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  The Judge was taken aback.

  He’d never associated Barbara with kinky sex. Their coupling had always been forthright, lusty, and passionate. And she’d been a bit of an exhibitionist. She got excited attacking him in places where they might get caught or seen, often to his puritan discomfort. But never anything strange or off the track. Had he been a satisfactory lover? Or had he only known the tip of the iceberg so to speak. He forcibly put the thought aside.

  "How'd you end up in a place like that, Barbara?"

  “My girlfriend's boyfriend is a member. He took us. It was slave auction night. It was so cool. It made you feel really free…"

  “And you met Carl there?”

  “Yes, he was a member in the club. I met the Grotto Mistress, Shadow. She's a famous dominatrix. She introduced me to Carl."

  "Did you go back there with Carl?"

  "Oh, many, many times Judge. You should go. You'd learn how to get out of your skin."

  The Judge considered his skin was just fine as it was, even if there was a bit too much of it across his belly. But he was more interested in Carl's skin right now.

  "But then it all changed, Judge." Barbara continued.

  "How so?"

  "About two weeks ago Carl told me he wasn't going back to The Grotto again. He said someone there wanted him to do something. And when he said no, they’d threatened him. He said they were powerful people. But that he wouldn't be bullied."

  "Do you know what they wanted him to do?”

  "No, he wouldn't tell me. Said it was better if I didn't know. Said he shouldn't have told me anything."

  "Do you know what they threatened?"

  "No."

  "Any inkling of who they were?"

  "He just said powerful people. Do you think they had something to do with what happened to Carl in the ally?"

  “I don’t know, Barbara. When did you last talk to Carl?”

  “Thursday afternoon. Briefly.” Barbara was tearing up again.

  “What did you talk about?”

  “Oh, you know. The date for our engagement announcement. An engagement party at the Johns’ Beach Club. Stuff. He said he was going back to The Grotto that evening. He had to put a business matter to rest.”

  “Did he elaborate about the business matter or who he was meeting?

  “No.”

  "Did Carl have close friends in the club?"

  "You mean besides me? We were in a mad affair you know. It was so magical. And you can't image the kinky stuff we did. It was all so… delicious."

  The Judge definitely didn't want to imagine. He deliberately pictured an elephant sitting at their table and then he tried not to think of the beast. That sometimes worked.

  "There was one guy, a big importer or something, that Carl had a longtime bond with. I don't remember his name. But he's almost always at the club Saturday nights."

  "Perhaps we could attend… if that's the right word… the club. And you could introduce me."

  "Oh Judge," Barbara considerably brightened now. "You’re asking me to go to The Grotto with you? What a sweetie. Of course I'll go."

  Barbara's lashes batted up and down again. Like window shades.

  "Barbara, you called me because you wanted me to find out who killed Carl. And it so happens I'm already trying to figure that out. I need to know what was going on at that club with Carl, and who was threatening him."

  "Oh," said Barbara. "So it's not really a date?" Barbara was pulling up one of her pouty looks. "Can we at least pretend?"

  "Barbara, Barbara, come on now," said the Judge. "We go back years. You know full well I'm newly married. Let's work together and see if we can find who did this to Carl."

  Barbara's pout disappeared in a heartbeat, replaced by a soft smile.

  ''Kay, Judge, I understand. You can't blame a girl for trying. Perhaps there'll be another day when you're not so married. Life's like that you know. One big circle."

  Like a Ferris wheel, thought the Judge. Turning, but never really moving.

  “Shall we go tonight?” Barbara continued.

  "Let's,” said the Judge. “What time shall I pick you up?"

  "Ten p.m., Judge. Here's my new address. The Grotto's just 15 minutes away, on the north side of LAX.”

  The Judge ordered Barbara another café latte, paid the check, and left. He glanced back to see Barbara staring after him with a mixture of fondness and sadness in her face.

  Katy would not be happy about this, mused the Judge. Perhaps he wouldn't mention his… er… appointment, to his new wife.

