by Leena Clover
“Let’s go there right now,” Anna said.
Mary bowed out. “I need to run some errands. I will talk to you gals later.”
Anna and Julie walked to the Yellow Tulip diner. Julie began pointing excitedly as soon as they neared the diner’s parking lot.
“That’s the car I was talking about.”
Anna paused to observe the car. It did match Bertha’s description.
“Let’s go in,” she said eagerly.
They grabbed their usual booth and looked around at the people seated in the diner. It was just after the lunch rush and there were very few people inside. Their usual waitress came over with a pot of coffee.
Anna pointed toward the car in the parking lot.
“Do you know whose car that is?” she asked urgently.
“Sure. Belongs to that gent over there. Sits here all day from breakfast to dinner.”
Anna spotted a brown haired man wearing glasses hunched over a computer. He was much younger than her, somewhere in his mid forties if she had to guess.
Julie and Anna got up and went over to this table. Anna cleared her throat and waited for the man to acknowledge them. He looked up after a few seconds.
“Ladies,” he nodded, scratching his head. “Can I help you?”
“Are you the owner of that blue sedan outside?” Julie asked.
“Am I blocking you?” the man asked solicitously, pulling out a bunch of keys from his pocket. “Sorry about that.”
“The car is fine,” Julie said hastily. “We just wanted to ask you something.”
“Are you new in town?” Anna asked impulsively. “Haven’t seen you around before.”
“My name is Joe,” the man said, inviting them to sit down. “I’m into sales. I work for an office supplies company headquartered in Idaho. I just got assigned to this region.”
“Where is your office?” Anna asked.
“I don’t have one,” Joe said with a smile. “That’s why I work from here. Dolphin Bay is roughly in the centre of my assigned territory. So I’ve made this diner my HQ. I can be up and on my way whenever I get a call.”
“Do you know a man called William Parker?” Anna asked.
“The name doesn’t ring a bell,” Joe said, scratching his head again. “Why?”
“No reason,” Anna said quickly.
She looked at Julie and they stood up.
“Nice talking to you,” Anna said.
“You sure my car’s not in your way, right?” the man asked Julie.
“He’s lying,” Julie said as soon as they came out of the diner. “He was a bit too smooth.”
“I agree,” Anna said. “Now what?”
“Let’s go to the police and tell them about this man.”
Anna agreed grudgingly. She had no desire to visit the police station.
Teddy Fowler was standing at the front desk when they went inside.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
Anna told him how Joe had been spotted following William Parker.
“You should question him.”
“We don’t need advice from civilians. And I don’t appreciate you interfering in police business.”
“Why don’t you get off your high horse and catch the killer then?” Julie snapped.
Anna pulled at her arm and rushed out of the police station.
“Let’s go home. I’ve had enough for one day.”
“What about the store?” Julie asked.
“The café’s not open yet and Meg’s taking care of the bookstore. She can close up.”
“Aren’t you trusting her too much?”
“You sound like Cassie,” Anna grumbled. “Cassie’s not sure Meg’s who she says she is.”
“She’s always had trust issues,” Julie replied. “But I think she’s right this time.”
Julie drove them to Anna’s house. Anna started a pot of coffee as soon as she went in.
“I’m going to call Gino,” she said. “He will give us the right advice.”
Gino urged Anna not to lose her cool and promised to call back soon.
The two friends sat sipping their coffee, too tired to argue or discuss anything. Cassie came out of her room, followed by a tall, buff man with a chiseled face.
“Bobby’s here,” she said.
Anna’s eyes widened when she laid eyes on Cassie’s friend. So she had called in the troops. Maybe Bobby would talk some sense into her daughter.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Bobby.”
“I put him in the guest room,” Cassie told her. “We are going out for a drive.”
“Is that the guy she talks to all the time?” Julie asked as soon as they left.
“Bobby’s the only one she opens up to,” Anna nodded. “I’m glad he’s here for her.”
