“I hope you’re being careful.”
“Door’s locked, and I’m upstairs with my Smith & Wesson and shotgun.”
“You’re getting me hot.” She smiled.
“And, I have detectives watching from a car out on the street. It could be worse. They wanted me to wear a wire 24/7, so they could even listen in on our conversation. Dodds would especially like that.”
“He’s such a character.” She looked at herself in the tub and thought, Ask me what I’m wearing…
“He is that.” Will paused. “I’m wondering if we should go to the symphony tomorrow night.”
“Are you kicking me to the curb, Borders?”
“No! I’m worried. I have skin in this game. You don’t. I already nearly got you killed when I was in the hospital. I’m afraid of putting you at risk, at even greater risk, because we can’t be sure the killer doesn’t already know about you.”
“As I recall, Detective, I nearly got you killed. The murderer was after me, and your buddies at CPD thought I was a murderer.”
“You know what I mean…”
“And I have skin in the game, too, as you put it. My students are dead.”
Another pause. “Fair enough. But I don’t have the best history this way.”
“Will, why does Dodds call you Mister President?”
He seemed grateful to laugh. “That bastard. Okay, if we’re going to bare our souls, it’s because my full name is William Howard Taft Borders. Named after Cincinnati’s only president, and a failed one at that. My mom was a local history buff. He calls me that it to get under my skin.”
Cheryl Beth smiled and finished the wine. “I like it. Look, Will, I know you feel guilty about what happened with Theresa Chambers. But that wasn’t your fault. It’s in the past and you can’t live your life in fear. Unless…” Her smile faded. “Unless you don’t like me, and if that’s the case, all you have to do is tell me, before I get skin in that game, too.”
“No, Cheryl Beth. I like you a lot. I have ever since I met you. No game.”
“You’re mighty forward.” She exaggerated her accent.
“I didn’t mean…”
“Relax, Will. I’m kidding you.”
“Right.” His voice relaxed.
“Maybe you don’t even like the symphony. You probably use that line to get girls because you know we usually have to drag men to concerts.”
“Yep, that’s me. Be ready tomorrow night and you’ll find out.” His cadence changed. “Tomorrow’s going to be hell day, I’m afraid. I don’t think I told you that my ex-wife has remarried and finally has her big house in Hyde Park. I went over there tonight to talk to my stepson. He’s in trouble. He was on the river Saturday night with some other kids and they found Kristen Gruber’s boat. He went aboard and saw her body. Lord, I wish he would have called the police then.”