Page 34 of Wired Strong

Sophie brushed past him to enter the immaculately clean, simply furnished apartment.

Heri Leede was already seated on the couch, looking pretty in a floral dress. She had hidden a nice figure under her matronly garb for their first meeting. Her old lady glasses were also gone, and she looked twenty years younger than she had when Sophie last saw her. “Heri! I was happy to hear you were coming for dinner as well. I have news for you about what I’ve discovered on the computers.”

“Please, ladies. Can we enjoy dinner and talk business afterward?” Raveaux handed Sophie a brimming glass of Perrier with lime and ice. “I prepared you my favorite drink.”

Sophie took the glass. “Perfect.”

“Yes, Pierre, I’m in favor of food first, business later, as well.” Leede lifted a glass of red wine. “To French chefs disguised as investigators.”

They sipped. “I don’t know what to talk about, then,” Sophie said, sitting down next to the other woman. Raveaux had gone back to stirring at the stove.

Heri smiled. “Tell me about what you do outside of work.”

Sophie considered for a moment. “I am the mother of a toddler, but Momi is gone every other month. When she is here in Honolulu, I go to work at Security Solutions to focus on administration, and take care of her with my nanny’s help. When she is not, I take new cases. I go running. I enjoy technological challenges. A simple existence.” She sipped her Perrier. “You?”

“Oh, I stay busy. I try to make the most of having moved all this way to Hawaii,” Leede said. “I’m part of a very active hulahalau. When we aren’t practicing new dances, I’m learning Hawaiian language and crafts. Right now, I’m making my ownipu.”

“What is that again?”

“A dried gourd used for percussion. I’m drying mine at the moment, and working on the design I will carve on it when it’s ready.”

“That’s fascinating,” Sophie said. “I did not know foreigners were welcome in such cultural activities.”

“It depends on thekumu,or teacher, and the purpose of the group. Myhalauis mostly geared toward education and preservation of the culture. Thus, they welcome people from other places,” Leede said. “You should come to one of our practices. See if you’d like to be a part of it.”

“I’d enjoy a visit, but given the small amount of free time I have, I don’t see involvement as an option.”

“Dinner is ready,” Raveaux said. “We’ll serve ourselves here at the counter, and take our plates out onto the lanai so we can enjoy the sunset—it’s about time for that.”

They filled their plates with a savory ragout, wild rice, and fresh sautéed snow peas. Leede exclaimed over everything in appreciation to the point that Sophie felt her praise would be excessive, but she ate all of her portion and went back for more. She would have eaten a third plateful if there had been any left.

Replete, she sat back in her chair, enjoying the last of the streaks of red, orange, and gold gilding the clouds on the horizon. The sound of the wind in the coconut palms overhead and the waves on the beach made gentle music, as Raveaux and Leede chatted.

Leede gave a ladylike belch, hidden behind her hand. “Oh, excuse me. That was so delicious, Pierre. What do we have to do to get you to cook for us every night?” She fluttered her eyelashes in exaggerated flirtation.

Raveaux smiled.

Sophie’s eyes widened to see it. He really was a handsome man, and especially when he smiled. Too bad it was so seldom.

He waved his glass. “You are a flatterer, Heri. We who cook live for an appreciative audience.” Raveaux gestured to Sophie. “Sophie’s empty plate is an equal compliment to your flowery words.”

Sophie smiled too, this time. “Dinner was superb, Pierre, as you must know. Thank you. Now can we talk about the case?”

“Is she always like this?” Leede gestured in Sophie’s direction.

“Yes, she is.” Raveaux said. “But I forbid you to discuss those damned computers until you ladies clear and clean up the kitchen before the dessert course. Then, and only then, will we discuss the case.”

Leede and Sophie pushed back their chairs and grabbed up the plates and silverware. “I want to see what this dessert is,” Leede said.

“Me too,” Sophie echoed.

That elusive smile curved Raveaux’s mouth. He tipped his head back and shut his eyes, the picture of relaxation. “I guarantee you’ll enjoy it.”

The two women made short work of the kitchen cleanup, filling Raveaux’s dishwasher and stacking the pans. There were no leftovers to put away.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m angling for another invitation to dinner,” Leede said. “Preferably alone.” She raised a brow inquiringly. “Do you mind?”

“Of course not,” Sophie said. “Who Raveaux has to dinner—or in his bed, for that matter—is none of my business.”

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