Somehow, she began to talk about her personal life. She’d been married at eighteen in her hometown of Denver, but her young husband had had problems with drugs, and she’d divorced him after a few months. Then she’d gone into the Army and served as an MP in Germany.
"That was an interesting experience. I learned to shoot; got pretty good at judo and karate too."
"I think I’d better withdraw that invitation to my motel," Gideon said.
When the waitress returned for their order, he hadn’t yet looked at the menu.
"They’re famous for their grilled salmon here, Professor," Julie said.
"She’s sure right about that, Professor," the waitress agreed, writing down the order with evident satisfaction when Gideon nodded his agreement.
"Julie," Gideon said, "I’m the last person in the world to refuse a little respect, but I’d prefer ‘Gideon’ to ‘Professor,’ if that’s all right with you."
"That’s fine; I just noticed that John calls you ‘Doc,’ so I thought you liked that sort of thing."
"I told him long ago to call me by my first name, so he started calling me ‘Gid.’ ‘Doc’ is a compromise."
Gideon noted that she didn’t ask him any personal questions and knew that John had told her about Nora. That pleased him; it meant that Julie had been interested enough to ask questions.
When the salmon came, along with a bottle of Gamay Beaujolais that Gideon had ordered over Eleanor’s injunction that white wine went with fish, it was placed before them worshipfully.