Page 59 of To Die For

“Really? I guess I never thought about it like that. I love it here,” she added, swiping a hand through her hair as if for emphasis.

Sure you do, thought Devine.Out here in the boonies married to a man nearly three decades older than you with the personality of a turnip.

“Would you like some wine? I could use a glass,” she added hoarsely.

“You pick, I’m not much of a connoisseur.”

She held up her hand and the waitress shot over like she’d been propelled from a cannon. King ordered two glasses of red.

“So what’s good on the menu?” he asked the mayor.

“The filet. Six-ounce, at least that’s what I usually get. Good protein and I’m watching my figure. It’s different for men. Not that you have to worry about that.” She shot him a look that Devine couldn’t initially decode. Flirting maybe? But clearly for her own purposes.

“How long have you been mayor?”

“This is my first term. I’m up for reelection next year.”

“And you married the chief when?”

She picked up her menu and ran her gaze down it. “A while back,” she replied before glancing up at him. She set the menu down.“Can I be frank?” she asked, as though to cut off any other personal questions he might have been readying.

“Sure.Iwas planning to be.”

“It’s why I wanted to have a private meeting with you.” She leaned forward conspiratorially, while Devine stayed pencil straight.

“What happened to the Odoms was terrible. That it occurred within the confines of Ricketts makes it my husband’s responsibility, and he takes that responsibility very seriously.”

“Good for him.”

Her expression changed as she studied him. “You look… different.”

“So do you, but you’ve changed clothes. What was the constituent business?”

“What?”

“The constituent business that made you late?”

“Just a gripe about something that people think a politician can control.”

“You were being frank?” he prompted.

Their wines arrived and she took a sip before answering. “It is not a good look for the federal government to be in town investigating. It’s making poor Eric think he did something wrong, or is not up to the job.”

Devine didn’t touch his wine. “Didhe do something wrong?”

She frowned. “What exactly are you implying?”

“I’m just asking a question. It’s been my experience that guilty people worry, and innocent people believe everything will work out just fine, because they have nothing to hide.”

“Eric hasnothingto hide, I can assure you,” she said coldly. She flipped her luxurious hair from one shoulder to the other, as though to add physical action to her blunt words.

“Well, in answer to your statement, the federal government signs my paycheck so I go where they send me. I don’t have any control over that. And when I get to a place, I’m expected to do my job.”

“But what is the problem here that requires your attention? Twopeople died of a drug overdose. I don’t see why that’s a federal issue. Lots of people, unfortunately, die that way.”

“But when two people who ‘die that way’ are tied to someone named Danny Glass, then the feds get interested.”

“Danny who?”

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