Ring of Truth (32 page)

“It's me,” the shadow whispered.

Tara dared a glance his way. “Eddie! You gave me a total scare.”

“What are you doing out alone so late, Tara?”

“Looking for you.”

“Here I am.” He had traded his daytime hat for a dark wool cap.

She glanced over her shoulder, but no one seemed to be following them. “Listen, I have to tell you something.”

“You broke up with Justin?”

“Justin? No. Justin and I are actually engaged, sort of.”

“But he's in Sweden.”

“We Skyped.”

Eddie halted under a streetlight. “I'm not buying it.”

“I've got a ring and everything.” She wanted him to keep moving in case the security person was following, but Eddie didn't budge.

“How did he give you a ring over Skype?”

“Well... he...”

“Let me see this ring.”

Tara held out her hand. Eddie's hand was cold and rough, but the little green heart flashed as bright as a traffic light at the contact. She caught her breath, waiting for it to speak.
Nothing.
When she looked up, Eddie shook his head.

“Not buying it. This ring is something else.” He tapped the green stone with his finger. The next moment he turned his face into his sleeve and doubled over in a cough.

 “Listen, I don't want to talk about the ring or Justin. I came to warn you. There was an incident outside the hotel today, and there's one hostile hotel security person camped out in your alley.”

“Yeah, I spotted him. The guy goes heavy on the Old Spice. You need to get a cab home.”

“Have you found another place?”

“Not a problem.” The words ended in another burst of coughing.

Tara waited a minute while Eddie controlled the cough. She would bring him cough syrup in the morning.

“Can I use your phone to text Jack? He'll help me out.”

Tara fished her phone out of her bag, relieved that Eddie could call his friend. He needed to get inside for the night. The phone lit up his face as he tapped in a number and a brief message. He looked ghastly. He handed the phone back, saying, “Thanks. That'll do the trick.”

She pressed two cough drops into his palm, and his fingers curled around them.

“Where will I find you in the morning? You need some cough syrup.”

“Never touch the stuff. Just roll with the punches, Tara girl.”

***

Tara took a cab home from the Belmont to the back unit of her grandmother's house. The front unit with its view over the waterfront tourist attractions and the bay was leased to a couple from France, friends of her mother's who brought French paintings to San Francisco to sell. Sometimes her mother came, too, not often. As her mother pointed out, the point of sending Tara to the French school was precisely so that she could visit her mother in France.

Technically, her grandmother's property now belonged to her dad, but he was not interested in leaving southern California, so Tara managed the place and lived in the back unit. The front unit might be the more spectacular of the two, but for a single woman in the city, Tara could not complain. Her living room had a window seat that framed a view of trees and sky. Sometimes the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill swooped in and set up their chatter in those trees.

She dropped her bag on the window seat where Bingo Bear leaned against the pillows. She picked him up and held him in her lap as she sat looking out at the fog. She had forgiven him long ago for not living up to her expectations. It had not been Bingo's fault that she had imagined him capable of a kind of friendship he could not provide. She had learned to manage her expectations a lot better now. Bingo reminded her why Justin was perfect for her—no expectations, no disappointments.

Today she had lost her job. She had not realized it until now, but she had turned out to be like her parents after all. Love and friendship and loyalty were great ideals, but a job well done was life's real satisfaction. Since her break up with Daniel, she had chosen work over marriage.

The thing was that one didn't really choose knowing all the options. Life wasn't like shopping or signing up for courses or ordering from a menu with all the choices in front of you. It was more like stepping from stone to stone in a rushing stream, concentrating on each precarious step, and discovering later that you had crossed from one side to the other. In her case the side she was on was the Belmont side, the career side. It was still a good side, better than the side she'd been on when she'd lived with Daniel.

If she'd had a setback today in one job, she'd get another one and carry on. She was good at what she did. She glanced at her ring. In the dim light on the window seat it seemed to have lost its glow. She shook her hand, but the color did not revive. Maybe she had misunderstood the directions in the little box. She took it out of her bag and put it on her window ledge, but she didn't open it.

She got up and tucked Bingo back in among the pillows.
No point in moping
, her grandmother would say.
Roll with the punches,
Eddie would say. Both were right. Be resilient, bounce back. It was only when she went to charge her phone that she realized why she wasn't moping. In fact, she was humming. She had chosen Eddie over her job, and it felt right.

