Northern Moonlight (20 page)

In juxtaposition to the living room, the kitchen boasted a full set of stainless steel cookware fit for an epicurean.  The man even had a spice rack filled with about a dozen varieties of herbs.  Tiny glass bottles of oregano, tarragon, and thyme were lined up tidily inside the rack.  On the kitchen floor, Pal was reclining next to a half-gnawed milk bone.  Two windows sat directly above the kitchen sink, allowing ample light to enter. 

“You have a very cheerful kitchen.” Sabrina commented.

“Yeah, it’s my favorite room since it’s where I do all my eating.” Gio joked as she gave an appreciative smile, eager to lift the crackling tension between them.

“Why don’t I show you my second favorite room?” He suggested, and Sabrina immediately knew that he meant the bedroom. 

She let him guide her there as she surveyed the neat but similarly barren space.  His bedspread was a chocolate-toned patchwork that draped what appeared to be a king-size bed.  A bland taupe area rug sat in the center of the room and, as Sabrina glanced to the right, she noted a bookcase stacked high with reading materials.

“Why do you keep your bookcase in your bedroom instead of in the living room?”  Sabrina questioned, edging closer to the bookcase and finding there a vast array of literary genres.  There were mostly books on history, culinary arts, and baseball.  On the bottom shelf, a few volumes about architecture were stacked towards the shelf’s rim, giving Sabrina the impression that he did not read them very often. 

“Because I like to read before I sleep.  It calms me.” He replied, eyeing her closely, hoping that she wouldn’t leave too soon---the way he had foolishly done on Sunday.

Uncomfortable with the expression in his eyes, Sabrina began to tell him of the tickets she had obtained.  “You’ll be glad to know that I was able to get four tickets to the gala.  I brought two of them with me today for you and Max.  Cara will be arriving on Friday morning and she and I will meet you there.” Sabrina handed him the tickets as he looked at her warily, disappointed by the business-like demeanor she had assumed.

“Thank you, Sabrina.  This is great.  But don’t you want us to pick you ladies up?”

Sabrina shook her head vigorously. “No.  Cara has never met Max before and it could feel awkward for both of them.  This is not a double date.  It’s four professionals
joining together as a team…and maybe enjoying a little wine.” She tacked on the last bit in hopes of lightening the atmosphere.  Gio smiled at her mention of wine and nodded in understanding to her logic concerning Cara and Max.

Sabrina continued, “I would have told you this over the phone, but you’ve been unreachable for the past few days.”

“Yeah, I’ve been putting in extra hours at the firehouse.”

“You must be exhausted.  And I actually have to get going myself since I’m going to try to finally take my sunrise photographs tomorrow morning.  The weather forecast predicts clearer skies than we’ve had in weeks.  So I had better get going.”

She walked towards the door, hoping that Gio would escort her down the stairs and out of his apartment building.  But instead he blocked the doorway, placing his hands on either side of the wall so that she could not pass through. 

“You can pretend all you want that nothing happened the other night.  But that can’t undo what’s been done.  You can play hard to get all you want, but it
will
happen between us again.  What are you afraid of?” Gio asked roughly. 

Sabrina wanted to ask him the same question.  Here he was again in open pursuit, but once she succumbed, would he disappear so suddenly and leave her feeling used again?  She did not want to find out the answer.

With as much coolness as she could muster, Sabrina said, “I really do need to wake up early tomorrow, so please let me go.” Gio’s face twisted menacingly and he pulled her forcefully into his arms, fusing their bodies so closely that she could scarcely breathe. 

She thought that he was about to kiss her, but instead he muttered, “Go get your beauty rest, Primrose.  But that doesn’t mean I’m letting you go.  I’ll see you Friday.”

As he spoke, his grip tightened on her arms. When he released her, it was with such force that she stumbled backwards and fought to keep her balance.  Glaring at him, Sabrina breezed past the doorway and didn’t wait for him to follow her out. 

*****

On Friday night, Sabrina careened into the gallery’s parking lot with Cara grumbling in the passenger seat.  Trying to drown out the din of her sister’s complaining, Sabrina reflected on what had transpired since she had stormed out of Gio’s apartment on Wednesday.  If Gio had tried to phone her, she had not been home to receive the call,
and she certainly had made no effort to contact him.  It incensed her that he thought of their next physical interlude as inevitable, as though she had no say in the matter.  Although she still desired him, she refused to be his doormat or, worse, to be his porcelain doll, available to play with when bored and then set back onto a shelf to collect dust. 

Tonight, in her sparkling silver party dress, Sabrina was feeling empowered and very self-confident about her beauty.  Despite her depression, Cara also looked radiant.  Dressed in a lemon-yellow gown that accentuated her slender silhouette and highlighted her crystalline eyes, Cara would no doubt attract bountiful male attention. 

