Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate Read Online Free PDF Page B

on a three-week cruise to Baja with her Jewish seniors’ group,” I explained.
    “Baja?” Mary Ann repeated. “Wow, that sounds like a fun vacation.”
    “Yes,” Leah confirmed. “Sophie and I have been enjoying it immensely. Now, let’s get our coats, shall we?”
    “Did I just overhear that you were leaving?”
    We all turned at the sound of Rick’s voice.
    “We have to get back to the city,” Mary Ann explained.
    “I see, well it was good to meet you.” He looked deep into Mary Ann’s eyes. “Thank you so much for talking to me. You made today a little more bearable.”
    “It was good to meet you, too,” I said, although it was exceedingly obvious that he wasn’t talking to me. “I know this isn’t the place to ask for a professional favor, but I recently pitched an idea to…um…the National Review for an article dealing with the inner workings of political campaigns,” I lied. “I’d love to interview you for it…and Flynn Fitzgerald, of course.”
    “The National Review? ” Rick shifted his weight back on his heels. “That’s a fairly conservative periodical.”
    “Yes, I guess it is.” And Microsoft is a fairly big computer company.
    “Forgive me if I’m out of line, but Johnny was just telling me about your books. He said they were quite good, but he also said that your protagonist is a committed Democrat. I had assumed that you were a Democrat, as well.”
    “Um…yes, I am, but a very conservative one.”
    Rick cocked his head. “You must be if you’re writing for the National Review. ”
    “I’m like the John McCain of the Democratic party.”
    “Really?” Rick sounded incredibly skeptical.
    “Yes, I really think we should lower the income tax and I just love the idea of…school vouchers.”
    “Is that so? Do you have children?”
    “No, she has a nephew, my son Jack,” Leah said, eyeing the door longingly. “He’ll be attending Adda Clevenger Junior Preparatory and then I plan on sending him to the Bay School of San Francisco. I’ve spoken to people in the admissions offices of Harvard and Yale and everyone agrees that a Bay School education will be beneficial.”
    Rick nodded appreciatively. “How old is your son?”
    “Two. I’m truly sorry, Rick, but I have to pick him up now. Do you think you could give my sister your card so she can contact you later to set up an interview?”
    “An interview?” Johnny had just popped up from nowhere. “Are you going to interview somebody? Are you researching one of your books? Can I help? I would love to help you research an Alicia Bright novel!”
    “I’m actually writing an article for the National Review, ” I muttered. I should have said that I was researching a book. That would have been a much easier lie to pull off.
    “So you’re a journalist, too? That’s so cool!” Johnny gushed. “Who do you want to interview? Can I help?”
    “This article is about the campaign process, so I’d love to talk to any of the top people on Fitzgerald’s team. You know, the people Eugene worked with.”
    “I suppose I could help you with that,” Rick said, pulling out his card and pressing it into my hand. “Even when I’m out of the office I always check my messages.”
    “Good to know.” I smiled at my companions. “Shall we?”
    “Bye!” Johnny called after us.
    When we got out to the car I threw my arms around Leah’s neck. “Thank you so much for coming to my rescue. All that stuff about making college plans for your two-year-old was perfect.”
    Leah broke away and looked at me. “I didn’t make that up. My son’s going to Harvard. Yale’s just his backup.”
    “Oh…right, of course.” I bit my lip as I got behind the wheel of my car and waited for Mary Ann and Leah to get themselves settled. I love my nephew, but I didn’t see him going to Harvard so much as I saw him going on Ritalin.
    I dropped Mary Ann off first and then started toward Leah’s babysitter’s family home, which was