“Yes, and it’s off duty until I have some facts. Evidence. Something.”

  “Wow.” She sat up straight. “If everything runs smoothly, we should be back in time to meet up for dinner and compare notes.”

  He placed his hand on top of hers. “Are you sure you don’t want to join the US Marshals Office?”

  “Ha. As if.” Luna laughed. “Oh, but maybe you and I could start our own detective agency.”

  “Hang on there, cowgirl. Let’s get through this mission first. Deal?” He held up his glass of champagne.

  “Deal!” They clinked glasses.

  Around two hours later, they decided to take a walk in Central Park. Depending on who you talked to, Central Park was a terrible or a wonderful place. For a long time, there were muggings, rapes and a couple of murders. But the city buckled down with a greater police presence and added cameras everywhere. Now, if you were to commit a crime, chances were it would be caught on camera.

  Luna and Chris crossed Central Park South and decided to walk up Fifth Avenue, where artists sat with easels, hoping someone would sit for their portrait. Only twenty dollars! There were women selling handmade jewelry, straw hats and a cart of “gently used” books. The avenue resembled an orderly ministreet fair, with plenty of room for passersby. All of the vendors had licenses, which made them legit. Luna and Chris walked arm in arm, commenting on the vast array of wares, hopes and dreams. A young man with an electric cello played soft classical music. It was a civilized slice of the Big Apple. Albeit a very small slice.

  They moved on to the park entrance at 66th Street near the zoo. It took no cajoling for Luna to agree to visit the animals. They were just in time to watch the sea lions get fed. When it came to animals, Luna was almost childlike. She would say she could dial into their frequency, and there was some scientific data that supported an innate connection between children and animals. But as people aged, they became less tuned in to their intuition, the many frequencies like a radio receiver. They got distracted, and too easily. Chris gazed at his extraordinary friend as she squatted down to look into the animals’ eyes. “Dr. Doolittle?” he said and smiled.

  “At your service.” She began to stand and saluted. “Aren’t they beautiful?” she said with deep respect and awe as Chris helped her up. Not that she needed any aid.

  Chris wondered if that was what kept them from moving their relationship further along. Did she need him in her life? He tightened his lips. It was something to seriously think about.

  Luna looked up at him. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes. Of course. Couldn’t be better.” He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a friendly hug.

  “And we’re on a caper together.” Luna lowered her voice, pretending it was top secret. In some ways it could be. She didn’t know if their efforts to solve this kidnapping would have any ramifications in terms of Chris’s job. Was it okay for him to work on a case on his own?

  “Please do not invoke Boris and Natasha again. I beg you.”

  “Party pooper.”

  “I think you called me that yesterday.” He grimaced.

  “If not yesterday, certainly once—or many—times before,” she teased.

  They spent a good part of the next hour visiting the rest of the zoo before walking back toward the Grand Army Plaza exit. It was almost three.

  “This has been such a lovely day.” Luna looked up at the few light, puffy clouds hanging in the bright, blue sky.

  “Shall we head back to the hotel or do you want to do more sightseeing?”

  “We’re not far from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I’d like to stop in and say hello to a few of my favorite saints.”

  “Ah, would one be St. Francis?” Chris knew the patron saint of animals was at the top of her list.

  “Yes, and St. Jude. I think we can all use a little help.”

  They walked arm in arm the ten blocks down Fifth Avenue to the famous church. Chris stayed close behind as Luna made her way to the far north wall, where the sanctuary for St. Jude was located. Rows and rows of candles on brass racks flanked the haven of the saint of lost causes. Luna preferred to think of him as a spiritual vitamin.

  She reached into the box of fresh candles and pulled out five of the votives. Chris watched as she placed each in a red glass holder, took a stick from the container and lit the candles. She said a silent prayer and moved away to allow others seeking solace to make their offerings. She motioned for Chris to sit with her in one of the empty pews. “Just for a couple of minutes.”

