Her full red lips parted in an innocent smile. “I see you approve of the Mother Hubbard,” she said calmly. “But I give you fair warning, Danny Boyd, that if thus one slips only a couple of inches even, I’m in real trouble.” “It makes for a fascinating challenge,” I said wistfully.
The waiter placed a coconut half-shell in front of her, and a martini in front of me. A whole new fantasy in ti-tian danced in front of my eyes for a moment as she bent her head and looked doubtfully at the drink.
“Just what is this?” Her voice was loaded with suspicion.
“It’s a combination, my own invention,” I said proudly. “You take one part ‘Virgin’s Downfall,’ and one part, ‘Missionary’s Delight.’ Then you mix well together and squeeze half a passion fruit into it.”
“It has a name?” Tamara asked in a disbelieving tone. “I’m glad you asked,” I said modestly. “I call it ‘Paradise’! And I did it all for you.”
“I’m flattered,” she said tersely. “You're sure its real name isn’t ‘Mickey Finn’ or something?”
“How could you think such a thing of a simple Manhattan boy like me?” I asked sorrowfully. “And it’s much too early in the evening for a mickey, anyway.”
She tasted the drink, talang one very cautious sip— then took another with a critical look on her face. Finally she took a deep swallow and leaned back against the padded seat with a happy smile on her face.
“It’s good,” she said with a luxuriant sigh. “I needed something to cheer me up tonight.”
“Bad day?”
“I'm beginning to wonder if I'll be out of a job soon —things is tough in the jewelry business.” She made a face. “They have been for some time.”
“That’s too bad,” I said. “I bet Elmo’s relieved now it looks like the insurance company will pay up.”
She gave me a puzzled look. “What do you mean—-now it looks like they’ll pay up?”
“Wasn’t there some trouble about the fine print?” I said patiently. “The insurance company refused the claim but now Elmo’s lawyer’s found an angle to force—” “Oh, that!” she said impatiently. “That was just some bug Mr. Elmo got into his head without any reason. The insurance company queried the claim, but they always do—that’s what the lawyer says, anyway—he was positive they’d pay up but Mr. Elmo just wouldn’t listen to him!”
“Maybe that will make the difference?” I said. Tamara looked doubtful. “I’m not too sure that it will from the state of the books right now—although I must say it doesn’t seem to worry Mr. Elmo any. He’s almost revoltingly cheerful at the moment.”
“Let’s not ruin the evening discussing the revolting Mr. Elmo,” I said firmly. “Let’s talk about more exciting things—like your imminent downfall.”
“It will take a lot more than this phony drink of yours to accomplish that, Danny Boyd,” she said with smug confidence, and drained the coconut empty, just to prove her point.
“The only thing wrong with this nice secluded alcove,” I said, some thirty seconds later, “is it’s so damned secluded even the waiters don’t see it, and if I don’t get any service within the next five seconds I’ll stand on the table and—”
“And what?” Tamara asked curiously.
I was transfixed, my eyes dilated with horror, all powers of thought or movement completely paralyzed. Bearing straight down on us, with a beaming smile of recognition plastered across her face, was Patty Lamont. Too late I realized I should have called her; too late I realized the stupid risk I’d taken in agreeing to meet Tamara in the bar of the same hotel.
I stumbled awkwardly to my feet as Patty reached the table and mumbled incoherently at her for a while.
“A wonderful thing happened, Danny darling,” she said in a bubbling voice. “I called Lieutenant Schell about thirty minutes back and he says the police are sure Estell left town, and it’s quite safe for me to go back to my own apartment. So I came down here just on the chance you might be having a quick one before dinner—and here you are!” Her voice finished on a triumphant note.
“Yeah,” I said hoarsely. “Here I am. Oh, Patty—this is Miss O’Keefe, and Miss O’Keefe, this is—”
“Hi, Patty!” Tamara said brightly.
“How are things with you, Tamara?” Patty slid smoothly into the vacant space on the other side of the table.
“You two know each other?” I gurgled.
“Are you kidding?” Tamara said calmly. “We were in high school together.” Her face sobered and she touched Patty’s hand for a moment. “I was dreadfully sorry about Louise.”
“Thank you, Tam!” Patty blinked hard. “I try not to think of it now, it’s all been so horrible!”
“Of course, honey,” Tamara said warmly, and squeezed her hand firmly.
The waiter finally appeared and I reordered the same, then looked inquiringly at Patty.
“Danny!” she said fondly. “You aren’t going to have another drink before dinner, are you? You can have too much of a good thing, you know.” She caught the look in my eye and paled a little. “Well, whatever you like, dear, of course. I won’t have anything, I’ll just sit here and wait until you’re finished.”
I didn’t have to look to see the question mark on Tamara’s face, I could feel it. The waiter came back with the new drinks and there was a kind of leaden silence for a while.
“What a funny coincidence that you and Danny should know each other without me knowing about it,” Patty said brightly, and I figured I hadn’t known when I was well off with that leaden silence.
“No so funny,” Tamara said in a neutral voice. “Santo Bahia isn’t all that big a town.”
Patty’s eyes were moist as she looked directly at me, and now they were back to where they started out in my life, as wet black olives.
“I didn’t think we had any secrets from each other, darling?'’ A faint blush stained her cheeks. “Oh! That was a very indiscreet thing to say, wasn’t it?” Her hand descended on my forearm and grasped it firmly. “But I really don’t care who knows about us, Danny, do you?” “This all sounds very fascinating,” Tamara said in a dangerously brittle voice. “Do tell me some more, honey.”
It was now or never again for Boyd, I realized. All it needed was another five seconds at most, to blow the whole deal.
“Patty!” I said quickly. “Why don't you collect your things and go on over to your apartment right now? I’ve still got a couple of things to do, but I’ll call you when I’m through and—and—”
“Well,” she said doubtfully. “I thought we’d have dinner—maybe Tam would have dinner with us, darling? That would be loads of fun and—”
“Now!” I nearly choked on the word. “The things I have to do won’t wait.”
“Well, all right.” She stood up reluctantly. “I’ll run along then. It was wonderful to see you again, Tam. Don’t keep Danny too long from his business, will you?” “You can bet on that!” Tamara said coldly.
There was another long, leaden silence after Patty had gone. I finished my martini and signaled the waiter, then saw that Tamara’s drink was practically untouched.
“Fm intrigued, Mr. Boyd,” she said in a remote voice. “What are you striving for?—a harem?”
“Look!” I said desperately. “After what happened last night, I figured she’d be safer in the hotel, so for some strange reason she figures this is tantamount to a proposal of marriage, or something!”
“From the way she’s talking now, I feel sure you’ve achieved the ‘or something’ already!” she snapped.
“You went to high school together?” I said feebly, t^ing to change the subject. “How many years is it since you last saw her?”