Adam's Prime Rib

by Steve Liskow

About the Author: Steve Liskow's short stories have appeared in Mystery Weekly, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and several anthologies. He has won the Black Orchid Novella Award twice and Honorable Mention for the Al Blanchard Story Award four times. He has also published 15 novels, one of which was a finalist for the Shamus for Best Indie Novel. He lives with his wife Barbara and a rescued Maine Coon. Visit his website at www.steveliskow.com.

Excerpt

The doorman gave me a look like he usually scraped my kind off the sole of his shoe, and I knew better than to stare back at him. This place was exclusive enough that he probably recognized or remembered every person who walked in, and this was my first time, which would make it even easier. Besides, how many other tenants wore white booty shorts and strappy sandals below a candy-striped top?

The tile in the lobby gleamed like someone had polished it especially for me, and my heels clacked like castanets until I reached the elevator. I pushed the “9” button with my elbow and shifted the overnight bag to my other shoulder. Two more people joined me, a man and a woman who smelled like money, and I stepped back to let them take the car themselves. The other one disgorged its passengers into the lobby and I took that one instead.

The nine floors fell behind me and my feet almost lifted off the floor when the car stopped. The door whispered open and I turned right, per Adam’s directions. He had the suite on the left at the far end, with a balcony overlooking the park, another zero on the rent.

We met at his restaurant a month before, and now we were beyond the stirring and mixing stage, ready to put something in the oven. He suggested an evening with steaks, salad, and his secret dressing, and I anticipated our first horizontal dessert. I splurged on a fifty-dollar bottle of Pinot Noir. I could put it on my expenses.

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