Strong Tea

by Sheila Horgan

  “She said that the camera really was broken but that nothing happened to him in the alley. I’m saying that him having difficulty twice, both times when the camera just happened to be broken, seems a little more than a coincidence.”

  “I didn’t think of that. Should I tell the cops?”

  “Your lawyer already left. If you start talking to them again, then you’re opening a door for them to ask you a bunch more questions.”

  “But I have nothing to hide.”

  “And you say I sound like I’m fifty. Teagan, the days of innocent until proven guilty are solidly gone. All the stuff we took for granted when we were kids, gone. You really need to pay closer attention.”

  “How do you know all this? Sounds more like conspiracy theories meet sensationalization.”

  “Adeline’s security people. And others. If you have a lot of money, you have to know about this stuff, and Adeline has a lot.”

  “Whatever. Things like that don’t really come into play in the real world. Our world.”

  “You wouldn’t sleep at night if you understood how often they do. What do you want to do now?”

  “I’m going home, taking a shower, and getting ready for work. My staff is going to have a heart attack when they hear what happened.”

  “Are they letting you guys into the building?”

  “The cops said they would. They also said they would like to use my conference room to talk to the staff.”

  I turned toward Teagan’s house.

  “Jessie’s sister is sending one of her partners. She said that I should have a lawyer there when the employees are questioned.”

  “That’s gonna look bad.”

  “She said because she was already here tonight, that it is pretty much expected. She said she just wants to make sure the cops don’t go too far afield. Their approach is often to spread a wide net, see what they find, and go from there. She said that she wants them to stay focused on Gord and not on whatever else is happening in the company.”

  “She knows about the computer problems?”

  “Yep.”

  “I forgot about that. Do you really think that one has anything to do with the other?”

  “Dear God, I hope not.”

  Evelyn was sitting on the kitchen table, talking to her mother. Actually, she was in her little seat thing, which was sitting on the table.

  Suzi was fixing breakfast.

  “You’re awfully domestic these days.” I couldn’t help but smile.

  “Never had to be before. When I was in college, pizza was my food of choice, and if it didn’t smell too bad, I wore it. Then you were my roommate, and if it wasn’t nailed down, you put it away, and you had enough food prepared for a small army. All the time. Things are different now.”

  Evelyn started talking her gobbledygook. I love hearing that first thing in the morning. Suzi walked to her, and they had a short mother-daughter conference while Suzi ignored what was going on at the stove.

  I held my tongue as long as I could. “Stove?”

  “Oh, damn. I got it.”

  She was making an omelet. I think. What she had now was probably not edible.

  “Sorry. This is why I’m not domestic.” She laughed.

  A.J. appeared at the doorway. “Something’s burning.”

  “My breakfast. Sorry. I don’t have time to do another. Leave the pan, and I’ll wash it before I go to work. I’m gonna do a quick shower.”

  She went to the table to grab Evelyn.

  A.J. smiled. “Leave her. I already took my shower. I’ll get her breakfast while you get ready. Remember, we’ve got three today, and I’m gonna need help moving everything. Consider this casual Friday.”

  “It’s not Friday, but casual is good. I’m much better at casual.” She laughed and ran up the stairs.

  “What do you want for breakfast?”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll grab cereal. How did things go with Teagan?”

  “It’s been a long night. Food will help me, too. How about scrambled eggs with ham?”

  “Sounds great.”

  “Let me get Evelyn’s cereal going and Suzi’s pan soaking. Then I’ll get us food.”

  It only took a minute to fix Evelyn’s cereal.

  Then I cut the ham into reasonably sized cubes and put it in a frying pan with a little water and covered it so that it could cook while I did the other stuff.

  A.J. and Evelyn were in fine form. He was feeding her, and she was entertaining him.

  It’s quiet little moments like this, just the three of us, that I miss our baby the most. The baby is never far from my mind, but in moments like this, my heart breaks all over again.

  A.J. would have been such a good father to the baby.

  After I got as much of Suzi’s omelet out of the pan as possible, I put some water and a little bit of dish soap in it and stuck it on the back burner to simmer.

  When I heard the shower turn off, I yelled up the stairs, asking Suzi if she wanted ham and eggs.

  She did.

  I got out a pretty good-sized saucepan, set the stove to medium, and put a bit of butter in the pan. I scrambled all the eggs we had, and added a little water. Drained the ham. When the butter was bubbly, I added the eggs, then the ham, and let it cook for a while. We like big curds. Probably a little overcooked.

  By the time Suzi came down the stairs — in jeans and a blouse with a blazer she hung over the back of the chair — breakfast was ready. I put some toast on a plate in the middle of the table and called it done.

  Tea for Suzi and me. Hot chocolate for A.J. A bottle for Evelyn. I spent the next fifteen minutes filling everybody in on what had happened at Teagan’s office.

  “I don’t like this. You and Teagan have to stay out of it, Cara. Somebody is dead. That’s serious.” A.J.’s voice was more stern than usual. I knew he was worried.

  “That’s easy. There’s nothing Teagan and I can do.”

