Page 32 of Third Crime's A Charm
“You know, that was much better than fighting,” Matteo said once he had caught his breath.
“That’s all I was saying.” Truman raised Matteo’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “Can we have a truce for the rest of the weekend and just be ourselves?”
Matteo’s lips twisted and he considered. “I’ll give it a shot, but we aren’t having sex again.”
“If you say so,” Truman kissed his knuckles. “I’ll be right back! I owe you cake,” he said and hurried from the room.
Truman returned with Matteo’s cake and a bottle of champagne. He fed Matteo and afterwards, they went for a long walk on the beach. This time, they held hands just for the sake of it and kissed because they wanted to, not because they weresecretly planning. Marty and the star never came up throughout the rest of the weekend but they did have sex two more times.
Thirteen
Southampton was beautiful and the experience was “enlightening” but Matteo was glad to be back in Manhattan. He was particularly glad to have a little time on his own away from Truman and his henchmen. Neville turned out to be a giant teddy bear, when he wasn’t slugging Matteo in the eye or the gut, but it was difficult for Matteo to think clearly with him and Truman hovering.
The sounds of traffic and the steady flow of pedestrians grounded Matteo as he got off a train and made his way back to the Olympia. Happy to have his old routine back and the haul from Truman’s party in his pocket, Matteo nodded and smiled at passing pedestrians. Southampton was also discombobulating but Matteo felt confident and reassured as he put it behind him for the morning and relished being back in Manhattan.
“Morning, Ray,” Matteo said when he stopped at his usual newsstand, nodding at the middle-aged bald man behind the counter. The neatly folded paper bag in Matteo’s pocket was deftly removed and tossed on a stack ofShout!magazines and covered with a paper. “My Davidoffs?” he asked, receiving a nod from Ray.
“Wasn’t sure if you’d be by today but I had my boy pick them up, just like usual. I’ve got two packs and you’re the only one who asks for these,” he said, turning as he swiped the bag from under the paper and let it fall onto a stack of magazines under the counter.
Matteo had his wallet out and pulled out two $20 bills. “I’ll take both.”
“What happened to you last week?” Ray asked as he retrieved Matteo’s cigarettes and hunkered over the counter. “Heard people were looking for you,” he said quietly, passing Matteo the purple packs and taking the cash.
“You know how I go incommunicado when I’m ‘working’ and making deliveries,” Matteo said with sheepish wince. “I met someone and decided to lay low for a while but I…forgot to tell my family and they panicked.”
“You ought to know better but I figured it had something to do with a guy.”
“Guilty as charged,” Matteo said with a wiggle of his brows, making Ray snicker.
“As long as that’s all you’re charged with.”
“Me? Could you see me doing anything illegal?” he asked and they both laughed. “Speaking of…” Matteo cleared his throat. “Can you get me some smoke bombs? Just the kind you’d get for a prank, at any fireworks stand,” he said and Ray snorted.
“Easy peasy. I’ll have them for you next time. You go on and have yourself a good day, you hear?” Ray said, his gaze loaded with gratitude.
“You too, Ray. I’ll see you next week.”
Matteo tucked the packs into his pocket and turned toward the Olympia. He really liked Ray and was touched by his concern. He hadn’t wanted to lie so Matteo had stuck to the broader facts and allowed Ray to assume the obvious. The more people who heard the same story, the better for their cover.And so far, no one had noticed that anything had happened to Matteo’s face.
“Jeffrey!” Matteo gave the doorman at the Olympia a fist bump.
“It’s good to see you, Mr. von Hessen. We’ve all been worried.”
Now, Matteo felt like an ass. “I’m sorry! I met a man and I knewthey’dtake it poorly,” he said, gesturing in the direction of Muriel’s apartment.
“Did the two of you elope?”
“Nee!” Matteo shook his head. “We went to the beach and stayed drunk and naked for a week and a half. I’ll be staying at his place for a while but I’ll still drop in for fresh clothes and to water the plants.”
“That’s not as romantic, but congratulations,” Jeffrey said with a laugh, slapping Matteo’s shoulder. “It’s good to have you back, sir!”
“It’s good to be back!” Matteo said as he headed for the elevator. “I think…” he added under his breath and pressed the call button. He felt a sense of foreboding as he rode up to the 6th floor and his fears materialized when he was ambushed by Muriel.
“Shame on you, Matteo!” She had him by the ear as soon as he stepped into the apartment.
“Ow! Sorry! Ow, ow, ow! Sorry!” Matteo whimpered, following as she marched into the sitting room, then pointed at one of the armchairs by the fireplace. “I thought you were in Austria.”
“Ha! That’s what I wanted you to think. I’ve been lying in wait since Theo went back to Oslo. I had to see you for myself.”
