Deadly Row, A - By Casey Mayes Page 0,30
used to crime. How are the puzzles doing?”
“We’re steadily increasing the number of papers they’re appearing in.”
“I know,” she said with a grin. “I’ve been subscribing to the Hickory Post just for your puzzles. Have you ever thought of putting them online?”
“My editor’s talked about it, but he’s afraid it might eat into our base,” I said. “I must say, I’m flattered.”
“Savannah, I love your puzzles. They have just the right amount of variation from easy to hard to keep me on my toes. I don’t finish all of them, but I’m up to doing three out of four most of the time.”
“I’d say that’s pretty successful,” I said. “You must be getting pretty good.”
“They calm my spirit, if that makes any sense. When my mind’s racing ten miles a minute, I pull out a puzzle and start working.”
“Are you working on anything new now?”
“I’m going to go create one right after we finish here,” I admitted.
“I don’t suppose there’s any way I could watch you do it, is there? I promise I’ll be so quiet that you won’t even know I’m there.”
“There’s nothing magical about it,” I said. “I sit on the couch, and start playing with numbers. It’s a lot like watching a kid do her homework, and just about as exciting.”
“You underestimate how wonderful what you do is. You make something out of nothing, and that’s an act of pure creation.”
“I suppose. I never really thought about it. It’s just what I do.”
We had finished our meal, and I’d delayed making my puzzle as long as I could.
“Speaking of which, I’d better get to work.”
“Thanks for making the time for me. Breakfast is my treat.”
“I’d be happy to get it,” I said. While I had no compunctions about taking a free room, I still had a little trouble allowing Barton Lane to pick up the tab for everything else.
“You can pay next time,” she said.
At least someone was paying. Lorna signaled the waitress for our check, and when the young woman came over, she said, “Your meals today were compliments of the Belmont. I hope you both have a nice day.”
Somehow I’d been expecting that, and it was no use arguing with the girl who’d served us so well. “Thank you.”
Lorna looked confused. “What just happened here? Did this meal go on your room tab?”
“I suppose you could say that,” I said. “Don’t worry, it’s all settled.”
“I honestly would be glad to pay.”
How on earth was I going to explain to her that the owner himself was handling it? There was no way I could do it without mentioning Barton’s name, something I knew he wouldn’t have liked. “You can get it next time,” I said. “But perhaps we should go somewhere else tomorrow.”
“Why? Breakfast today was lovely.”
“Let’s just say that it might be nice to get out of the Belmont once in a while.”
Lorna looked around the beautifully furnished restaurant. “I don’t see how that’s possible.”
“Trust me,” I said, allowing a slight laugh to escape my lips.
“So, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I hadn’t really agreed on meeting with her the next day, but she was fun company, and I heartily approved of the changes she’d made in her life, and her attitude about the world. “Tomorrow it is. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”
“Make it a good one,” she said.
I left her, nodding my thanks again to our waitress as I left. She smiled brightly, but there was also an air of curiosity to her expression. I couldn’t imagine why she thought the hotel owner was picking up every check in sight for me, but I couldn’t exactly tell her, either. For now, I was just going to have to remain a mystery for the staff. I liked thinking of myself that way, Savannah Stone, woman of intrigue.
I couldn’t stall anymore, though.
It was time to create a puzzle, and do it in time to have lunch with my husband at the police station.
AFTER I FINISHED THE LATEST BRAINTEASER, IT WAS TIME to write my snippet; a nice little addition to whatever puzzle I’d chosen to create.
Life is full of puzzles, some hard, some easy. Every now and then it’s good to revisit the basics, and that’s what I’ve done today. For those of you with Master puzzle-solving skills, remember your joy of solving your first puzzle, and take a moment to relish that sense of accomplishment. For those of you who have been waiting on the side of the puzzle pool, barely dangling