Maybe that was what the ring meant to say when it sounded like Eddie. She glanced at it again, and the thing flashed with the surprising brightness of the moment under the streetlight with Eddie. What had he said?
That'll do the trick.
She saw the moment again clearly. He had been handing her the phone, not pocketing the cough drops. She checked her message queue, and there was Eddie's message—
Jack, now you've got her number, and she's got yours.

Through the Friday morning fog Tara spotted another concrete-faced hotel security guard lurking at the entrance to Eddie's alley. She kept walking through the mist. She told herself that Eddie was okay, but she had her doubts. She could see the headline:
Hotel Security Guard Shoots Homeless Vet
.

She offered Eddie's coffee and socks to the next homeless man she passed, who swore at her that he didn't need her stinking charity. She wished him good day and kept going. The more she thought about it, the more it worried her that Eddie hadn't used her phone to ask for his friend's help at all. Two cough drops were not going to fix that cold, and instead of seeking help, Eddie had set her up with his friend when she showed him her “engagement” ring. The ring was certainly changing her life, but it wasn't exactly like winning the lottery or getting a Publishers' Clearinghouse check for life. She tried not even to think of the “D” word, but she felt the day might be headed straight for disaster.

As soon as she reached her desk, the requests started coming. Even though it was low season, the Belmont was at nearly full occupancy. She helped two couples from the bridal party rent bikes and found the right tux in the right size for a six-four groomsman who had left his on a plane. Next she arranged for a departing guest to ship boxes of See's candy to everyone who helped care for her husband who had been hospitalized during their stay. As she made call after call, she was tempted to text the number Eddie had planted in her phone. Just to see whether Eddie and the mysterious Jack had connected.

As the morning passed, she also grew conscious of a lingering unease over Daniel's vision of the proposal moment. He wanted perfection, but he didn't seem to know anything about Nicola's tastes and preferences. The time on her phone told her the flower mart was long closed, so the florist would be committed to red roses, but now the color seemed all wrong to her.

***

Jack had a full day of patient appointments. He had no time for Eddie's games, and the text he'd received after midnight seemed like a game, a dare, the kind of taunt that fearless older Eddie had often tossed at Jack's younger self. He ignored it for most of the morning. People with real problems needed his attention. But the text kept popping into his mind.

Eddie had sent it from the girl's phone. Most nights, Jack was pretty sure, Eddie tucked himself away in a secure place by midnight. He had learned the lesson of that past beating well. Darkness made the homeless invisible to respectable citizens, but not to thugs who preyed on them. Jack wanted to think that Eddie had done the sensible thing and checked into a shelter, but he knew better. Eddie would stubbornly insist on his independence no matter the cost. Jack could not imagine the girl giving Eddie a place to stay. She might bring him coffee and socks, but she had a job at the upscale Belmont Hotel, and no high-end concierge would encourage a guy like Eddie to come near the guests.

By the time these thoughts had become a familiar refrain in his head, Jack had memorized the girl's number. All morning he held off calling, but when he didn't find Eddie in any of the usual places at lunch, he decided to try the number stuck in his brain.

***

Nicola Solari did look like Scarlett Johansson, sort of. She had Disney princess golden hair, pansy brown eyes, and a knockout figure. It took Tara less than a minute to realize why Daniel's red rose theme was all wrong. Nicola's favorite color was yellow, her fragrance was Chanel No. 5, and she liked bees. Tara glanced at Daniel. If he was oblivious of his beloved's tastes, it was not because she hid them.

Nicola wore a chrome yellow sleeveless bandage dress tighter than a mummy's wrapping that emphasized her curves. A gold honeycomb bracelet encircled one wrist, and an amber bee with golden wings dangled from a chain around her neck. The bee theme did not stop there, and Tara doubted that Nicola's bag could hold both a credit card and a postage stamp.
Where did she keep her phone?
Nicola might have an eleven-year-old fashion sensibility, but supported by an income in the one percent range, on her it looked terrific.