  Suzi laughed. “That’s never stopped the two of you in the past.”

  “I’m smarter now, and I have a lot more to lose.”

  A.J. smiled at me.

  “I’m not going to do anything stupid, I promise.”

  Stupid knocked on the door at about ten thirty.

  “Honey, what are you doing here?”

  “I thought I’d stop by. We’re in town to pick up some stuff from the house.”

  “Okay, well, come on in.”

  “Thanks, hun.”

  Honey has always been a little bit on the outrageous side, but she was over the top this morning. Her push-up bra was putting forth with Herculean effort, she was awash with animal prints and statement jewelry, and her lips were so red I had to remind myself twice not to stare.

  “I just wanted to make sure that you and Teagan were alright.”

  “Why wouldn’t we be?”

  “Well, I heard that one of the employees got whacked in the parking lot. Just what are the police saying about that?”

  My mother had this theory that you should always listen when you hear a little whisper in the back of your mind saying that something wasn’t right. Like when your sister’s ex-boss has his wife show up unannounced at your door asking questions like “What do the police say?” Wonder what Mom would say to the screaming in the frontal part of my brain telling me to run.

  “I haven’t really talked to Teagan about it this morning.”

  “Oh now, hun. You and Teagan are stuck together like thighs and Naugahyde on a summer day. I’m sure the police were talking to her, and I’m sure she turned right around and talked to you.”

  “Yes, but that happened in the middle of the night. They called Teagan. She called me. Blah blah blah. You know how that goes. But the cops really didn’t know anything yet, and Teagan didn’t know anything at all. All she talked to me about was the fact that Gordon was dead, found in the parking lot, and the cops don’t know anything yet, but they’re working on it.”

  “Maybe that brother of yours, the one
that is on the force, maybe he would know something. We could give him a call.”

  “He doesn’t work homicide. I doubt he would know any more than you and I. He would be getting his information from the news stations just like the rest of us.”

  “Okay, well, I gotta get back. I just thought I’d swing by and see.”

  “No problem. Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure, hun. Anything at all.”

  “How did you know where I live?”

  “What?”

  “My new house. How did you know I live here?”

  “Oh, Teagan must have mentioned it.”

  That didn’t make any sense at all, but I let it slide. The sooner Honey was out of my house, the better.

  I’m sure Honey hadn’t gotten to her car before I had Teagan on the line, explaining what had just happened.

  No, that’s a lie. There is no explanation that I’m aware of.

  I was telling Teagan what just happened.

  She was an explosive combination of just plain pissed that Honey would show up at my door and scared to death.

  “Cara, how did she know where you live?”

  “Good question. I asked her that. She said you must have mentioned it.”

  “I did not. Why would I?”

  “That’s what I figured. Teagan, this is bad. I just had a crazy person in my house. A baby lives here. We have to fix this. We have to fix this now.”

  “Give me an hour. I’ll think of something.”

  “Okay. I have to tell A.J. and Suzi about this. I want them to pay attention. I’m not sure what is going on, but I’m sure that it just found its way to my house. I’ll keep my eyes open.”

  “And use your security system.”

  “I don’t have it hooked up yet.”

  “Hook it up, Cara.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  EIGHT

  A.J. IS NOT happy with me. I can tell. He got really quiet when I explained everything, and since I explained it via text, that’s saying something. He said he and Suzi would be home early, and we’d take care of it then.

  I called three alarm companies to get bids on the alarm system. It’s like comparing apples to crocodiles. They have so many options to choose from and different plans to think about. I got frustrated and called Roland’s people. I probably can’t afford for them to do the work, but it would be nice if they gave me a reasonably priced referral.

  I got transferred twice, but by the end of the conversation, a new guy offered to come by this evening and set me up. He said that the boss wouldn’t mind a little moonlighting under the circumstances, and he could do it much cheaper on his own time.

  I’m worried about Evelyn’s safety. The rest of us are adults, and what happens, happens, but I can’t be the reason a baby gets hurt. I would never forgive myself, even if it were really all Teagan’s fault.

  Nick — the security guy — A.J., Suzi, and Evelyn all showed up at the house within sixty seconds of each other.

  Nick is cute.

  Really cute.

  Where were all the cute guys when I was single? They seem to be everywhere now.

  Suzi took Evelyn upstairs to change her and to change her own clothes.

  A.J. and Nick took a walk around the house. Then they went outside. All the way to the back of the property. It took a while. I hope A.J. doesn’t overdo the security thing. The thought of cameras in my house freaks me out. Someone can hack those suckers, and the next thing you know, there are videos of me dancing around the kitchen in my bathrobe singing with Dé Danann, one of my mother’s favorite groups that seems to put me in a good mood when little else will.

  I admit I was nervous enough to agree to almost anything that Nick suggested. Everything was building up. I’m Irish. We have a tendency to exaggerate just a little bit. Like when we see two fire trucks down the block, it is immediately every fire truck in the county. When you put that gift in the mix with a bunch of unknowns, a computer problem, and a dead guy, well, I admit I’m a little freaked out.

