Page 18 of Dead Heat

“I don’t stand on ceremony. If your heart’s desire is to start with the carrot cake, I promise not to judge… much.”

“You know me too well, Otto.” I plucked a tiny carrot cake from the stand and added it to my overflowing plate. “Don’t be jealous,” I told the other cakes. “I’ll be back for you later.”

We sat at the round bistro table that we sometimes used to play chess.

“Are you trying to persuade me to play music for you?” I swilled my water. “Because you may have cracked the code with this croissandwich.”

“I don’t think it was I who cracked that particular code,” he said, smiling.

I ignored his reference to Kane. The details of my romantic relationship weren’t for public consumption.

“Don’t keep me in suspense. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Why do you assume the worst?” He nibbled on a slice of cantaloupe.

“Because you’re obviously laying the foundation to share bad news.”

“What tipped you off? It was the cake, wasn’t it? I worried it was overkill.”

“No such thing when it comes to baked goods.”

Otto’s thumb stroked the edge of the table. Whatever he had to say made him nervous. “The woman I mentioned from the auction.”

“Petra Kovac. The Corporation lackey.”

“Yes. She invited me for a drink after the auction.”

“And you wouldn’t be Otto if you turned down a drink from an attractive woman.”

His mouth twitched. “No, I suppose not.”

“Did she offer you more money for the vase?”

“No, she could’ve continued bidding against me if that was her plan.”

“That is strange, isn’t it? No matter how deep your pockets are, The Corporation’s have to be deeper. Why let you win if they were desperate to have it?”

“She admitted she was only authorized to bid up to a certain amount. Her department underestimated the level of interest in the item. They believed they were the only ones fully aware of its value.”

“Typical arrogance. I’m surprised she couldn’t get them to up the budget once she realized she had competition. That’s what phones are for.”

“She said there’s too much red tape involved. The downside of a large organization is its inability to respond quickly to changes in circumstance.”

That fit with the information Aite had shared with me. “Petra seems forthcoming for a member of a top-secret company. Any idea which deity she is?”

“No, we didn’t discuss her.” He paused. “We did, however, discuss you.”

I nearly spat my water all over the table. Once I managed to force the water down the correct pipe, I spoke. “Me?”

“Yes. I had thought it odd when she mentioned she knew my name prior to the auction.”

“That’s because you’re a fixture there. You stroll in with your paddle and your seersucker suit, and everyone greets you by name.”

He looked affronted. “When have you ever seen me wear a seersucker suit?”

“You should try it. You would rock a straw hat and a bowtie.”

“I would look like a small Southern child on his way to Easter services.”

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