The maniac behind me doused all lights, sped up and hit the back of the truck again. Harder this time. I couldn’t tell what make the car was but it had an acceleration rate and power Junie’s ancient truck could never hope to match. Nonetheless, I pressed my foot down on the gas pedal and achieved a few feet of space. I frantically tried to recall every chase scene from every cop show or spy movie I’d ever seen, but I didn’t exactly notice any alleyways or hidden garages on the side of this rural Texas road. I refused to be some wimpy victim so I clamped both hands on the steering wheel and turned the truck hard to the left to make a wild U-turn in one place. It felt a lot like spinning on ice, except I had a little more traction.
My move surprised the other driver but Junie’s truck was too big to make a 180 and accelerate down the road with any ease at all. I was hanging on to the wheel desperately trying to keep the truck from tipping over, which gave the other car the opportunity to do what I suppose the driver had planned the whole time. He ran me off the road.
I landed in a ditch. Thankfully the truck didn’t flip. It remaineduprightjust tilting a lot to the right. I was shaking, crying, bruised, and in shock, and fumbling for the seat belt latch so I could get out. For all I knew the truck could catch on fire. Or the driver, who’d stopped his vehicle, would get out, head to the ditch and shoot me. It was a moonless night. I reasoned if I was out of the truck, he couldn’t see me and take aim.
Surprisingly, he paused before tearingon down the road. I assumed he’d seen what I sawheadlights coming our way.
The car slowed and stopped, keeping the high beams on. “Bebe,” the driver called. “You alive?”
“Saffron?”
“Yeah. You okay?”
“Not really.”
“I couldn’t get the license or even the make of the car. Sorry.”
I managed to join her at the shoulder of the road. “It’s okay. Uh. Does your cell work?”
“Sure.”
I called 9-1-1 and explained the situation. When I was told to wait, Saffron grabbed the cell.
“Grady? Hey, man. Yeah, Saffron Baker here. Look, I’m gonna give Bebe a lift to Junie Blume’s. There’s nothing she can tell you beyond some loony forced her off the road,so we’re outta here. Anything else, come by Junie's for coffee after y’all get the truck out of the ditch and we’ll tell you what we canwhich is basically zilch. Uh. Call Reece Harrison too, will ya? He can meet us at Junie’s. Bebe doesn’t need to be standing out here when she could have some sprains in need of attention. Or go into shock. Not to mention neither of us needs to be here in case some road rage killer comes back for any reason.”
Saffron waited for me to get my bag out of the mangled truck and even held the passenger door open for me. I could grow to like this girl.
It took less than six minutes for Saffron to drive straight up to the front of Junie’s house and lay a heavy hand on the horn. Jorge, Sven, Mickey and Juniper all tore out of the house. No pool boy (wellduh) but Clifford Black and Detective Reece Harrison were flanking Junie on either side. Everybody and his brother, cousin, or employer held the weapon I’d imagined and hoped for during the chase.
Junie called out, “Bebe! Are you all right?”
I stuck my head out my window, “I’m fine. Your truck is in a ditch but Saffron came along and rescued me so I’m still intact.”
Junie lowered her volume a tad. “What happened?”
Saffron Baker had exited her wonderful, gas-efficient automobile and was headed toward the house. “How about a deliberate and very nasty attempt to run Bebe off the road? Which succeeded.”
Chapter 23
The brave posse surrounding Saffron’s car lowered their weapons and went off about their business, except for Detective Harrison, who motioned to me he’d like to talk. I leaned up against Saffron’s car and watched Junie make the proverbial beeline for Ms. Baker.
“Saffron!” Junie squealed. “I’ve missed you, Sweetie. You ignored me after your family moved. I even quit making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. No one around here liked them the way you did.”
Junie and Saffron hugged, and then Junie led the soprano up the steps to the house. Seeing the pair of them was like seeing Marigold with her mom again. I burst into tears.
Both women turned around and looked at me with equal expressions of surprise and dismay.
