CHAPTER NINE
The delivery boy had just loaded a case of Korbel champagne into the trunk of Ralph Collins' 1979 Eldorado. He might have used the sleek red Bentley gathering dust in his showroom, or the silver Mercedes convertible which would have been perfect for the mountain drive, or the blue Morgan... but Ralph didn't trust anything not bearing the seal of the red, white and blue.
"Thanks, kid," he barked around the butt of his cigar as, hearing the trunk lid slam shut, he tore off leaving the ingratiated boy in the dust.
Beside him Carla sat in the middle of the plush red leather seat with her legs tucked underneath her as they tore into Tuesday afternoon traffic heading south on the interstate. A pair of fidgety fingertips played with a graying curl dipping over the white collar
