by Vivien Chien
I plucked the earring from my purse. I had placed it inside a tiny ziplock bag, much like the ones that Adam carried around with him for evidence. “I was wondering if this happened to be yours? Donna found it in between the couch cushions after the party and isn’t sure who it belonged to.”
Brenda inspected the earring. “No, that isn’t mine.” She studied my face. “That’s awfully nice of you to run Donna’s errands for her.”
“Well, she is a family friend, and with everything she has going on, I thought it was the least I could do.”
“Yes, that whole thing is quite a shame, isn’t it?”
As the words came out of her mouth, it dawned on me that I recognized this woman. She was the woman in the blue dress who was gossiping with the other ladies at the party. If my memory served correctly, she had been the one to say she hoped Donna didn’t do anything she would regret. It was also likely that she was the woman Penny saw rushing upstairs: Her slender body and hairstyle matched what Penny had described to me at the Bamboo Lounge.
“It really is,” I answered. “I can hardly believe that Donna would do something so horrible, though.”
Brenda gestured to a chair at the table. “What have you learned about the investigation, anything?”
I had a sneaking suspicion that this woman was an equivalent to one of the Mahjong Matrons. She was probably the head gossiper among her socialite friends and would share everything I said to her today with the rest of her group.
Once we were seated across from each other, she offered me some cucumber water from a carafe covered in condensation. I hate cucumbers, but to be polite, I accepted. Ah, the things I do in the line of duty.
“I don’t know much actually,” I said. “The police are reviewing the surveillance tapes from around Donna’s property, but I don’t think anything has turned up yet. And they have nothing to prove that Donna is guilty.”
“That poor woman,” she said, shaking her head sympathetically. “I’ve had my concerns that she would snap one day. As much as I admire her resilience, no woman is that well put together. And I believe she proved that to be true with her little outburst at the party.”
It was amazing to me how many people were ready to believe that Donna was capable of wrongdoing. Not that I could entirely eliminate myself from that group, so maybe I shouldn’t judge.
I decided to turn the conversation away from that and focus on getting the information I’d originally come for. “From what I understand, it was you that recommended Alice to Donna.”
“Yes, and I feel terrible about it.” She raised a hand to her chest and sighed. “I can’t help but think I’m partially responsible for that girl’s unfortunate death. I know in reality, it has nothing to do with me, but what if she had gone to work for someone else? She might still be alive today.”
“Perhaps,” I said noncommittally. “But then again, we don’t know why she was murdered, or what actually happened … or who this girl was affiliated with.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, what can you tell me about Alice? Do you know anything about her past?”
“Her past?” Brenda looked confused.
“Yeah, you know, maybe she was mixed up in something and this has nothing to do with Donna at all. I’m sure you’ve considered the possibility what with you and Donna having been friends for so long. I know you say that Donna has become unhinged, but there has to be a part of you that believes she’s innocent.”
“It’s true, Donna has been a close friend of mine for many years, but Alice was a good girl with a solid track record. I could hardly say a word against her. She took excellent care of my kids, and it’s hard to believe that she would be involved in anything … unsavory.”
“And the only reason you decided to get rid of her is because your kids are too old for a full-time nanny, correct?”
There was a slight pause. “Well, yes and no.”
“I don’t know what you mean by that,” I said.
“Alice proposed the idea to me.”
“She did?”
“Yes, she knew her time was coming to a close, and she suggested that one of my friends might benefit from her services. Alice was well aware of the circle that I run in and knew there was money to be made. She happened to bring up Donna’s name, and I said I would speak with her on Alice’s behalf.”
Alarm bells were going off in my head. I had so many questions that I wanted to ask, but all I said was, “I see.”
Brenda gazed out toward the pool. “I could hardly object. After all, Donna needs all the help she can get. What’s a widow and two fatherless teenagers to do in a house that size? And that maid of hers … she is a militant nightmare. I figured Alice would do some good around there.”
“Speaking of, do you know Rosemary well?”
The woman chuckled. “Just in passing. The times I’ve been to Donna’s to play mahjong have shown me enough. Matter of fact, I have to wonder about her sometimes. Who knows, maybe it was Rosemary that finally snapped.”
She stopped there and left the insinuation hanging in the air. It felt so pointed that I couldn’t help but feel in my gut that this woman was hiding something. I just didn’t know what. I had to agree with Donna, though: This woman definitely deserved a suspicious star next to her name.
CHAPTER
12
Since I was nearby, I stopped at Donna’s house to update her on what I’d learned from Brenda Choi.
Rosemary answered the door appearing less than enthused at my arrival. “Ms. Feng is in the bath.”
“Would it be all right if I waited for her? It’s kind of important.”
She pursed her lips. “Very well. You may wait in the sitting room.” She opened the door wider to let me in and led me into the sitting room. “Would you like some tea?”
“Sure, that would be nice,” I responded politely.
While I waited, I dug my phone out of my purse and noticed I had another missed call from Adam. Crap. I’d forgotten to call him back. I sent him a quick text message telling him I’d call him as soon as I left Donna’s, so he didn’t send the troops searching for me.
