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Authors: Kathy Clark
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broadly. “Okay, I’ll see you then.”
My cell phone rang just a couple minutes before six. I didn’t recognize the number and was glad to hear Jenny’s voice telling me she was outside. Everyone else had already left, and the empty building was a little creepy as I turned off my office light, walked down the hall and through the reception area. I was all the way outside before I remembered to go back in and set the alarm.
As I crossed to her Honda, Jenny leaned across the front seat and unlocked the door. I slid in.
“ This model doesn’t have electric locks?”
“ The model does, but this car doesn’t. Up until a couple years ago, they worked fine, but when they broke, I opted for an oil change at 50,000 miles instead. Besides, it’s like a Yoga stretching exercise…keeps me limber.”
Jenny checked her mirror, then backed out at speed higher than I would have guessed her car could obtain going forward. After a fast check in her driver’s side mirror, she zipped out onto the main road.
“ You’re missing a passenger side mirror,” I pointed out.
“ It’s more of a challenge with only two.” She stopped at a red light. “Any restaurant preferences?”
“How about Earl’s Steakhouse? I could call for reservations.”
“I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard it’s good.”
“Great food, great service. I’ve only been there once, so I have no idea where it is. I don’t know my way around Austin yet. In Vegas there’s the Strip and Freemont Street and couple of cross streets…life’s simple there. Ever been?”
“No pe. Never had the time, money or, I guess, interest.”
“ The shows are amazing. They have like eight or nine Cirque Du Soleil shows and dozens of major entertainers…so big, they only have one name.”
“Like Cher? I wouldn’t mind seeing her.”
“Yeah, and Celine and Shania. And there are killer dance clubs and, of course, some of the world’s best magic shows.”
“Do you miss it?” She glanced over at me.
“Yes, I guess. I’ve lived there for almost five years, and I’d forgotten what the real world is like. Everything’s smoke and mirrors there.”
“Are you planning on going back?”
I considered her question for a moment. “Honestly…I don’t know. I still have my apartment there. When I accepted Harlan’s offer to come to Austin, I had no idea that I was going to become a part of a family and a business…and a murder investigation. Here, it’s life and death, not trap doors and fake curtains. Austin is real and crawling with energy and talent. It kind of makes Vegas look phony and cheap.”
She zipped around corners like a pro. I forced myself not to grab the dashboard. I didn’t want her to see that her driving made me nervous. I was jus t glad her Honda was so old, that it didn’t operate at full capacity. In a new car, she would be terrifying.
As I worked with Dallas and Killeen all afternoon, I had made a mental list of all the things we might talk about during the drive to the restaurant. Not only did her driving distract me, but the drive itself was really short. She arrived at Earl’s Steakhouse in record time.
“I’d rather park and walk than valet my car,” she told me. “I don’t want them to make fun of her next to all the Beemers and Mercedes.”
“I’m okay with a walk.”
The evening was warm so after we parked in a nearby lot, we took our time strolling down the sidewalk and to the front door. Paul was standing at the host stand conferring with the hostess. As soon as he saw us, he rushed forward. He reached his hand out, then quickly transitioned into a one-armed semi-embrace that lasted barely less than the unhealthy two second limit and was accompanied by a firm slap on my back. “It is so good to see you again, Reno. I’m glad you finally found someone in Austin you aren’t related to.” He laughed out loud at
My cell phone rang just a couple minutes before six. I didn’t recognize the number and was glad to hear Jenny’s voice telling me she was outside. Everyone else had already left, and the empty building was a little creepy as I turned off my office light, walked down the hall and through the reception area. I was all the way outside before I remembered to go back in and set the alarm.
As I crossed to her Honda, Jenny leaned across the front seat and unlocked the door. I slid in.
“ This model doesn’t have electric locks?”
“ The model does, but this car doesn’t. Up until a couple years ago, they worked fine, but when they broke, I opted for an oil change at 50,000 miles instead. Besides, it’s like a Yoga stretching exercise…keeps me limber.”
Jenny checked her mirror, then backed out at speed higher than I would have guessed her car could obtain going forward. After a fast check in her driver’s side mirror, she zipped out onto the main road.
“ You’re missing a passenger side mirror,” I pointed out.
“ It’s more of a challenge with only two.” She stopped at a red light. “Any restaurant preferences?”
“How about Earl’s Steakhouse? I could call for reservations.”
“I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard it’s good.”
“Great food, great service. I’ve only been there once, so I have no idea where it is. I don’t know my way around Austin yet. In Vegas there’s the Strip and Freemont Street and couple of cross streets…life’s simple there. Ever been?”
“No pe. Never had the time, money or, I guess, interest.”
“ The shows are amazing. They have like eight or nine Cirque Du Soleil shows and dozens of major entertainers…so big, they only have one name.”
“Like Cher? I wouldn’t mind seeing her.”
“Yeah, and Celine and Shania. And there are killer dance clubs and, of course, some of the world’s best magic shows.”
“Do you miss it?” She glanced over at me.
“Yes, I guess. I’ve lived there for almost five years, and I’d forgotten what the real world is like. Everything’s smoke and mirrors there.”
“Are you planning on going back?”
I considered her question for a moment. “Honestly…I don’t know. I still have my apartment there. When I accepted Harlan’s offer to come to Austin, I had no idea that I was going to become a part of a family and a business…and a murder investigation. Here, it’s life and death, not trap doors and fake curtains. Austin is real and crawling with energy and talent. It kind of makes Vegas look phony and cheap.”
She zipped around corners like a pro. I forced myself not to grab the dashboard. I didn’t want her to see that her driving made me nervous. I was jus t glad her Honda was so old, that it didn’t operate at full capacity. In a new car, she would be terrifying.
As I worked with Dallas and Killeen all afternoon, I had made a mental list of all the things we might talk about during the drive to the restaurant. Not only did her driving distract me, but the drive itself was really short. She arrived at Earl’s Steakhouse in record time.
“I’d rather park and walk than valet my car,” she told me. “I don’t want them to make fun of her next to all the Beemers and Mercedes.”
“I’m okay with a walk.”
The evening was warm so after we parked in a nearby lot, we took our time strolling down the sidewalk and to the front door. Paul was standing at the host stand conferring with the hostess. As soon as he saw us, he rushed forward. He reached his hand out, then quickly transitioned into a one-armed semi-embrace that lasted barely less than the unhealthy two second limit and was accompanied by a firm slap on my back. “It is so good to see you again, Reno. I’m glad you finally found someone in Austin you aren’t related to.” He laughed out loud at
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