no way to explain. Raina decided on an approach that wouldn’t be a lie. “I ran into in an old friend. Or acquaintance. In fact, I need a favor. The acquaintance is Axel Tiger.”
“Axel Tiger?”
“From years ago, the Everglades. The young man who was telling the story about the pirate ship and working with the Miccosukee guides and lecturers on that field trip—”
“Oh! I remember him! Axel Tiger.” Elly giggled. “Like I know lots of people with the last name ‘Tiger.’ You know, I get some of the other names—Eagle, say. We have Eagles. We don’t have any tigers in Florida.”
“I guess some people called the panthers tigers. I’m not sure.”
“How did you run into him? That’s bizarre. I mean, were you running around in the Everglades yesterday?”
“No, I was trying on dresses...and he ran into me.”
That was close enough to the truth.
“He ran into you while you were trying on a dress?” Elly asked. “Like, he was in the dressing room?”
Raina could hear the confusion and amusement in her friend’s voice.
“No, no, come on, Elly, really! I ran into him after I tried on the dress. Anyway, would you mind if he comes to the fundraiser? I kind of already told him he could, since it’s a fundraiser and all. I imagine he’s a generous man, but—”
“He works for the federal government!” Elly said. She giggled. “He’s a G-man! I don’t imagine that government men make a lot of money. Oh, his work is prestigious enough—very, very cool, but—”
“Wait. How do you know?”
“Oh, I saw something in the paper on him a while back. He’s with a special unit. It was an article on a truly bizarre case that was solved—after twenty-something years—by his unit. I can’t believe I didn’t point it out to you. Maybe you were out of state working at the time. I noticed it, of course. We all had a crush on him after that camping trip. Who would forget a guy like that? My Lord, yes, bring him! I’d love to see him. Imagine—what were we back then? Thirteen, fourteen? Wow, that’s an age I don’t want to be again. Crushes on everyone, bodies in overdrive. Anyway, I’m really excited about this event, Raina. It’s almost like old home week in the best way. So many friends supporting such a great cause.”
“I agree. And I promise you, Titan and I are ready.”
“Tomorrow, then. I was just getting worried.”
“It’s no problem and thank you for thinking of me.”
“Of course. I know you have Titan. But still...”
“I didn’t mean to worry you. I just wound up doing a lot of running around.”
“Cool. Hey, it must be really neat, meeting him as an adult. Is he still to die for?”
Raina hesitated. It was a common expression, but it seemed ironic at this moment.
She answered judiciously. “He’s an impressive man.”
“Okay, well, I guess I’ll see for myself Friday night.”
They finished the call and Raina looked at the phone, wincing. She was lucky. She had good friends, women she’d known for years and years. Somehow, they’d all segued into good and caring responsible adults. But she couldn’t tell them the truth about this.
Titan emitted a loud “Woof!”
He was seeking her attention—or reminding her they had work to do. She smiled, set down her phone and gave her attention to the dog.
* * *
Casey McConnell joined Axel at the coffee shop a few minutes before the dress shop was due to close. She was a tiny woman, slim almost to the point of gaunt, but with bright blue eyes, long elegant fingers—and a master’s touch with a pencil.
He’d known Casey a long time. She had been with the Metro police ever since he could remember. She was close to retirement age, but her renditions of the people she sketched were so accurate that no one wanted her to leave.
He rose to meet her; she had never been shy and she gave him a kiss on the cheek and a warm hug before sliding into the booth across from him.
“Our friend didn’t want to come to the station?” Casey asked.
“She works right across the street, and I just saw her and asked her to do this. I thought I’d strike while the iron was hot,” Axel said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you out at night.”
She smiled. “Oh, that’s fine. You caught me in time. Vacation next week. Off to see my first great-grandchild.”
“You can’t possibly have a great-grandchild!”
“Flattery will get you everywhere. I’m definitely old enough for a