The two sisters stepped out of the sedan, as the elder Montrouge peered around the parking lot for Gio.  Sabrina and Gio recognized each other in the same moment, and he strode over to her with a shorter man alongside him.  In his sleek black tuxedo and crisp white dinner shirt, Gio looked almost like royalty, a very different image from his usual rugged jeans-and-boots attire.  Max was also dapper in his tuxedo but did not possess the same presence or magnetism that Gio did. 

“So that’s Gio?” Cara whispered to her sister.  “He’s gorgeous.  So tall and handsome.  His friend looks like a troll next to him.”

“Hush Cara!  They’re coming over here.” Sabrina reprimanded in a harsh breath. 

Gio’s eyes were penetrating and perusing as he beheld Sabrina in her stunning silver dress.

“Good evening, ladies.  Sabrina, you look beautiful.” Gio said with a slight bow of his head.

“Thank you, Gio.  This is my sister, Cara.” Sabrina began the introductions as the foursome shook hands with one another.  Sabrina thought she saw a captivated twinkle in Max’s emerald eyes when he shook Cara’s hand with deliberate gentleness. 

Max addressed the group.  “Before we go inside, I just want to brief you about what we need to focus on.  To begin the evening, we should blend in seamlessly---just drinking, eating, and admiring the exhibition.  Even if Gio spots Cooper as soon as we walk in the door, it could blow our cover to immediately approach him.  The longer the evening goes, the more relaxed people will be, and the easier a covert interrogation will be.  So let’s wait until I give a signal before anyone swoops in to talk to Cooper, OK?”  Max looked at Gio for affirmation.

Gio nodded thoughtfully and added, “My main objective is to gauge what Cooper’s reaction is.  I don’t have a specific line of questioning planned.  I just want to
see if he’s as uncomfortable with the subject of the fire as Stefano and Helena were.  On the other hand, he may not even remember; in that case, this evening is a dead end.”

“That’s not true, Gio.  Each step you take in investigating the fire brings you closer to exacting justice.” Sabrina asserted.

“She’s right, man.” Max concurred, not looking directly at his friend but rather admiring Cara in her slinky yellow dress.  Cara noticed his appraisal and looked back at him through indifferent eyes and a disapproving pout. 

“You’re right, Sabrina.  You always make me understand things better.” Gio spoke sincerely, as Sabrina spontaneously gave him a hug, trying to transfer to him the courage he would need to make it through this night.

The foursome proceeded through the doors of the gallery and into the lavishly decorated reception area.  Poster-size photographs were artfully arranged on standing easels, and several tables of buffet food on silver platters lined the room. 

“I was hoping for an open bar.” Max chuckled in Gio’s direction, as he saw impeccably uniformed sommeliers circling the room. 

“Don’t be a boor, Max.  You know this is a first class event.” Gio said laughing.

“Sabrina, let’s go get something to eat, alright?  You gentlemen don’t mind if I steal my sister for a while do you?” Cara asked abruptly as Sabrina gave her a reproachful look.

Max smirked at Cara, while Gio frowned slightly, saying, “You can borrow her, but you can’t steal her.  I want her back soon.”

Cara nodded and practically dragged her sister by the hand over to a table heaped with hors d’oeuvres. 

“That was so rude, Cara!  What is wrong with you?” Sabrina hissed.

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t stand to be around that Max fool for another second.”

“You just met the man!  We haven’t spent more than five minutes in his presence.” Sabrina argued.

“Well that’s five minutes too long for me.  I didn’t like the way he was leering…and that comment he made about an open bar!  Gio pegged him right when he told him not to be a boor.  Ugh.  I wish Bruce were here.” Cara’s shoulders slumped as soon as she uttered her ex-lover’s name.

Sabrina put her arm around Cara and said soothingly, “I know you miss Bruce.  It’s OK that you miss him.  But at least try to have a good time tonight.  You came all the way from New York for this.  Look, let’s get some of those yummy looking cheese puffs.” She pointed to a platter of flaky pastries.

“Is everything at this party going to be made of cheese?” Cara whined.

“Now who’s being a boor?” Sabrina asked rhetorically.  “Vermont cheese comes directly from local creameries.  It’s unlike any you’ve ever tasted before, trust me.  But if the cheese displeases you so much, there’s plenty of other food.  Look at those stuffed mushrooms and that crudités platter over there.” Sabrina took Cara by the hand like a little girl and planted her in front of the non-dairy hors d’oeuvres. 

“That’s enough, Sabrina.  You’re making me feel silly now.” Cara complained, snatching up some carrot sticks and cauliflower.

“You should feel silly.  Try to conduct yourself more discreetly, for my sake.” Sabrina requested.

“I will.” Cara decided firmly.  “Mmm…look at that quiche over there.  I want some of that.”

“It has cheese in it.” Sabrina warned, grinning.

“I know, but I’m eating it anyway!” Cara exclaimed, returning her grin.  “Tell me, Sabrina, how are things going between you and Gio?”

Sabrina’s expression darkened.  “I don’t know how things are going.  The man hasn’t been very consistent.”