A Killer Read (36 page)

Jensey looked pleased with herself. Lizzie sighed then smiled, paid for the book and the two mysteries Jensey had put aside for her— the latest from Ellery Adams and Janet Bolin— and left.

T
he phone was ringing as Lizzie opened her front door. She picked it up just before it went to the message.

“Derek Alton here. Lizzie Turner, I hope?”

She nodded, taken off guard, but quickly realized an answer was needed. “Yes.”

“I hope you won’t think I’m too forward, but I’d like to take you out to dinner tonight. I’d like to know all about your book club before I speak to them. It will give me a better idea of how to tailor my talk. Are you free tonight?”

Lizzie knew she had no plans but she hesitated. It wasn’t really a date. But a part of her felt guilty thinking of Mark Dreyfus, the heartthrob police chief she’d been dating for a few months. But Mark was working tonight. Okay, from what she’d seen of Derek Alton, he was somewhat attractive, in an older, mature way, but this was really a business dinner. It made sense he’d want to know about the book club. She accepted.

He picked her up at seven
P. M.
, and after a brief drive through town with Lizzie pointing out the main sights, drove back to his hotel, where he’d reserved a table in the restaurant. Lizzie was glad she’d worn her fairly recent purchase, a black pantsuit along with a platinum satin shell. The Shasta Room at the Jefferson Hotel was one of the classier spots in town. Ashton Corners, Alabama, had a good variety of dining spots, along with plenty of activities for all ages. But Lizzie didn’t make it out to places like The Shasta Room very often.

Alton made a big show of examining the wine list after they were seated at a table for two. Although it was early evening and still light outside, the lights were dimmed in
their corner, three tea lights were lit and a single red rose lay across her plate.

Uh-oh
. Lizzie inhaled its fragrance and then set it alongside her cutlery. She adjusted the linen napkin the maître d’ had placed on her lap and looked around the room.

The walls, ceiling, crown moldings and chair coverings were done in varying pale shades. Linens were all white with a discreet “S” embroidered at each corner. Table and chair legs were dark oak. The shots of color came from the centerpieces of red poinsettia, towering paperwhites and sprigs of holly that anchored each table. String music wafted softly through the air.

Alton ordered a bottle of wine, without consulting her, she noted, then immediately began talking about himself. All she was required to do was nod and interject the occasional exclamation, showing she was suitably impressed.

“I’m still getting requests to read from
Judgment
at every event, and my publisher is thinking of doing yet another print run, so I thought it would be a good time to write a sequel. What do you think?” he asked.

Lizzie reined in her wandering mind and replayed his question before answering. “That sounds like a clever move.” It was all she could think of to say.

Alton poured himself another glass of the California Baco Noir and beamed. “Just what I thought. Now, let’s order before we get too wrapped up in talking.”

Lizzie balked at his suggestion he order for both of them, instead choosing lemon chicken with braised root vegetables while Alton ordered steak, done rare, and lobster tail.

“So, what do you do when you’re not running the book club, Lizzie?” Alton asked after another long sip of his wine.

“I’m a reading specialist with the local school board,” she replied. “And I do some tutoring and teach a literacy course at night school.” She watched for a reaction.

Alton smiled pleasantly. “Interesting. I also taught, you know. Creative writing, of course. In fact, I still dabble at
giving the odd workshop, but my novel writing is such a large part of my life, I hardly find time for other pursuits, even the more pleasurable ones.” His smile slid into more of a leer, and Lizzie cringed.

“Have you started your new book?” she quickly asked.

He stared at a point behind her right ear. “Early stages, my dear.”

She wondered what that meant, but he had already launched into describing the award ceremony when he’d received the Onyx for Best Fiction from the prestigious Hawthorne Society, even though it was close to eighteen years ago. Lizzie couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him, that he was still consumed with that win after all these years. She wondered if he was a lonely man.

Their food arrived, saving her from further comments as he ate with gusto, stopping only long enough to refill his glass. Lizzie was still working on her first glass of wine by the end of the meal. She declined dessert, choosing a peppermint tea to keep her occupied while he ate a piece of pumpkin pecan cake. She tried to introduce the topic of the book club a couple of times, but Alton had slid into a silence punctuated by smiles and winks at her.

“Oh, look at the time. I should be getting home,” she finally said, glancing over at the flashy watch on his left wrist. She couldn’t read the dial but thought he’d never notice. “It was a wonderful meal. Thank you so much,” she said as she gathered her clutch purse and jacket.

Alton stood abruptly and swayed for a moment, then grabbed her elbow and walked with her to the entrance. He stopped to sign the check at the desk then maneuvered her behind a tall ficus plant next to the coatroom.

“I’ll see you home,” he said, his hot breath brushing her left ear.

She moved away from him. “No, that’s quite alright. I can take a cab. I really think you should just head up to your room.”

He leered and grabbed her arm once again. “Good idea. Join me, won’t you?” He leaned toward her to kiss her.

She turned away and removed his hand from her arm. “Thank you again for the dinner. Good night.”

She rushed out the door and down the steps, asking the bellhop to get her a cab. He blew his whistle and one pulled into the driveway from the main street. Lizzie gave the cabbie her address then sank back and breathed a sigh of relief.

What a nightmare evening. What a letch
. And they hadn’t even talked about the book club. What an idiot she had been. Well, she’d just have to get the book club members on board for his visit and then act as if nothing had happened between them. Because, of course, it hadn’t.