“Bebe, are you hurt?” Junie asked in a voice dripping with concern.
I couldn’t seem to stop crying. Jorge dug into one of the pockets of the cargo shorts he was wearing and pulled out a huge handkerchief. I acknowledged the gift with a quick, “Gracias,” then buried my face in the white cotton. Soft hands patted me on the shoulder. I didn’t have any idea to whom they belonged and I didn’t care. I’d had a whale of a bad day and I liked the soothing touch.
I sniffed a last time, uncovered my face and attempted a smile. “I’m sorry. It’s just these last couple of days seeing Ni. . . uh. . . seeing the guys again and searching for Arianna and getting lost in the woods and finding messages in seeds and the guys being jerks at the studio and then being sweet and then being scared out of my wits by a maniac running me off the road and being rescued by Saffron who is possibly nuts but definitely not a serial killer and then seeing y’all together and it was like a snapshot of Marigold and I started wondering about how it must have been when she was a kid and Saffron came over and everyone sat around the table eating cookies and talking about school competitions and nothing bad had happened yet.”
Saffron snorted. “Figured as much.” She turned to Junie. “What’s to eat? I’m famished.”
Juniper said, “I have the feeling Miguel has been whipping up some enticing delicacies today in hopes someone might drop by. Mickey?”
Miguel could have competed with Nic Jericho for “Most Gorgeous-Looking Romantic Poet in the New Millennium.” Tall, with long brown hair tied back into a ponytail, and a body designed by Michelangelo on a superb day. He grinned. “Start with the chili. The detective and Professor Black did their best to finish it up but I figured if no one else dove in, Ms. Becerra would need a little something after rehearsal. There’s plenty left.”
Junie chimed in, “And guacamole and jalapeno corn biscuits too. Plus homemade butter pecan ice cream and sopapillas for dessert. Any raspberry flan left?”
The chef nodded. “If the gentlemen didn’t scrape the pan.”
Saffron and Junie marched through the front door as though Saffron were still thirteen and accustomed to dining at the Blume house on a daily basis.
I was more concerned with news on the present missing soprano and in providing whatever information I could about my clash on the highway. “Is there any word on Arianna, Detective? I meant to ask sooner but as usual things have been crazy.”
Reece was obviously frustrated. “Thanks for asking but sadly, no. There are no leads. Nothing new. Same as Marigold. Same as Daria. We don’t have a single thing to go on.”
Clifford Black shot me a look, and then addressed the detective. “Aren’t you yet willing to give my theory more credence? Doesn’t it mean anything that all these girls resemble each other? Not only physically but with their love of music? Plus the fact that there haven’t been any similar disappearances in ten years until various people reassembled for this reunion dance.”
Reece said, “It’s a good theory, Cliff. I agree with much of it. But I can’t completely buy it. And Bebe, I’m not trying to be cute with puns and your band, but not all the pieces add up.”
I asked. “What theory?”
Reece took a breath before reluctantly stating, “Cliff believes the girls were abducted by someone involved with Pieces. Look, I suggest we head inside and discuss this after Bebe has a chance to get some food and regain her bearings. After all, she was almost run down less than twenty minutes ago.”
“I’m okay. Please just tell me what doesn’t add up?” I asked. “Because the same awful idea has been drifting through my mind. God help me, but I believe C
liff could be right. I hate to give it credence because we’re talking about people who are friends but it’s almost the only thing that makes sense. Two probable abductions ten years ago, then nothing until Arianna? This person is somehow related to all the girls because he’s obviously trying to scare me by using the seeds.”
Heads whipped in unison as Reece and Clifford stopped walking, turned and stared at me.
“Seeds?” Reece prompted.
Our trio had reached the kitchen by this time. Saffron was cozily seated at the breakfast table surrounded by a huge bowl of steaming chili, a plate of buttered spicy corn bread and a small plate of guacamole and tortilla chips. She ignored us.
