The October List

working too, a business call.’ She nodded at the two mobiles that sat in front of him. An iPhone and a Motorola Droid.
    ‘I was doing a project with a partnership in Aruba. It just closed today. I’ve been banging out the details since nine.’
    ‘Congratulations. And my sympathies.’
    ‘Thanks.’ Daniel laughed and sipped the scotch. ‘I went for a swim at my health club and came over here … to unwind.’
    She smiled at the echo.
    The talk veered slowly from the professional. Personal stats were recited. They both lived in Manhattan. He told her that he had two sons, living with his ex in Nyack.
    ‘My husband and I have joint custody.’ Gabriela tugged her phone from her Coach purse. She scrolled and displayed a picture. ‘This’s Sarah. She’s six.’
    ‘Adorable.’
    ‘She’s into ballet and gymnastics. But she just discovered horses. Oh, does she want a horse.’
    ‘Where are you in the city?’
    ‘Upper West. Two bedroom, a thousand square feet. We could probably fit a horse in, but I don’t think they do well in elevators.’
    ‘And Sarah’s dad?’
    She said, ‘No. He’s okay in elevators.’
    ‘You’re pretty funny.’ Spoken as if Daniel didn’t date women who were.
    ‘Tim lives on Long Island,’ Gabriela continued. ‘But not in the horse stabling neighborhood.’
    Daniel gestured to the bartender, who responded immediately. ‘Another for me. And the same for her.’
    ‘No, really,’ Gabriela protested.
    ‘Cheaper than buying you a new Neiman Marcus blouse.’
    ‘It’s Macy’s. But I didn’t mean no to the drink. I mean no to what I’m drinking. I’ll upgrade to the Merry Edwards pinot noir. Since he’s buying.’
    Daniel lifted an eyebrow, impressed at her choice.
    A moment later the drinks appeared. She wondered what tats the bartender was hiding with the makeup.
    Occupy! Down with the One Percent!
    Or maybe something simple: Fuck Capitalism.
    She thought about saying this to Daniel but, while he’d probably laugh, she decided not to.
    When the new glasses arrived, they tapped and talked about the agony and ecstasy of living in the city. About Ground Zero, which was visible from Limoncello’s. The Trade Towers would forever cast indelible shadows over the city.
    Then a dozen subjects arose in easy conversation: restaurants, traveling, parents, politics – the last in a safely glancing fashion, though their views seemed similar.
    When they were close to finishing their drinks, Daniel looked at his watch. Didn’t sneak a glance, just lifted the heavy Rolex and noted the time.
    She nodded. ‘Dinner plans, sure.’
    ‘Actually, no. I have a meeting.’ Daniel’s eyes circled, her hair, her face, her eyes. ‘You have to get back to your daughter?’
    She sniffed subtext. ‘I’ll pick her up tomorrow. She’s at her father’s tonight.’
    ‘Don’t know if you’re interested, but that meeting? You have any interest in helping me out?’
    ‘Doing what?’
    ‘Actually, I’m meeting an interior designer to pick out upholstery.’
    She shook her head. ‘That’s not a good come-on line.’
    ‘I’m having new leather installed in my speedboat.’
    ‘That’s a better one.’
    He opened the backpack he used for a briefcase and took out a booklet of leather samples. She flipped through the pages, which were organized by color. Her favorites were the rich oranges, the sort she imagined as the color of seats in brash sports cars. The names were words like ‘carrot,’ ‘pumpkin,’ ‘amber,’ ‘tomato.’
    But her favorite was called ‘Princeton,’ presumably after the school colors of the New Jersey university. It was the boldest offered by the company.
    ‘I do have a preference,’ Gabriela said slowly. ‘But how can I say for sure without seeing the boat?’
    ‘We can fix that.’

CHAPTER
4
     

1:30 p.m., Friday
3 hours, 30 minutes earlier
     

 

 
     
    The Prius, tinted in Toyota’s wan, innocuous light blue, eased through the winding streets of Bronxville, New York, past mansions nestled in spacious yards of yellowing grass, waning gardens, banks of damp September leaves.
    Accustomed to driving his Maserati, Daniel Reardon didn’t much care for the car, though he hadn’t expected power. It was mostly the quiet of the engine he objected to. He’d heard there were some cars that now added sound sexy engine noises through speakers. This was a cheat and he thought it ridiculous. Daniel liked authenticity, for good or bad. The