The Advocate - 02 - The Advocate's Betrayal (15 page)

“You?” He looked at her curiously, emphasizing the word “you.” “You had a food fight?”

“Yeah, it’s a pretty crazy place. The table next to us started it, but we joined right in. We were there for Bob’s birthday and almost everyone had had too much to drink. Marilee, Bob’s wife, got hit in the back of the head with a French fry, and she turned around and slung a spoonful of cole slaw at their table. The food really started to fly after that. I was a designated driver, so I didn’t have an excuse for acting like the drunks, but I got caught up in it just the same.”

“You amaze me. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a food fight…certainly not in a restaurant…and not since I was maybe ten…no, not even then. I flicked a spoon full of ice cream at my cousin once at the dinner table. I thought my dad was going to kill me. He said I couldn’t have ice cream for a month, so I gave it up for Lent and figured I’d kill two birds with one stone.”

“So, you do have a wild streak?”

“I was ten.”

“We’ll have to go to Dick’s sometime when you feel like letting your hair down.”

“Maybe…or not.” He drove on Market until it ended, then turned right past Kansas City Barbecue.

“That’s where they filmed
Top Gun
.”

“I love that movie, but I’ve never been to that restaurant. You’ll have to take me there sometime.” Luke signaled a left turn.

“Seaport Village? This is one of my favorite spots in San Diego!”

“I know.” He smiled. He looked content in his choice.

They parked the car and walked up the hill to The Harbor House, a restaurant in Seaport Village. The maitre d’ seated them at a table next to the window with a view of the water. “Is this okay?” Luke asked.

“It’s perfect.” Sabre looked out at the beautiful Pacific. An elderly couple walked by on the boardwalk holding hands. She wondered if they had been together for a lifetime. A caricature artist sat on the grass drawing a picture of a young girl with knee-length hair. Next to him stood a clown making balloon animals. He handed a little boy a balloon giraffe almost as big as the boy.

Luke reached across the table and picked up Sabre’s hand, lacing his fingers through hers. “I want you to tell me about your day, and then let’s set work aside for the rest of the evening and just enjoy each other.”

“Deal. You go first. How was your day?”

“Uneventful, mostly. I have a company I work with in Dallas that’s having some program glitches. So far I’ve been able to deal with it from here, but I may have to go there for a few days if I can’t get it all solved.”

“Does that happen often, where you have to go onsite to fix something?”

“Actually, it does. I’ve been lucky the past few months in not having to go anywhere. I generally average at least one trip a month.” Sabre was pleased Luke was sharing more of himself with her.

“How long are you usually gone?”

Before he could answer, the waiter came to their table and Luke placed the order for both of them. “That’s what you wanted, right?” He said to Sabre.

“Exactly, special requests and all.”

“The length of the trips depends on a lot of things. Most of the time it’s only for a day or two, but it may be as much as a week or so. I think the longest was about three weeks, but that was a real mess.” He reached across the table and caressed her hand. “How’s Betty doing?”

“Not ready to run a marathon yet, but she’s doing much better. They took her tube out and she was able to talk to me for a bit.”

“But?” Luke looked at Sabre with compassion. “Something else is bothering you. What is it?”

Sabre wrinkled her forehead. “Do you think Betty could’ve killed John?”

Luke’s head snapped up. “Sabre, what is it? Why would you ask that?”

Sabre shook her head from side to side and shrugged her shoulders. “It’s just that the investigation is turning up some unusual stuff. I can’t really talk about the details. I’m just wondering what your gut feeling is?”

“No. My gut says ‘no’. You certainly know her better than I do, but I don’t think she has it in her. She’s just a sweet, old woman…spunky, but not mean or malicious. No, I don’t think so.” Luke paused. “Have you found evidence that she murdered him?”

Sabre shook her head. “No, nothing like that. Just some things in her background that don’t add up.”

“Hey, we all have stuff in our past we’re not proud of.”

“Yeah. What do you have in your past besides flicking ice cream at your cousin?” The waiter brought them warm brie and a basket of bread.

Luke waited until the man turned away from their table and then said, “I stole a microscope from a science lab in high school on a dare.”

“Well, lock you up and throw away the key.”

