“If it involves subduing men much larger than you, or finding a clue from pretty much nothing, or taking a tense situation and deescalating it, you have my full confidence. But this is not that.”
Pine sat on the bed to put on her heels and looked at her friend. “So, what then? What do I do if it seems clear that—?”
“—that he’s attracted to you? You do nothing. He’s a grown man. Whatever his feelings are, don’t feel like you’re obligated in any way to be responsible for placating him or playing along. When I mentioned using all the tools in your arsenal, I never meant for you to string him along or anything like that to get what you want. Just be yourself. And if he does or says something to make you uncomfortable, let him know it. If he doesn’t get the message, then leave.” She paused and smiled. “Just please don’t beat him up.”
Pine snorted.
Blum continued. “I know you know all of that, but sometimes a refresher course doesn’t hurt. So you need to draw clear lines. Let him know your interest is only professional. But don’t come down too hard on him if he says something that annoys you.”
“Why?”
“Because you still need him for information. We’re here to solve a mystery, Agent Pine. Don’t forget that.”
Pine smiled and reached over and patted Blum’s hand. “What would I do without you?”
“Well, let’s hope we don’t have to find out for a very long time.”
Chapter 60
IS THAT TOO MUCH AIR?” asked Lineberry.
They were sailing along on their way to Atlanta in the top-down Aston Martin.
“No, it actually feels good. This is the Georgia I remember. Warm and humid.”
He grinned.
He was dressed in a dark brown blazer, tan slacks, and a patterned shirt. A pocket square completed the look.
“So, life’s good for you?” said Pine.
“No complaints.” He glanced at her. “What about you? You have some issues I’ve never had to face.”
She moved a few strands of hair out of her face and studied the straight road ahead. “Issues have solutions. I just have to find them.”
“That’s the proper attitude,” he said admiringly. “Are you further along in your investigation of all these awful murders?”
“Further along than we were. But a long way to go. The last victim was a little boy.”
“I heard about that,” he said grimly. “What I can’t understand is why all this now. And why here? This would be the last place in the world you’d think something like this would happen.”
“Murder can happen anywhere because killers can come from anywhere. And go anywhere.”
“I suppose,” he said doubtfully.
“Where are we eating in Atlanta?”
“A little place I discovered about a year ago. The menu isn’t immense, but there’s not a weak dish in the lineup. And the wine list is a veritable treasure trove.”
“I’m afraid I’m more into beer.”
“You know your mother told me that very same thing when I had them over for dinner once.”
“Did she?” said Pine without enthusiasm as she continued to stare down the road.
“But she opened up to wine. First white and then red. She was an apt student. Her taste became quite refined. I look forward to doing the same with you.”
Pine’s pulse quickened a bit at this as Blum’s earlier words and warning came back to her. “How did you get into wine? Not from your work at the bauxite mine?”
“Um, no,” he replied like a man who had said too much. “Just from traveling around here and there.”
Right, thought Pine. She then recalled that Laredo had never been able to find out where Jack Lineberry had come from before he had turned up in Andersonville.
“I guess that’s the good thing about traveling, you learn things,” said Pine cryptically. “I try to do the same.”
He gave her an inquisitive glance at this remark but said nothing.
* * *
The restaurant was intimate, but every table was occupied by what looked to be well-heeled clientele. The owner evidently knew Lineberry because he greeted him enthusiastically by name and guided him back to a private table set in a book-lined alcove at the back of the room with drawn curtains.
“The reserve wine list,” said the man, handing him a black iPad.
“Thanks, Ben.”
After the man walked off, a waitress, young and pretty and clearly intimidated by Lineberry, hurried over to fill their glasses with bottled still water.
“Hello, Mr. Lineberry. Good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too, Wendy. Thank you. This is my friend, Ms. Pine.”