It had surprised him when she’d called him that morning and asked if she could talk with him. It’d surprised him even more when she’d asked if she could drive up to Pinellas and meet with him to talk in person. And surprised him still yet that Ross not only didn’t know about this talk, but that she preferred Sully didn’t tell him. Or anyone else. Including Sully’s wife Clarisse, one of Loren’s closest friends. The waitress had taken their drink orders and left them alone. They’d met at a small restaurant in Tarpon Springs, right on the sponge docks on Dodecanese, that overlooked the water. Loren fidgeted with her silverware, the napkin, the salt and pepper shakers, the little doohickey holding the packets of sugar and artificial sweeteners. Still, he waited. “How’s Clarisse doing?” she asked. Sully struggled not to ask her to get to the point.