Tara had to admit that Daniel looked good, too. He had the right haircut for his longish face, a bit of masculine ruggedness in his facial hair, and the perfect green silk V-neck sweater for his hazel eyes and toned abs. It all looked a little calculated, but there was no question that Daniel looked good.

Clinging to Daniel's arm, Nicola looked around the hotel lobby and declared it, “Magic, just magic.”

“You just wait, baby,” Daniel promised. “It's going to be a perfect weekend.”

Scratch the red roses
. Tara had a true concierge challenge on her hands if Daniel's Tower Room proposal scene was going to wow his girlfriend.

While Arturo greeted them and Noah hovered at Nicola's side to organize their luggage, underlings loaded garment bags and suitcases onto a cart. As soon as the couple stepped over to the registration desk, Tara texted Hadley to have housekeeping change the duvet and pillows in their suite to pale gold. She called her florist to see what could be done to change the flowers for the proposal scene, and alerted Josephine in the kitchen that their most important guest was a big fan of yellow and of bees.

She thought she managed the encounter quite well. Daniel and Nicola might look photo-shoot perfect, but Tara didn't feel as bad as she'd expected to feel. After all, she had Justin.

While Arturo escorted Nicola up to their suite, Daniel took Tara aside. Her phone buzzed in her hand, and she glanced at the text on her screen.
Jack, here. Do you know where Eddie is?

Daniel closed his hand over her phone. Nothing a guest did was supposed to shock her, but her immediate thought was decidedly un-concierge-like. She put her phone away with a smile, resisting the impulse to say what she thought. “Yes?”

“So, here's the plan, Keegan. We've got this afternoon to see some of the city and get some things done. Then tomorrow Nicola is competing for a spot on the runway in that big charity fashion show. She'll get her spot no problem, but that's your opportunity. While she's at the Fairmont, you can get everything set up here.”

“Thanks, Daniel, we'll handle it. It's what we do.” Her phone buzzed again. This time she ignored it.

“Did you get that Goorin Bros. appointment for me?”

“I did.”

“Great.” Daniel took off.

Her phone buzzed a third time, and Tara sent a quick text.
Don't know. Busy right now.

From her desk, in between helping other guests, Tara checked with the florist, musicians, housekeeping, and the kitchen. She listened to a torrent of abuse from the florist about the impossibility of changing flowers eight hours after the flower mart closed, until she reminded him that it was Nicola Solari for whom he was rethinking his plans and calling in favors.

“Safeway,” she told him. “Great roses.” And hung up on his further pungent commentary.

Josephine, the consummate professional in the Belmont kitchen, simply called back with a new menu that included a pale yellow chardonnay, savory corn cakes, and chocolate cups with yellow sugar blooms and candied bees.

You're the best,
Tara texted.

Am I?
came a return text, and Tara realized she'd accidentally replied to Eddie's Jack person.
Still busy
, she texted.

She waved to Daniel as he left for his hat appointment and sent Hadley off at Nicola's request to help with the dress decision she was making. Still Jack's texts kept coming.

How busy?

Can't find Eddie in the usual places.

 Hello. Where did you see him last?

She texted her persistent caller to try her at three and blocked the contact. One thing at a time. First fix Nicola's dream proposal scene, then think about Eddie. She was making headway at last with the florist when Daniel returned sporting a new fedora, winked at her, and went upstairs.

In five minutes he was back, hatless and distraught. “We have a problem. Your friend Hadley told Nicola that you are one of my exes.”

“Does it matter?”
You have a problem
.

“Yes. It does. She needs to know that you are no competition for her.”

“Really? Daniel, I'm sure you've explained that I'm no threat to her.”

He paced in front of her desk, disarranging his perfect hair. Guests in the lobby looked their way, and she encouraged him to step into the area behind her desk so that she could shield their conversation from public notice. Behind her George talked with a male guest, and she sensed that the man wanted her attention. She told herself to be patient. One guest at a time, and Daniel was a guest.

“Daniel, you can tell her that I'm... engaged to someone else. Look, a ring.” She waved her hand under his nose.

His monologue stopped abruptly. “Hey, wait a minute. So you are engaged now?”

Tara nodded. “Just yesterday. To my longtime significant other, Justin Wright.” She extended her ring hand to show him the ring.
Okay, pay back was a little satisfying.