“The stupid part is I got caught returning it.”

Sabre laughed. “You’re right; that wasn’t too smart.”

“Look, sweetie, I know you’re used to using your mind on your cases, but this is Betty. You know her. Maybe you have to go with your heart on this one. I think it’ll make your job easier.”

“You’re right.”

The waiter returned with a tossed salad for Luke and a California spinach salad with avocado, berries, and toasted sunflower seeds for Sabre. She dug right in.

“So, enough about work?”

“Yeah, just you and me now. Tell me, is there anything else in your past I should know about? Any other heinous crimes you’ve committed? Now is the time to unburden yourself.” Sabre snickered.

“Nothing I’m ashamed of. I went to Catholic schools all my life, so the guilt was instilled in me. I’d be haunted if I did anything the church didn’t approve of.”

“So, you were a little angel in school?”

“I wouldn’t go that far. I never smoked or did the drug scene. I got drunk at my senior prom, but I didn’t drive. I got good grades. I played a lot of sports; that kept me focused and out of trouble. How about you?”

Sabre thought back to a simpler time. “I never did anything really awful, but I could never seem to make it home on time. My brother, Ron, used to drag me off the dance floor at parties to make curfew. He was the mischievous one, always doing something he shouldn’t, but he never seemed to get caught. He used to tell me not to bring attention to myself with the small stuff, like curfew.” Sabre leaned back in her chair as a passing busboy reached across the table and whisked away their empty salad plates. “My parents always thought I was the troublemaker because I spent so much time grounded for silly things. Ron never seemed to get grounded. I guess he was a smarter delinquent than I was.”

Their waiter appeared with a plate of mixed, grilled seafood for Sabre and cioppino for Luke.

“Wow, that looks good. What’s in it?”

“It has fish, shrimp, mussels, clams, and scallops. It also has tomato, wine, and olive oil. We call it an Italian fisherman’s stew. Some places serve it in a bowl; here they put it over linguini. Want a taste?”

“Sure.”

Luke picked up his fork and cut off a portion of his stew for Sabre. She leaned over the table and he fed her the bite. A noodle hung down the side of her mouth. She slurped it in and Luke laughed. “Done like a true Italian.”

The cartoonist and the clown with the balloons were still doing a good trade as Sabre and Luke reached the boardwalk after dinner. They strolled along the water, stopping to breathe in the cool ocean air, and snuggling and kissing at every opportunity. Sabre breathed deeply when they passed Upstart Crow, taking in the sweet aroma of the coffee. They stopped for a few moments to watch the ducks swim under the little bridge, and then they meandered through the unique shops that made the area so appealing to tourists. Stopping at the hat shop, they tried on a few hats and laughed at the sight of Luke in a bright pink stovepipe.

They reached the middle of the village just as a juggler was about to start his show. They took a seat on the rock wall. A crowd gathered—old people, young people, some sitting, most standing. The juggler started talking as he warmed up, encouraging the people to form a circle. “Come up a little closer.” A few moved; most stood still. “Just move your feet and your body will follow,” he said. The crowd lingered, bringing more people together around him until he was completely surrounded. The juggler talked as he threw his balls in the air, making jokes. Everyone laughed. He threw three balls up in the air, first in a column pattern, then in a shower, and finally in the traditional cascade. The crowd cheered as he added additional balls to the shower and the cascade, first four, and then five. They applauded. When he reached six balls, his hands moved so fast they left a blur. The group cheered even when he dropped one. “Part of the act,” he said, and then picked up four juggling pins and started again. The noise stopped as the crowd watched him take out three machetes and toss them in the air, “Don’t try this at home,” he said, as he tossed the machete under his leg. He lit three torches and juggled them. A man started to walk away. “Hey,” he yelled at him, “where are you going?”

“Uh, home….”

“I didn’t leave when you came,” the juggler chided and the crowd clapped.

The juggler continued with his performance. Just before the end of the show, he placed a top hat on the ground for tips. Luke walked up and put a twenty dollar bill in his hat. Sabre smiled, impressed with his generosity.

“I’d like a cup of coffee. You interested?” Luke asked.