The phone rang and Gino’s face flashed on the screen.
Anna grabbed the phone and listened to what he had to say.
“That’s good to know, Gino, but I can’t leave it up to them. Not while I’m still in the hot seat.”
Gino agreed with her, warned her to be careful and hung up.
“The police are looking at other suspects,” she told Julie after she hung up. “But that’s not good enough for me.”
“I agree. So what’s the next step?”
Anna admitted she was clueless.
“I need to clear my head.”
“You’re making pasta, aren’t you?”
Chapter 15
Cassie came home with Bobby to find the table in the dining room set for a formal meal. The house smelled of roasted garlic and something equally delicious. Cassie was pleased to know Anna had made an effort. Bobby was her bestie and he was visiting them for the first time. She wanted him to feel special.
She stole a glance at Bobby. He was looking his usual cool self. Cassie had taken him to the Coastal Walk and then to her favorite vantage point to watch the sunset. As the sun went down over the water, she had told him everything about Meg. Bobby was the only person Cassie had ever confided in about her teen folly so he already knew Cassie was a mother. But Meg’s arrival surprised him too.
“Does she look like you?” he asked. “Is she shy? Have you talked to her?”
“Hold on a second, Bobbykins. You are sounding just like my mother. I don’t know if I even want to believe this girl.”
“Why not?”
“Well, she just turned up out of nowhere. What do we really know about her?”
“You think she’s an impostor?” Bobby asked.
Cassie gave a shrug. She felt like a heel saying it, but she needed to speak her mind. That’s what Bobby was there for.
“I don’t know what to think, Bobby. This has completely knocked me down.”
“Your mother kept your secret all these years, right?” Bobby asked her. “And you’re the only one who knew about the baby.”
“The Firecrackers knew,” Cassie reminded him, explaining who they were. “And the nuns at the place where I gave birth.”
“They are not going to give you away. Why would they, after all these years?”
“My mother actually posted something on an online forum. Meg read that and came looking for us. That’s what makes it seem fishy to me.”
Bobby placed an arm around Cassie and took her hand in his.
“I don’t like saying this, babe, but I think you don’t want to face the truth.”
Cassie wondered if that was true.
“You have thought about her all these years, haven’t you?” Bobby asked, the only person privy to Cassie’s innermost thoughts. “This is a gift. This is your chance to get to know her, build a relationship with her.”
“That’s what Mom says.”
“I think Anna is a wise woman.”
“I haven’t been very welcoming to Meg,” Cassie admitted. “Not that I was rude …”
“You can take your time,” Bobby said softly. “You will need it. I know it’s not a switch you can just turn on.”
“I’m still going ahead with the background check.”
“That makes sense,” Bobby agreed with her. “Even if it sounds a bit callous, it’s the smart thing to do. And I think you should do the blood test too.”
“Meg might not agree.”
“I think she will,” Bobby said thoughtfully. “So, when do I meet this kid of yours?”
“Mom gave her a job at the store. I’ll take you there tomorrow before you leave.”
“What about the paparazzi?” Bobby asked. “Are you sending out a press release?”
“I haven’t thought that far. We will need to introduce her to people in the town at some point.”
Bobby advised Cassie to do it soon. Cassie thanked him for coming all the way to Dolphin Bay to let her cry on his shoulder.
“You’re the best, Bobby. What would I do without you?”
“I’m here for you, always.”
Cassie was in a better mood as they walked home.
Anna came out of her room, wearing a fresh coat of lipstick and a new dress.
“You’re back!” she exclaimed. “Just in time for dinner.”
Meg walked in through the kitchen, looking a bit hesitant. Cassie frowned when she saw her.
“Anna told me to use the kitchen door,” Meg spluttered. “I hope that’s fine.”
“Of course it is,” Anna stepped in. “Come, come. Meet Cassie’s friend.”