When Rosemary returned, she set a tea service tray delicately on the coffee table and then proceeded to pour a cup for me.
“Thank you,” I said, picking up the cup from the tray.
She bowed her head and turned to leave. “Rosemary…”
Pausing in mid-step, she did not turn, but replied, “Yes?”
“I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about Alice?”
She was silent for a moment, and I thought she would continue on her way without bothering to acknowledge me any further. But she finally turned and gave me a stern frown. “Why would you be curious about such a matter?”
I assumed that she had no idea that I was investigating things for Donna, but I’d hoped she would be a little forthcoming in the spirit of casual conversation. “I suppose I’m just curious about her is all. In the short time that she worked here, did you get to know her well?”
She straightened her back and lifted her chin. “It is not my duty to converse with the other help in a personal manner. I choose to keep things very professional. I did not entertain small talk.” She gave me a pointed look.
“I see,” I said, deflated. “So you don’t happen to know if she was mixed up in anything shady?”
“Shady?”
“Yeah, you know, crooked.”
Rosemary folded her hands in front of herself and lifted her chin even higher than before. “No, Miss Lee, I do not know if she was shady, as you say. But I will tell you this: Donna Feng is a commendable woman and a fair and kind employer. These bad happenings do not concern her.”
“Did I hear my name?” Donna shouted from the spiral staircase. “Rosemary, who’s here?”
Rosemary, clearly not one to raise her voice, spun on her heel and marched out into the hallway to inform Donna of my arrival.
I leaned back against the stiff sofa and sipped my
tea.
Donna entered the room in a summery silk robe covered in cherry blossoms, her hair gathered on top of her head in a matching silk wrap. “Lana, darling, if I had known you were coming, I wouldn’t have piddled around for so long.”
“It’s okay,” I responded. “I just got here maybe ten minutes ago.”
“Has Rosemary been taking care of you?” she asked, noting the teapot. “Would you like something to eat? I can have her whip something up real quick.”
“No, no. I won’t be long, I have to get back to work. I only stopped by to fill you in on some things.”
Donna nodded at Rosemary, and Rosemary disappeared down the hallway toward the kitchen. Donna entered the sitting room and sat in the chair adjacent to me. She crossed her legs gingerly and adjusted her robe to cover them. “Now, what is this about? You have my full attention.”
I told her about my interaction with Brenda Choi, making sure to allow time for her to soak in the information.
She sank into her chair, lifting a hand to her head. “I don’t understand. Alice wanted to work for me all along?”
“Brenda claimed your name simply came up because Alice knew that she ran in a wealthy social circle. There’s a slim possibility that’s true, but add in the fact that Alice asked for you by name, and the mysterious thumb drive, and I’m not so sure.”
“Why wouldn’t Brenda tell me this to begin with? She made it seem like it was all her idea.”
Donna’s expression told me that she felt betrayed, and I couldn’t blame her considering the circumstances.
I sighed. “Well, my guess is that maybe she didn’t think anything of it at the time. She probably thought it was an innocent suggestion. Brenda said she knew you needed help with the children.” I left out the other things she’d said about Donna to spare her feelings.
“Well, yes … of course … the children.” Donna seemed to drift off, and she wasn’t sharing with me where her mind had gone.
“Donna … there’s something else Brenda said that kind of struck me as odd.”
“More?”
“Yeah, she insinuated that Rosemary…” I stopped. I didn’t want to even say the words out loud. Especially because I feared that if Rosemary heard me, she might come in here and smack me with a wooden spoon.
“Lana … don’t worry, you can tell me anything.”
I leaned forward and lowered my voice. “She suggested that Rosemary had something to do with it. That maybe she snapped…”
“Oh, you have got to be kidding me.” Donna threw her hands up. “Has everyone completely lost their minds?”
I shrugged. “Is there anything that would give that impression to Brenda or anyone else?”
Donna glanced toward the entryway to make sure that Rosemary wasn’t anywhere nearby. “No, of course not. Yes, she can be a little rough around the edges, but she would never resort to any kind of violence. It would be too undignified for her nature.”
“Do you know how they got along?”
“Who, dear?”
“Rosemary and Alice.”
“Fine, I’m sure.”
“You’re sure?” I asked. “That doesn’t sound sure to me…”
“Well, I don’t really know, I suppose. They always seemed cordial in front of me.”
“I tried to ask Rosemary a little about her involvement with Alice, and she wouldn’t tell me anything. She said it’s not her place to make friends with the other staff.”
“That’s silly,” Donna said with a dry laugh. “Rosemary! Can you come in here, please?”
I shrank in my seat, regretting my decision to mention it at all.
A few moments later, Rosemary came striding into the sitting room. “Yes, madam?”
“Rosemary, how did you get along with Alice? Did you ever have any trouble with her?”
“No, madam, no trouble. We were civil with each other.” She slid her eyes toward me in accusation.
I felt my cheeks redden.
“And did you happen to notice anything strange about this young woman?” Donna asked.
“No, madam.”
“Thank you, that will be all, Rosemary.”
