Soft jazz played as Detective Cobb entered the club. The maitre de intercepted him. “Good evening lieutenant. Social or business?” “Business.” He pointed to a table, the cop nodded. Paused to watch Frannie & me dancing. I pretended not to notice. In fact, I didn’t. Tops & Delong held our table. “I don’t know why they ordered all this food; they’re still dancing,” she said. “Maybe they like cold steaks; or maybe they are just working up an appetite,” said DeLong. “I say they’re stuck on each other.” “What difference does it make?” “Oh waiter! You better put these steaks back in the oven. And cancel that cheesecake. Bring me a double bourbon instead.” Tops looked on with a small smile. He turned to her. “I’ve got a bad tooth.” Tops giggled. Meanwhile, we danced, and the world disappeared. “Mighty handsome present, this dress,” Frannie said as we swayed to the music. “Mighty handsome woman inside it,” said I. We danced cheek to cheek. “Just like old times, Frannie.” ”Except I could never get you to dance.” “Funny, I like it now. I must have mellowed.” “Remember our time dancing?” “The beach.” “Yes. The summer I asked you to marry me 3 times.” “3 times! No wonder I lost out to the other guy.” “That horse must’ve had good odds.” “8 to 1.” “Delong tell you I’m worried?” “Oh Fran. You can’t have fun like that!” Between songs a couple of long hairs in the corner raised lighters, yelling “Freebird!” Instead the band played “Stardust” which suited me fine. Kim wasn’t mine any more, but she once was, and what I felt then, I still felt deep down, though I would never betray a chum. The band took a break, so we did. “Well, the marathon dancers are back! We went ahead without you, knew you wouldn’t mind,” Delong said. I pulled out Frannie’s chair for her. She glowed, I smiled. A shadow fell across the table. “Hello Sam.” “Hi Gus,” I said to the cop. “Let’s talk a little. Want to step outside?” “Not particularly.” “Alright.” He pulled up a chair, sat, looked over my friends. “Where are my manners?!” I said. “Delong, ladies; this is the cop who helped put me away on a bum rap and wants to sponsor the same trip again.” Det. Cobb pulled out a wad of bills. Delong raised his eyebrows. “If you are trying to bribe me, that will do it!” The yo cash landed on the table. “You spent $265 on clothes today, Sam.” “That illegal?” “With these bills it is. They’re from the heist. Where’d you get ‘em?”
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 12:58:28 +0000