“No worries. Even with food that may or may not be spoiled and a comatose companion, this is shaping up to be the best night I’ve had in a while.”
“Are you one of those beautiful women who likes to pretend that you never get asked out on dates?”
“Of course not. I’ve rarely been without a boyfriend since I hit puberty. Let’s just say that things haven’t been going my way lately.”
“Ah, the butt flash incident,” he said.
“Among other things. Thanks for bringing that up, though. I was hoping not to go more than an hour without being reminded that I flashed my fanny to all of North America.”
“Don’t be embarrassed—it’s was a fantastic few seconds that will live forever in infamy.”
Sadie groaned and pressed her hands over her face. “Please stop talking.”
“You would be surprised how often I hear that,” he said.
“I don’t think so,” she replied.
He laughed. The timer on the microwave dinged, and he began arranging dishes on the table between them. “Help yourself,” he commanded.
“With my fingers?” she asked.
He used the heel of his hand to thump himself in the head. “Sorry. I’m really making an awesome impression here. Honestly, I’m not usually like this. On a normal date, I step up my game, get a bucket of chicken, use the fancy paper napkins with Styrofoam plates.”
“Don’t tease me with what I could’ve had,” Sadie said. She slid off the stool and gave him a shove toward his. “Why don’t you sit and let me get stuff before you fall asleep standing up. And, for the record, we didn’t have to do this tonight. You could have canceled, and I would have understood.”
“Every day is like this. If I don’t grab some moments when I can, then my whole life is devoted to the hospital. Believe me—nothing short of death would have kept me from canceling this night.” He winced when he realized what he had said. “Great, Hal, mention death to the woman whose friend just died. Luke told me about your neighbor, and I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Sadie said. “I’m not one of those oversensitive people who can’t talk about difficult things. Although, if you mention that television commercial with the puppy, I will be forced to run sobbing from the room.”
“Duly noted,” he said.
Sadie gathered plates, cups, silverware, and napkins, filled the cups with ice and drinks, and sat.
“Your servitude is really making me rethink marriage,” Hal said. “Maybe it’s time to find a wife. What do you say, Sadie? All this could be yours.” He gestured around the small, dank kitchen that reeked of reheated Chinese food.
“I feel like a Princess from a fairy tale right now,” Sadie said.
“I can see that I’ve overwhelmed you. Later, after you do the dishes and clean the kitchen, we can talk more about my offer.”
“The mind boggles over the fact that you’ve stayed single this long,” Sadie said.
Hal shrugged. “I’m a scientist, but some things defy rational explanation. You, for instance. You’re possibly the prettiest woman I’ve ever been this close to in real life, and yet you seem content to eat what I can only hope is broccoli from a cheap plastic bowl in my slummy kitchen. What gives?”
“Truly, I’m an enigma,” Sadie said.
“I’m beginning to think you are. Especially because my good friend Luke won’t tell me anything about you. And every time I bring up your name, he gets this look like…”
“Like someone just ran sharp fingernails down a long chalkboard?” Sadie suggested.
“Exactly,” Hal said. “What’s up with that?”
“There’s no way to answer that question without making you realize that I’m not, in fact, perfect. So I choose to ignore it.”
“Fair enough. Let’s talk about murder.”
“You’re a gifted conversationalist, Hal,” Sadie noted.
“I know, and yet this is the first date I’ve had in a year. Crazy. Anyway, tell me how you’re trying to solve this murder.”
“You really want to know?” she asked.
“Not as much as I want to know what happened between you and Luke, but almost. Besides, I need to discuss something interesting to try and stay awake, so if you could make the story suspenseful, that would be great.”
She explained to him Abby’s will, and her insistence that she had been murdered. “I’m so confused," she admitted. “Nothing sounds like it was murder, and Abby’s actions toward the end aren’t like her at all. I have no idea what to think.”
“Do you think she was murdered?”
“No.”
“Then your job is done, and you did your best. Put it to rest.”
“Just because she wasn’t murdered doesn’t mean something wasn’t wrong. I feel like something is off, and I can’t put my finger on what it is. It’s driving me crazy.”
“I have an idea,” Hal said. He stood, washed his hands, and pulled out a piece of paper and pen from the drawer. “Let’s write down everything you know. Organizing information is often the first step toward assimilation.”
“Wow, you hide your inner nerd well. I didn’t see it until just now.”
“What gave me away? My love of organization, or my use of the word ‘assimilation’?”
“It was a combination, really. And the fact that you have nice pens. Nerds love their pens.”
“This is Luke’s,” he said.
“Case in point,” she replied.
