Murder of a Royal Pain

“I’m glad you think so, but I’m hardly the type men fight duels over. If he’s after anything, it’s the well-connected part.” Skye shifted in her seat. “Though I don’t believe for a minute he’d go as far as slashing my tire to get in good with me.”

“You underestimate yourself.”

“Well, thank you.” Skye sat back. “Anyway, my money’s on the angry parent.”

They were silent until Wally parked the car at the theater. As he opened the door for her he said, “Let’s forget all about Scumble River and have a good time tonight.”

“Good idea.” She took his hand, enjoying its warmth as they walked across the parking lot and inside the building.

After a quick stop for popcorn and sodas, they made their way into the darkened theater. The only seats left were in the front row, and Skye frowned as they settled in. She hated sitting that close to the screen, and was sure it would ruin the show for her, but kept silent, not wanting Wally to think he had disappointed her.

Two hours later, when the film ended, Skye was glad she hadn’t complained. The movie had been terrific. Still caught up in the story, she absentmindedly followed Wally up the aisle toward the exit. When he paused to let someone step in front of him, she stumbled a little, and her gaze fastened on a couple sitting a few seats to her right. She blinked. What was Jackie doing with Simon Reid, Skye’s ex-boyfriend?

Skye opened her mouth to point them out to Wally, but snapped it closed without speaking. The one person whom Wally was definitely jealous of was Simon. Besides, Skye had no desire to interact with Jackie. As Wally had said in the parking lot, this was their evening to forget Scumble River.

She and Wally made it to the car without encountering her ex or the social worker, and Skye let out a sigh of relief as Wally turned east onto Route 30. The restaurant was in Crest Hill, a town of about twenty thousand adjacent to Joliet.

Merichka’s, which meant Mary’s in Slovenian, had been around since 1933. Skye’s grandparents had brought her parents there as children, and Jed and May had followed the tradition, bringing Skye and Vince there when they were little.

Skye smiled as she spotted the restaurant’s sign, a huge boomerang with a martini glass painted on it. The first time her parents took her to Merichka’s, she had asked the waitress if it was an Australian restaurant, and the woman had said no, the boomerang was a symbol that they wanted their diners to keep coming back.

Clearly the customers did return. The parking lot was packed. The only open slot was at the far end, and Wally carefully backed in his sports car. The savory smell of garlic and butter welcomed Skye as she walked through the door.

She waited at the podium as Wally gave their names to the hostess. The woman found their reservation, picked up a couple of menus, and led them up some steps, through the main dining area, and to a smaller room with windows overlooking Theodore Street.

As Wally read his menu, Skye, knowing she would have the poor-boy and double-baked potatoes, put hers aside and examined the room. There were only a half dozen tables, and most were filled with older couples or families. The exception was two teenagers who seemed to be out on their first date.

Once Wally and Skye had ordered, she gestured to the young pair and said, “Aren’t they sweet? It’s so nice to see kids on a real date. I know I’m showing my age, but the herd dating that’s popular now seems wrong to me. I can see a group as a safety net when you’re first going out, but if you never break away from the crowd, how can you get to know each other on a deeper level?”

“Maybe that’s what they’re afraid of.” Wally took her hand. “Opening yourself up to someone is scary.”

“That’s true. But if you don’t learn how to share yourself when you’re young, it’s even more terrifying when you’re older.”

“I agree. As you age, you have more and more in your past, which means you have more to hide.” His gaze was as soft as a caress. “Or the more you think you have to hide.”

Her heart raced. “Maybe people feel they have to conceal aspects about themselves because they can’t stand to face them.” Was Wally trying to say that she was hiding something—or, worse yet, that he was?

They were interrupted by the waitress serving their meal, and Skye found herself studying Wally as they ate. He was a handsome man by anyone’s standards. Tall and powerfully built, he stood out in a crowd. When he was dressed in his police uniform, the crisp navy twill showed off his wide shoulders and muscular thighs. Tonight, clad in black jeans and a silk turtleneck, his slim waist and broad chest were emphasized.

Wally caught her staring and cocked an eyebrow. She blushed and ate the last bite of her sandwich. The cube steak was tender and perfectly seasoned, and the French bread roll was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside—delicious. But abruptly Skye was hungry for something else. She glanced over at Wally and found that now he was staring.