Knot on Your Life

by Betty Hechtman

  I looked over my shoulder, startled. “I’m surprised you’re not videoing this for your vlog,” I said to PJ.

  “No time for that now.” She bent down, and before I could move my feet, she’d used a zip tie to hold them together.

  “Now, let me look at that laptop,” she said, grabbing it. As she looked at the screen she began to shake her head and make angry sounds. “He absolutely ripped me off. That louse.” She turned the screen where I could see it. A clear cellophane bag held small toasted squares with a small strip of orange. The sticker on the front of the bag called them “The Perfect Bite, melts in your mouth and your soup too.”

  “When I tell you what he did, you’re going to understand. He said we’d be partners. I had the product and he had the know-how and means to make it into something big. He was sure we’d end up selling it to a major food company and have a big payday. I should have never listened to him or trusted him. He said he had to know the recipe and process for making them. I’d taken months working it out and it seemed like I had no choice but to share the information with him. He was one of Deani’s customers so I trusted him.” She looked at the screen. “This belongs to me.”

  “It’s the pop-in-your-mouth mini grilled cheese sandwich snack that we had that first afternoon, right?” I wanted to keep her talking so I could figure out how to wiggle out of the hand restraints.

  “Yes, weren’t they the most delicious thing you ever had,” she said. I agreed they were tasty, but I wasn’t sure they were the most delicious thing I’d ever had, but under the circumstances I didn’t want to argue with her so I agreed.

  “I hadn’t heard from him in a couple of months, and when I saw he was here, I cornered him and asked him what was going on.” She let out an angry grunt. “First he pretended not to know who I was. Then he insisted his product was nothing like mine. Right. He used margarine and I used butter. I was beside myself. This was my shot. I’ve let people walk over me before, but not this time.”

  “You saw him after he fell,” I said.

  “I saw them walking to the beach and I followed them. I was just so angry. I saw Tim fall. As soon as the guy with him left, I went up to him. And I just lost it and started hitting him with a rock. I could see the tide was coming in and thought it would carry him away. Then I saw you coming and I took off.

  “Finding this computer is a bonus. I heard you talking about it before and then when I saw you going in this room, I realized this was my chance. Maybe I can use whatever he’s already set up.” She seemed to be thinking to herself. “I just have to get rid of you.”

  They were hardly comforting words and I made another play to loosen the zip ties. I knew there was a way to get out of them, but I was a little too panicky to think it through. She was taking something out of her bag and talking to herself. “I always carry a trash bag. Useful for so many things. It can be a raincoat with a few snips, a laundry bag, a blanket in an emergency, and a means to take out a pest.” I heard the rattle of the clear bag as she unfolded it. “It says right here that it’s a suffocation hazard. One person’s hazard, another’s solution,” she said in her vlog voice. I couldn’t do anything to stop her as she opened it up and put the clear bag over my head. I felt something go around my neck. Another zip tie, perhaps? She must carry a supply of different sizes.

  I ordered myself not to panic, which didn’t completely work. Even though I still had some air, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. She was packing up the computer and going toward the open window. I could hear noise coming from the hall. I thought I recognized Kevin St. John’s voice. I considered yelling, but because the doors were so thin, everyone was conditioned to ignore any sounds coming from inside a room because, well, it could be embarrassing.

  There had to be something I could do. She was ready to climb out the window and take the computer with her. And then it hit me. There was one thing I could do that would get Kevin’s attention. That would make him barge in the room. I took in a deep breath of what air I had and I began to bark and make yipping sounds. It might not have been the most authentic impression, but I hoped that Kevin was so coiled and ready to react that he wouldn’t notice. I was barely on the second round of barks when the door burst open and Kevin barged in.

  “Aha, caught you,” the manager yelled. “That’s it. You’re in trouble now.”

  Chapter 27

  “Where’s the dog?” Kevin said, looking around the room.

  I moved my arms around to get his attention. “Get this off me,” I said from inside the bag. He looked up from his search and finally noticed my situation. He shook his head with reproach and then ripped it open. I took in a gush of air and ordered him to undo the restraints on my hands. I took care of the ones around my feet. Once I was free I ran to the window, but PJ had disappeared in the dark. I knew where she was headed and climbed out the window.

  “Casey, I demand to know what’s going on. And where did you hide that dog?” the manager yelled after me.

  Really?

  I didn’t bother with the path, but ran through the tall dry grass on the slope that led down to the Lodge. I was so intent on what I was doing I barely heard the sound of sirens growing louder. I burst through the door and saw that PJ was at the counter dealing with Cloris. Despite what I said, it seemed like Cloris was going to hand over the discarded clothes. In a last-ditch effort, I boosted myself up on the huge wooden counter and slid across it, grabbing the black clothes out of PJ’s hands.

  The sirens were loud now and I saw the reflection of flashing lights coming in the windows. PJ tried to make a run for it, but the door on the driveway side opened and cops and paramedics flooded inside.

  The commotion had gotten Lieutenant Borgnine’s attention and he came in the door on the other side still holding his cup of punch.

