employed, and … uh … you know, making ends meet, building my business.”
“Oh, I understand, believe me. It’s tough. What kind of business do you have?”
“I do personal consultations.”
“Really?” Matt queried.
He was not going to let this go. “I’m an astrologer.”
“You don’t say!” His eyes widened. He was quiet for a moment. “You mean you can tell the future?”
I cringed. “Uh, no, not exactly. Not the way you mean.”
“Hey, if you don’t mind, maybe I could talk to you about that sometime.”
“Sure,” I replied, surprised and mentally kicking myself for assuming Matt would be someone who’d ridicule my interests. “I’ll give you one of my cards later.”
Matt nodded. “I’d appreciate that.”
When our dinner finished, Geneva and David rose and circulated among their guests, greeting family and friends. I danced to a few romantic ballads with Matt, Dan, and a white-haired Leary uncle. Brooke and Rob then stepped onto the dance floor, while Dan stood by his mother, her arm hooked through his, watching the festivities. David and Matt sat on the sidelines, enjoying a beer while Matt regaled David with newlywed jokes and laughed heartily at each punch line. David, looking a little tipsy, smiled and nodded dutifully. I spotted Geneva chatting with the DJ. Ashley was still scampering around, dispersing rose petals over the courtyard and picking up used ones and dumping them in the fountain. Andy was nowhere to be seen.
At the far edge of the pavilion, Sally Stark had cornered Moira. Sally’s face was thrust forward, and she emphasized her words with a finger pointed at Moira’s chest. Moira leaned back against the archway, her expression contemptuous. Sally took a deep breath, reached for her wineglass, and downed it completely before storming away.
I breathed a sigh of relief. The celebration was almost over and in spite of some upset, nothing had gone terribly wrong. It was as good a time as any to get comfortable. I headed for the dressing room, kicked off my shoes, and dug a pair of sandals out of my tote bag. I soaked a facecloth in cool water and held it to the back of my neck. There wasn’t much I could do about my hair until I reached a shower and washed the hair spray out. I tucked a few straggling wisps back in place and wandered into the courtyard, empty now that everyone had moved into the dance pavilion.
I had no desire to return to the noisy crowd and instead headed for the stairway that led to the creek below the restaurant. Matt spotted me and hurried away from the dance floor.
“Hey, Julia,” he called. He pulled a pen from his jacket and scribbled on the back of his business card. “Here’s my birth date and time. Maybe I could call you to set up an appointment?”
“Sure.” Well, there you go, I thought. The last person I’d ever expect wants to be my client. I gave him my business number as I glanced at his birth information.
“Where were you born, Matt?”
“Oh. Chicago. You need the birthplace?”
“Yes, for the latitude and longitude.”
“Who knew?” He smiled.
“How come you’re not out on the dance floor?”
“I plan to be. I’ve got my eye on that woman who’s dancing with Rob right now.”
I glanced toward the pavilion and saw a tall, sultry-looking redhead in a dark green clingy dress.
“Do you know who that is?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No. Maybe she’s one of the teachers from Geneva’s school.”
“Well, then, I definitely went to the wrong school.” He smiled again and turned away, hoping to position himself near the object of his desire as soon as she was free. Just then, Moira, standing at the edge of the crowd, spotted us. She drifted in our direction and wrapped her arms around Matt’s neck.
“Hey,” she said, moving even closer to him. “Let’s dance.” I caught a strong whiff of alcohol on her breath.
“If you insist,” he responded, glancing over her shoulder at me and looking slightly embarrassed. As they moved onto the floor, she once again wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body close to his. Andy had reappeared and glared at them darkly from the sidelines.
I left Matt to Moira’s wiles and headed toward the creek. Darkness closed in as I descended. Light from the Inn’s windows offered slight illumination, enough to see outcroppings of rocks lining the creek bed. It was deliciously cool, and quiet except for the gurgling of the creek. I sat and gathered my dress around my knees. Leaning against the banister, I drank in the night air. A full moon had risen over the hills to the east and the sky was filled with stars never visible in the glow and fog of the city.
