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leaned over and pecked Rick on the cheek. “Hi honey. I see Livvy found you.”
    “And Uncle Winn. They were just planning their date,” Rick said.
    Barb leaned over and kissed Winn, too. “Hi Uncle Winn.” She beamed at him. “You have exquisite taste in women.”
    “Why, thanks.” Winn raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing later?”
    “Sorry, Winn. I’m taken.” Barb sighed. “But if I wasn’t…” She seemed to notice Garth for the first time and gave a little nod in his direction.
    “Barb, this is Garth. Garth the Goth. The morning man. I’ve spoken about him.” Rick knew Barb always liked to be introduced to everyone around, regardless of who, what, or where.
    “Oh, sure. Very nice meeting you.” She extended her hand.
    Garth stood and took it, pumped it twice. “Nice meeting you, ma’am.”
    “My mother is ‘ma’am.’ Please call me Barb.”
    “Sure. Thanks, Barb.” Garth nodded. “Well, I’m out of here. Nice meeting you, ladies.” He bent over and winked at Livvy. Straightened. “Later Rick. And, so long, Mister Newsie Newsman.” With a final smirk directed at Winn, Garth took off.
    Rick caught Barb staring at Garth’s earring as he left. What was it with women and jewelry? He glanced at his watch and nodded toward Winn. “You guys ought to get going too.” He got up and plucked Livvy from Winn’s lap, gently setting her down on the floor. “We’ll see you later. Have fun, sweetie,” Rick said to Livvy.
    Barb knelt and swallowed Livvy in a hug. “Bye. Have fun. Take care of Uncle Winn, okay?”
    “Okay, Mommy.” Livvy’s curls jounced as she nodded.
    Winn grasped the table and hoisted himself up. “Ready, little lady?”
    Livvy giggled. “Can we go to the arcade again? Please?”
    Rick shot Winn a glance, but the older man dodged it, reached down and took Livvy’s hand in his beefy paw. They started toward the door.
    “Can we ride a pony? I want a pony. Mommy said maybe I could get one for my next birthday. She said, ‘We’ll see, honey.’ That means maybe, doesn’t it? Doesn’t it, Uncle Winn?” The questions echoed as Livvy led Winn out of the room and down the hall. With Livvy gone, the energy level of the room deflated like an untied balloon.
    Rick faced Barb. “The arcade?”
    “Easy, fella. Since Winn lost Bette, he’s needed some cheering up. I’m glad he’s taken to Livvy. And she’s eating it up, milking it for all it’s worth. Nice having a sugar daddy. Not that I would know.” Barb grinned.
    Rick let the comment go. “The arcade? Can she even reach the video games?”
    “Don’t worry. Today it’s an early dinner and ice cream. Burger King. Livvy likes the giveaways there this month.”
    “Of course she does. She likes all those little plastic toys,” Rick said. “Winn probably does, too.”
    Barb frowned. “Cut Winn some slack. He’s gone through a lot.” She picked at a piece of fuzz on her sleeve. “You know, he seemed a lot older to me today. I’m worried about him.”
    “He’ll be fine dear. Maybe sugar daddy should get some new clothes. Or a new car,” Rick said. “That’ll make him seem younger, more vibrant.” He flicked at his earlobe. “Or maybe an earring larger and shinier than Garth’s.”
    “Yeah, that’s the ticket.” Barb smiled. “I’ve always loved pirates.”

C HAPTER 8
    R ICK SIFTED THROUGH the Rolodex on his desk, searching for the name of a psychologist he interviewed a couple of years earlier. Carson, or Coleman. Something like that. Professor at George Mason. He might have something cogent to say about a murderer’s motivations. Flipping to the C’s, he came upon his card, Dr. Harrison Caldwell, and removed it, placing it atop the short stack he’d started next to his phone. How about that ex-FBI profiler? Maybe he had a book to hawk. Rick flipped the whole stack of cards back to the beginning and started riffing through the names again. He’d bring some dignity to this fiasco, if he