Four steps down the staircase, and the dots began to connect. Tony. He’d been with her last night. Had volunteered to make cocoa. And that was his voice. He was on the phone, telling someone she was asleep, but would be at Central Precinct that afternoon.
Just as he was about to finish the conversation, he looked up the steps. “Sleeping Beauty has awakened. Want to talk to her?” He handed his cell phone to her. “It’s Jeff.”
“Morning, Jeff. Sorry I’m not … ”
“You don’t have to explain anything. Both Tony and Sam called and told me everything. And Sam said — I’m quoting here — you were great yesterday. High praise from him.”
“I must still be dreaming if he was that complimentary. I heard Tony tell you I have another meeting over there this afternoon. I’ll come see you after that.”
“The only reason to drop in today is so I can congratulate you. That and maybe you can help get the reporters who’ve been hanging around cleared out.”
“Reporters. Damn. I better call Fiona. I promised her first shot at what I knew because she put off running her big story.”
“Take care of Fiona and get squared away with Sam. And get some rest. Tony says you were pretty beat after your adventures.”
She ended the conversation and handed the phone back to Tony.
“What were you planning to do with that?” he asked, indicating the hand weight, a slight smile on his face. “It wasn’t meant for me, was it?”
She put the weight on the counter and ignored his question. “Were you here all night?”
“No, Margo, I went to the hotel and changed into another shirt that looks like this,” he said indicating the make-up-smeared — and now wrinkled — shirt he was wearing. Apparently the look on her face forced a change of direction in the conversation. “Not ready for humor yet, I see. Yes, I stayed. When I brought you the hot chocolate, you’d fallen asleep but you were restless. I rubbed your back for a while and you settled down. When I started to move away from you, you didn’t seem to want me to go.”
“Where did you sleep?”
“Next to you. But I was a gentleman. Your wardrobe made that easier than I might have expected.” He fussed with the coffee pot. “Want some coffee? I just made it.”
“I guess I should thank you.” She could feel tears beginning again and swallowed, hardening the tone of her voice to keep from showing her emotion.
“You wanted someone here. I stayed.” He brought two mugs down from the shelf and poured coffee into them. “Sorry it’s black. I used the last of the milk to make your hot chocolate.” He handed one to her.
She put it down on the counter. “I don’t understand why you stayed. I didn’t ask you to.”
“Jesus, is cross-examination of my motives what you call a truce? I thought after yesterday maybe … ” He banged the mug he was holding down on the counter. “I obviously misunderstood. I apologize. I’ll leave and get out of your way.” He wiped off the coffee that had splashed out of the mug onto his fingers, grabbed his jacket from the back of a dining room chair and strode toward the door.
Before he could get there, she put out her hand. “Tony, please. I didn’t mean to sound like I didn’t want you here … don’t want you here. I just can’t figure out why you stayed when I’ve been so … so inhospitable.”