Mysterious Couples Killer

Chapter 14

We went down to Roma’s, one of those stucco-on-stucco, high-ceilinged, Euro-style coffee joints, across the street fro the Hall. I prefer Peet’s but Roma’s is closer.

I ordered a tea, and Gebriel came back with some fancy mocha latte and slice of fresh pumpkin bread that he put in front of me.

“You ever wonder how these places make any money?” He asked.

“There’s one on every corner. They all serve the same thing, and the average sale’s gotta be, what... two dollars and thirty-five cents?”

This isn’t a date, Gebriel,” I snapped.” Let’s go through the list.”

“Maybe closer to three or three-fifty. Lucky if the places gross four hundred,”

“Gebriel, please,” I said, losing patience.

He pushed the envelope towards me.

I opened it fanned out eight or nine pages of names and addresses bearing Don Harry’s office crest. I recognized some of the guests on the groom’s side immediately. Bert Rosen, former secretary of the treasury of the United satiated. Summer smith, some billionaire who had made money in the eighties through big-time LBO. Chip stein, of E-flic, Spielberg’s buddy; maggi sontero, the hot SoHo designer from New York. Lots of bugs names and trouble.

On the bride’s side, there were prominent names from San Francisco area. Mayor Fernandez for me. Arthur Abrams, the prominent local attorney. I had gone up against the firm once or twice in the witness box, testifying in the homicide cases. Willie Putin, superintendent of public schools.

Gebriel pulled his seat over to me. Side by side we scanned the rest of the list. Columns of impressive-sounding couples with Doctor of Honorable in front of their names.

It was a long unrevealing, seeming impenetrable list.

I don’t know what I expected- just something to jump out at me. Some flashing name resonating with a culpability even the families didn’t recognize.

Gebriel let out a worried breath.” This list is scary. You take fifty, I will take fifty, and we will give the balance to Isaiah. We will all meet back here in two weeks and see what we have got.”

The prospect of hammering away at these people-each one horrified and indignant at the prospect of why we were looking into them— didn’t fill me with joy or high hopes.

“You think Mayor Alexandar might be a s*x killer?” I muttered.” I do.

What came out of me next was a complete surprise.” So you said we were married?”

If we were going to be thrown together, we might as well get it out. And the truth was I was curious.

Gebriel nodded after a short pause. I thought I saw pain in his eyes.” I’m sorry. Let’s stop the Q and A.”

It’s okay. Things happen. Suddenly, it seemed we were just traveling in different circles. To be more precise, Esther fell in love with the guy who owned the real estate office where she worked. It’s an old story. I guess I never quit learned which fork to use.”

“I could have saved you some pain,@ I said. It goes left to right. Are there kids?

Two great boys, fourteen and twelve. Antonio is the jock. Josh’s the brain. Set up a home page for his sixth-grade class. I get them every other weekend. Lights of my life, Moo.”

I could actually see Gebriel as a super dad. Kicking the ball around on Saturdays, installing the computer in the den. On top of it, the guy did have affections eyes. It was gradually dawning on me that he wasn’t the enemy.

“I guess—“ he grinned at me—“ getting the order of forks right didn’t exactly help you. Though. You are divorced, right?”

Oohh. Somebody’s been checking around,” I said.” I was just out of the police academy. He was in his second year of law school at Berkeley. At first, he was going to go criminal. We had sort of a carvile-and- Matalin thing going. I imagined me testifying, He was terrific socking it to me on the cross. Ultimately, he opted for corporate.”

And?”

“It was his his picture, not mine. I wasn’t ready for the country club. It’s an old story, right?” I smiled.” The truth: He walked out on me. Kind of broke my heart into tiny pieces,”

Sound like we have got som things in common,” Gebriel said gently. He did have nice eyes. Stop it, Moo.

If you must know,” I replied deadpan,@ for the past six months I have been having this torrid affair with Isaiah.”

Gebriel laughed and pretended to look surprised.” Geez. Isaiah doesn’t seem like your type. What’s the fatal attraction?”

I thought my ex-husband—- then one other man I had been sort of serious about. What always attract me when I let someone get close.@ soft hands. And I guess, a soft heart.

“So what ya think? Gebriel said. You put a few homemade jams on the shelves. Give the coffees some sexier names. Arabian Breeze, sirocco. You think we can hike up the average sale?”

“Why are you going through this, Gebriel?”

He gave me a look that was sort of between an embedded grin and sparkle in his clear blue eyes.” I have been doing police work for sixteen years. So you get to thinking... I have his favorite place. Up in the Tahoe. Maybe one of the franchise...”

“Sorry, I don’t see you behind the counter picking out the Muffins,”

Nicest thing you have said to me so far.”

I got up, tucked the envelope under my arm and headed towards the door.” On a second thought, you might make a better baker than a cop.”

“That’s my girl,” he smiled.” Wise-guy answer for everything. Keep those defenses up,”

As we left the shop, I softened and said to him,” I have this favorite place, too.”

“Maybe you will show me one day.”

“Maybe I will.”

I was surprised by Gebriel—live and learn. He was actually a nice guy. I wonders if he has soft hands.