Voices from above filtered down. I turned and looked up to the top of the wooden stairway. Two figures were outlined against the light of the Inn’s kitchen windows. A man and a woman. A woman who wore a gown exactly like mine but was shorter than Brooke. It was Moira. I couldn’t identify the man standing against the light. Was it Andy? There was a glimmer of a cigarette as he inhaled. They hadn’t seen me and were arguing in sibilant whispers. Suddenly, Moira’s voice became louder.
“I don’t need you to tell me …” She backed away unsteadily from the man.
“Look, calm down … we’ll talk …”
Only snatches of their conversation reached me. Should I somehow make my presence known, or hope they wouldn’t see me? I didn’t relish being an eavesdropper at a private argument.
Moira raised her arm to strike at the man, but he grabbed her wrist. She pulled her arm away and turned, stumbling slightly. Her head was down and I was almost certain she was crying. She ran around the side of the building, heading back to the dance floor. The man swore softly, threw his cigarette on the ground, and crushed it with the toe of his shoe. He turned and followed her. I still hadn’t been able to see his face.
The mood of the moment broken, I gave up my oasis and climbed the stairway, following the path Moira and her unknown man had taken a few moments before. As I turned the corner of the Inn, I crashed into Dan coming from the other direction. I caught my breath and jumped back.
“Oh sorry, Julia. Didn’t know anyone was here. Didn’t mean to scare you. Just trying to slip away and grab a smoke.” Dan has the brilliant blue eyes shared by the rest of the family. One of his front teeth had been chipped in a teenage fight, and when he smiled, it gave a rakish air to his features.
“Moira was here a minute ago,” I said. “She was arguing with someone.”
Dan grimaced. “That’s no surprise.”
“Was it you?”
“Me? No. Probably fighting with Andy.”
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
Dan sighed. “Well, my sister can be pretty outrageous when she wants. Sorry you had to see her like that earlier, too.” He pulled a packet of cigarettes and a lighter out of his jacket pocket. “She’s had way too much to drink. I’m keeping my fingers crossed she doesn’t ruin the rest of Geneva’s night. Fortunately, the party’s almost over and Geneva and Dave’ll be leaving soon.” He offered me a cigarette from the pack in his pocket. “Would you like one?”
“No thanks. I totally quit a few years ago.”
“Good for you. I’m still trying,” he replied ruefully as he flicked his lighter and lit the cigarette. “Hey, I haven’t really had a chance to talk to you alone. I was so sorry to hear about … ” He trailed off.
I nodded. “Michael. Yes.”
“How are you doing?”
“I’m getting by. Coping, I guess. But I’m doing okay.” I changed the subject before he could ask more questions. “How about you? What are you up to these days?”
“Me? Well, I studied computers and got a fancy certificate, but as soon as I was done, the bottom kind of fell out. I decided to stick with electrical work, like Dad. I set up on my own.”
“That’s great. Is it going w
ell?”
“Yup. More work than I can handle.” Dan took another drag from his cigarette. “I should quit too. Hey, do you know when they’re leaving on their cruise?”
“Day after tomorrow. They’re staying at David’s house while they get ready to get out of town.”
“That makes sense. Listen, Julia, after this we’re all heading over to Brooke’s. Mom and Matt and Andy and everyone. I hope you’ll come too? Brooke wants everyone to stay overnight—she’s planning a big breakfast party in the morning. Besides, we could use an extra pair of hands loading up the cars with the gifts.”
“Thanks, I think I will. Geneva invited me too.” What I really wanted was to sleep in my own bed, but my car was at my grandmother’s house in North Beach. Brooke had been kind enough to drive me to the Inn, and I hesitated to ask anyone for a ride all the way downtown again. “Are you sure one more guest won’t be any trouble for them?”