Hal ignored her as he drew a chart on the paper. “What do we know so far?”
“Abby died. Doctor Jones said he was with her.”
“Doctor Moses Jones?”
“Is that his real name?”
“No, I was making a joke about his age. He should have retired eons ago. People see him coming at the hospital and jump out of his way because he would rather club you over the head than look at you. He’s grumpy.”
“That he is, but I’ve never known him to be a liar or less than ethical. So when he says he was with her at the end, I’m forced to believe him. He also hinted at the fact that she had hidden health problems, and he said her death was peaceful. He definitely didn’t believe the murder scenario.”
“If you believe that, then why can’t you let it rest?”
“Because I think it’s possible that he might have killed her.”
“I think I just saw my career flash in front of my eyes. Are you really accusing the venerable Dr. Jones of murder?”
“Of course not. But you wanted to try and help me organize my thoughts; these are the thoughts. So far no one knows about them except you and Luke.”
“Okay. For the sake of argument, let’s not let anyone else inside that circle. And let’s move to the couch because this stool feels too much like standing.” They transitioned into the living room. Hal sat and surprised Sadie by pulling her feet into his lap. “There’s no ottoman,” he explained. “This seems cozier.”
“It’s definitely cozy,” she said. She wasn’t sure how she felt about having her feet in his lap, but she didn’t move them.
“Back to this,” he tapped the paper. “What else?”
“Next I spoke to Maddie, Luke’s mom. She told me that Abby had been acting a little standoffish, which wasn’t like her, and that she had a boiling fight with Gideon, my father.”
“Fight with Gideon,” he whispered as he wrote. “Next?”
“The women across the street told me that Abby had an argument with the bank teller over her account but didn’t know why. Rex Warren said he heard Abby and the doctor have a heated discussion, and Johnny said she accused him of swindling her out of some money.”
“Johnny money,” he mumbled. “Anything else?”
“Madame Zora thinks I’m preggers.”
He dropped the pen and looked up. “Huh?”
“Another neighbor, Shirley Kaplan, fancies herself a psychic now. She also said she gave Abby a reading. She, unlike anyone else, said that Abby was warm and friendly.
And she also said she gave Abby the death card, and Abby laughed.”
“That’s weird,” Hal said.
“No, that’s the most normal thing I’ve heard. Abby didn’t believe in any of that garbage. Laughter was in character for her. It’s why she went in the first place that I can’t figure out. Oh, and Shirley—excuse me, Madame Zora—said that Abby also spoke with her husband, Abe.”
Hal finished writing and studied the sheet, making notes here and there. “So here’s what we know for sure,” he surmised. “Abby died. She was acting strange before her death, strange here meaning that she lashed out at friends and visited a psychic. Two questions remain: Did she say she was murdered because her mental state was altered, or was her mental state altered because she feared she was going to be murdered?”
“That does clarify things a bit,” Sadie said. “But I don’t know where to go from here.”
“I think it’s obvious who you need to talk to next,” Hal said.
“Abe Kaplan?” Sadie suggested.
“Your father,” Hal said.
She sat back, defeated. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
“A woman with daddy issues is prime pickings for a predator, and she’s sitting on my couch: this is my lucky day.”
Sadie poked him with her foot. “I may have daddy issues, but I’m nobody’s prey.” Not anymore, she added in a mental aside. “And I do think I need to speak with Abe Kaplan to find out what he and Abby talked about. And I want to have another stab at the doctor. I can’t help but feel like he was hiding something. That feels amazing,” she added as he plucked off her shoe and began massaging her foot.
“Did you know there are over seven thousand nerve endings in the foot?” Hal asked.
“Tell me more, doctor, but don’t stop what you’re doing,” she insisted.
“When I was in college, I took a class in reflexology. Thought it would impress the ladies.”
“Did it work?” Sadie asked. She slipped down until she was draped indelicately over the couch. She couldn’t help it; she felt boneless.
“You tell me,” he said.
The front door opened and Luke and his girlfriend stumbled in.
“Well, this is awkward,” Hal said, but he didn’t drop Sadie’s foot.
“Sorry, I didn’t know you had someone here,” Luke said. He looked back and forth between Sadie and Hal with blatant disapproval.
“Maybe it’s time to start utilizing the old sock-on-the-door trick, although it seems like sort of a moot point since you moved out a few days ago,” Hal said.
“Sorry,” Luke repeated. “I was just picking up more stuff, and I came in on autopilot without knocking.” His gaze rested on Sadie’s feet in Hal’s lap and he frowned.
“Is giant cheeken and Hal,” Vaslilssa said.