  Chris gave her a smile and a nod. Luna slid in first and Chris followed. They sat in silence for a while. It was peaceful. Solace in the busiest city in the country. Probably the world. But these days, it was hard to tell. There was just too much going on everywhere. Plain and simple. This bit of calm was the icing on the cake of a delicious experience. No pun intended. Afternoon tea had been scrumptious. Eventually, Luna motioned that it was time to leave. They moved silently through the crowd and back onto the sidewalk. They were right across the street from Rockefeller Center and moved in that direction.

  “One more iconic site?” Chris suggested.

  “Absolutely.” Luna realized she had slowed her pace after her moments of spiritual engagement. New York was a fast city. No doubt about it; it even outpaced her fiery energy.

  They walked down the beautifully landscaped Promenade toward the famous rink, which was currently being used for roller staking. No matter how many times you saw it, the statue of Prometheus overlooking the plaza was impressive. They stopped at Del Frisco’s Grille for an afternoon beverage, sitting outside under a large market umbrella.

  “I think I have had the definitive New York experience.” Luna sipped a glass of champagne. “It was very special.” She leaned over and pecked Chris on the cheek.

  “Luna, there is something I wanted to talk to you about.”

  Her facial expression changed. Uh-oh. Here it comes. He’s breaking up with me. Just like the time Michael made a fabulous dinner, opened a great bottle of wine, only to tell me he was moving in with someone named Micelle. They think it softens the blow.

  “You okay?” Chris was perplexed.

  “Yes, sorry. What did you want to talk to me about?” She tried not to wince. Why, oh why, was she so insecure?

  He took her hand. “We’ve been seeing each other for a while. I know it hasn’t been ideal.”

  She didn’t respond.

  “I have a grueling schedule, and it’s important for me to spend time with Carter. He’s a teenager now and he could go in any direction. I want to make sure he gets some stability from me.”

  Luna placed her hand on his. “I know. I totally get it.”

  “It’s really not fair to you for me to be almost three hours away, with a wacky schedule.”

  She lifted her glass with her other hand and began to take a sip to soften the blow she anticipated was coming.

  “And it’s not really fair for me to ask, but do you think we could go steady?” he said sheepishly.

  The champagne hit the back of Luna’s throat and went up and out of her nose. She pulled her hand away from Chris and covered her mouth as champagne dripped from her nose and on to her lips. From that point, she went into a fit of laughter. Laughter from her silly thoughts, and then from making a total dingbat of herself by spewing Moët & Chandon Rosé on herself and the table.

  Chris was totally amused. That’s my Luna. I hope.

  She leaned against the back of her chair, checking the reaction of the other patrons. That would be two for two for her. In one day. Two spectacles. She regained her composure. “Steady?” She cocked her head. “Interesting. How does one define that in today’s culture?”

  Avoiding the word “commitment,” Chris explained his position. “I’m on the edge of forty. I still have a few good decades ahead of me. I have a good job, and a great kid. What I don’t have is time to date. Until I met you, having any kind of relationship with a woman wasn’t even on my radar. But then you showed up in my search party.” Chris took a deep breath. “What I’m trying to say is I really like you. You’re smart, funny and easy to be with. Most of the time.” He stopped to smile. “I like what we have, and I don’t want to lose it. I realize what I’m asking is really at the high end of the selfish bar, but I don’t want to think about you dating someone else.”

  Luna thought she would pee in her pants. Her entire body was vibrating. She didn’t want to ruin the moment, but she had to dash to the ladies’ room unless she wanted to embarrass herself . . . again. She pecked him on the cheek. “Hold that thought. I will be right back.” She caught the eye of the hostess, who knew exactly what Luna was looking for and tilted her head toward the back, inside the restaurant.

  Chris was dumbfounded. What kind of response was that? He would just have to wait. The couple at the next table couldn’t help but overhear what they were discussing. You could barely get past anyone’s table without brushing against them. They gave him a sympathetic look. Yeah, the girl who hurled her champagne and then left the table. Sorry, mate. Chris blinked and then gave a somewhat confident smirk. He certainly wasn’t going to let them know he was crestfallen. He was a US Marshal, for heaven’s sake.