Cassie placed a hand on Bobby’s shoulder.
“This is Bobby,” she told Meg. “He lives in Los Angeles.”
“Is he your bae?”
“That’s right, sweetie,” Bobby said, offering his hand to Meg.
Anna was looking bewildered.
“She means is he my best friend?” Cassie explained.
“Oh.” Anna’s face cleared. “Bobby means a lot to Cassie. He’s seen her through a lot of rough times.”
“Is that why you’re here?” Meg asked frankly.
Cassie gave Bobby a warning look.
“I’ve missed Cassie since she came here. My schedule opened up for a day so I decided to come visit.”
Cassie hoped that answer was good enough for Meg. She wasn’t getting any other explanation.
“I could use a glass of wine,” Bobby said. “I’m feeling parched after all that walking.”
“I thought you only drank that green stuff,” Anna teased. “Are you sure a glass of wine won’t upset your calorie quota for the day?”
“Ha, Ha. Good one, Anna.”
“When can we eat, Mom?” Cassie asked, pulling up a chair at the table.
She lifted the lid off a few pots.
“You made tortellini!”
Meg helped Anna serve the salad. There was balsamic grilled chicken topped with basil pesto and mushroom tortellini with green peas and mint and a creamy porcini and white wine sauce.
Bobby couldn’t stop raving about the food.
“What did you do all day?” Anna asked Cassie.
“I almost forgot,” Cassie said, taking a sip of her wine. “I went to meet that EMT.”
Meg and Bobby were brought up to speed on the bookstore incident and Anna’s predicament. They already knew some of it.
“Did Bobby go with you, Cassie?”
“This was before he got here,” Cassie explained. “I was getting bored sitting around here so I thought I would go visit this guy.”
“I’m surprised he entertained you,” Anna said.
“He was quite open about it,” Cassie said. “He made it clear how much he hated William Parker. But he still loves his wife and they are making a go of it.”
“What about the child?”
“Ethan is raising it as his own. The child doesn’t know all this, of course. He’s too young.”
“So they are a happy family,” Anna observed.
“As far as I could tell,” Cassie nodded. “And he has an alibi. The family was on a camping trip in Yosemite for the whole week. One of the neighbors confirmed it. Ethan’s got one of those Airstream trailers, it seems. They loaded it up and left a few days before William Parker died and didn’t get back until a few days after.”
“So Ethan has a strong motive but no opportunity,” Meg spoke up.
“Did you say this guy was poisoned?” Bobby asked, taking a second helping of the pasta. He complimented Anna on the food again. “No wonder Cassie’s putting on the pounds,” he teased. “She’s eating like this and missing her workouts.”
“I barely gained ten pounds, Bobbykins,” Cassie protested. “I can lose it in a month.”
“It’s boot camp for you once you get back home,” Bobby promised.
“Do you still think of Hollywood as your home?” Meg asked Cassie.
Cassie answered her by taking a big gulp of wine.
“Anyway,” Bobby said. “What I was going to say is, poison is supposed to be a woman’s weapon, right?”
“That’s the funny thing,” Anna replied. “We haven’t come across a woman yet. There’s Ethan, of course. We just ruled him out. William Parker had a fight with his business partner. We haven’t met him yet. Then there is another guy who seems suspicious but no woman.”
“What about Ethan’s wife, Mom?” Cassie asked. “Do you think she might have done it?”
“Wasn’t she on that camping trip too?” Meg asked.
“Oh yeah, right,” Cassie nodded.
“I keep coming back to the same question,” Anna said. “How or why did he end up at my bookstore?”
Cassie wondered if she was partially to blame. She didn’t remember if she had locked the bookstore that night before heading to the concert. Now it looked like someone had taken advantage of the open door. Why hadn’t Anna said anything about it to her? Cassie realized her mother was being protective.
“What’s for dessert?” Bobby asked. “Cassie can’t stop raving about your tiramisu.”