“Is giant Russian and Luke,” Sadie said.
“Sadie,” Luke snapped.
“What? I thought we were stating the obvious. Is that not what we’re doing?”
“Can I keep her?” Hal asked. He gave Sadie’s big toe a pinch.
“Wait a few years before you decide—you might want to send her back,” Luke said.
“You could trade me in for a foreign model,” Sadie said. “I hear it’s all the rage now.”
“This is better than television,” Hal said.
“Television?” Vaslilssa piped up. “Is cable now?” She turned expectantly toward the television.
“No, no cable, and we’re not staying,” Luke said. Vaslilssa gave him a vague look and shook her head. “No cable,” he repeated louder, pointing toward the door. “Leaving.”
Everyone turned toward Sadie when she pulled out her phone and took a picture. “I want to remember this moment forever,” she explained.
“I love you guys,” Hal said. “Seriously, sit down and stay to keep things interesting.”
“We’re leaving,” Luke said. He took Vaslilssa’s hand and tugged her toward the door.
“Cable,” Sadie called.
“Is cable now?” Vaslilssa said, turning hopefully toward the television once more.
Luke used both hands to tug her toward the door and then slammed it shut when they were on the other side.
“That woman is not a scientist,” Sadie declared.
“It’s true; I’ve seen her degree, and I’ve seen her working in the lab. Apparently when words aren’t involved, she’s a whole different person,” Hal said.
“Are they happy?”
“With Luke, who can tell? He’s notoriously bad at picking women. Except…”
“Except for the one in college, the one who got away,” Sadie said.
“Actually, I was going to say except for you. What happened there?”
“We were never together, not like that anyway.”
“Really? Because I’m getting the exes vibe from both of you.”
“No, never dated. Just friends. Neighbors. He’s like a brother to me. Well, more like a cousin. A distant cousin. Okay, not related at all, but still just friends.”
“I’m totally convinced,” Hal said. “So what’s next in our investigation?”
“Our?”
“I made the organizational flow chart; that gives me part ownership in the quest, the Sancho to your Don Quixote, if you will.”
“I guess tomorrow I’ll talk to Abe Kaplan and Doc Jones again.”
“What about the man who shares half your DNA?” he asked.
“Know your place, Sancho. I’ll talk to Gideon as a last resort, and not before.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Hal said, and then he yawned.
“I should go so you can get some sleep,” Sadie said.
“Don’t be silly. I have a good five or six minutes before I fall into a deep REM cycle.” He scrubbed his hand over his face, and she stood.
“Thanks for tonight. Despite the bad food and Russian invasion, I had fun.”
“It was my pleasure, and I’m being serious for once. This may surprise you, but I don’t get much chance for social interaction.”
“Too bad my time here is almost at an end, or we could do it again sometime.”
“Do you really think you’ll be leaving soon?” he asked.
“Definitely. Too many old ghosts lurking, if you know what I mean.”
“A more annoying man might point out that running from the pain of your past never works.”
“Maybe whoever said that wasn’t running far or fast enough. With Abby gone, there’s no reason for me to stay here.”
“Not even Luke, your family-but-don’t-call-him-brother friend?”
“Especially not Luke,” she said. “Believe me when I tell you that the farther I am, the better Luke’s life will be.”
“Somehow I doubt that.”
“You haven’t noticed how angry and on edge he is when I’m around?” she asked.
“I love Luke; he’s like a brother to me, so don’t take this the wrong way when I say he’s the human equivalent of white toast. Seeing him with you has been a revelation. Turns out even the most boring people are capable of feeling passion. I hate to see that slip away for him.”
“You’re a nice man, Hal, but then Luke has always had good taste in best friends.” She patted his chest and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Thanks for the worst supper I’ve had since college.”
“Do me a favor and tell the others about what you’ve seen and done here tonight.”
“What others?”
“The other beautiful women I imagine you’re friends with. You guys do have giant pillow fights, right? Don’t ruin this for me.”
“Oh, right, but I prefer to call it the club. Less conspicuous that way, and we can keep our pillow fight meetings secret. I’ll make sure and spread your name at the club.”
“Good deal,” Hal said. He yawned again, but he still walked Sadie to her car and remained standing in the driveway as she drove away.
Chapter 15
Sadie’s mind was filled with the list she
and Hal had made. Tomorrow she would track down Abe Kaplan, even if she had to go to his accounting office. After thinking it over, she was convinced that he was the reason Abby made the visit to the Kaplan household, and not to have her fortune read. Abe was an accountant, and by all reports Abby was concerned about her finances.
Pecked to Death Page 12