I sank into the nearest chair, gratefully accepted the bowl of chili Mickey set in front of me, then proceeded to tell Reece, Clifford, and Junie about my adventure in the woods with Frankie the Squirrel, ending with the message written in seeds left by someone who’d been shopping at the organic food store in Austin.
Reece and Clifford raised eyebrows simultaneously. Clifford spoke first. “I’m sorry. I hate to sound dense, but I don’t get it. Some joker was trying to be cute by writing ‘go home’ in seeds? What’s the big deal?”
Junie glanced at me then at Saffron. Junie quietly said, “Marigold was a rabid, voracious seed eater. Everyone who knew her well was aware of this. I understand what’s bothering Bebe. It’s as if she was being taunted. Teased in a nasty way. Determined to make her leave.”
I nodded as she scooped up some of the avocado dip with a chip. “Exactly. I felt like someone was out there watching me, waiting for a chance to either pounce or intimidate me. The message was clear, ‘I can get at you at any time.’ Which, if I was run off the road by our mysterious abductor and not some kook who either didn’t like Junie’s truck or thought I was too slow, could be seen as a definite threat.”
Clifford pointed at Reece. “Doesn’t this latest incident lend some credence to my theory?”
Reece shrugged. “Not if you’re going with the petite blonde co-ed idea. Bebe doesn’t fit the profile.”
True. I was tall, auburn haired and an alto to boot. On the other hand . . .“I agree, except, well, why haven’t more girls vanished in these last ten years? There’s not exactly a shortage of blonde co-eds around Texas. Including sopranos. And I wasn’t abducted. Just scared out of my wits and told to go home. Same thing with the guy in the truck. If someone had wanted to kill me or stuff me in the car, he had enough time. Instead he drove off right as Saffron blessedly arrived. ”
Reece did not look happy. “You’ve just nailed part of my difficulty with the petite blonde soprano profiling theory. I’m not even sure there is a profile here. Whoever’s responsible isn’t making sense with the time lapse. Unless the cases are completely unrelated.”
Saffron didn’t bother to finish swallowing the sopapillo lathered with honey she’d just crammed into her mouth. “Y’all don’t get it. It centers around Marigold and her music.”
Reece threw her a sharp look. “How, exactly?”
Saffron lifted a shoulder. “I haven’t quite figured it out yet, and I don’t have hard evidence, which I realize isn’t helpful. I should shut up.”
I shivered. My appetite fled. I rose, grabbed my bowl and rinsed it out in the sink before putting it in the dishwasher while muttering, “I agree with Saffron and I can’t tell you why any more than she can. But what I can tell you is I’ve reached the end of my stay-awake reserves. I don’t want to be rude but I’m going upstairs and taking a bath and then I’m crashing and sleeping for about fourteen hours.”
A chorus of good nights echoed behind me.
I dragged myself down the hall and upstairs to Marigold’s room, without bothering to turn on the light. I tossed my bag onto the nearest chair then flopped down on the floor since I was too dirty to get on the bed. My plan was to lie flat and ponder peaceful thoughts for about five minutes, then head to the bathroom for a much-needed shower.
I sat straight up. It was dark in the room but enough light seeped in from the hall to show me there was something wrong. I rose and clicked on the lamp on top of the dresser. I screamed.
Someone had been there. Sheet music had been strewn all over the bed, the chairs, dresser and floor. Drawers had been pulled out and clothes left rumpled. The closet door was still wide open and more clothes lay on the floor. Whoever had searched this room hadn’t been subtle. No attempt had been made to hide the fact someone other than Junie or a member of the household staff had been inside.
Pounding footsteps heralded the approach of Junie, Cliff, Reece and Jorge.
Junie gasped, “What happened?”
I bit my lip and tried not to burst into tears again. “I’d like to say a sloppy maid with a grudge but the most likely explanation is someone more sinister who snuck in here and tore the fool out of the place.”
All five of us surveyed the mess. (Saffron had not accompanied the quartet. I assumed she was still devouring Mickey’s delectable feast.) Reece put his arm around a shaking Junie and gave her a quick hug. “At least it wasn’t vandalized. Looks as though whoever did this had a definite goal in mind. They were searching for something specific.”
