Marla hugged him tightly, surprised when he patted her on the back in return and said, “I was so worried about you. I’m glad you’re safe.”
“No, I’m glad you’re safe,” she responded. Goat drew back abruptly, his face reddening.
Vail beamed at both of them.
“Uh, want to come in? I cleaned up the place,” Goat said with a hopeful expression.
Spooks tugged on the leash as though anxious to enter. Curious, Marla strode inside. Goat had opened the windows, she noticed, inhaling the strong smell of Clorox. Barking came from behind the closed door to the spare bedroom. Spooks pulled in that direction.
“I have a new friend,” Goat said. “Ugamaka, ugamaka, chugga, chugga, ush,” he chanted, dancing a jig. “Colors mix and match, black and white in flight. Guess who I mean, or she’ll take a bite.”
Marla laughed. “I give up.”
Vail jabbed her. “I know,” he said with a wink.
Goat pranced ahead and opened the side door. Out bounced a black poodle with short, curly hair, long ears, and soulful dark eyes. Spooks trotted up to the other poodle. The two evenly sized dogs sniffed each other eagerly. “Her name is Rita,” Goat said proudly.
“Oh, no. Spooks is in love!” Marla moaned.
“They wouldn’t let me keep Gertrude.”
“I doubt owning a goat is in our homeowner’s agreement. Now tell me how things went so wrong for you.”
Goat wrung his hands. “I took the formula so Evan and his cousin couldn’t torture any more animals,” he said in a more somber tone than Marla had ever heard him use. “But then I felt-and this is bad, I know-they might be willing to pay to get it back. I set up a meeting with Evan to make the exchange. Yani showed up, but so did Wyeth after I stupidly informed him of my plan. I felt an obligation to him, you see.”
“Did Wyeth mean to kill both of you?”
“Yep. I threw an iguana on him and took off in Yani’s car. Wyeth followed on his cycle but lost me on Nob Hill Road when I turned onto 1-595.”
“That’s the motorcycle Hector said he’d heard. Giorgio, I mean Wyeth, never drove it to work.”
“He tracked me to Siesta Key. That day I saw you at our beach house, I followed you to the restaurant. I’d hoped to warn you about him. But he spotted me, and I had to take off. I left Jenny’s car behind and took a bus to Fort Lauderdale. A friend loaned me a car and a place to hide. Then I decided to set fire to the lab,” Goat continued, confessing as though she and Vail were priests. “I meant to destroy Yani’s notes.”
“But you still have the sample, right?” she asked, amazed at how well Spooks was getting on with the other miniature poodle.
Goat gave a sheepish grin. “Well, Junior happened to get thirsty one day and slurped the stuff. Want to see?” He retrieved his snake.
“Look at this patch of hair. Colder temperatures activate the formula. It must contain some kind of genetic re-sequencer for hair follicles. Yani’s sample was the only prototype. Detective Vail said his notes were encoded. No one can figure them out. So it’s the end of the hair tonic.”
“Oh, my.” If men were willing to kill for such a thing, wasn’t it best left to history?
“Did you tell Moss and the others that you were back? Everyone has been concerned about you.” Marla gave him an admonishing glare.
“I will. Thanks for coming by.”
She realized by his expression that he was embarrassed. She’d have to work on his shyness.
“Maybe there’s someone I can fix him up with,” Marla muttered to Vail on their walk home. “He needs a good woman to straighten him out.”
“So do I.” Vail reached into his pocket, halting on the sidewalk.
“Here’s the house key I promised you.”
Marla held tightly to the dog’s leash, realizing Vail offered more than just a key. “I’ll take it on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
She gave him a coy glance. “You let me teach Brianna about makeup, and she’s allowed to shave her legs.”
“Sweetcakes, you drive a hard bargain.” His gray eyes danced with merriment.
“Oh, I finally found a chess set that’s a close match to yours, and it comes with a board. I’ve ordered it from a gift catalog.”
“Good. Now make your decision. You’re only delaying the inevitable.”
“Oh, all right.” She snatched the key and stuck it in her pocket. “Someone has to look after the two of you. But don’t think I’m moving in yet. I intend to keep my own place.”
“Naturally.” His grin broadened.
She hated his self-satisfied smile. At the same time, the feeling of the key in her pocket warmed her heart.
“Don’t expect me to cook meals. Or to play chauffeur. Or to attend school functions.” She shuddered. What am I getting into?
“I know. You’re a busy woman. You have your career.”
“That’s right.”
“So tell me,”-he paused to give her a fierce kiss-“what’s for dinner tonight?”
At her change of expression, he laughed. “Just kidding. If you didn’t make other plans, how about taking the day off to visit South Beach? We can have lunch and then hit the shops. They have some neat stuff down there.”
Was he offering to take her shopping? Asking her, rather than telling her, about their plans for the day? That was a switch from her prior experiences with men.
A slow smile spread across her face. If he was willing to cross the bridge in her direction, she should make the same gesture. It was time to put the past to rest while recognizing what remained important to bring with them into the future.
“Sounds like a great idea,” she agreed, taking his hand in hers.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Probably the most interesting research for this book involved the citrus canker issue. As I wrap up the story, articles are still appearing in the newspaper every day reflecting the controversy between homeowners and the state agricultural department. Citrus canker disease continues to spread while individual residents protest the invasion to their property and block implementation of the eradication program. Where it will end is anybody’s guess, but at least I still have the four citrus trees in my yard.
I love to hear from readers. Write to me at: P.O. Box 17756, Plantation, FL 33318. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped #10 business-size envelope for a personal reply. You can send an e-mail to [email protected] or go to my Web site: www.nancyjcohen.com.
Here is a bonus recipe:
HAROSET
½ cup ground walnuts
1 apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
3 tablespoons sweet kosher wine
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Mix together all ingredients and serve as an appetizer with matzoh (or crackers).
Highlights to Heaven Page 23