  Luna returned and slipped back into her seat. She took his hand. “So. If we’re going to go steady, I need to wear your class ring on a chain.” She bit the inside of her lip, trying not to laugh.

  “Now, that’s funny.”

  “You are funny. And you made some very good points.” She took a deep breath. “The thing is, I don’t have the time nor do I have the inclination to date either. And I like you very much. I mean I really, really like you.” She mimicked a high school girl. “I think this could be a very nice situation . . .” There was that word she’d used the day before with Chi-Chi. “Let me rephrase that. We’ve come this far in our elephant-in-the-room conversation. I would like to call it a relationship. I mean, we already have one, but this will expand it.” She tilted her head.

  “I have to admit, I didn’t know how else to approach this except by being a bit old school. Really old school,” he replied. “My high school ring. I don’t think I know where it is anymore.”

  “I have an idea. Let’s walk down Fifth Avenue to one of the souvenir stores. We’ll get a ring there.” Luna was excited, then quickly asked, “But do you think it’s weird?”

  Chris laughed. “I wouldn’t expect anything else of you.”

  He paid the bill and they began their stroll. Soon they arrived at a very large shop with every imaginable object stamped, embossed, printed, stitched, bronzed, chained, mugged and snow-globed with some iconic New York logo. They found a signet ring with the New York Yankees logo emblazoned on it.

  “That’s the one,” Luna said. She knew Chris’s son Carter was a big fan of the team, giving the ring more meaning. She asked Chris to unfasten her pearl necklace. The ring was large enough to slip over the beads and he clipped it back around her neck. She looked in a mirror sitting on the counter. “Perfect.” At that moment, she felt like a schoolgirl. But she often did when she was around Chris. She didn’t care if she was being juvenile.

  Chris was standing behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her on the temple. “Stunning,” he said wryly.

  “Thank you.” Both of them knew the necklace looked ridiculous. It was the thought that counted.

  At the next corner, they hailed a cab and started back to the hotel.

  “So, what was Cullen up to today?” Luna snuggled close to Chris. “You know I am eventually going to find out, so you should just give it up now.”

  “A Manhattan Architectural Yacht Cruise.”

  “No! Get out!” Luna was surprised it wasn’t something more romantic.

  “He thought Chi-Chi would appreciate the historic interest.”

  “The Palm Court is historic,” Luna said smugly.

  “Well, The River Café may not be historic, but it’s grand for dining.”

  “The River Café?” Luna was impressed. The restaurant boasted a Michelin-starred rating for exclusive fine dining, an impeccable wine list and an incredible view of downtown Manhattan.

  “Yes, after their tour they’ll go to Brooklyn. They’ll take a water taxi from Chelsea Piers to Pier 11 and then hop across the river to the restaurant.”

  Luna was even more impressed. “I had no idea Cullen could be so romantic.”

  “Elle helped him,” Chris confessed.

  “That does not surprise me. Well, I am glad he had the sense to seek her counsel.”

  The taxi ride took about fifteen minutes and then they arrived at the hotel. It was near five. Luna gave Chris a mischievous look. “So, what shall we do now, Marshal?”

  He wasn’t sure how he should answer that question.

  * * *

  Earlier that day Chi-Chi and Cullen agreed to meet in the lobby at one. They hopped in a taxi that took them to the West Side of Manhattan. “Are you still not telling me where we are going?” Chi-Chi looked at Cullen closely.

  “You’ll see. Just a few more minutes.”

  When the cab pulled up in front of Chelsea Piers, Chi-Chi’s face fell. “You are taking me to play golf?”

  Cullen laughed out loud. “No. Chelsea Piers has a number of activities. Besides, we aren’t going inside.” He paid the cab driver and assisted Chi-Chi from the SUV. “Follow me.” He took her hand and led her to the actual pier, where several cruise liners were docked. He looked around until he saw the correct sign. “Come on.”

