Seth unfolded from the passenger seat as Lindsey got out his side. Seth stared over the low hood of the car. “Anything I should know?” He walked over beside Lindsey.
Lindsey inhaled the crisp night air lush with the smell of pine. “They’re just people. Sometimes they can seem a little naïve or even callous, but it’s usually not because they’re nasty, let-them-eat-cake conservatives. It’s just that their money insulates them from some of the horrors and seedier aspects of life.” He leaned against the car and crossed his arms. “Still, they have a lot of responsibility. Power corrupts, but it also keeps you up at night.”
Seth stared at him. “Well, shit. I think you just prevented me from my favorite pastime of hating the rich.”
Lindsey smiled. “Like all people, some of them deserve to be hated, but some do a lot of good. Let’s go inside before we freeze.” Not likely in his case. Werewolf body temperature ran several degrees above human. His came out somewhere in the middle.
Seth didn’t say anything as they entered the club and Lindsey requested a table for dinner. “Let’s hang out at the bar until the table’s ready. All the better to, shall we say, observe?”
Seth nodded, and Lindsey led the way into the bar. The spot would be busier later after most people had eaten, but he still saw many friends and waved and patted his way across the room to a cocktail table in the corner.
The waiter arrived, and Lindsey looked at Seth. “What would you like?”
Seth glanced around like someone might catch him drinking on duty. “Uh, beer. Whatever you have on tap.”
“Vermouth on the rocks with a twist.”
When the waiter walked away, Lindsey glanced at Seth, who was looking around at the cozy room with its fireplace and muted colors. People sat in small groups at tables and several at the big bar. Seth nodded at him. “You know a lot of people.”
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. They have a lot of events that include children.”
“So your father died.”
Maybe not. Who knew where his real father was? “Yes. Before I was born. My mother and grandparents raised me, and no one could have been better.”
Seth smiled softly. “Yeah, I have great parents too. Makes it easier being gay, don’t you think?”
“Immeasurably, I’m sure, though I have no other direct experience.”
“You didn’t get bullied in school?”
“Oddly, no. But I’ve always known how to fight, you see. And people knew I knew.” He laughed. “So even if they hated me, they left me alone.”
The waiter brought their drinks and Lindsey signed.
Seth frowned. “The department is paying.”
“We’ll send them a bill.” He grinned.
Seth nodded. “Be sure you do. Before when you were talking about the rich people, you said ‘they,’ not ‘we.’ Aren’t you speaking from experience?”
“Indirectly. I’m just a kid in my grandfather’s enterprises.”
“Will you head the whole thing some day?”
“Maybe.” He sighed. “No one really runs the whole thing anymore. There are boards and some of the companies have shareholders. I wouldn’t mind having a simpler life.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. Global programs to eradicate hunger. Homes for orphan kids.” He laughed. “I guess that’s not simpler, is it?” He shrugged and stared at the fire. “I’d like to have a home and someone to love.” Oh crap, why did I say that? Slowly he looked up into those bright amber eyes. But they seemed miles away.
“Lindsey, my man.”
Lindsey dragged his eyes away from Seth as a hand landed on his shoulder, and he looked up at one of the club’s older members. “Hello, Ronald. How are you tonight?”
“Might ask you the same thing.” He smiled and waggled his brows. Despite his age, Ronald loved demonstrating his open mind, and Lindsey gave him every credit.
“Ronald, this is my friend, Seth Zakowsky.”
The old man leaned across the table and shook Seth’s big hand. “Glad to meet you. Any friend of Lindsey’s, as they say.” He looked back at Lindsey. “I heard via the hush-hush grapevine what you did for Dave and I wanted to say thank you.”
Lindsey shook his head. “Didn’t do a thing. As it turned out, it wasn’t necessary.”
Ronald chuckled. “Thanks to Super Granny. Who on earth do you suppose she is?”
Lindsey glanced at Seth, whose eyebrows were so drawn together they touched. “Uh, no idea, darling.”
“They say she’s really tall. Maybe a man, do you think?”
Well, damn. How to get out of this gracefully? “The girls she’s saved say she sounds and acts like a granny. Who knows?” He shrugged and sipped his vermouth.
Ronald clapped his hands together once. “Kind of exciting having a superhero on our hands. Right here in Connecticut. Just like the movies.”
Hell. “Actually, she’s pretty fun to think about, but I’ll bet she’s a nightmare to the police.”
“Oh? How so?”
Seth stared at Lindsey like he’d finally said something interesting.
“Think about it. An old woman insinuating herself into these frightening, dangerous situations. My heavens, the police might just as easily have to rescue her along with the people she’s trying to save. Hasn’t she heard of 911?”
“You have a good point there, Lindsey.” Ronald nodded to himself. “But I sure am glad these kidnappers appear to have been stopped in their tracks by having their latest victim rescued. My God, people couldn’t sleep at night for fear of what might happen.”
“Let’s hope they have been stopped.” Lindsey glanced at Seth.
The old man’s eyes widened. “You don’t think they’ll try again?”
Lindsey fanned himself with his hand. “Heaven forefend, but they haven’t caught them. Not the ringleaders, anyway.”
“Well, I’m going to think positive.” Ronald grinned and shoved an elbow against Lindsey’s shoulder. “And if they come back, we’ve still got Super Granny.” He laughed. “Thanks again, Lindsey. You and your whole family are a credit to your good name. See you soon. Good to meet you, Seth.”
He walked off, still chuckling.
Seth leaned forward. “I’m so glad you fucking get it about this damned vigilante. She, he, whatever, is a threat to the whole case.”
“I really said that just to subdue the superhero mentality.” He frowned. “Surely she’s not as bad as all that.” WTF. He had rescued Carla.
“She’s every bit as bad as you said. God, she could get in the line of fire and the public would castigate the police for killing a civilian. She’s messing with crime scenes and probably contaminating evidence. She—”
“Pardon me, sir. Your table is ready.”
Saved by the maître d’! “Thank you, Peter.” He jumped up. Two more minutes of hearing Seth damn his rescue efforts and grandma just might turn into the big bad wolf.
He walked toward the dining room and assumed Seth would catch up.
Ironically, Peter had chosen the same romantic table he’d seated Lindsey at with Bruce. Moonlight, privacy, candles. Peter walked behind the chair to hold it for Lindsey and Seth stepped in front of him. “Thanks, I’ve got it.”