  CHAPTER 12

  11:00 AM Saturday

  The Judge stopped by his office, but decided to work from the boat over the weekend. It would be more comfortable with his arm. He collected some files to take and left a note for Frankie, his law clerk who’d be in later, giving some guidance on where to research the law on the scope of arbitration discovery, then left. Returning to the boat, he found Katy in a lather.

  He’d bounded up the stern ladder to come face to face with her standing in front of the hatch. She stood with her hands on her slender hips, her chin tilted up at a thirty degree angle.

  “You said you were going to be about an hour, Judge. It’s been two and a half.”

  He could see she wanted to stamp her foot, but was manfully controlling herself. He knew something about females, always tricky to understand, but not much. His intuition told him this was not about being late. It was about Barbara. He’d definitely keep his old flame’s name out of the conversation.

  “The traffic was bad. I stopped at the office to pick up some files.” He held up his file folder like it was exhibit A in a court room drama. “And I stopped for a Starbucks. I was desperate. Don’t favor the coffee at Crepe Cafe. Not enough caffeine in it.” He gave her his best cheerful smile.

  Katy didn’t buy it.

  “Judge, we’re having a baby together. And we’re married now,” as if it were an afterthought. “You can’t go cotton-tailing around with old lovers on my time. Particularly not that woman.” This last was said with a venom that made the Judge want to step back. “It’s not right.”

  `“Now Katy, this was strictly business.”

  “Bullshit, Judge. Tell me you didn’t enjoy your secret littletête–à–tête with that floosy. Didn’t admire her fake boobs. Didn’t enjoy the walk down memory lane.”

  Katy was turning very pink now, her blood pressure no doubt near froth level.

  “Look honey, why don’t I take you out for a nice lunch and we’ll put this all aside.”

  “You mean forget it. Give you a pass. You don’t understand, do you Judge? Men! You don’t understand at all.”

  “I’m trying to, Katy. Explain for me.”

  A tear eased down one cheek now. She was now feeling very sorry for herself. The Judge was damned if he could figure out why.

  “It’s like this Judge. You made me pregnant. Now I’ve got this little person growing in me. It’s getting bigger and bigger. It’s going to make me very fat. It’s going to give me stretch marks. It’s going to make my boobs unseemly big. It’s going to suck away all my energy. It’s going to give me tidal hormone swings and mood shifts that’ll rock my psyche. When it finally comes out, things will be worse. I’ll get no sleep. Be exhausted all the time.

  We’re supposed to be in this together. You’re supposed to want me and love me even though I’m turning into this ghastly creature. Supposed to love my ‘bump’ as you’ve called it, making fun of me. You’re supposed to support me emotionally, and be here for me. How do you think I feel when you disappear for hours for brunch with your ex-floosy?”

  “I thought you wanted the kid, Katy.”

  It was the wrong thing to say. He knew it. But the words just came out unbidden. There was no way to take them back.

  She spun on her heel and headed for the master stateroom, slamming the door behind her. He heard the distinct click of the lock.

  Annie the dog roused herself out of a s
ound snooze to saunter over and plant herself in front of the closed door, giving the Judge an accusatory look.

  The Judge stood there, not sure what do. Then he walked over to the door. He heard soft sobbing inside. He felt like a heel. He tried to get closer to the door to talk through it, but Annie wouldn’t budge. The only way he was getting closer was to step on her. Annie just looked up at him, daring him to compound his sin with his foot.

  Finally, he shouted over the animal. “Katy, let me in. Let’s talk about this. I’m really on your side. This Barbara meeting was just business.”

  This produced a small wail on the other side of the door.

  He gave up then. Turned his back on the females, wife and dog, and stomped aft, up the steps, across the deck, and off the boat. Women were such annoying creatures. Emotionally unsteady. He had important things to do on his case. This whole discussion must wait. He fled for the sanctuary of his office.

