Authors: Cindy Sample
I sipped the champagne while Jeremy examined the list. He smiled, finally selecting a 2006 Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon. Undoubtedly a better choice than the $1.99 bottle I served earlier. The waiter stood, pen in hand, primed for our orders.
I held the menu at arm's length then brought it closer, but it was still out of focus. Why was it that the fancier the restaurant, the smaller the font size. When in doubt, stick with the age-old standards. “I'll have the Caesar salad to start and the prime rib, petite cut."
Jeremy was ready with his order. “Spinach salad with nonfat Italian dressing on the side, and the sauteed sea bass, no sauce.” He handed his menu to the waiter.
"You have such control over your diet,” I said in admiration.
"Everything in moderation.” He traced his index finger around the rim of his crystal champagne flute. “It's an easy motto to follow. But there are those who just can't help their addictive personalities."
I looked down at the crumbs littering my bread plate. Time to turn the conversation in a different direction before another lecture on my diet was forthcoming. “What do you like to do for fun?"
His smile lit up his face and his shoulders relaxed for the first time this evening. “I enjoy going up to Lake Tahoe. I can never get enough of its incredible beauty. Last summer I hiked most of the Tahoe Rim Trail. In fact I'm thinking of buying a vacation home on the south shore."
My mother would so love to get her hands on Jeremy. A doctor and a multiple homeowner.
"Your practice must be doing well."
His pensive look returned as he drank his champagne. “It is. I've been very fortunate. But something odd came up when I made the offer on the property. Laurel, since you're in the mortgage business, I thought you could explain how..."
A buzzing noise suddenly erupted. I jumped and banged the crystal flute into the table, champagne droplets landing on the beads of my new dress. Jeremy grabbed his pager from his belt and silenced it.
"I didn't realize you were on call tonight.” I bent and dabbed the spots with the black linen napkin. Smart restaurant. No white lint speckling our dark clothing. Too bad they couldn't guarantee my dress remain in a spill-free zone.
Jeremy seemed perplexed as he stared at the number on his pager. “It's not an emergency, but I need to make a call. I'll go outside so I don't disturb anyone. Enjoy the champagne. I'll be back shortly."
Being the obliging person that I am, I sipped the bubbly that hadn't landed on my dress. I don't normally drink champagne but this Dom stuff tasted pretty good. I wondered if Jeremy treated all of his dates to such fine wine and cuisine. It wouldn't be too difficult to become accustomed to such first class treatment.
My eyes glanced wistfully at the empty breadbasket as I poured more champagne into my flute. The servers must be waiting until Jeremy returned before they brought our salads. My bladder suddenly announced it needed to make an expedition. I pushed my chair back and the waiter quickly materialized and slid it out for me. My hands gripped the back of the chair as the room did a three sixty rotation.
"Are you all right?” asked the solicitous server.
I nodded. I was fine for someone who's a lightweight when it comes to alcohol. I negotiated my way through the restaurant, bumping into two chairs but somehow avoiding landing in anyone's chef's special.
The ladies room was located in the back of the cocktail lounge. No sign of Jeremy anywhere in the restaurant or the bar. He probably didn't want to disturb the diners and had gone outside to make his call. It wouldn't hurt to take a quick peek. The fresh air might dispel some of the champagne bubbles that seemed to be fogging my brain. I grinned at the valet then sauntered around the side of the building.
I squinted in the direction of the river. Two men stood in the shadows along the riverbank, a hundred feet or so from the restaurant. The moonlight illuminated the back of one man's head indicating he might be bald, so that couldn't be Jeremy. The man facing him had a full head of hair and was about Jeremy's height but I couldn't be sure at that distance. The only thing I was certain of was that it was too cold to stand outside wondering.
I went inside, weaving my way around the black leather bar stools, and entered the ladies room. After using the facilities, I tried to decide what to do next. Should I go back to the table or wait in the lounge? The beige micro-fiber chair in the corner of the lounge beckoned. I propped my feet up on the matching ottoman and debated what to do next.
The door burst open and I woke with a start. Two chattering women headed for the stalls. I peeked at my watch.