“Yeah, and my favorite coffee shop slash bookstore is here at Seaport.” They walked around the corner past The Hat Shop and The Christmas Store to Upstart Crow. “I even love the name of this place,” Sabre said as they walked in. It smelled of brewed coffee, cinnamon, chocolate, and newly bound books. “Yumm….”

They ordered their coffee and took a seat at a table for two in a corner. This was Sabre’s favorite part of a relationship. The part where you’re comfortable enough to speak freely, loving enough to touch a lot, yet new enough to still have some mystery.

After coffee, they took another stroll to the end of the boardwalk and then to the carousel. “Want to ride?” Luke asked.

“Love to.”

Luke took her hand and led her past a horse-drawn chariot, a dragon, several horses, and a teddy bear. He stopped at a beautiful dark stallion with its head high in the air and its mane blowing in the wind. He made sure she was seated and then mounted his gray mare next to her. The music box began, the horses moved up and down, and around and around they went. Sabre felt so free and childlike. There was nothing quite like a carousel ride. She looked to her left, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Luke staring at her with what appeared to be admiration. She turned toward him and looked him directly in the eye. Up she went. He reached his hand out and touched the side of her face, taking hold of her chin and keeping her face directed at him. Down she went. When they met in the middle he spoke softly, “I’ve fallen in love with you, Sabre Brown.”

Sabre was unsure for a moment what he had said, startled by the words. Her stomach churned with emotion, a mixture of happiness and fear. She sat there looking at him, unable to speak. The horses slowed down and then came to a stop. Luke’s horse was a little higher than hers. He leaned down and gave her a deep, lingering kiss. When their lips separated, Sabre opened her mouth to speak. Luke put his finger over her mouth, “Shh…you don’t need to say anything. Just know I love you.”

17

Sabre woke with a headache from lack of sleep. She had been restless ever since Luke brought her home. She was glad Luke went home to pack for his trip and didn’t stay the night. Sabre couldn’t decide which bothered her most—the news about Betty, or Luke professing his love for her. She turned over on her side. Her stomach felt queasy.

She stepped out of bed and dashed to the bathroom, flung up the toilet seat, and plopped herself down on the floor. She leaned her head over the toilet, and her stomach convulsed until she threw chunks into the bowl. She sat on the floor until she was certain she had finished. Then she stood up with determination and walked to the sink where she aggressively brushed her teeth and washed her face.

Sabre felt better after she had taken her shower, but her mind still raced. Luke was gone, Betty might be guilty of killing John, the Kemp children were probably going home to learn more hatred, and she had to get to court.

Bob greeted her when she walked in. “You look like hell. What happened to you?”

“I love you, too,” Sabre replied.

“No, I mean you look really tired. Didn’t you get any sleep?”

“Not much.”

They walked toward Department Four. Bob put his arm around Sabre’s shoulder. “What’s the matter, snookums?”

“Betty’s been lying to me, I don’t know who she is; John is Jim; Luke says he loves me; Betty may be a murderer….”

“Whoa. What was that?”

“I said, ‘Betty may be a murderer.’”

Bob stopped. He grabbed Sabre’s arm and stopped her, turning her around to face him. “No, the part before that, about Luke.”

“Oh, that.” Sabre shrugged. “Luke told me he loved me last night.”

“So? What?” Bob raised his right hand, palm up. “You don’t believe him?”

“No…I mean, yes…I guess I believe him.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“I don’t know what to do with that information.”

“What do you mean? You don’t know what to do with it? Do you love him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t know.”

“Sabre, stop it. You’re acting like a girl.”

“Bob.” She paused and looked at him with her head cocked to the side, rolling her eyes. “I
am
a girl.”

“I know, but you don’t usually act like one.”

“Is that supposed to be some kind of back-handed compliment?” Sabre took a step forward and then stopped. “Because it sounds like an insult to me.”

“You know what I mean. You always look at everything so logically. You can detect a problem, organize the facts, figure out an answer, and solve it before most people know what the problem is.”

“Thanks, honey. But it sounds to me like you just described a woman. Besides that only works in my professional life. In my personal life, I suck.” Sabre started to walk again. Bob followed. “Anyway, enough about me. We need to figure out what to do about Betty.”