  CHAPTER 13

  7:30 PM Saturday

  The Judge returned to the boat as the sun disappeared into the horizon, having buried himself in a bundle of work piled up during the arbitration. Frankie never showed up to do the legal research as he’d promised to do. But the Judge was just as glad, valuing the solitary time to work on other clients. Delving into his work allowed him to forget about the upset with Katy. He wasn’t so good at focusing on more than one thing at a time. And the work took pure concentration. Now as he lumbered aboard the swim step and up across the aft deck, he hoped this morning’s unhappiness had just gone away.

  The hatch was closed. It was getting dark and it was time to put lights on. But there were no lights aboard. This didn’t bode well. He wished he’d thought to bring flowers. But it was too late now.

  He opened the hatch and stepped down the stairs, softly calling, “Katy.” There was no answer. He peeked around the main salon, then in the master’s cabin. No Katy. No Annie the dog. No anyone.

  He could feel old abandonment issues pressing in. Memories from his childhood he’d never quite got rid of. Had she left? Had he been that insensitive this morning? Was she okay? Perhaps someone had grabbed her as a way to get to him. He took his cell phone out and hurriedly dialed.

  It rang twice and then went to voicemail. This wasn’t good. He called again. It rang and rang again, unanswered. But this time he heard a companion cell ringing on the dock. Her cell phone. He recognized the special ring she’d set up for calls from him. Music from The Phantom of the Opera.

  He got scared then.

  He rushed up to the aft deck and peered down the dock in the deepening gloom.

  There was Katy, walking down the dock. Her arms were loaded with two bags of groceries. Annie’s leash wrapped around one wrist, the dog obediently in tow beside her.

  The Judge gave a sigh of relief and lunged to the boat steps and down on to the dock. He took the groceries from her and set them down. Then he wrapped his arms around her and just held her. He could feel her melt into him, as though they were a single being. That’s when he knew it’d be okay.

  They didn’t speak about the morning’s disturbance for a while. She busied herself setting up a formal table cloth, candles, and flowers she bought, peonies, on the dining settee opposite the galley.

  She handed him a vanilla vodka martini as he walked into the tiny galley space, and then turned to throw her arms around his neck, snuggling her body against him again. She cooked steaks in the small galley, smothered in burnt onions and a wine sauce. There was also a wedge salad with Russian dressing and steamed asparagus. It was delicious.

  After the steaks and fixings were consumed, he reached across the table to put his hands on top of hers.

  “About this morning, Katy.”

  She smiled at him then. That smile. Starting with her lips and rising into her aqua eyes, dancing with affection.

  “It was an incredibly stupid thing to say, Judge. But I know you didn’t mean to hurt me. You just blurted it out without thinking, as you do sometimes, dear.”

  He nodded, relieved, not wanting to risk words.

  “The fact is I was having sort of a hormone attack. I couldn’t control my emotions. This being pregnant with ’your’ son is playing hell with my hormones. Sometimes I lose all rationality. I kind of go nuts over things which normally wouldn’t bother me. I know you love me, Judge. I know I can trust you not to cheat. I know that burned-out wreck, Barbara, is no threat. But knowing it rationally is one thing. Dealing with it emotionally is different. Particularly with all the hormonal changes that sweep over me like a tide. It’ll probably happen again, more than once, before we’re through this. But next time, Judge, just come and hold me…. And keep your mouth shut.” She smiled again, to take the sting out of her words.

  The Judge nodded he understood.

  “How’d your day go, dear? Did you make any progress on your case?”

  He could see memories of the night before flooding into the back of her eyes as she spoke. His emergency call from the ER. His wound. The attack. The murder of Carl Greene. The possibility they were being followed.

  She reached over and put her small hand on his arm again.

  "Judge," she said, "you have to be careful. I don't want to lose you. And there are two of us counting on you now."

  He flinched as she played her "two of us" card. He supposed this card would be in play now for a long, long time. Females were great, and needed and all. But damn, they were such compulsive nesters.

  “How are your preparations going for this new arrival?” asked the Judge.

