by Janis Lane
“He’s not a threat, Tom. Only a nuisance. I do think he owes you an explanation. I have work to do. We need to finish this job in two days. Think we can make it?”
Tom, still obviously upset, nodded yes, but kept his eyes on Larkin.
As she moved to the other side of the garden, Cheryl could hear the fake landscaper’s voice as he tried to convince Tom not to fire him. Tom was a good man and deserved better treatment. If Larkin didn’t fess up, she would enlighten the landscaper herself. She needed all the protection she could get.
Guns! Did Toledo have guns? The sudden thought terrified her. Of course he had a gun. Didn’t she see him with one with her own eyes out at the old mansion? And someone had already been killed, never mind that he was a suspected criminal. He was still someone who had been shot.
She couldn’t believe she was still involved with Toledo. Why didn’t she just refuse to cooperate? She sank to her knees beside the flat of marigolds. The pungent fragrance of the plants soothed her, and she resumed her planting, pausing to admire how the blue of the urn was accented by the gold of the marigolds. She’d used a reoccurring theme of gold and blue throughout the garden. Her thoughts drifted as they would when she relaxed with her work. Thank goodness for marigolds. For fast color they couldn’t be beat. They would liven up the new plantings and hold their own all summer well into fall. She was a firm admirer of the marigold in all its forms. These were only twelve inches high, but their heads were fully four inches across.
The afternoon passed by quickly and she rubbed her tired shoulders, straightening and stretching. Tom and Larkin both had disappeared. She wondered if David had talked Tom out of firing him, but it was not her problem. She had enough on her plate. She gathered her tools and headed for the driveway where she had left her car. She saw Francine standing at the window, but she didn’t return the wave Cheryl gave her.
On the way home, Cheryl stopped at the corner mini-mart and picked up a rotisserie chicken. Too tired to cook, she knew this would last her a couple of days. She pulled into her driveway with a sigh of relief. Never had a job been as stressful as this one had turned out to be.
Cher grinned when Ganymede squawked a greeting as she opened the blinds and flipped the open sign in the window. Who knew? Perhaps another paying client would drift in her door.
Cheryl took the parrot on her arm and entered the kitchen, where she kept a perch as well, although it was her personal preference not to interact with the bird. But she had promised her grandmother to look after the parrot. Gany tilted her head sideways to inspect the food package on the table.
“Sorry, Gany. But it wasn’t parrot. You’re probably a bit sensitive about birds in general, I guess.” She washed her hands and put the teakettle on to boil, then prepared a plate with leaves of lettuce and a sliced tomato. Pulling a leg off of the chicken, she sat down in the kitchen chair with a tired thump and started eating. Her head was drooping, and she thought longingly of her bed.
She washed and put her dishes away hoping the tea would revive her to work on the proposed putting green. Even if she hadn’t decided to take the job, still the task intrigued her. She took out a sketchpad and was soon moving trees and shrubs around on paper. Her eyes began to droop, and she rested her head on her arms for just a second.
“Awk! Naughty Boy!”
Cheryl awoke with alarm and looked around for David. She could see no one and turned to the parrot with a frown.
“Are you sending a false alarm, old girl?” She watched as the bird paced back and forth on her perch uneasily.
“There’s no one here, Ganymede. You probably had a dream just like I did.” She took the parrot on her arm once more and headed to the front room where she tucked the bird in and pulled the cover over the cage.
What had upset the parrot? Gany was pretty placid. Sometimes clients would cause her to squawk, but most of the time she just clacked her beak and murmured bird talk. David was bound to upset her, and she had been riled more lately as he popped in and out.
Perhaps the bird had heard David drive in next door. Cheryl peered out the window at the hedge that separated the two properties. Nothing. All dark. How had it gotten so late? She must have napped longer than she thought.
She began the process of putting her home to bed, including herself. A welcome shower, a short nightie, brushing teeth and scrubbing nails. She performed the rituals almost mindlessly as fatigue crawled over her shoulders in waves. Thankfully, she turned the covers back and crawled in. Instantly, she was asleep.
The rattle of the window beside her bed was faint and did not disturb her slumber.
Chapter 14
Two more days. Cher crossed her fingers they would pass quickly as she pulled on her work jeans and boots, preparing to labor in the Toledo’s newly created gardens. Time to get a cutting garden started. First, she’d visit a couple of her favorite nurseries. This project would not be easy.
In July, the middle of summer, it would be almost impossible to plant a cutting garden ready for harvest. Francine would insist, of course, that she be allowed to gather flowers from her very own garden.
Cheryl opened the back door and viewed her lush backyard gardens. I wonder . . . Might work.
She eyed three containers filled with flowering annuals: lisianthus, zinnias, cosmos, giant marigolds, crocosmias, flashing their elegant, red-blossomed stems. She’d need to fight with the hummers for that one. If she could manage to transfer at least some of these, it might satisfy Francine.
The nurseries might have more she could use for supplements. There were plenty of Asiatic lilies and a few Orientals just beginning to show color. Easy to transplant them. Okay, she’d need to stake practically everything and hope a heavy rain would not wash the plants with no anchoring roots away, but it might work. Hopefully Francine wouldn’t guess this wasn’t the usual order of things.
She’d already decided to buy several large bouquets of blue lisianthus to present to Francine the day of the party, tomorrow, in fact. Hopefully the blue petunias Fran had admired would be long forgotten after she glimpsed gorgeous lisianthus, the most beautiful cut flower in the business. And all in blue to match the sofa, of course.
