“I hope you told her what you thought of that piece she did on cardiac surgery,” Tom said. “After my car mechanic saw it, I swear he raised his rates. I mean talk about backwards; my income’s plummeting and service people are upping their charges.”
“I said as little as I could’ Kim said.
“Hey, what time were you supposed to pick up Becky?” Tom asked.
“Six o’clock,” Kim said. “What time is it now?”
“You’d better get a move on,” Tom said. “It’s already heading toward six-thirty.”
“Damn,” Kim said. “I haven’t even done my rounds yet. What a life!”
THREE
Friday, January 16th
By the time Kim did his rounds and checked Mr. Arnold in the recovery room, another hour had passed. En route to his former wife’s house in the University section of town, he pushed his ten-year-old Mercedes and made record time. But it was still going on eight when he pulled up behind a yellow Lamborghini directly in front of Tracy’s house.
Leaping from the car, Kim jogged up the front walk. The house was a modest affair built around the birth of the twentieth century, with a few Victorian gothic touches, like pointed arch windows in the second-floor dormers. Kim took the front steps in twos to reach the columned porch, where he rang the bell. His breath steamed in the wintery chill. While he waited he fanned his arms to keep warm. He wasn’t wearing a coat.
Tracy opened the door and immediately put her hands on her hips. She was plainly anxious and irritated. “Kim, it’s almost eight. You said you’d be here by six at the latest.”
“Sorry,” Kim said. “It was unavoidable. The second case took longer than anticipated. We ran into an unexpected problem.”
“I suppose I should be used to this by now,” Tracy said. She stepped out of the way and motioned for Kim to step inside. She closed the door behind him.
Kim glanced into the living room and saw a smart, casually dressed, mid-forties man in a suede fringe jacket and ostrich cowboy boots. He was sitting on the couch, with a drink in one hand and a cowboy hat in the other.
“I would have fed Becky if I’d had any idea it was going to be this late,” Tracy said. “She’s starved.”
“That’s easy to remedy,” Kim said, “I mean, we are planning on going out to dinner.”
“I wish you would have at least called,” Tracy said.
“I was in surgery and didn’t get out until five-thirty,” Kim said. “It’s not like I was out golfing.”
“I know,” Tracy said with resignation. “It’s all very noble. The problem is, you were the one who picked the time, not me. It’s a matter of consideration. Every second I thought you were about to arrive. Luckily we’re not flying commercial.”
“Flying?” Kim questioned. “Where are you going?”
“Aspen,” Tracy said. “I’ve given Becky the number where I can be reached.”
“Aspen for two days?”
“I feel it’s time for me to have a little fun in my life. Not that you would know what that is, apart from your surgery, of course.”
“Well, as long as we’re being nasty and sarcastic,” Kim said, “thanks for sending Kelly Anderson to the surgical lounge. That was a pleasant surprise!”
“I didn’t send her,” Tracy said.
“She said you did.”
“I just told her I thought you were in surgery,” Tracy said.
“Well, it’s the same thing,” Kim said.
Over Kim’s shoulder, Tracy saw her guest stand up. Sensing he was uncomfortable from undoubtedly overhearing her exchange with her former husband, Tracy motioned to Kim to follow her into the living room.
“Enough of this bickering,” she said. “Kim, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, Carl Stahl.”
The two men shook hands and eyed each other warily.
“You two entertain yourselves,” Tracy suggested. “I’ll run upstairs and make sure Becky has everything she needs. Then we can all go our separate ways.”
Kim watched Tracy disappear up the stairs. Then his gaze returned to Tracy’s apparent boyfriend. It was an uncomfortable situation, and Kim couldn’t help feel some jealousy, but at least Carl was several inches shorter, with significantly thinning hair. On the other hand, the man was tanned despite its being mid-winter. He also appeared in reasonable physical shape.