  The Judge took a heavy swallow of his second martini and settled back to listen as Katy waded into a discussion of doctors, hospitals, and nursery needs. The Judge was tired, but tried to remain attentive and to insert pithy comments here and there to prove he was paying attention.

  Somewhere along the way he worked in he had to go out again in a little bit to work on the case. He'd likely be back late. This got a brief pout, instantly replaced by a stiff upper lip expression worthy of the London Blitz. She was a hundred percent behind whatever he needed to do.

  He followed up quickly with a question on baby car seat technology in an effort to distract her from asking for details. Where? Who? It worked. She immediately delved into a technical discussion of the latest designs of infant car seats and the pros, cons and statistics of each. She'd done her homework. She spent a good fifteen minutes educating him, cramming in more information than he'd ever want to know. Was it really significant which seat was more fire retardant? But he was attentive. It was important to her. So it was important to him that he listen.

  His conscience was bothering him a little for being evasive and tricky about his ‘appointment’ later in the evening with Barbara. He wondered if he should just tell Katy. He’d feel better he knew. But then she’d be upset, perhaps wait up for him. Maybe jump down his throat again on his late return to the boat. He was undecided what to do.

  ”So, Katy, we’re married now.”

  “We are.”

  “And we’re sharing a life together.”

  “For all time.”

  “So we need to be honest with each other.”

  “We do, Judge.”

  “I mean honest about our feelings and stuff in the relationship.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Open communication.”

  “Yes.”

  “Free from judgement.”

  “Well, I don’t know about that, Judge. I mean if you’re just wrong about something, dear, I’ll tell you. Course since I’m rarely wrong it won’t be an issue for you.” Katy gave him a smirk.

  “Hah.” Said the Judge.

  “So Katy, suppose there’s information one of us has outside our relationship. Doesn’t affect our relationship. Could be hurtful, or cause stress to the other. Should we be open and share that information, or be more protective of the other. Be discreet. Not share upsetting information that has no relevance to us?”

  “That’s an interesting questio
n, Judge. I guess it depends. Can you give me an example?”

  “Well, suppose I found out I had terminal cancer. That it would be quick. I’d die suddenly. But I didn’t have long. I’d have an agenda I’d want to pursue. And you’d be at the center of it. But if I told you, you would be stressed, sad, panicky. So maybe that’s something I wouldn’t tell you. So we could enjoy our last times together just naturally.”

  “Christ, I’d want to know about that Judge, absolutely. But that’s a bad example isn’t it?”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Why don’t I short-circuit the issue for you Judge?”

  “Okay,” said the Judge, feeling like a spider entrapping a fly.

  “If you’re going out to meet that hussy, Barbara, tonight, I definitely don’t want to hear about it.”

  The Judge opened his mouth to reply but found he had no words. So he just shut it again. This female was a god damn mind reader. He would have his hands full now they were married.

  He left the boat about 10:00 p.m., leaving her to clean up and do the dishes. She didn’t seem to mind domestic chores. In some ways females were so domesticated, and in other ways still so wild. He liked Katy's wild ways in bed. This thought made him smile as he briskly strolled off the dock and headed for his car.

  Barbara lived in an older but established house in Playa Del Rey, part of her treasure trove from a generous settlement with her ex-husband. High on the edge of the bluff, it looked north out over the Playa Vista Wetlands, the Marina Del Rey Boat Harbor, and on to the Santa Monica Bay, curving along the City of Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Topanga Beach, and all the way to Malibu.

  Barbara opened the door on the first ring, as though she'd been standing behind it, waiting to spring. She was dressed in a red designer gown, full length, with engineered structural support to expose a plunging décolletage that seemed to go to her navel. It altered the geometry of her breasts so they looked twice as big as they really were. The Judge knew this "first hand", so to speak, because of Barbara’s advances to him in Avalon some months before.

  "Judge, how nice of you to pick me up," she cooed, as though his presence hadn't been pre-arranged. "Come in and let me make you a martini. I bought some of that special vodka you like."