A Taste of Death (Maggie Olenski Series) by Mary Ellen Hughes Page A

seemed livelier than simple tea would induce. Maggie also remembered this woman's unsteadiness at the town meeting.
    Leslie stood at a portable bar, waiting for their answers. "Pepsi is fine for me," Maggie said.
    "If you have mineral water I'd like that please," said Dyna.
    Leslie wrinkled her nose but smiled and rooted around to find the items. "This cart reminds me of my days with the airline, pushing one down the aisle, smiling, smiling, smiling." She dropped ice cubes into Maggie's glass, poured her soda into it and held it out to her.
    "You were a flight attendant?" Maggie asked, taking the glass.
    "For a while. I thought I would see the world. What I saw was a bunch of airport terminals. After that I did some modeling. Evian all right?" she asked Dyna, who nodded.
    "It was on a photo shoot out on Long Island that I met Jack. We were doing an advertising brochure for one of his companies. I forget which one. I just remember shivering in a damn bathing suit on a chilly beach in October. Anyway, he swept me away from it all, and I've never had to work a day since."
    Leslie smiled when she said it, but Maggie thought she detected a touch of wistfulness in her voice. Leslie took a long drink from her glass.
    "We should have come before, to offer our condolences," Maggie said. She sat down on a white brocade sofa that sank under h er weight about as much as a rock would , and she blinked with surprise, causing Leslie to laugh.
    "When I said 'Let's get comfy' I forgot where we'd be sitting. The furniture in here is all for show." Leslie carried her glass to one of the stiff-looking chairs and sat down, pulling her feet up. "The only really comfortable stuff is in Jack's study - nice, soft leather - but I just can't bring myself to go in there."
    "We understand," Dyna said, looking sympathetic.
    "Oh, don't worry, I'm not going to break up in tears or anything. It's just that the whole situation is so... so weird. They won't even release his body yet. Jack wanted to be cremated, and they're telling me they're not finished with it yet - tests and all, you know."
    Maggie no dded. She took a sip of her Pepsi , and out of the corner of her eye saw something move. A cat, tiger-striped and muscular, had slipped through a partially-opened glass door that appeared to lead to a solarium and was marching firmly towards Leslie.
    "Mrs. Hanson!" Leslie shouted. "He's here again!" She looked distinctly uncomfortable.
    Mrs. Hanson scurried into the room, all apologetic. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Warwick," she said, in what sounded to Maggie like a slight Germanic accent. "I was sure I had closed him in the den. I don't know how...."
    "Just get him out of here."
    Leslie's vehemence surprised Maggie. The cat didn't look particularly vicious, and in fact hung limply in Mrs. Hanson's hands when she scooped him up and carried him away.
    "He's Jack's cat," Leslie said, as though that explained everything. "He found him in an alley somewhere and brought him home, called him Ali. I swear he fussed over him more than I've seen him do for any other livin' creature. Any other. He knew I didn't like cats, but..., oh, never mind. I'll get rid of him, somehow." She grinned. "Would y'all like a cat?"
    Maggie saw Dyna's eager intake of breath, and before she could blurt anything out said, "We can't. We're just staying at the cabin for a short time. No way. Sorry."
    Leslie shrugged. "It's okay . Maybe Mrs. Hanson knows someone."
    Maggie's gaze wandered back to the room the cat had been in, an idea forming. "Is that a solarium?" she asked. "Could I take a peek at it?"
    Leslie looked over her shoulder in surprise, as though she had forgotten the room existed. "Sure. It's nice and cheery in there, but the wicker furniture really isn't any more comfortable than this stuff."
    "No," Maggie said, "I can see some greenery in there, and I just love plants." Dyna looked at her with an odd expression which Maggie ignored as she popped up and followed Leslie to the sun room.