Page 52 of Cold Silence
The blond with even lighter highlights and makeup that was perfectly applied to accentuate her big eyes and full lips accepted the call. “Oh, Claire. My call just said the institute. I thought it was Kent.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” Claire smiled.
“I didn’t say I was disappointed. Not with that eye candy sitting beside you.” She flashed a wide smile at Travis.
Travis cringed, but Claire ignored it. “This is Travis Chapman. He’s participating in our program, and he’s helping me with the anniversary party planning.”
“You’re not like any party planner I’ve ever seen.” She winked at Travis.
Claire felt his whole body stiffen next to her, which Sylvia seemed to ignore. She lifted her hand and looked at her manicured pink nails. “What can I do for you, Claire?”
Claire explained the bogus reason for the call. “Can you think of something Kent might want but not buy for himself?”
“No. He pretty much just gets whatever he wants. If you’d asked me a few weeks ago I’d suggest dance lessons.” She ran her hands down her body. “I stay in shape by dancing and would love to share it with Kent.”
“You don’t think that’s a good idea now?” Travis asked.
“Not sinceshe.” Sylvia shot an angry look at Claire. “Changed the schedule and Kent works most nights now.”
Claire glanced at Travis. He knew they didn’t have any staff on duty at night and when Claire opened her mouth to tell Sylvia that, Travis mimed keeping her mouth shut.
“Doesn’t he have any free nights?” Travis asked casually.
“Ask her.” Sylvia jerked her head at Claire. “She makes the schedule.”
“Sounds like dance lessons aren’t a good idea right now then. Do you have another one?”
“I don’t know. Hewillhave more money now he’s been working nights at the institute.”
Nights again?
Maybe Claire could use that to get to the alibi she needed for the attack. “I suppose that’s why he wasn’t at work Tuesday morning.”
“He was there.” Sylvia snapped forward in her chair. “At least he said he was.”
Claire held up a hand. “Relax. Probably my mistake, and I just didn’t see him.”
“I hate the night work, but I have to admit that overtime pay is going to be nice to have.” She relaxed her shoulders, almost bare under the white tank top straps. “He even promised me a new emerald ring I’ve been eyeing for putting up with him being gone so often.”
“But you can’t think of anythinghemight want?” Travis asked.
Claire wanted to probe the night thing first before moving on. “I?—”
“Let’s give Sylvia a chance to share her thoughts,” Travis interrupted and followed it with a visual plea that Claire couldn’t ignore.
Sylvia didn’t catch their interaction and started throwing out gift ideas.
“Will one of these ideas work for you?” Travis asked Claire.
“Yes,” Claire said, but she had no intention of buying any one of them as each one would benefit Sylvia in some way.
“I mean that’s all I got anyway,” Sylvia said. “Once you’ve been married for ten years like us, you don’t even discuss those things. So no. I got nothing else for you.”
But he knows you want a very pricey ring.Of course,Claire didn’t say that aloud. She had far more tact than that. “Okay, thanks, and sorry to disturb.”
Sylvia leaned forward, accentuating her cleavage and eyeing up Travis. “Bye, sugar. Don’t be a stranger.”
Claire ended the call.
