Chapter 13: Mastercard

Allen thought for a minute and then dialed his sister’s number.

“Gail, I need a favor. Something important has come up, and I need Connie this afternoon. Nothing bad, but can she be excused from working until tomorrow? Great, thanks. I’m calling her now.”

“Connie, I just got off the phone with that lawyer, Martina Lamar. You took her card. She has a check for you, some old leftover account, I guess. I kind of know her from an old case, so I asked her to have dinner with us and give you this check then. Gail says you can take the afternoon off. Listen, you saw her, she’s good looking.

I wanted to impress her, so we’re going to Olivera’s at six o’clock. Yes, I know, I thought of that. That’s why I want you to take the Mastercard I got for you and buy a nice dress for our dinner. Yes, Olivera’s is fancy, that’s why. Whatever else you need; you can go a little crazy.

“When we get home, Jim will be back from football practice. He’ll go ape when he sees you all fancy. After football practice, he’ll smell like an ape, too. I’ll tell him to take a shower. Just help me out tonight, be my wing-woman. Cool, thanks.”

At 4:45, Allen watched Connie come blazing through the door, laden with shopping bags. She was only a blur, but it looked like she had been attended by makeup and hair people as well. She appeared half an hour later, saying she was ready to go.

He almost dropped the glass in his hand. He was stunned. She was stunning. Eighteen going on twenty-eight, he thought.

“Connie?” he bleated. Then she ruined the illusion, childishly.

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out.”

She was a scamp, but he loved her. And Connie hadn’t failed to notice how Allen reacted when she appeared all put together for the evening.

“Let’s go; we don’t want to be late. Never keep a pretty woman waiting, that’s what smart lawyers say. Right, Allan?”

“That’s correct, Connie.” Allen answered, dryly.