furniture.”
“Well, I’m plumb out of my league here,” Jesse said. “If the autopsy suggests we got a corpus delecti and a homicide, we’ll get involved. Otherwise I think you have to get the science guys over here.”
“We’ve put in a call to the physics department at the university,” Sheila said.
“I think that’s the best idea,” Jesse said. “Meanwhile, here’s my card.” He stepped over to Sheila and gave her the business card. He also gave one to Richard Halprin, president of the University Medical Center, and Wayne Maritinez, head of hospital security. “Any of you can call me anytime. I’m interested, really. It’s been a strange couple of nights. There’s been more weird stuff happening than in all the previous thirty years I’ve been on the force. Is it a full moon or what?”
AT THE VERY END OF THE SHOW, THE MUSIC REACHED A crescendo, and with a final clap of cymbals, the dome of the planetarium went dark. Then the general lights came on. Instantly the auditorium erupted in a smattering of applause, a few whistles, and a babble of excited voices. Most of the seats were occupied by elementary school kids on a field trip. Except for teachers and chaperones, Cassy and Beau were the only adults.
“That was really fun,” Cassy said. “I’d forgotten what a planetarium show was like. The last time I’d seen one was in Miss Korth’s fourth-grade class.”
“I liked it too,” Beau said with enthusiasm. “It’s fascinating seeing what the galaxy looks like from the point of view of Earth.”
Cassy blinked and stared at Beau. All morning long he seemed to have a penchant to pop off with a curious non sequitur.
“Come on,” Beau said, oblivious to Cassy’s mild perplexity. He stood up. “Let’s try to get out of here ahead of these screaming kids.”
Hand in hand they exited the auditorium and strolledout onto the expansive lawn that separated the planetarium and the natural history museum. From a pushcart vendor they purchased hot dogs smothered with chili and onions. On a seat in the shade of a large tree they sat down to enjoy their lunch.
“I’d also forgotten how much fun playing hooky can be,” Cassy said in between bites of hot dog. “It’s lucky that I wasn’t scheduled for student teaching today. I mean, skipping class is one thing, but skipping student teaching is something else entirely. I wouldn’t have been able to come.”
“I’m glad it worked out,” Beau said.
“I was surprised when you suggested it,” Cassy said. “Isn’t this the first time you’ve ever skipped class?”
“Yup,” Beau said.
Cassy laughed. “What is this, a new Beau? First you act like an amorous animal and jump into the shower with your clothes on and now you’ve willingly missed three classes. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining.”
“It’s all your fault,” Beau said. He put down his hot dog and pulled Cassy to him and enveloped her in a playfully sexy embrace. “You’re irresistible.” He tried to kiss her, but Cassy got her hand up and parried the move.
“Wait a sec,” she laughed. “I’ve got chili all over my face.”
“All the more spice,” Beau joked.
Cassy wiped her face with her napkin. “What’s gotten into you?”
Beau didn’t answer. Instead he gave Cassy a long, wonderful kiss. Just like in the shower, the impulsiveness of the gesture was another distinct turn-on for her.
“Wow, you are transmogrifying into a world-class Casanova,” Cassy said as she sat back, took a breath, and tried to collect herself. The fact that she could be turned on so easily in public in the middle of the day surprised her.
Beau happily went back to his hot dog. As he chewed he raised his hand to block out the sun while he looked in the sun’s direction.
“How far did they say Earth is from the sun?” he asked.
“Jeez, I don’t know,” Cassy said. Having experienced the stirring of desire, it was hard to change the subject, especially to
“Well, I’m plumb out of my league here,” Jesse said. “If the autopsy suggests we got a corpus delecti and a homicide, we’ll get involved. Otherwise I think you have to get the science guys over here.”
“We’ve put in a call to the physics department at the university,” Sheila said.
“I think that’s the best idea,” Jesse said. “Meanwhile, here’s my card.” He stepped over to Sheila and gave her the business card. He also gave one to Richard Halprin, president of the University Medical Center, and Wayne Maritinez, head of hospital security. “Any of you can call me anytime. I’m interested, really. It’s been a strange couple of nights. There’s been more weird stuff happening than in all the previous thirty years I’ve been on the force. Is it a full moon or what?”
AT THE VERY END OF THE SHOW, THE MUSIC REACHED A crescendo, and with a final clap of cymbals, the dome of the planetarium went dark. Then the general lights came on. Instantly the auditorium erupted in a smattering of applause, a few whistles, and a babble of excited voices. Most of the seats were occupied by elementary school kids on a field trip. Except for teachers and chaperones, Cassy and Beau were the only adults.
“That was really fun,” Cassy said. “I’d forgotten what a planetarium show was like. The last time I’d seen one was in Miss Korth’s fourth-grade class.”
“I liked it too,” Beau said with enthusiasm. “It’s fascinating seeing what the galaxy looks like from the point of view of Earth.”
Cassy blinked and stared at Beau. All morning long he seemed to have a penchant to pop off with a curious non sequitur.
“Come on,” Beau said, oblivious to Cassy’s mild perplexity. He stood up. “Let’s try to get out of here ahead of these screaming kids.”
Hand in hand they exited the auditorium and strolledout onto the expansive lawn that separated the planetarium and the natural history museum. From a pushcart vendor they purchased hot dogs smothered with chili and onions. On a seat in the shade of a large tree they sat down to enjoy their lunch.
“I’d also forgotten how much fun playing hooky can be,” Cassy said in between bites of hot dog. “It’s lucky that I wasn’t scheduled for student teaching today. I mean, skipping class is one thing, but skipping student teaching is something else entirely. I wouldn’t have been able to come.”
“I’m glad it worked out,” Beau said.
“I was surprised when you suggested it,” Cassy said. “Isn’t this the first time you’ve ever skipped class?”
“Yup,” Beau said.
Cassy laughed. “What is this, a new Beau? First you act like an amorous animal and jump into the shower with your clothes on and now you’ve willingly missed three classes. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining.”
“It’s all your fault,” Beau said. He put down his hot dog and pulled Cassy to him and enveloped her in a playfully sexy embrace. “You’re irresistible.” He tried to kiss her, but Cassy got her hand up and parried the move.
“Wait a sec,” she laughed. “I’ve got chili all over my face.”
“All the more spice,” Beau joked.
Cassy wiped her face with her napkin. “What’s gotten into you?”
Beau didn’t answer. Instead he gave Cassy a long, wonderful kiss. Just like in the shower, the impulsiveness of the gesture was another distinct turn-on for her.
“Wow, you are transmogrifying into a world-class Casanova,” Cassy said as she sat back, took a breath, and tried to collect herself. The fact that she could be turned on so easily in public in the middle of the day surprised her.
Beau happily went back to his hot dog. As he chewed he raised his hand to block out the sun while he looked in the sun’s direction.
“How far did they say Earth is from the sun?” he asked.
“Jeez, I don’t know,” Cassy said. Having experienced the stirring of desire, it was hard to change the subject, especially to
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