“Not at all. They have a huge house. Plenty of room. I’m heading home tonight, but I’ll be there in the morning. I can give you a lift after that.”
We heard shouts from the patio above. “Sounds like they’re getting ready to cut the cake.” Dan smiled and flicked his cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his shoe. “We should get back.”
A high-pitched scream cut the air. He froze. “What the hell?”
“Something’s wrong.” I gathered up my skirts and hurried toward the sound.
three
Sally Stark lay on the dance floor, one arm thrown to the side. She had lost a shoe in her fall. A young man was kneeling next to her, checking her pulse while everyone crowded around. The music stopped as the DJ realized the emergency.
The man called out, “She’s breathing but she needs help. Someone get help.” Several people had cell phones to their ears, but judging by their repeated attempts and frustration, they weren’t able to get a signal.
Dan turned to me. “There must be a landline inside.” He ran toward the door of the restaurant and I moved closer to the crowd surrounding Sally. Geneva was kneeling next to her. Dan returned a moment later. “They’re calling over to Santa Rosa from the Inn. An ambulance should be here soon.”
As we waited helplessly, the young man continued to hold Sally’s hand. No one moved, and if anyone spoke, it was only in whispers. I spotted Moira in the crowd. Her face was pale, her hand over her mouth in shock. Twenty minutes passed before we heard sirens from the road. The paramedics arrived and pushed through the crowd. One of them quickly checked Sally’s vital signs. They lifted her onto a gurney and carried their burden up the stairway to the waiting ambulance. The man who had been attending to Sally followed them, describing his efforts. A few moments later, the ambulance pulled away, its lights flashing and siren blaring.
Everyone let out a collective breath of relief that the emergency was now in someone else’s hands. The DJ returned to his console and, lowering the volume, played a soft ballad, hoping to recapture the earlier mood. The young man who’d tried to help Sally approached us. He shrugged helplessly. “I did what I could, but I don’t think it did any good. I just don’t know.”
“You seemed to know what you were doing,” Dan offered.
“I took a training course, but I’m no expert.”
“Well, I’m glad you were here.”
The man nodded and turned away. He and his companion gathered their things and approached Geneva to say good night. In spite of the music, several other people were making plans to leave.
Geneva hurried toward us. “Dan, Julia, we’ll do the cake cutting right away before everyone leaves, and then we can wind things up. We’ll keep it simple.” The newlyweds approached the small pavilion where the cake stood. The DJ made an announcement, and once the first slices were cut, everyone applauded halfheartedly.
“Damn.” Brooked moved next to me. “What a fizzle. I can’t imagine what happened to Sally. Maybe she’s diabetic. Moira was standing near her when it happened. She might have noticed something.” Brooke turned to me. “You’re coming back with us, aren’t you, Julia?”
“I twisted her arm,” Dan replied.
“Good.” Brooke smiled. “Once everyone’s gone, we can pack it in. I’m glad you’re joining us.”
At that point in the evening, I wasn’t, but deciding on tact, I smiled. “Thanks, Brooke. It sounds like fun.”
four
I rode with Dan in the front seat of his car while Moira squeezed into the back with several large wrapped boxes. Dan and I chatted occasionally during our ride but Moira remained ominously silent. As we approached the city, the sky turned from black to a soft charcoal gray of reflected light. The road curved downward as we descended the long hill toward the Golden Gate Bridge. The topmost pillars of the bridge poked up through a dense layer of fog. The downtown area, still clear and brilliantly lit, was outlined against the black waters of the Bay. We drove onto the bridge. The stars were swallowed up and the temperature dropped another ten degrees, misty droplets covering our windshield.
Brooke and Rob’s home is at the corner of Clay and Cherry just two blocks south of the Presidio. By the time we arrived, the front door and street-level garage were wide open. Rob had pulled his car into the garage next to David’s car, parked there for safekeeping during the honeymoon. Matt had pulled in behind Rob and was supporting a not-very-sober Andy out of the car and up the inner stairway to the house. Given Andy’s condition, Brooke had insisted on driving his car back to the city. The garage was full and Dan was forced to find a spot on the street two doors down.