  “Grab her,” I said. “She killed Tim Moffat.” I held up the black outfit. “She was wearing these clothes. They’ve been washed, but I’m sure there’s still blood residue.” I offered to get my luminol to show them.

  “You can’t prove they’re mine. Lots of people wear black leggings and tops,” PJ said.

  “Except those people don’t put them on their vlog as a travel hint. How a black outfit hides spills. Or have a little red heart on the shoulder.”

  “Arrest her,” Lieutenant Borgnine said, looking for a place to put down his punch cup.

  The lights from the police cars and ambulance were still flashing. All the noise and lights had attracted the attention of the guests at the reception and people began to crowd in the side door that opened on the deck.

  Kevin realized he had to take control and told them to go back outside. The door on the driveway side opened and Wind Markham walked in followed by Dane.

  The spiritual guru did a sweep of the room with the cop handcuffing PJ, the flashing lights reflecting off the walls, the grumbling crowd being pushed out into the darkness and me with the remnants of a plastic bag still hanging around my neck. He made eye contact with Kevin St. John.

  “I think not,” he said and then turned and went back outside. Dane shook his head as he looked around the room and his eyes stopped on me.

  “Who said nothing happens around here,” he said.

  Chapter 28

  Deani, Aileen, Madison and Iola were already at the table when I came in for breakfast on Sunday morning. They had been part of the crowd that came into the Lodge the night before as PJ was being taken away. They’d also been part of the crowd that Kevin St. John and Lieutenant Borgnine had teamed up on and told to go back to their rooms. I’d barely been able to give the birthday group the barest of details before Lieutenant Borgnine took me into the closed café and wanted a statement.

  Dane was waiting when the cop finally released me and walked me home. He wanted to stay but he was still on duty.

  “What’s going to happen to her?” Madison asked.

  I grabbed a chair and poured myself some coffee. “They might charge her with voluntary manslaughter since
it seems like she didn’t plan it out. There will be some charge for what she did to me. Maybe attempted murder.” I took a deep breath with new appreciation for air after the bag incident. “I don’t think they’re going to give her bail.”

  “I feel terrible,” Deani said. “It’s kind of my fault. PJ worked for me making the food I delivered. She took advantage of the kitchen I used and worked on the grilled cheese snacks. She wanted to get feedback, so I let her make up sample bags and I left them with my customers. I guess Tim must have contacted her from the business card she stuck in the bags. She never told us any details, just that she was working on building them into something bigger. I wish I’d known.”

  “It’s not your fault she did what she did,” Madison said. “It’s not any of ours fault. I’m appalled what she did to that man and to Casey.” She looked at me with a sympathetic expression. “We’ll do what we can to support her, like help her get a lawyer and talk to her daughter. But life has to go on.”

  The mood in the room was subdued after the events of the previous night. Kevin St. John came in, looking dejected now that his dream of having a superstar guru let him arrange a retreat at Vista Del Mar was dead. He threw me an angry glare, as if it was my fault that Wind Markham had shown up in the midst of an invasion by first responders.

  It wasn’t me at all. Audrey Moffat thought PJ had fallen out the window and had used her satellite phone to call in the emergency.

  I was sure Kevin St. John would put in a bad word for me with the Delacorte sisters. Not that he really had to. Cora might have already talked to him.

  It was no surprise that nobody felt like eating. I reminded them that the last workshop started shortly after the meal.

  Crystal and I were waiting in our meeting room when they showed up. Cloris had left coffee and tea. There were cookies still in the tin. “I hope this works,” Crystal said, looking out the open door to the path.

  “It’s the perfect solution,” I said, hearing voices. The birthday group came in and went to take their regular seats. A moment later the Silicon Valley group came in. Their number was back up to five since Audrey was with them. The two groups looked at each other and then turned to Crystal and me.

  “What’s going on?” Elex said

  “I thought you people would probably need help with your mindful knitting after you leave. And these ladies are experts,” I said, gesturing to the birthday group. I saw Madison’s back go up and knew she was about to object.

  “There is a catch,” I said. “I want you to look at my retreaters carefully.” Elex and his crew followed my orders and I saw them beginning to shrug.

  “Really?” I said, glaring at them. “You don’t recognize these people?” I pointed to Madison. “How about you see her every day when you go through the reception area to your office.” They all stared at Madison and a look of recognition lit their faces.

  “Right, the woman who runs the place. I don’t remember that hair, though,” Julie said. Madison took a moment to explain the hair color had just been a weekend thing.

  “This is Deani. She’s the one who provides you with meals.”

  “Provided,” Deani corrected. “Tim canceled my service.”

  “We can’t have that,” Elex said, sounding panicked. “We’ll starve.” He nodded to Deani. “Consider yourself reinstated.”

  “And you should recognize these two people, too. Aileen and Iola both have offices in the same shared work space suite.”

  Aileen and Iola both struck poses. I wanted to mention how rude and arrogant the Silicon Valley group had seemed, but I wanted to mend fences, not scold. In that moment, Elex gave them all a hard look and then his eyes lit with understanding.

  “It must have been seeing you all out of context,” he said. “I guess we’ve all gotten a little too into ourselves. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.” He sounded like he genuinely meant it.

