Bones of a Feather - Carolyn Haines [45]
“In other words, you plied him with liquor and pumped him.”
“I haven’t forgotten the tactics of being a man, dahling.” Cece arched her eyebrows. “He wasn’t a cheap date, let me say, but it was worth it. I solicited great info. Monica tied him in knots and then dropped him. His wife got the house, the kids, and six grand a month in alimony.”
“Six grand? He must print money. Doctor or lawyer?”
“Insurance. He writes policies for the country music stars.”
“I hope the affair was worth it.” Talk about a lifetime of pain for momentary pleasure.
“He said it was well worth it. Believe it or not, he had no regrets.”
The surprise must have shown on my face. Most men enjoyed a good romp, but when it impacted their pocketbooks, remorse was generally intense.
“He said Monica turned him inside out. He would have given up everything for her.” Cece sipped a mimosa. “Still would. He said if she gave him another chance, he’d walk away from everything. She made him feel incredible, like he was the best lover in the world.”
“Did he say what she did?” If Monica had a secret move that could make a man throw over his money, I wanted to know what it was. The waitress brought our shrimp grits and biscuits. My mouth watered to the point I almost embarrassed myself.
“He said she had no boundaries.” Cece daintily tasted her grits. “These are heavenly. There’s just enough spice in the shrimp to complement the sharp cheese. Excellent.”
“What does that mean? No boundaries.”
She took a bite of biscuit. “He wouldn’t say.”
“What a freaking tease.” I dug into my food.
“He promised to show me. Tonight.”
“What about Barclay?” My spirits rose. She’d thrown over the idea of romancing the bad boy, even if it meant having a fling with an adulterer who bled green every time he paid his alimony.
“I haven’t given up on Barclay. Once I learn what Wayne has to show me, I’m going to turn Barclay inside out. He’ll tell me every secret he ever thought of having, and I’ll have my way with him.”
I wisely kept silent and sipped my orange juice. Cece, like all my friends, was impossible to dissuade once she’d set a course. The best plan was to put Barclay behind bars for burglary and kidnapping—if he was guilty—and safely out of her reach. “So what did Mr. Griffin say about Monica other than she was hot in bed?”
“That she was the most selfish person he’d ever met.” She put her fork down. “According to him, all the women in town hate her. His words, ‘There are dozens of society ladies who might pay to have her abducted. Permanently.’” She made sure no one was eavesdropping on us before she continued. “Is it possible the ransom is just a ruse to cover up a murder?”
My gut twisted at her words. “I hadn’t considered that, but I will now.” Cece had just put another boiling kettle on the back burner of my brain. “Is Eleanor held in the same low regard?”
“She’s managed to keep her paws off the husbands of her friends, so she isn’t despised like Monica, but there’s no love lost for her, either. The Levert sisters are viewed as arrogant and entitled. The redeeming grace, at least from the male perspective, is Monica’s … shall we say, sexual talent.”
“If Aunt Loulane were around, she’d tell Monica a smart woman doesn’t shit in her own nest.”
“I don’t think Aunt Loulane would tell her anything. Your aunt had too much class to associate with Monica.” Cece popped the last bite of biscuit in her mouth. “So what’s on the agenda for today?”
“Don’t you have to show up at the newspaper?” Cece had a lax work situation because the publisher knew she’d bird-dog a story until she brought it home no matter how many hours overtime she worked. Nonetheless, Cece normally appeared at the office at some point during