Chapter 17

  When Wade awoke that next morning, Linda Sue was long gone. He lamented that his old Chevy Citation was also gone as last night’s conquest would have been honored by painting another shooting star on the trunk. The bedside clock showed nine o’clock. He knew he had several potentially interesting phone calls to make. He placed the first one to Keith. “Yo! Keith! What’s happenin’?” Keith had picked up immediately.

  “Well, mom and I have been celebrating a big new contract that we got yesterday, but, more importantly, what’s been going on with you?”

  Wade smiled as he contemplated the question, but remembered that he had told Keith that he was turning in early. He felt he dare not mention the library. “I was reconnoiterin’ yesterday. I drove up to Bernalillo to get a look-see at the public records and then drove out towards Cabezón.”

  In a moment of genuine concern, Keith asked, “You didn’t go all the way, did you?”

  Wade had to stifle a laugh as he realized that there were two different answers to that question. He kept the more private one to himself as he responded, “No way, my car is too obvious. I’m goin’ to look into rentin’ a four-wheel drive. And I may need to get some more help. You’ve made it clear you want no part of it. I saw some unemployed, maybe homeless, guys downtown yesterday near Second Street and Mountain Road. I suspect I can get what I’m lookin’ for there at the right price.”

  “Well, you’re right. What you want to do is not lawful and I’ve invested far more in your project than I ever intended. And I’m already behind here at Duke City Software. Let me know how it all turns out when you get back home or call me if you need any legitimate help,” said Keith with a great sigh of relief. He was out of it.

  “Yeah! Well, I want to thank you anyway. It was nice to have had a contact here while I’ve been a thousand miles from home,” Wade realized he was speaking into the ether since Keith had already hung up.

  Wade took a little more time before placing his next call. He rehearsed several possible openers in his mind, then shrugged his shoulders, and placed the call to the Library’s main switchboard. “Linda Sue Byerson, please!”

  “Good mawnin’, how may I be of he’p,” answered Linda Sue.

  “Linda Sue, it’s Wade. I’m so sorry I didn’t get you home last night. It was a fabulous evenin’. I just wanted to thank you for everythin’. It was absolutely wonderful!” gushed Wade.

  Her voice suddenly dropped to a hush. “When we were through gettin’ physical, you dropped off to sleep pretty fast so I just took a cab back to my place. I, too, thought the entire evenin’ was out of this world. I feel I ought to apologize to you for takin’ advantage of you. My libido just grabbed hold of me yesterday and wouldn’t let go. Are you leavin’ town right away?” replied Linda Sue.

  “No, I’ll be here another day or two. Maybe we could get together again?” Wade held his breath for what seemed an interminable pause.

  “Wade, you could do me a big favor. I told you about my Aunt Millie here who got me this job. She’s havin’ a small group for dinner this evenin’ and encouraged me to bring a guest. Would you be willin’ to be my escort?” said Linda Sue very matter-of-factly.

  Teased by the chance for a repeat and even now dreaming of a three-peat, Wade jumped at the opportunity. “What time shall I pick you up and what’s the dress code?”

  “How about seven o’clock. Dinner might well be on her patio. It’s been a rather hot June; resort casual would be in order, I think,” answered Linda Sue. And Wade thought he detected that same tone in her voice from yesterday.

  Wade spent the rest of the day at his hotel. He went swimming to kill some time and re-studied his map, but, mostly, he held his head in his hands wondering how he should handle Cabezón. Keith had a solid head on his shoulders. Wade regretted letting Keith go quite so fast. The extra brainpower might be very beneficial. Wade also played out the upcoming dinner party in his mind. That part would work out just fine, he thought, as he began his ‘toilette’.