Page 100 of Near Miss

“I couldn’t agree more.” Stone’s chicken cordon bleu and sauteed mushrooms were particularly tasty.

“Uh-oh,” Viv said, looking out the windows.

The others followed her gaze to the patio outside, where the first splatters of rain had begun dotting the ground.

“Maybe it’s only a sprinkle,” Carly said.

The words were barely out of her mouth when the sputtering shower turned into a hard downpour.

“I guess golf is off the agenda,” Dino said.

Viv turned the evil eye on him “You don’t have to sound so happy about it.”

“Happy? My heart is breaking.”

“In glee,” Stone said.

“That’s not helping,” Dino said. “Unless your goal is for me to sleep on the couch in your living room.”

“I retract my previous statement.”

“I thought so.”

“As clumsy as his delivery was,” Viv said, “I fear Dino is right. Even if the storm passes, who wants to trudge around on wet fairways?”

Carly raised her hand.

“Of course, you do,” Stone said. He gently lowered her arm. “Lucky for you, you have mature friends who can save you from making that mistake.”

“If you say so.”

“I do.”

They replaced the round of golf with drinks in the bar, where they could monitor exactly how wet the course was getting.

They had just ordered their second round when Ed Rawls walked into the room.

“Ed!” Carly said.

“Join us,” Stone said.

They made room for him at their table.

Dino motioned for the server to come back, and said to Ed, “What are you drinking?”

“A Scotch, please. Laphroaig. And make it a double. It’ll be my last for a couple days.”

Dino placed the order.

“Last?” Stone said. “Don’t tell me you’re swearing it off?”

“Blasphemy,” Ed said. “I just need to keep sharp.”

“Something we should know about?”

“Probably. But it might be better if you didn’t know the details. I’ll just say this. It’s best if you stick to your place on Monday. No wandering around.”

“What’s happening on Monday?” Dino asked.

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