Deaths of Jocasta by J. M. Redmann Read Free Book Online Page A

of experience, never to go away. Lines of wisdom, I thought, somehow making her more attractive than any full breast or well-muscled thigh ever could. Her shoulders were too broad, her breasts too small for perfection, but I was beginning to realize it wasn’t mere flesh that made someone desirable.
    I have slept with a lot of women. Some out of boredom, others because I wanted sex or they did. Sometimes just because I could. But only once because of pounding, insistent desire, the kind that distracts and consumes you, pulling at all corners of your life. I wondered if she would be here.
    “Want some wine?” Danny interrupted my thoughts. Fortunately.
    “No, no thanks. Maybe some club soda,” I answered. Alex poured me some.
    “Wasn’t Cordelia supposed to be here for this picnic?” Danny asked.
    “I thought so,” Alex answered. “But I haven’t spoken to her since earlier in the week.”
    “She wasn’t definite when I talked to her on Thursday,” Elly said. “Something about possibly having to sub for someone on call tonight.”
    “Too bad. Particularly since it had to be her who got us the invite to the thing,” Danny commented. “Since it wasn’t you,” she added with a nod at Alex.
    “Nor was it Cordelia,” Joanne said. “Have you talked to her lately?” she asked me, her eyes open and watching again.
    “No…I haven’t. Not in a while.”
    “She probably heard that El Micko was here and didn’t want to risk any more Knight adventures,” Danny kidded.
    But it was probably true, I thought, taking a long sip of the club soda. She had found out I would be here and wasn’t about to spend a weekend in the country avoiding messy and awkward meetings with me.
    “But if it wasn’t Cordelia, then who was it?” Danny inquired. She was an excellent lawyer because she never missed things like that.
    “Ask our resident private eye,” Joanne answered.
    “It’s obvious,” I stated. “You’ve become such a well-known and lusted after woman, that there was no choice but to invite you. There were any number of women, and not a few men, who swore on stacks of Sappho’s poetry that they wouldn’t come this year unless they got a chance to view Danny Clayton in a bright red bikini. As a matter of fact,” I continued, “at this very moment there is a hot sun dance going on. Everyone’s hoping that it will be so hot tomorrow that you will be forced to take it all off.”
    “Congratulations,” Danny said. “My bullshit meter has never had a higher reading. I happen to know there are very few women who would bother to cross a street to see me, let alone come all the way out here.”
    “Enough to keep me worried,” Elly said loyally.
    “Danno? How could you doubt me?” I faked chagrin.
    “I know. I’ve got it figured out,” she bantered. “You met and seduced Emma Auerbach in one of your many bar forays. And to keep it quiet, she allows you to invite any riff-raff out here that you want.”
    I nearly choked on my club soda.
    “Oh, dear,” Danny said, her tone changed. “Did I accidentally hit the nail on the head?”
    “No, I have never slept with Miss Auerbach,” I protested.
    “Miss Auerbach?” Joanne observed.
    “Emma,” I corrected. “I’ve never slept with Emma.”
    “Don’t worry,” Alex comforted. “I call her Miss Auerbach, too. She’s always struck me as fiercely scholastic.”
    I saw Rhett loping in my direction. Work was calling, for once, conveniently. “Michele, ma’am,” he called, slowing as he arrived. “Emma wants you.”
    “Emma wants you?” Danny quizzed.
    “That’s right,” Rhett said, ever helpful.
    I got up. I would answer Danny’s leading questions later.
    “Are you going anywhere near a phone?” Joanne asked.
    “Probably,” I answered.
    “Maybe you should call Cordelia and see what’s going on with her,” she said.
    That was the last thing I wanted to do. “Well…I might be busy. But I can take you to one, if you want.”
    “We have