Three Fates

those people? Are you all right?”
    “What? What?” With a blush rising from her toes, Tia crossed her arms modestly over her breasts. “What time is it?”
    “What the hell difference does that make? Tia, what’s wrong with you?”
    “Nothing’s wrong with me, except . . . Jesus, Carrie, I’m naked. Give me the sheet.”
    “Let me see your arms.”
    “My what?”
    “I want to check for needle marks.”
    “Needle—Carrie, I’m not on drugs.” Keeping one arm tight over her breasts, she held out the other. “I’m perfectly fine. I told you about Malachi.”
    “More or less. You didn’t mention the other two. And when my best friend, whose toes would fall off if she considered jaywalking, asks me to break the law, she’s not perfectly fine.”
    “I’m naked,” was all Tia could think of. “I can’t talk to you when I’m naked. I have to get dressed.”
    “Christ.” Impatiently, Carrie stomped to the closet, yanked it open. She sniffed, audibly, when she spotted the men’s shirts hanging beside Tia’s clothes. Then she pulled out a robe, tossed it on the bed. “Put that on, then start talking.”
    “I can’t tell you everything.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I love you.” Tia stuck her arms in the robe, dragged it around her. And immediately felt better.
    “Tia, if those people are pressuring you into something—”
    “They’re not. I promise. I’m doing something I need to do, something I want to do. For them, yes, but for me, too. Carrie, I bought a red sweater.”
    The lecture on the tip of Carrie’s tongue fell away. “Red?”
    “Cashmere. I don’t seem to be allergic to wool after all.
    I’ve missed my last two standing appointments with Dr. Lowenstein, and I canceled my monthly appointment with my allergist. I haven’t used my inhaler in over a week. Well, once,” she corrected. “But that was pretend, so it doesn’t count. And I’ve never felt better in my life.”
    Carrie sat on the side of the bed. “A red sweater?”
    “Really red. I’m thinking about getting a Wonderbra to go under it. And it doesn’t matter to him. He likes me when I wear dirt brown and dull underwear. Isn’t that wonderful?”
    “Yeah. Tia, are you doing what you’re doing because you’re in love with him?”
    “No. I started doing it before I fell in love with him. All the way in love anyway. It’s connected, Carrie, but it’s not the why. I shouldn’t have asked you to get that information on Anita Gaye. I’m sorry I did. Let’s forget it.”
    “I’ve already got the data.” With a sigh, Carrie got to her feet. “You get dressed. I’m going to have some coffee and decide if I’m going to give the data to you.” She crossed to the door, turned back. “I love you, too, Tia,” she said, then closed the door behind her.
    And scanned the trio in the living room.
    The woman with the legs was sprawled on the sofa, sipping coffee with her feet propped on the thigh of the hunk who’d opened the front door.
    Hunk number two was leaning against the opening into the kitchen.
    “You.” She pointed at Gideon. “What’s the bulge in your pocket?”
    “Bulge.” Cleo gave a wicked laugh, then poked Gideon’s ribs with her toes. “You happy to see me, Slick?”
    “It’s nothing.” Vaguely embarrassed, he dug into his pocket. “Just a bagel.”
    “Is that the last poppy seed?” Cleo straightened, snatched it out of his hand. “You were sneaking off with the last poppy seed bagel. That’s low.” She unfolded herself. “Just for that, I’m eating it. No weapons,” she added for Carrie’s benefit, then strolled into the kitchen.
    “Would you like coffee?” Malachi offered.
    “Cream, no sugar.”
    “Cleo, be a pal. Cream, no sugar for Miss Wilson here.”
    “Work, work, work,” came the mutter from the kitchen.
    “First question,” Carrie began. “Tia claims she can’t tell me what she’s involved in. Is she protecting you?”
    “No. She’s protecting you. You don’t have to ask the second question, I’ll just answer it. She matters very much to me, and I’ll do whatever needs to be done to keep her from being hurt. She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever known.”
    “Just for that,” Cleo said from behind him, “you get half my bagel. You’re a friend of Tia’s,” she continued, nodding at Carrie. “So am I. You’ve got seniority, but that doesn’t mean I’m less of a friend.”
    Considering, Carrie looked at Gideon. “And you?”
    “I