Page 71 of The Alibi Club

“Not so fast, Einstein,” Holly said. She turned to Jamie. “It’s deductive logic and visual cues? That’s it? That’s your gift?”

“There’s a little more to it than that,” Jamie defended.

Holly kept her eyes trained on her. “I don’t think you’re telling the truth.”

Jamie remained silent.

“What I mean is, you sugarcoated that for her, didn’t you?”

Jamie, exasperated and realizing this was going off the rails, said, “Let’s not do this, okay?”

“What was your real assessment of Shannon?”

Jamie sighed but could not resist sharing her real thoughts. “Unsophisticated, gullible, a slight wisp of South Florida white trash.”

Rick and Holly slowly nodded. Cliff remained very still, very quiet.

“That’s more accurate,” Holly quipped.

“I still think with a little practice, I could be just as good,” Rick said.

“That’s because you’re self-absorbed, vain, and thoughtless.” Holly looked over at Jamie as if a student seeking professorial approval.

“Maybe a little narcissistic,” Jamie corrected.

“Yes!” Holly exclaimed.

“I don’t see that at all,” Rick retorted in Holly’s direction. “You’re rigid, repressed, and angry.”

Judging by Holly’s expression, which was a murderous glare, this did not sit well.

“Like I said, this is not good idea,” Jamie said, trying to end this entire line of conversation. “Let’s play charades.”

Holly and Rick were now in a locked-horns battle, casting aspersions toward one another between bites of garlic knots.

“Ice queen!”

“Smarmy, pointless huckster!”

Jamie looked over at Cliff, who was looking out to the street as more police cars were lining up. He was not participating in their conversation.

“Something wrong?” Jamie asked quietly.

Cliff didn’t say anything at first. When he finally looked at her, he said quietly, “That’s some gift.”

“Stupid party trick.”

“All evidence to the contrary. It was your career.” Cliff hung his head. “Impressive, of course. But it makes me wonder.”

“What?” Jamie asked.

“How can you possibly get to know someone if you’ve already made your mind up about who they are after a few minutes with those kind of snap judgments?” Cliff asked as he stared off into the distance.

“I don’t make up my mind, I just try to pick up on cues, on energy,” Jamie said, getting slightly defensive. “People tell us who they are all the time without using words. It has to do with behavior, conscious or unconscious. I just pay attention.”

Cliff shook his head. “Ah, so how am I doing so far?”

Jamie’s head began to pound. “If you really want to know, what came up for me was charming, charismatic, confident.”