“Melanie Lassen.”
“Who are you?” The question came through gritted teeth.
Nick saw no point in lying. “Melanie’s boyfriend.”
“So what are you doing—checking up on her?”
“Yeah.”
“If you want to know about STDs, ask for a blood test.”
“I’m more interested in her brother, Jamie.”
Nick got the feeling Trent was about to hang up but the mention of Jamie stopped him. Trent’s tone changed from anger to concern.
“So, he’s given you the speech.”
“What speech?”
“Don’t piss around. You wouldn’t be tracking down her high school sweetheart unless he’d given you the no-one-is-good-enough-for-my-sister speech.”
“And what did you do about it?”
“I blew the freak off. What do you think?”
“I think he convinced you to stop seeing his sister.”
Trent went silent for a good minute before speaking again.
“I was a good tight end in school. Could have gotten a scholarship.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Jamie broke my hand with a hammer. Happy? Now, would you mind doing me a favor and go to hell?”
Nick received similar accounts from Jonathon Tripp and Tommy Frist, both college boyfriends. Both took Jamie’s hints before bodily harm was involved. Matthew Warner wasn’t so lucky. He was an intern at a San Francisco architecture firm when he dated Melanie. They’d gotten real close, according to Warner’s sister, Penny. He was found at the Marin Headlands across from the Golden Gate Bridge with his throat cut. The police theorized the murder was a product of a carjacking, since his car had been found abandoned and burnt out in San Rafael. The only odd factor to the case was that Matt was discovered stretched out on a picnic blanket. When Nick hung up on Penny, she was crying.
Mark Bale proved to be the exception to the boyfriend rule. He’d dated Melanie nine months before Miles Talbot did. He lived in the city and he agreed to meet Nick at a bar on the Embarcadero.
“Did you ever get a visit from her brother?”
Bale turned his nose up. “Not really. He called me once but that was about it. He tried some line with me but I didn’t pay much attention.”
“So, he didn’t scare you off?”
“No.”
“Then why’d you break up with her?”
“Why’s this so important to you?”
“Indulge me,” Nick said. “Call it a commitment thing.”
Bale grinned. “She’s done it to you, hasn’t she?”
If he meant made him fall in love, then yes. Nick grinned back but shrugged.
“If you want the God’s honest truth, the reason Mel and I didn’t last was the plain fact that she got weird. I was ready to settle down, but then the vibe changed. I didn’t like it, so I called it quits.”
Nick’s roommate yelled out, “Phone.”
Nick answered it.
“Good, I’m glad you’re in,” Jamie said.
“What do you want?”
“Melanie decided we should have a night out. I’ve got reservations for three at One Market for Thursday at eight.”
“Okay.”
“I’d appreciate if it you didn’t make it.”
“I would hate to disappoint Melanie.”
“It would be the kinder thing to do.”
Nick ignored Jamie’s request and met them at the restaurant. Melanie’s face lit up when she saw him approach the table, but Jamie just scowled. Nick kissed Melanie and shook hands with Jamie. To Nick’s surprise and relief, Jamie chose to keep the dinner cordial. He and Nick may have exchanged penetrating stares, but that was as far as it went. Melanie led the conversation, choosing to reminisce about her childhood. As Melanie told it, every day had been a Norman Rockwell painting. Mikey Pryce’s drowning never even featured. Nick fought the urge to resurrect the ghosts. If Jamie was playing nice, so would he. Despite the circumstances, Nick was having an enjoyable time.
After they finished their entrées, Melanie excused herself and retreated to the restroom. The two men in her life watched her go.
“I told you not to come,” Jamie said. “This would be a good time to leave. I’ll provide excuses.”
“You don’t get it, do you? I’m here for the long haul.”
“Haven’t I shown you what’ll happen to you?”
“Jamie, I have enough on you to go to the cops right now.”
Jamie smirked.
“I know about the others. All the way from Mikey Pryce.”
That sent Jamie’s smirk running for the hills.
“I don’t want to turn you in because Melanie means so much to me, so I’ll give you a break. You leave now and I don’t just mean the restaurant. I’m talking about the city, the state, the country, I don’t care. Just go. Leave us in peace. I’ll make excuses for you.”
Jamie picked up his glass and polished off the rest of his wine. “I can’t do that.”
“Then this one is going to get messy.”
“I think you’re right.”
Melanie rejoined them. “You two seem to be getting on like a house on fire.”
“Truer words were never said,” Jamie remarked. His eyes sparkled with the irony of Melanie’s statement.
“We’ve got so much in common.” Nick reached over and kissed Melanie. “Like you.”
When the check came, a brief fight over who would pay for the bill ensued. Jamie won. Nick couldn’t help but feel he’d been provided his last meal. While Jamie waited for the waiter to return with his credit card and receipt, Nick took his chance.
“I’ll check in with the valets for our cars.” He snatched up Jamie’s ticket stub.
“That’s okay.”
“No, I insist. Join me, Mel?” He forced the issue by holding out her coat.
Jamie fumed as Nick walked Melanie out. The valet approached them on the street, but Nick waved him away.
“What’s going on?” Melanie asked.
“Three’s a crowd. We need some alone time.” Nick smiled. “I have a surprise.”
They crossed the street over to Nick’s car. He’d gotten lucky and snagged a parking spot directly across the restaurant. He gunned the engine and was pulling away when Jamie came tearing out of the restaurant. Melanie waved goodbye to him.
“I feel so bad,” Melanie said. “Where are we going?”
“Don’t ask questions. You’ll spoil the surprise.”
He headed out of the city and across the Bay Bridge. When he reached Berkeley, he pointed the car in the direction of the marina. The place was deserted. The restaurants had closed for the night. If it hadn’t been for the street lighting, the marina would have been in total darkness. He parked in the red zone fronting the pier.
“What are we doing here?” Melanie asked.
“You’ll see. Come on.”
He came around to her side of the car and opened the door for her. He took her hand and led her onto the pier, then guided her toward the streetlamp at the end of it.
“I know we haven’t been dating long,” Nick began, “but I feel I’ve known you all my life.”
She squeezed his hand. “You’re very sweet.”
With every step they took, he cataloged his affection for her. His outpourings left her speechless. She never interrupted. She just listened and that was good. Her silence gave him the courage for what he had to do. When they reached the end of the pier, he released her hand and turned to face her. He looked into her eyes and his throat closed up.
“C’mon. Don’t stop now,” she encouraged. “What is it?”
Out in the bay, a buoy chimed. The water slapped against the pier.
He needed encouragement to finish this, to go all the way, and he got it. A racing engine and squealing tires cut through the calm. Jamie had caught up with him. Nick thought he’d spotted Jamie’s Acura on the freeway. He’d hoped for a longer lead. It didn’t matter. Jamie was too late.
“Melanie, I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“That’s why I wanted to give you this.”