  Then add to that the need for security in my own home. Teagan never called me back, and her hour of thinking time was over several hours ago. It’s not like her to go silent. Something must be even worse than I thought it was.

  I’m supposed to be having the time of my life planning my wedding and enjoying my engagement, and instead I’m creeping around my own house, peeking out the windows, trying to figure out what A.J. and Nick are talking about.

  I fixed myself a cup of tea, listened to Evelyn cooing at Suzi in the other room, and sat at the table, lost in thought.

  I don’t know how much time had passed when I jumped up so fast I spilled my tea.

  It will tell you how serious I was — I grabbed a dishtowel, sopped up what was on the table, threw the towel in the sink, and ran for my phone.

  “I can’t talk to you right now, Cara.”

  “I thought of something. It’s important.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “I’m on my way over. Where are you?”

  “At the office.”

  “I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

  “It’s that big of a deal?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you figure it all out? The cops will be really glad to hear that. They don’t have a flippin’ clue.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  I ran outside and told A.J. that I was going to Teagan’s office. He didn’t look happy about it, but he didn’t say anything, either.

  I called to Suzi, told her I was going out.

  I backed out of the driveway so fast I almost took out Nick’s car. He’d parked it blocking me, but only by a few inches. I pulled forward and tried again. I didn’t have time to ask him to move the stupid car. Who blocks in their clients? He must be new.

  I got to Teagan’s office in record time. There was still crime scene tape in the parking lot. It was just hanging in bits and pieces all over the place. She should have someone in her group take that down. I’m not sure it would be appropriate for the boss to be out there tromping around, but leaving it out there is disturbing.

  The place was pretty much empty.

  I went back to Teagan’s office and knocked quietly on the door. Nothing. She must have someone in there, or she didn’t hear me. I knocked again.

  Teagan answered from behind me. I jumped and took in a breath, but I didn’t scream. Or smack her. Good for Teagan. Not good if she had been a bad guy. “I almost had a heart attack. Where is everybody?”

  “I had a counselor come in today. She suggested that everyone take a day to process. The cops have been in and out, so it made sense to me. This is going to be one very expensive month for me. More time off without anything getting done. I sound like a cold-hearted boss, but I gotta keep all these people employed, and to do that, I need income, not just out-go.”

  “Is there anyone here at all?”

  “Yeah. I wouldn’t feel safe completely alone. What’s up?”

  I walked into Teagan’s office, and she followed. I stepped around her and closed her door.

  “Okay, so you don’t want anyone else to hear this. What do you have to share, dingleberry?”

  “I was thinking.”

  “Always dangerous.”

  I gave her a look, but continued. “Remember when everything started. When Lola threatened you. She said she’d go to the police, remember?”

  “When Gord went missing?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So what?”

  “So if what we learned is true, that doesn’t make sense.”

  “What are you talking about? My brain isn’t working, Cara. Just start at the beginning. Don’t be Cara. I can’t do that right now.”

  I tried not to be insulted. “Okay, take notes. Let’s write down what we know, what we think we know, and what doesn’t make sense.”

  “I’ve been doing that for days.”

  “Well, did you write down all the stuff about Gord being a cage fighter?”
/>
  “Yeah.”

  “And that Lola doesn’t know her scriptures.”

  “I’m not sure that has anything… ”

  “Look at it my way, Teagan. We got a guy. He is a computer nerd, right?”

  “Right.”

  “How many computer nerds are cage fighters?”

  “Probably not all that many, but I’ve known a fair number of computer people that are actually very athletic.”

  “Stay with me. You can pull it all apart when I’m done.”

  “Okay. Go.”

  “We have a computer geek that is a cage fighter. We have a pastor that doesn’t know her scripture. We have a cop that is acting more like a steroid freak. We have a Hooters girl that seems smart and capable, but she is always bowing to the wants of the freak cop.”

  “He is a little intense, and those muscles are either an eight hour a day gym habit, or you could be right.”

  “They all seemed to know each other.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I just got the feeling that freak cop wasn’t too worried about his girlfriend being overly involved with Gord. Lola freaked out a little too much, but the thing that really bothers me is if these people are as crooked as they look, and you gotta admit they look pretty nefarious, then why was Lola’s first response to call in the cops?”

  “What?”

  “Remember, when Gord first went missing, she was all about calling in the cops, and she was going to make a plea on television. Why? If she’s on the wrong side of the law, then why make a big public scene? If she is on the right side of the law, then what in the world is happening, and why does it look so messed up?”

  “Good questions.”

  “I’ve got more.”

  “Let me write these down first.”

  I keep coming back to the gypsy thing, and every time I do, Teagan shoots it down.

  “We aren’t in rural Ireland, Cara. We live in Tampa Bay. Not exactly a gypsy hub. We don’t even know if there are any gypsies here.”

  “Remember a few weeks ago when I was at the store, and they had all those people out in front with cart after cart of stuff, and they had them all sitting on the curb, and there were about a hundred cops there?”

  “Well, you still exaggerate like you’re in rural Ireland, but yeah, I remember.”