His gaze flicked to the ring and glanced away unmoved. “Justin Wright? I've never heard of him. What does this guy do?”

“Daniel, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you can tell Nicola that you and I are over.”

“Right. Right. But maybe I should meet this guy. No, I know. I've got it. Nicola has to see you with this Wright guy. When she sees you all tight with him, she'll relax.”

“Daniel, as much as I would like to accommodate you in this matter, I really can't. Nicola will be occupied all day tomorrow; the hotel will have everything ready for your big moment; and you'll have to take it from there.”

“Keegan, you don't get it. I've worked too hard to nail this thing. I'm not going to have the deal blown now.”

Tara wondered whether Nicola knew that she was a
deal
that had to be
nailed
. “You could try a different hotel. That would show her that she's first in your affections.”

He shook his head. “We have to have that view. That view is...” he struggled for a word...

“Magic?”

He nodded. “Seriously, call this guy, text him.”

“She already has.” The deep, slightly familiar voice came from behind her.

Tara and Daniel turned. And once again Tara tried to keep from gaping. The voice belonged to the tall stranger named Jack with the steady blue eyes. He stuck out his hand toward Daniel and looked to Tara for help. “Hi, hon, got your text.”

“My text?”
Hon? He was that Jack? Eddie's Jack?

“Texts, actually. I came as soon as I could. I know you wanted to see me.” His look told her to play along.

 “Right. Sorry. Let me introduce you.” She stepped up beside him, hoping he knew what he was doing. “This is...”

“Justin, Tara's fiancé.”

Oh, he was smooth and gorgeous. And she had to be grateful. Daniel was definitely more impressed by Jack than by the ring.

The two men shook hands in that measuring way that men had of sizing up a competitor or a rival. She could see Daniel's mental process in his eyes. He didn't like being replaced by a tall good-looking man, but a tall good-looking man would convince Nicola. Jack merely looked amused.

“Justin Wright, Daniel Lynch.” Tara finished. The stranger drew her into a hug against his side. She felt his height, his very solid person, and his strength. She had not made Justin quite so tall or such a good hugger. She had to admit that a fake boyfriend definitely lacked in the hug department.

“Great,” said Daniel. He plainly did not like looking up to
Justin
. “Do you two have plans?”

“Well,” the stranger looked at Tara. “We have something to do when Tara gets off, and then we're going...” Tara waited to hear what he would say. Daniel was paying close attention. Jack would not say that they were going to search for a lost homeless man. “... kayaking.”

Tara could not have heard him right. She turned, and he put his fingers under her chin and tilted her face up to his, smiling down at her, slightly amused, as if he had not just suggested that they were going to take to the bay's treacherous waters in the equivalent of a nautical endive canapé, a vessel so small it would be no more than a floating emery board to passing tankers and cargo ships. The bay had bigger sharks and sea lions.

Daniel frowned. “Just hang on a few minutes, will you? You've got to meet Nicola.”

The stranger winked at Tara and looked at his watch. “Gotta run. We've got only about an hour of daylight left.”

Daniel was thinking, hesitating. “Huh, kayaking. I don't think that's Nicola's thing.”

“It's a two-man boat.” The stranger's voice made the non-invitation plain.

“Right. Let me just get Nicola.”

Daniel dashed for the elevator, and Tara stepped out of the stranger's hold, and immediately missed it. “Kayaking?”

“You don't want him to come with us, do you?”

“Us?”

“While we look for Eddie.” He seemed to feel that she understood the plan.

Oh, they were not actually kayaking
. “You're Eddie's Jack?”

“Yes. Hello.” He shook her hand. “At the moment, I'm your Justin. You seemed to be in need of Justin. And he's away, according to Eddie.”

“Right, but...”

“Any idea where Eddie is?”

“None.” She was worried about him, but she was also worried that Jennifer or Hadley would show up any minute and recognize this man as the man she'd bumped into the night before.

“He could be playing a game with us, but...”

Another guest appeared at her desk, and Tara helped him with theater tickets and dinner reservations while Jack watched. Her brain kept thinking about Hadley with Nicola. If Daniel explained that he wanted Nicola to meet Justin in the lobby, Hadley would find a way to get downstairs.