As he cut the engine, Moira leaned forward and grabbed her brother’s shoulder. “That was meant for me,” she whispered.
Dan turned and glared at her. Moira climbed out of the car and, without another word, walked up the stairs to Brooke’s front door.
I shot a glance at Dan, but he ignored my look. “What did she mean?”
“Who knows?” He shrugged. “Everything’s a drama with Moira.” He climbed out and I followed him around to the trunk. He reached inside and began to load my arms with presents. “Can you manage all this, Julia?”
I nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
“Great. I’ll get the rest.”
I climbed the long stairway and entered the foyer. Brooke and her mother had already rearranged a jumble of presents into an organized pile on the hallway table. Dan entered behind me. We dropped our boxes and cards at the end of the table and I did my best to incorporate them into the arrangement.
Dan touched my shoulder. “I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t forget, I’ll give you a ride.”
“Thanks, Dan. Hope it’s not a bother.”
“Not at all. I’ll just say good night to everyone.”
I followed him down the hall into the kitchen. Dan gave Brooke a kiss on the cheek and bent down to hug his mother. “Night, Mum. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Brooke took me by the arm. “Julia, I left some pajamas and a robe and slippers for you. We have a sofa bed in the den that’s very comfortable. Matt’s already settled into one of the guest rooms and Moira and Andy have another. I hope that’s okay with you. Sofia, our housekeeper, isn’t here tonight—she’s visiting her daughter—but I’ll help you make up the bed.”
“Oh, I can do it, Brooke. Just point me to the linen closet.”
Brooke led me out of the kitchen and through the foyer to the other side of the house. She opened two cabinet doors next to a guest bathroom. Reaching inside, she pulled out a stack of linens. “Here you go. There are extra blankets too in case you need them. Come back to the kitchen after you’ve settled in and we’ll have a nightcap.”
The den was directly over the street-level garage, on the same floor as the foyer, living room, library, dining room, and kitchen. The second and third stories were bedrooms and a home office. Geneva had given me the grand tour of Brooke’s house the night of the rehearsal
dinner, and the space was starting to feel familiar. The main stairway connected all the levels, and a back stairway, originally designed for servants, led from the backyard to the kitchen and then to the upstairs rooms.
I hauled the sofa bed open and pulled sheets over the mattress, adding a blanket and pillow. I dug my jeans and a T-shirt out of my bag. I couldn’t wait to extricate myself from the bridesmaid concoction I’d worn all day. I folded the dress and wrapped up the shoes, knowing full well they’d end up as a charity donation. Once I was decent, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and headed back to the kitchen.
Brooke and her mother were already at the table with glasses of wine. Brooke, elegant as always, wore a white silk robe highlighted with a black embroidered floral design that trailed over one shoulder and across the back.
“Julia, dear, come sit down and join us.” Mary twinkled up at me and patted the chair next to her. Brooke placed a delicate crystal wine glass in front of me and filled it with a pale white wine.
“I’m exhausted, Julia, I don’t know about you. Mom, another one?”
Mary shook her head. “No, dear, I’ve had enough. I’m off to bed. I’ll see you in the morning, darling.” She stood and, touching the top of Brooke’s hair, kissed her cheek. “I love you.”
“Love you too, Mom.” Brooke squeezed her mother’s hand.
“Good night, Julia.” Mary smiled as she pushed through the swinging door to head to her upstairs room.
Brooke breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, at least we got through it all. I still can’t believe Moira pulled that stunt today.”
“It’s strange she’d lose consciousness like that, don’t you think? Just from two glasses of wine?”
Brooke shrugged. “If that’s all she had. She’s supposedly not drinking any more.”
“Where is she now?”
“She and Andy went up to her room. She always stays in the same guest room when she’s here.”
“She stays over a lot?”
All Signs Point to Murder Page 2