“I made a pan,” Anna smiled. “And there’s gelato if anyone wants it.”
“Do you like dessert, Meg?” Cassie asked. “What’s your favorite?”
“My Mom makes the best apple pie,” Meg replied. “But I’m beginning to like Anna’s tiramisu.”
Cassie stole a glance at Bobby. He smiled approvingly. She had made an effort to be nice and it hadn’t been too hard. Cassie reminded herself to call Gino in the morning. Once he confirmed Meg’s identity, she would get the blood test done. Then she could finally begin to bond with her daughter.
Cassie watched Anna serve big slices of tiramisu on the dessert plates. Meg took a big bite and rubbed her stomach, just like Cassie used to do when she was a child.
Chapter 16
Anna was feeling upbeat the next morning. The dinner with Bobby had gone better than she expected. Cassie had behaved herself. Meg had been polite as usual. Anna had sensed a thaw in Cassie’s demeanor and wondered if she had Bobby to thank for it.
Cassie had left early to drop Bobby off at the airport in San Francisco. Planning to open the bookstore at 9 AM, Anna rushed through her coffee and breakfast. It had been a while since she spent time at the store and she was looking forward to it. She made avocado toast and set some aside for Cassie. She debated taking some of it to the store for Meg, then decided against it. Mary would make sure Meg had a hearty breakfast.
Meg was standing on the sidewalk under the magnolia tree when Anna cycled up. The pink and white blossoms scented the air with their lemony fragrance.
“You are here early.”
“It’s a minute past 9. I try to be punctual.”
Anna unlocked the door and went in with Meg. She went into the small pantry and started a pot of coffee.
“I always put the coffee on when I come in,” she told Meg. “I guess that will change once the café is up and running.”
“Do you have any chores for me?” Meg asked. “There’s not much to do. I have just been sitting behind the desk for the past couple of days.”
“I dust the shelves when I come in and tidy up. Set the newspapers
out on that reading table over there. Then I tidy up every few hours. That’s pretty much it, other than ringing up people who make purchases.”
“That sounds easy. I think I can do all this and help you at the café.”
“We’ll see,” Anna said, fixing their coffee. “Do you take cream or sugar?”
“Lots of cream and four sugars, please.”
“I’m going next door for a while,” Anna said after she finished her coffee. “Will you be alright here?”
“Don’t worry about me, Anna. This is not my first job.”
Anna reminded herself to ask Meg about that sometime.
She went out and stood on the sidewalk, staring up at the sign on the store next to hers. Records Old and New had been there much before she opened Bayside Books. The owner Otto was an eccentric old man who hated Anna. It had started when Anna began to stock music CDs in her store. Otto felt she was encroaching on his territory. Anna argued that wasn’t true because he only sold vinyl. John had suggested a truce. Anna agreed not to sell any music in her store. Otto never forgave her though. He barely said hello to her when they ran into each other on the street.
“What are you doing here?” Otto growled when Anna entered his store.
Shoulder length hair, a flowing beard and moon shaped glasses sat on a tanned face with leathery skin. Otto was a diehard surfer who liked to ride the waves in his spare time.
“I’m good, thanks, Otto.”
“People are talking about you.”
“About that … were you here that night, Otto? Did you see anything suspicious?”
Otto wanted to know what day she was talking about. Anna told him the exact date.
“I closed up early that night but I guess I can check the security footage.”
“You have a camera?” Anna’s eyes popped out. “Why didn’t you say anything all this time?”
“No one asked me.” Otto shrugged. “You want to see it or not? I haven’t got all day.”
Anna followed Otto to the back of the store. There was a tiny office with a computer. Otto flipped through some folders and located one with the date Anna had given. The video began to play.
“It’s too dark,” Anna muttered.
A pair of lights appeared on the screen and a van pulled up in front of the door. Anna held her breath as the door started to slide open. The screen went blank for a second and the video started playing again.
