A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 37



"What do you mean?"

"Have you been to the village? You hardly see anybody on the streets during the day, but at night…" He shrugged. "It's like the place comes alive after dark.Seems like most of the residents are night people. Some of them seem kind of… weird."

"I hadn't noticed, but it's kind of an artsy town, isn't it? You know, lots of musicians and painters and writers, actors hiding out."

"Yeah, I guess that could be it."Bryan glanced at his tower, then back atTracy . "I don't suppose you'd like to go over to the Driftwood for a drink later? I'll be through here in another hour or so."

Her first thought was to say no. He was younger than she was, after all. And then she thought, why not? The Driftwood was a local bar not far from the beach, and it was just for a drink, nothing more. "I'd like that."

"Great!"

She couldn't help being flattered by his exuberance. "I'll go home and change and meet you there."

"Terrific. See you then." He smiled, revealing a dimple in his left cheek, then ran down the beach toward tower number ten.

Chapter 6

Returning home,Tracy went upstairs and took a quick shower. Humming softly, she brushed out her hair and tied it back in a ponytail, then changed into a sleeveless flowered sundress, slipped on a pair of strappy gold sandals, and drove to the Driftwood. She parked in the lot in the back, grabbed her handbag, and walked around the corner to the entrance.

Bryan Longstreet was waiting for her on the sidewalk in front of the bar. He was dressed in a green shirt, a pair of beige Dockers, and tan loafers.

"Am I late?" she asked.

"No." He smiled a little sheepishly as he took her arm. "I was early."

He was a handsome young man, tall and lean with a great tan. It didn't take more than a few minutes in his presence to realize he was just what the doctor ordered.

The Driftwood was a nice place. Catering mostly to tourists, it was decorated with seashells, pieces of the wood from which it derived its name, and colorful paper lanterns.

Sitting in a booth sharing a Mai Tai with Bryan,Tracy learned that he loved movies and that he was a big Star Wars fan, as was she. He liked Elvis and rock and roll, his favorite color was red, and he confessed that, if he had to, he could live on pizza and Coke forever. His father was a police officer inWashington , D.C , and his mother was an accountant. He had four brothers—all older and all cops—and an older sister who was in the Air Force. He had just turned twenty-one to her twenty-six.