I made a poor attempt at humor even as my body shook. “I didn’t exactly bring the non-existent Becerra ancestral jewels with me when I flew down to Texas.”
Junie leaned down to pick up one of Marigold’s old blouses from the closet floor where it lay looking crumpled and sad. Reece stopped her. “I need to call a crime scene unit out here. Check to see if our searcher left a calling card.” He stared at Junie. “Why don’t you two move to a hotel tonight?”
Junie shook her head. “We’re okay. Jorge lives in the back of the house and Sven has a place over the garage.”
Reece’s stare turned to a glare but he shook his head and addressed me, “Well, at least you should be sleeping in another room tonight, young lady. Want to take a few minutes to check and see if anything of yours is missing?”
I took a hurried look though my two suitcases and train cosmetic case. “Everything seems to be here. Most of my make-up is in the bathroom and what little cash I carry was in my bag with me. I’d bet next year’s salary whoever broke in was more interested in Marigold’s things.”
Junie’s eyes filled. “What’s going on? Is this some deranged stalker? What on earth could Marigold have owned that would interest someone ten years later? Why are they targeting Bebe?”
Reece hugged her before softly stating, “I’m sorry I don’t have more answers. But would you like for an officer to stay the night here? Mickey and Jorge are doubtless tough but not trained policemen. Would you and Bebe feel safer?”
Junie glanced at me. I shrugged. I had this odd feeling it didn’t matter. Junie replied, “I’m sure with all my staff in the house we’ll be okay. I’ll tell Jorge and Mickey to guard the gates through the night like tigers. And I’ll actually lock up after you and Cliff leave.”
“What?” Reece asked in horror.
I said, “Junie never locks the doors. It’s always been an open door policy around here.”
Reece’s expression was a combination of exasperation mixed with admiration and a strong trace of protectiveness. “Juniper Blume, I hate to tell you but open doors while crazies are around is not exactly wise.”
She tried to smile. “I don’t keep a lot of fancy stuff around. The house is what’s worth money and I can’t see someone coming in with a double-wide flatbed and carting it off.” A grin flashed and Junie looked no older than Saffron. “I do lock the greenhouse. I may have been a card-carrying pacifist for my entire life, but I’d kill the first sonovabitch who messed with my orchids.”
For almost the first time since I had arrived in Texas, honest laughter rang out in the Blume house. Junie and Reece left Marigold’s room as Mickey was escorting two officers from Georgetown’s Police Department upstairs. The cops had arrived at the house amazingly fast and I’d heard Detective Black had ordered a patrol to swing by
hourly shortly after he’d first met Ms. Blume. The cops were being kept busy with Blume and Becerra business tonight, starting with my stalker on the road.
Junie said, “Bebe, if you want you can bunk in the guest room down the hall across from me. Or you can use Stone’s old room. I converted it into more of a sitting area but there’s a daybed in there and it’s bigger than the guest room.”
“Guest room is fine, Junie. Right now space is not an issue. Hot water surrounded by unscented bubbles is what’s uppermost on my mind.”
Junie nodded and then headed downstairs with Clifford and Reece. For a moment or two I stayed and watched the two policeman roam through Marigold’s room with little crime scene kits similar to those I’d seen on forensic TV shows, but there was no purpose to me remaining so I took my stuff down the hall for the long-delayed bath.
I’d been soaking in a tub similar in size to a small swimming pool, when someone knocked on the bathroom door.
“’llo?”
“Bebe. It’s Junie. I’m going to bed and I don’t want to scare you but I thought you should know. The investigators didn’t find anything in Marigold’s room. They said they could fingerprint everyone and see if someone doesn’t match but I told them it wasn’t worth it. So many people are in and out of the house all the time it just confuses the issue.”
I stayed in the tub. “Thanks, Junie, for the info. Hey, by the way, did Saffron leave?”
Pick up the Pieces Page 14
