Page 166 of Sting
“How did you get past the guard in the lobby?” she asked.
“I’m a fed, remember?”
“Oh, right. You’re carrying an ID now?”
“No. I just got past the guard in the lobby.”
Naturally he had. She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. She motioned toward his left side. “How is it?”
“Good. Only pinches every now and then.”
She took a swift breath. “I’m so sorry for that.”
“I had it coming.” His eyes were as incisive as ever as they scaled down her and remained. “First time I’ve ever seen you in a skirt.”
“Shaw?”
“Damn. Those legs.”
“Shaw?”
“Hmm?” His eyes tracked back up to hers.
“I…I…” She stopped, then said on a gust of air, “I’m surprised to see you.”
“Your sign is gone.”
“What?”
“The one on the freeway. Extravaganza. Glitter letters. Fireworks. I came down to get some work done on the cherub. As I was driving in from the airport, I noticed your sign had been replaced by one with a bucket of fried chicken.”
“The billboard rental came up for renewal. I declined because the advertising budget is no longer up to me. My former employees pooled their resources and bought me out.”
“You sold your house, too.”
“Joe Wiley told you?”
“I called him from the car. He said y’all have been tying up all the loose ends.”
“I think—hope—that my part in the Panella-Bennett case will soon be over. But for a while yet I may be needed to verify this or that.”
“Wiley said Hickam’s able to put in half days now.”
“He’s thinner.”
“His happy tailor will get backlogged.”
She smiled. “Hickam does credit you with saving his life.”
“He’d’ve done the same for me.” He paused, then said, “So you’re leaving?”
“After everything…” She made a small gesture with her hands. “I have to make a change. Start fresh.”
“I get that.” He looked around the empty office before coming back to her. “Where are you going?”
“I haven’t decided.” Then she blurted, “You had work done on the cherub?”
“Oh. Yeah. It would’ve been cheaper to buy another one. But Mom put her there, and she loved the thing, so I had the missing arm replaced. Also had a landscaping service come in and clean up the courtyard, paint the staircase. It looks almost respectable.”