  It was amazing how powerful those few words were. The words I’m sorry were like magic, and my group easily forgave them. Now that the ice was broken they began to talk to each other. The Silicon Valley group showed off their mindful projects and my group said they would be glad to help them and mentioned how they met in the office lounge.

  All Crystal and I had to do was stand there while they all began to work on their projects and talk at the same time. As expected, the conversation went to what had happened the night before. Elex admitted what had happened between him and Tim, making sure they understood he’d gone to get help for him. He’d told Lieutenant Borgnine the same thing and the cop had said it seemed they’d just had a scuffle, and since Elex had gone for help there was nothing criminal. “It’s a relief, but I’ll still always have regrets about what happened.”

  Madison said something similar to what she’d said at breakfast. “No matter what, life has to go on.” She looked at Audrey with a question.

  “I’m afraid we’ve never officially met. I’m Audrey Moffat. Tim’s widow.”

  “She’s going to be working with us,” Elex said.

  “I always thought the produce truck was a great idea and am excited to be involved. I hope we can do something with the grilled cheese snacks too and give a share of the money to the woman’s family. I had no idea that Tim stole her idea. Julie and I were talking and we have an idea that can help the produce truck and bring quality food to so-called food deserts. I don’t want to be the person who just writes the checks. I want to be in the middle of things.”

  Elex looked surprised. “You mean because you’ll inherit Tim’s money?”

  “Oh, no. I have my own.”

  When the hour ended, I was pleased that everything had worked out for the two groups, which seemed like one now. I heard they were all going to sit together at lunch.

  • • •

  And then it was time for the goodbyes. I was waiting when the birthday group came into the Lodge to check out.

  “I hope you have a happy birthday, whenever it is,” I said to Madison. She still had the pink hair and seemed sorry for the retreat to end because of having to face her daughters and her mother-in-law. Aileen was late as usual, and when she came in she wasn’t alone.

  “Everybody, I’d like you to meet Reese.” They were arm in arm and clearly a couple. Now I understood why she’d been doing the disappearing act and who she’d been doing it with. Everything made more sense when she explained. She and Reese had met a year ago at Vista Del Mar. She was there for a homeschooling retreat and he was there to see a client, as he did every year on the same weekend. “That’s why I insisted we come this weekend,” she said to the others. I was hoping to meet up with Reese again now that I’m divorced.”

  He looked at her with love in his eyes. “And now all we have to do is figure out how to have a happy ending.”

  Iola was standing with one of the bird group. “This is my brother,” she said. “I had no idea he was going to be here. I had some meals with him. It gave me a chance to meet his girlfriend.”

  Deani had the pink tote and was not trying to hide Fifi anymore. I blew the dog a kiss, realizing she’d helped save my life.

  I was going to walk them out to the SUV, when the door on the driveway side opened and two teenage girls made a noisy entrance.

  “Mother,” they cried in unison and rushed up to Madison. She turned her head, trying to avert her eyes, but it was useless and she looked at the two young women.

  “Okay, let’s see the tattoos,” she said with a groan. The girls started giggling and took off their jackets to display elaborate artwork on their arms. Madison almost choked. Then one of them licked her finger and began to rub her arm. The color faded and started to disappear. “Faked you out. We did them with a special pen.”

  “What about those dresses?” Madison said.

  “It’s so easy to make you crazy,” the other one said. “Grandma buy us hot dresses, ha!”

  “What are you doing here?” Madison asked.

  “We missed you so we thought we’d come to get you
. Boy, do we have a lot to tell you about Grandma. What a pill. She made us count the dust balls under our beds, only she called them dust bunnies.” The older one looked at her mother and shook her head. “Pink hair, really? It looks like you’re trying too hard.”

  “It looks like I’ll be riding home with my girls,” Madison said, beaming a big smile. And then we all went outside. The Silicon Valley group came outside a moment later with Kevin St. John. Sky was trailing behind.

  “I hope you’ll spread the word about the mindful retreat to all your start-up buddies.” He tried to give Elex a high five. “Should we put you down for a repeat?”

  Elex rolled his eyes and shook his head. The manager seemed totally confused when his group and my group offered goodbyes, handshakes and hugs to each other. The manager gave me a dirty look before he went back inside shaking his head. Then everybody got into their vehicles and we watched them all drive away.

  I gave Sky a high five. “We’re done.”

  I went to the meeting room to pack my things in the wheeled tote. I stopped in the Lodge to thank Cloris for all her help. She was behind the registration counter on her own.

  “Something’s happening,” she said. “I’m not sure what it is, but I think it’s big, really big.” She pointed toward the café. I walked over and peeked in. Cora and Madeleine were sitting with Crystal and Gwen. I checked their expressions and they were all friendly. Crystal saw me and waved me in.

  “Thank you,” Cora said, giving me a round of applause.

  “Huh?” I said, confused.

  “If it weren’t for you, we all wouldn’t have found each other.”

  “But I thought—”

  “We all said some things we shouldn’t have. We worked things out,” Gwen said with a bright expression.

  “We’re ready to go public with it, too,” Cora said. “We know that our brother would want his great-grandson to have a stake in Vista Del Mar.”