“Talia? Snippy?”
“I know, right? But on the drive from the restaurant back to my house, she got really short with Drex.”
“What provoked it?”
“I have no idea. We were talking about Key West.”
With great care, Jasper set his highball glass on the table, then left his fingers cupping the rim and turned the glass idly. “How did that come up?”
“Drex wants to visit Hemingway’s house. He asked if we’d been there. It was a casual conversation. And then it wasn’t. I’m not sure at what point it went downhill or why it did.” She sipped at the ice crystals floating on the surface of her drink. “I think his questions began to pester her.”
“Questions?”
“Basic ones that a prospective tourist would ask a travel agent. He kept at it even though she made it clear she didn’t want to talk business.”
“She didn’t want to talk about Key West.”
Noticing his shift in tone, Elaine’s gaze sharpened on him. “Oh? Why?”
“It’s a private matter. Not something that Talia is comfortable talking about, even with me. All I’ll say is that she had a client who became a close friend. But the relationship ended abruptly.” He paused before adding, “And badly.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It was a while ago but remains a sensitive topic with her. I trust you’ll never bring it up a
gain.”
“Of course, Jasper.” She picked up her glass and raised it to him. “On the subject of Key West, I’ll be as silent as a grave.”
Jasper could barely contain an eruption of laughter.
“Jasper?”
Talia flipped on the kitchen light and was greeted by a startling sight. Dressed in pajamas, Jasper was crouched on the floor, running his hand along the baseboard beneath the cabinet. “What on earth are you doing?”
He came to his feet, dusting his hands. “I dropped an ice cube.” He shaded his eyes against the overhead light. “Please switch that off. I think we’re being watched.”
“Watched?”
“Turn off the light, Talia.”
She didn’t appreciate his imperious tone but did as asked, then waited for him to explain his bizarre behavior.
He asked, “Have you been asleep all afternoon and evening?”
“No, I woke up to an empty house. I found the note you left on my dressing table. You and Elaine must have been enjoying yourselves. Your get-together for drinks extended into the dinner hour.” She looked at the clock on the stove. “And beyond.”
“I called to invite you to join us. Your phone went to voice mail.”
“Oh. Right,” she said with chagrin. “I silenced it when I lay down and forgot to turn it back on.”
“Assuming you were asleep, I left you in peace rather than call on the house phone.”
She nodded absently. “How was Elaine?”
“Enlightening. Did you skip dinner?”
“No. After reading your note, I ate a peanut butter sandwich and went back to bed. When did you get home?”