Rosemary took a step forward. “Madam, if I may…”
“Yes, of course, what is it?”
“It is only my duty to keep the house clean, see to the laundry, and prepare meals as needed. I hardly had any reason to associate with Alice, and I did not engage in friendly chitchat.”
“Never?” Donna asked.
“No, madam.”
“Okay. Well, thank you again, Rosemary.”
“Yes, madam,” she said with a slight bow and turned to leave.
As she turned the corner, I notice her give me the stink eye before going out of view.
“Well, there you have it,” Donna said, shifting her body back toward me. “They hardly even talked.”
I tilted my head in confusion. “You don’t think that Rosemary is a little on the cold side?”
“She’s just extremely professional, and very good at her job, I might add,” Donna said with satisfaction. “I hate the fact that Brenda Choi could even have the nerve to suggest something so ridiculous. No, Lana, don’t even waste your precious time on this line of questioning. It won’t lead anywhere productive.”
“What about the fact she said Alice wanted to be placed in your house. Doesn’t that worry you?”
“Lana, if Alice Kam wanted to blackmail me, I highly doubt that she would have just up and left that thumb drive for me to find without saying anything further. Don’t you agree? It would be a shoddy attempt, if you ask me. Though I do find the circumstances of this new information strange, I’m not sure this is the right angle, either. I truly believe this was a message meant for me. I’m sorry, my dear, but I can’t see it any other way.”
I left shortly after, feeling disappointed, and slightly more suspicious of Donna’s maid. It didn’t help that as I got into my car, I noticed her watching me from the second-story window.
* * *
Points for me, I remembered to call Adam on my way back to the restaurant.
“I’m glad you didn’t try to pull that doctor’s appointment story with me,” he said after I told him where I’d been. “I have to admit, I was a little worried when you didn’t call me back last night.”
Adam had a not-too-nice history with a significant other not responding in a timely manner, so it was something I could understand, and I felt guilty about it. But I didn’t want to tell him about Warren’s sudden reappearance. At the same time, it wasn’t something I could keep from him, either. “I know, I’m sorry, yesterday was one heck of a day.”
“You can tell Donna that the police are more than capable of handling the situation, you know,” he said. “This isn’t your responsibility, and shame on her for even thinking to involve you in this.”
“Believe me, she’s aware. And, it’s not that anyway,” I said.
“Well, what is it? Did something happen at work yesterday?”
I hated how he always seemed to know when something was up. There was very little I could get by him. “It’s no big deal.”
“Usually when people say that, it’s a big deal … or going to make me extremely unhappy.” He sighed. “Tell me.”
I held my breath. “You know my ex … the one who added trust issues to my mental baggage list?”
“Yeah, Will or something right?”
“Warren,” I corrected him.
“Okay, Warren. And?”
“He came into the noodle shop yesterday.” I cringed as I waited to hear his response.
“Okay … well, we’ll go with option two … I’m unhappy, but it’s not that big of a deal. So, what’s the deal, then?”
“Really there’s no deal. He wanted to apologize and explain himself. But he doesn’t want to do it at the restaurant. He wants us to talk away from there.”
“I can understand that,” he said plainly.
“You can?”
&nbs
p; “Of course. He doesn’t want to be at your place of employment while he tries to sweet-talk his way back into your life.”
“Adam.”
“Lana.”
“First of all, he’s not going to win his way back into my life. There’s no amount of sweet talk that could make that happen.”
“I didn’t say there was … I just said that’s most likely his plan.”
“Are you mad?”
“Not at you, sweetheart,” he said, softening his tone. “I don’t like the idea of this guy even trying to get one ounce of your attention though. Did you tell him you were dating a big bad detective that carries a gun?”
I could hear the smile in his voice, and I laughed. “No, I thought that might be bragging a bit.”
“A little bragging never hurt anybody,” he replied. “Look, I trust you, so you do what you feel is right. I prefer you don’t meet him anywhere privately, but if you do, please tell me when you plan on meeting with him, and then when it’s over. Is that a deal?”
“Yes, that’s fair,” I said, pulling into the plaza parking lot. I exhaled and felt a weight lift off my shoulders. “I haven’t decided either way yet, though.”
“Okay, well, take your time. Whatever you decide is okay with me.”
“Thanks, Adam.”
“Besides, if he hurts you in any way, shape, or form, I’ll just break his kneecaps.”
We laughed together as we hung up, but I knew that Adam wasn’t kidding.
CHAPTER
13
When I entered the restaurant, I was surprised to find Megan sitting with my mother and grandmother at a booth near the back. Nancy stood at the edge of the table, holding a tray, and the other three women were seated comfortably in the booth, laughing and eating an assortment of appetizers.
My mother was facing the door and noticed me walking in. She waved me over as she yelled across the restaurant. “Laaa-na! Come eat! Come eat!”
The few customers we had all turned to see who she was talking to. This was not a rare occurrence. More often than not, my mother yelled to me from across restaurants, stores, parking lots, and even quieter places like libraries and movie theaters. You’d think by now I wouldn’t be so embarrassed, but as I walked over to the table of women, I felt my cheeks warming.
