Bradshaw
Brad Strickland
Desmond Seward
Timothy Zahn
Edward S. Aarons
Lynn Granville
Kenna Avery Wood
Fabrice Bourland
Peter Dickinson