Killer Calories

joint had passed its prime, which might have been m the mid-sixties. As with the spa, the Mediterranean look must have been “in” when the restaurant had last been decorated with heavy, wrought-iron light fixtures, black velvet paintings of matadors on the walls, and avocado green leatherette seats.
    But the coffee was rich and fresh. And with the prospect of a real live dessert—sans the tofu—on the horizon, Savannah decided that life was temporarily worth living.
    “So, did you just want somebody to pig out with tonight?” Dirk asked. “Or is there a real reason for you hauling me out of bed?”
    “Gluttony loves company,” she said. “But I also needed someone to talk to. Someone with a keen sense of the criminal mind, someone with years of experience under his belt, someone I respect and trust.”
    With every word, Dirk swelled like a toad sitting on the only lily in the pond. How typically male, she thought. He was just too easy.
    The waitress set their sweets in front of them, and Savannah wasted no time digging in. “But since I didn’t know anybody like that,” she added around a mouthful of ice cream, “I called you.”
    “Gee, thanks. What have you got?”
    “Don’t know yet. It’s been a busy twenty-four hours. So far, I’ve found out the following— Get out your little black book, Babycakes . You’re gonna need to take notes.”

    Half an hour later, Dirk sat there, staring at his notebook, chewing on the end of his pen. The donuts and two more of their siblings had disappeared, along with Savannah ’s pie.
    “So, which do you think it was, suicide or murder?” he said.
    “Don’t know yet. It may have even been an accident for all I know, just like Dr. Jennifer said. But you have to admit, other possibilities are intriguing.”
    “Who do you think ransacked your room?”
    “I don’t know who. I don’t even know why.”
    “Then, why do you think Dr. Ross is paying off Orlet ?” Savannah shrugged. “I didn’t say I had any answers for you- At the moment, I’m just collecting questions.”
    “I think you’ve got enough for the moment.” He continued to scribble on the book, but Savannah took a peek and saw that he was doodling. He was up to no good.
    “What’s next?” she said.
    “I think I’ll bring Orlet into the station and put some pressure on him. I’ll squeeze him like a ripe zit and see what pops.”
    Savannah gave him a deadpan stare. “Tammy’s right. You
    are gross.”
    He was less than devastated at the insult. “I’ll bring Orlet in about noon. You wanna watch from behind the one-way mirror?”
    “But that’s lunchtime. I’ll miss the spa’s alfalfa-sprout, shredded-carrot, and goat-cheese soufflé.”
    “We’ll go out for a cheeseburger and fries afterward. Your treat.”
    “A chance to buy you food! I’ll be there.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

    “ C ome on, Chicken Little, rise and shine,” Tammy demanded, standing beside Savannah ’s bed, hands on her hips. “You’re going to be late for early-morning exercises.” Savannah covered her head with a pillow and groaned. “Leave me alone. I didn’t get to sleep until an hour ago.” She didn’t dare tell Tammy she had sneaked out to meet Dirk. That would have eventually led to a discussion about cherry pie à la mode. Some things were better left unsaid. “But you have to get your juices flowing.”
    “My juices are happy right where they are, thank you.” Tammy’s lower lip protruded in a self-righteous pout. ‘Now, Savannah , how are you going to lose any weight while you’re here if you don’t go with the program?”
    “What makes you think I want to lose weight?” She uncovered her head and glared, bleary-eyed at her assistant. “Some of us actually like ourselves, whatever weight we are. And it isn’t easy in a society that loves to make us feel as though our value as human beings in inversely proportional to our numbers on the scale.”
    “Well, I... I...” Tammy sputtered. “I didn’t mean to imply that...”
    “And you’d better not, either.” She sighed and shook her head sadly. “Really, Tammy, I thought better of you. I truly believed you were more open-minded, more liberal with your thinking than that. I mean... to judge another human being on such a trivial, shallow, prejudicial—”
    “No, please! I’m so, so sorry,” Tammy exclaimed, nearly in tears. “I’ll never... never ... I…“ She backed out of the room, her hands held high in surrender. Even