  As they approached the boat, Chi-Chi gasped at the 1920s-style teak yacht with a glass-enclosed, climate-controlled cabin. With a capacity of fewer than one hundred people, it was a very comfortable setting. Cullen was particularly happy with the style of the boat. The two found a comfortable spot, relaxed and listened to the guide as she pointed out the many interesting sights of Manhattan. Cullen took great pleasure in describing some of the other buildings to Chi-Chi as she listened with great interest. After the two-and-a-half-hour ride, they went from the yacht over to the ferry terminal and took the Water Taxi to the East Side of lower Manhattan.

  “Where are we going?” Chi-Chi noticed they weren’t taking a taxi back to the hotel.

  “The day is not over.” Cullen was quite pleased with himself. He ushered her from one dock to another, where they boarded another Water Taxi to Brooklyn.

  “This has been rather an aquatic afternoon,” Chi-Chi said as she felt the breeze against her cheeks. In less than seven minutes, they arrived at a dock. Cullen held Chi-Chi’s hand as he escorted her to the marvelous restaurant. Even though it was still daylight, the sun was glinting through the massive canyon of buildings in lower Manhattan.

  “Oh, Cullen. This is wonderful.” Her hand touched her throat. “You have given me such an extraordinary day. And now this.” Chi-Chi thought she might finally lose her infamous state of composure.

  “You have been an extraordinary friend.” Cullen didn’t know what other word to use. They weren’t lovers. But there was love. How much, and what kind? That remained to be seen.

  “As have you,” she replied and nodded with respect.

  The maître d’ showed them to a table by the window. The interior walls of the restaurant were covered with mirrors so no matter where you sat, you would not miss the spectacular view from under the Brooklyn Bridge.

  They shared the famous River Café oysters, and each ordered their own entrée. One salmon, the other lamb, both promising to share. Dessert was a chocolate soufflé with two spoons. After the meal, Chi-Chi leaned into the back of her chair. “I do not think I have eaten so much in months as I have the past two days.” She rested her hand on her stomach. “I am going to get fat.”

  “Please. You are not. You barely eat during the day. You’ll wither away.”

  Chi-Chi let out a guffaw. “I seriously doubt that.”

  Cullen smiled.

  “What? Did I say something funny?” she asked.

  “No. I just like to hear you speak. Your accent. It’s enchanting.”

  “And so is yours,” she responded.

  Cullen laughed out loud. “Touché!” Then he thought about it. “Do I really have one?”

  “Just a little bit of a drawl. Nothing that would make you sound like a hillbilly.” She laughed. “Or is it a redneck? I get them confused.”

  “Oh, you don’t ever want to do that.” Cullen chuckled. “Hillbillies are very sensitive. It’s about where they come from. They come from the hills. Hence the word ‘hillbilly.’ Rednecks can come from anywhere. The term generally refers to men who work outside, so their necks get red from working in the sun.”

  Chi-Chi propped her arm on the table and rested her chin on her hand. “You don’t say?”

  “For real,” Cullen said. “If you call a hillbilly a redneck, you could get yourself shot!”

  “Well, I will certainly employ discrimination should I encounter such a situation,” Chi-Chi commented.

  “Good. I wouldn’t want to think about you running around Buncombe County yelling the word ‘redneck’ to any guy you meet.”

  Chi-Chi laughed out loud. “I can promise you I will not.”

  “Whew. That’s a relief,” Cullen said humorously. Changing the subject, he asked, “What time is your flight back tomorrow?”

  “Eleven. I should probably leave around eight thirty. Rush-hour traffic may be coming while I am going, but it doesn’t seem to matter, and I don’t want to miss my flight. I do not want to think about Abeo being on his own too long.” She giggled. “I appreciate him coming to mind the shop over the weekend, but I do not want to imagine what Jennine may have done with him.” She laughed.

  Cullen wasn’t sure how much he should tell Chi-Chi about his plans. He decided to keep it simple, and as close to the truth as possible. “Luna and I are taking Amtrak to Massachusetts to visit Briarcliff. I want to authenticate the armoire.”

  Chi-Chi gave him a suspicious glance. “Have you ever done that before?”

  “Not really. But you know my sister. When she gets a bee in her bonnet, there is no stopping her.”