Good grief. Almost fifteen minutes had elapsed since I'd left the table. I stood up and smoothed my dress over my hips. Either Jeremy would be back at the table or Mr. Dom Perignon and I would become bosom buds. Although after the purchase of my dress, there wasn't enough credit left on my Visa to pay for dinner, much less the Dom.
I opened the door and stepped into the bar, which was totally deserted. I entered the dining room and saw most of the diners lined up at the large arched windows that overlooked the river. I joined them and addressed the armpit of a navy pin-striped suit. “What's up?"
The tall gentleman glanced down at me. “There may have been an accident. A woman seated by the window thought she saw someone in the river. Several of the staff ran outside to check."
Even in my somewhat befuddled state, I knew this was a treacherous part of the river, with craggy rocks and boulders strewn everywhere. And with temperatures in the fifties, surely no one would intentionally be swimming.
Of course that was assuming the woman who spotted the person in the river wasn't imagining things. Maybe she downed most of a bottle of champagne herself. At the rate I'd been drinking, I was afraid I'd see pink elephants taking a dip. The crowd of people around the window had expanded. I was too short to see anything but I heard several people gasp.
The man next to me said, “It looks like the river rescue team has arrived. I hope they can save the poor sucker."
So did I. Unfortunately there wasn't anything I could do in the way of river rescue, so I wandered back to my romantic booth and gulped down a glass of water, hoping it would dilute some of the champagne. I spotted our server and waved. Maybe he would take pity on me and bring out my salad.
"Sorry, Ma'am, I don't wish to ignore you. You heard what happened?"
"I did. Ummm my date has disappeared. Do you know if he's helping? He's a doc...” I burped. “tor."
He looked taken aback then shook his head. “I don't recall seeing him, but a lot of the guests ran outside. Do you want to check out there? I'll bring your salad as soon as you return."
Sure. Jeremy had to be around here somewhere. I walked through the nearly deserted restaurant and stepped out on to the patio. The temperature had dropped a few more degrees but the cold air felt invigorating to my bubble befuddled brain. It looked like the majority of the restaurant patrons were milling around the outside dining area.
Much as I hated to admit I lost my date, I still needed to find out what happened to him. An El Dorado County deputy was deep in conversation with an emergency technician. I tapped the husky officer on his khaki-clad shoulder.
"Excuse me, is one of the guests at the River Inn helping your rescue team?"
"Sorry, Ma'am. I can't say for sure. We've received a lot of unsolicited offers of assistance from the diners at the restaurant."
"Will the person they found in the river be okay?"
The young deputy shook his head, his red-rimmed eyes weary. “No, Ma'am. The EMT's tried to resuscitate him but they weren't successful."
"How awful. Was he dining at the restaurant?"
"We assume he was. He was wearing a light gray suit.” The deputy's expression was bewildered. “But no one has reported anyone missing."
My Dom Perignon addled brain produced a giggling frenzy as I visualized Jeremy jumping into the river to get away from my boring conversation. The two men appeared startled by my inappropriate outburst.
"Sorry, I've had way too much champagne. You see, my date left the table a while ago and hasn't returned."
They exchanged glances. The deputy spoke first. “We may be able to help.” He pulled out a notebook and pen. “His name?"
"Jeremy Slater.” My stomach growled. “Sorry. I'm in desperate need of some food."
"I'll see what I can do,” he assured me. “In the meantime, why don't you go back to your table?"
The restaurant was devoid of customers with the exception of a silver-haired couple sitting at a table in the bar. They glanced my way then resumed their quiet conversation. I plopped back down in our booth in the empty dining room. I hoped the deputy had some pull. All I wanted was Jeremy and my salad, and at this point I wasn't sure in which order.
After a few minutes of waiting, my patience was maxxed out. Time to track down the deputy I spoke with earlier. I slid out of the booth then realized my purse was resting under the table. My chiffon skirt shimmied up my thighs as I grabbed the leather strap. I backed up and bumped into something solid. Jeremy had finally returned.
I turned around to chastise my date but was caught off guard by the man standing in front of me. “Detective Hunter, what are you doing here?"
