Read Online Active Shooter by Eduardo Suastegui - Free Book Online Page A

worries,
though. This is my fifth attempt, and after try numero dos ,
I've been nailing it ever since.” She set the pan on top of the
stove's burners. “Looks like I did it again.”
    I helped her carry platters and plates out to
the dinner table. The first few minutes occupied us with serving
food and pouring of the promised Rioja wine. A few more minutes of
jovial conversation about the quality of the food followed. Then,
we started talking.
    ***
    The Rioja bottle now dispatched, mostly via
Lucia's glass, she poured herself another glass from a bottle of
Zinfandel -- her favorite, as she'd announced upon popping the
cork.
    "She's coming to pick up later?" Lucia asked,
referring to the call from Bridget I'd just received.
    "Yeah."
    "I couldn't help overhear. Something about
her bringing her stuff over to your place."
    "Yeah."
    “You sure it's a good idea for her to stay at
your place tonight?” Lucia asked as she closed the dishwasher.
    Her question took me aback. At first Lucia
had seemed put off by Bridget's sudden refusal to join us. But then
she'd said it gave us more time to chat one on one, review the four
photos I'd brought and to discuss business. Her direct expressed
concern over Bridget spending the night at my place seemed
misplaced.
    “Afraid she'll steal my photos?” I asked.
    Lucia made a face. “Afraid you don't know her
all that well is more like it.”
    “I've known her a little longer than I've
known you.”
    She raised her hands. “Alright. My bad. None
of my business.”
    “No, please. Go on. I appreciate a little
female intuition in my life.”
     
    Lucia lowered her head and looked up at me
through her dangling bangs. “You really want me to play big
sister?”
    “Sure.”
    “OK. I may be the first letter in LGBT and
all that, but I can see you're an attractive guy. Smart, too. A
catch for many a chick out there, right?”
    “If you say so.”
    “For most chicks, I'd say. Yeah.”
    “But not that chick.”
    “Hmm. Not so much. That chick has designs and
standards. Nothing personal, OK?”
    “No worries and no offense taken.”
    “It's not about you,” Lucia said. “It's about
her and how high up in the air her nose points. Am I right?”
    “I guess.”
    “I don't know, Andre. Women do interesting
things. Maybe she would go for you, the silent, strong, smart,
educated and artistic kind, with a little bit of dangerous
thrown in. But I'm not getting that vibe. Something isn't adding up
for me.”
    “You get all that from watching her on
TV.”
    “Yeah, I do. That vibe tells me she's looking
to squeeze you for something other than nighttime pleasures. You
know what I mean?”
    “You mean, related to the shooting. You think
she wants to keep riding the story.”
    “Yeah. That.” Lucia paused as if something
told her to proceed with care. “And something else. I can't know
what that is, but something's there. I can feel it. The more you
get to know me you'll see. I have good instincts for stuff like
this.”
    A strong urge came over me to confirm her
suspicion, but I restrained it. The next moment I considered
whether to probe her about this instinct that had so uncannily
given her that vibe she talked about. That too I set
aside.
    “I appreciate your concern,” I said.
    “Ah. Now comes the pat on the head. Good
girl, Lucia. Now run along.”
    “That's not what I meant.”
    She lowered her head again to give me another
of her through-the-hair looks. “My bad,” she said. “I'm not used to
guys heeding my advice. Not the straight ones, anyway.”
    I pulled up a stool and sat at the island
counter. “So what would you do in my place?”
    Lucia laughed. “I'd sleep with her, and then
I'd give her the boot.”
    Now I laughed. “You sound like a lot of guys
I know.”
    She smiled for a few seconds then grew
serious. “I'm making a real point here, though,” she said pointing
at me. “That chick's trouble. Don't get too tangled up with her,
OK?”
    She let the question