Chapter 85
Sabine Drew returned to the Bingham Motor Inn. Sadlier joined her there, and together they drove out to his home, but they did nothing more energetic than drink take-out coffee and share a pastry while Sabine told him of the imminent arrival of the private investigator to The Plains.
“Will you help him?” she asked.
“Of course.”
“Because of me?”
“And because it’s the right thing to do.”
“It may cost you your job.”
“I’m as good as done with it anyway.”
“When it’s over,” said Sabine, “let’s not come back here.”
“I’m okay with that. Did you have somewhere in mind?”
Sabine regarded him over the rims of her spectacles.
“How do you feel,” she said, “about fish as pets?”
In Augusta, Tony attached the tracker to Roger Teal’s car without a hitch, after which he, Paulie, and Faith enjoyed a lunch of fettuccine alfredo, seafood quiche, and steak medallions at Otto’s.
They then drove north to Orono, where one of Edward Kenney’s employees at the Smiling Seed Company took an immediate dislike to the Fulcis, keeping them under his eye from the moment they arrived, so it was left to Faith to tag Kenney’s BMW.
As a token of gratitude, Tony bought her a bouquet of roses, zinnias, and dahlias, and the three of them drove contentedly back south.
Paulie, showing some discretion, waited in the car while Tony walked Faith to the door of her condo building in Cumberland.
“Thank you,” she said. “I had a really good time. I’ve never put a tracker on a car before.”
“Me neither,” said Tony. “It was a day of firsts for both of us.”
She looked past him to where Paulie was seated in the back seat of the Fulcis’ monster truck. He waved at her. She waved back.
“Your brother’s sweet,” she said. “But maybe next time—”
Tony nodded in understanding. He’d expected this, even wanted it some, but it still made him sad. He loved his brother.
“I just didn’t want him to feel left out,” said Tony. “We’ve done everything together, right from when we were little. Even our time in jail we did together. But I don’t want it to be awkward between us, so I’ll tell him that next time, he should stay home.”
Faith touched his arm.
“No, that wasn’t what I was going to suggest,” she said. “I was afraid it would seem weird, that’s all.”
“What would?”
“You see, I have a sister …”