"I had a dinner reservation but just as we arrived someone discovered the person in the river.” The detective seemed uneasy as he shifted from one leg to the other. “One of the deputies told me you were dining with a Jeremy Slater."
"Yeah, I spoke to someone a few minutes ago. Jeremy left to make a call right after we arrived and never returned. He's a physician so I thought he might be helping but no one seems to have seen him.” I wrinkled my nose and frowned. “I won't be going out with
him
again."
His gaze softened as his eyes met mine. “No. I'm afraid you won't."
The room turned into a spinning kaleidoscope of colors as I pitched forward. The quick-thinking detective caught me before I connected with the floor. His arms wrapped around me and I curled into his chest as my brain absorbed the fact that Jeremy Slater was dead.
Hunter gently disengaged my limp frame from his and assisted me back to my seat. He slid across from me, not an easy task given his size and the confines of the booth.
"I know this is a huge shock for you but I have to ask a few questions.” He took a familiar looking pad and pen out of his shirt pocket. “You mentioned to one of the deputies that Dr. Slater was missing for quite some time. Was this typical behavior for him?"
"I don't know.” Tears streamed down my cheeks. I grabbed a napkin and attempted to staunch the flow of hot teardrops mixed with inky rivulets of mascara. “This was only our second date. Oh no,” I moaned.
"What's the matter?"
"He didn't get to try the Dom."
"The Don?” He looked puzzled.
"The Dom,” I repeated again, shaking my head. “You know, Dom Perignon. Right after we placed our dinner orders he received a page and disappeared to make a phone call. He never got to sample the champagne."
I hiccupped. “It was very tasty."
"Evidently,” he said, a hint of a smile crossing his face for two seconds before it disappeared. “Ms. McKay, you do realize that in the last two weeks, both men you've gone on a date with have died. Two men. Two dates. Two deaths."
I couldn't respond. I could only stare at him with tear-blurred eyes.
"I can't decide if you have an unerring ability for ending up in disastrous situations, or if I'm sitting next to a killer."
"Killer?” My flowing tears froze in shock. “Jeremy was murdered?"
He shrugged. “I don't know yet. It could have been an accidental fall into the river. But until we discover exactly what occurred this is considered a crime scene."
He paused a few seconds while he fiddled with his tie. “Since his wallet was still in his pants pocket we identified the victim as Dr. Slater, but we can make it official, if you can confirm it's his body. Do you think you're up to it?"
My eyes widened in alarm as I contemplated viewing the drowned body of my dead date.
He shook his head. “Never mind, that was a bad idea. I don't think you could handle it."
Hey, mister. I may be a female, but I'm a mother. We do what we have to do. I stood up, placed my hands on my hips, tossed my hair and glared at the detective. “I'll do it for Jeremy."
Weak female, indeed.
He slid out of the booth, his gaze wandering down the length of my dress, slowing as he contemplated my bare legs. “Do you have a coat? It's chilly out and your dress doesn't look like it provides much warmth."
"No, I didn't bring a coat with me. I never expected to spend any time outside tonight.” I shivered. “I'll manage without one."
He hesitated then took off his sport coat and draped it slowly, almost sensually around me. I noticed his broad shoulders—the kind you wanted to lean on after your date dropped dead.
I squared my own shoulders as he escorted me towards the entrance, his hand resting lightly on my back. As we passed the lounge he halted. “Would you mind waiting here? I need to speak to the couple in the corner. I'll only be a minute."
He walked over to the elderly couple I'd noticed earlier. Could they be witnesses? He must have spoken to them previously, because they jumped right into conversation. It was fine with me if we waited before I viewed Jeremy for one last time.
As I sniffed in the woodsy scent of Detective Hunter's brown tweed jacket I briefly wondered what it would feel like to have his arms around me. Oh, dear. Not an appropriate reaction considering my date was gone. Forever. Must be the residual effects of the champagne.
The detective turned away from the table and strode over to my side. “Sorry about the wait. I needed to check with them about something."
My mind raced with possibilities. “Suspects?"
He laughed. “Hardly. They're my parents. I can personally vouch for them."
Hmmm. So he was with his parents. Not a hot date.