I was searching the freezer for sausage when I remembered about Starkey. Starkey was coming over. She was probably on her way.
"Hey, you remember Carol Starkey? I forgot. She's coming over tonight."
Something like interest flickered in Lucy's eyes, but then she smiled.
"I guess you forgot, all right."
"It's nothing like that, Lucille. Starkey's tracking a juvie file on someone I'm trying to find. I have to get these articles to her, so I invited her for dinner. No big deal."
The articles were still on the counter.
"I'm serious. Is it better if I leave?"
"Absolutely not. If I'd known you were going to be here, I wouldn't have asked Starkey. She'll understand."
Lucy and I were thawing the sausage when Starkey knocked.
I said, "That's Starkey."
"Ask her to stay. I mean it."
I called out that I was coming and went to the door. When I opened it, Starkey flipped away a cigarette, blew a geyser of smoke toward the trees, and came in with a square pink bakery box.
She said, "Whose car is that?"
Lucy stepped out of the kitchen as Starkey came inside. Lucy was holding the package of sausage and a knife. She smiled nicely.
"Hello, Detective. It's good to see you again."
Starkey stared at Lucy as if she couldn't put a name to her face.
I said, "Ben's mom."
"I know who she is, Cole. Ms. Chenier. How's your little boy?"
"He's well, thank you. He's doing very well."
Lucy gestured with the sausage, and went back to the kitchen.
"I have to get back. I'm dripping."
When Lucy was gone, I lowered my voice.
"Lucy was here when I got back. I didn't know she was in town."
Lucy called from the kitchen.
"Ask her to stay."
I lowered my voice even more.
"Starkey, look, you mind taking a rain check? She's only here for-"
Starkey pushed the box into my hands.
"Fruit tarts. Don't worry about it, Cole. Give me the stuff and I'm gone."
I brought the dessert box into the kitchen, and told Lucy that Starkey was leaving. When I scooped up the articles, Lucy followed me back to the living room. Starkey was still fidgeting by the door. She hadn't come three steps into my house.
Lucy said, "Please, Detective, have dinner with us. At least have a drink."
"I don't drink-I smoke."
Starkey snatched the articles from me, folded them, then tried to slip them into her outer pocket.
"I ran Reinnike's name, Cole. He doesn't have an adult record, so you're shit out of luck with that. I'll let you know if I find something in Juvenile."
Lucy said, "Please-stay for a while. We can visit."
"I gotta get going."
Starkey kept pushing the articles at her pocket, but they wouldn't go in. The paper had folded outside her pocket.
I said, "The paper's bent."
Starkey pushed harder.
"Jesus fucking Christ."
I said, "You're making it worse."
Starkey gave up on the pocket and turned for the door.
Lucy said, "It was good seeing you, Detective."
"Tell the little boy I asked after him."
Lucy smiled nicely, clearly touched.
"I will. Thank you."
Starkey stopped at the door, looked at me as if she was going to say something, but glanced back at Lucy.
"He misses you."
Lucy's jaw tightened, but she made no other response as Starkey went out. I stood in the door until Starkey was in her car, then returned to the kitchen. Lucy was searching through my cupboards. She saw I was back, and smiled brightly.
"Okay, boss, let's get this going. I'm starving to death."
"I'm sorry she said that about me missing you. It's none of her business."
Lucy put two large cans of chopped tomatoes on the counter, and set about opening them as if nothing was wrong. Her eyebrows arched.
"She likes you, Mr. Cole."
"Not the way you mean."
Lucy considered me, then shook her head, and went back to opening the cans.
"You can tell me what she's helping you with while we cook."
I watched her for a moment, wondering what to say and how to say it. Lucy softened me. Maybe it was the warmth of her hair (the best color money can buy) or the curve of her cheek or the determined intelligence in her eyes; maybe it was her scent or the way one front tooth overlapped the other or the faint lines gathered at the corners of her eyes. The whole of her gave me a peace I had not known without her. The knots in my neck and upper back loosened; the strained buzzing in my chest calmed. I did not tell her about Reinnike. I told her I was working a missing-persons case, and let it