“That’s a pretty face.” Larkin slid his large body through the opening in the hedge holding two cups of coffee. “You wanna try my special blend, Cher?” He walked across the lawn gingerly and passed her one of the cups.
She beckoned toward the garden bench, and they both sat and rested their cups and elbows on the table. The early morning sun warmed their backs. They sat silent sipping the warm brew, watching the flicker of butterflies work the garden. A robin landed in front and tugged in the grass then flew away with a section of dried grass in its beak. She’s building a second nest of the season. Her arm and David’s nudged one another occasionally as they drank the dark, rich brew. All her annoyance at her neighbor had melted away during the night.
“Whatcha doing to that hedge, honey? I swear I didn’t break it down like that.” He was gazing at the shrubbery underneath her window.
Cheryl turned idly toward where he pointed and stared. Fear shot through her, and she grabbed David’s arm, spilling his coffee.
“I didn’t do anything,” she said. “Are you sure you didn’t break my shrubbery the other night when you were banging on my window?” She stood and went over for a closer look.
“Nope. I knew you’d have my head if I broke any more of your plants. I was very careful that night.” He trailed behind her still holding his coffee. As he grew closer, his attitude changed, his expression already materializing into a cop face.
“This neighborhood isn’t what it used to be,” he said quietly as he inspected the large footprints underneath her bedroom window.
A pretty boxwood shrub was mangled. Cheryl dropped down beside it and picked up broken pieces. No saving this one, she thou
ght, trying not to imagine who would have done this. Did she believe David?
“You didn’t have another headache, did you?” She stared him directly in the eye and watched a guilty expression flash across his face.
“I shouldn’t have done that, honey. I just fell into our old childhood pattern that night. It felt so familiar and my memory kicked in automatically. You were great not to yell at me for falling asleep in your bed. Did I ever thank you?”
“I don’t really remember if you did or not. I’m not angry at you for that. I truly understood the feeling. I guess we’re both having a hard time letting go of our childhood behaviors. Or at least letting go of each other’s.” She looked directly into his eyes before she turned away.
“But, David, if you didn’t do this, then who did?” She stood up and searched around the house, looking for more damage, but finding none. It was just underneath the window where she slept. The thought made her momentarily dizzy, and she sat back down on the outdoor garden bench.
David was already doing a systematic search of her entire yard. He was on the phone to someone barking orders. When he finished, he came over and put his arm around her, pulling her in close.
“Do you know of anyone who would be snooping around here at night?” he asked.
Cheryl thought of Sam Toledo and his criminal friends and buried her face into David’s hard chest.
“Toledo was pushy and too interested in me yesterday. That’s why I was so upset when I came back outside. You don’t suppose he would come over here?”
David’s arm tightened around her, but he said nothing.
“I suppose it could have been Gordon. He’s been making a nuisance of himself lately, but it certainly isn’t his style—unless he was drunk again. I think he would more likely have knocked on the door or called me on the phone.”
“Well, it could have been some kid wanting a peek at the prettiest lady on the block. We shouldn’t over react. You keep your shade down at night, don’t you?”
Cheryl shrugged. “I will from now on. And put the lock on the window. Funny, but I’ve never been frightened to live alone until lately.” She pulled away from David and gave him a look. Immediately he shifted her closer again.
“It’s not my fault, honey. I promise you I’ll get to the bottom of this. I never meant for you to become involved in the first place. I’m going to talk to the chief and Fowler today. This is almost over, but I’m not going to see you disturbed anymore.”
“No, don’t. Two more days and it’s over. If the police can take these men out of commission, everyone will benefit. I can handle it. Are you going to be at the job today? Did you manage to convince Tom to let you stay?” She started to pull away again, but David kept her tucked firmly to his side. To tell the truth, she wasn’t all that uncomfortable.
“Yeah. He’s a pretty nice fellow. I can see why you like him. You date a lot?”
“Why do you ask? Did Grandma suggest you to keep an eye on me?”
“I’m used to keeping an eye on you, Cher. You’re my girl, my grown-up girl now.” He reached down and tilted her chin and gazed into her eyes.
She thought he might kiss her but he just stared. She felt herself getting warm as her eyes stayed locked with his. The intimacy was warming her into an embarrassing situation. She wriggled a bit in his embrace.
“Yep. I’m all grown up now and I must get my adult self to work. You coming right over?” she asked.
“In a few. I wanna check in with Kevin Fowler and see how he wants to conduct the operation this weekend. There’s been no sign of any visitors?”
“Caterers only. No one else since I’ve been there. I wish his company would make an appearance soon so he’d stop paying me attention. Francine is mad enough as it is.”
David grinned. “Well, I can see her point. You put her brassy self to shame.”
“Oh, sure, me and my sexy clothes.” She glanced down at her work clothes and scuffed boots.
David, the Italian Stallion Letch, grinned even broader. “You’re seriously sexy no matter what you wear, honey. You’ve been tearing me apart since you turned thirteen. Had to stay away from you there awhile.”
Cheryl’s face dropped in astonishment.
“You didn’t know? Well, our grandmothers did. I got called on the carpet more than once and told to stay away from little Jailbait Cheryl. You’re all grown up now, so be advised.” He laughed as she punched him lightly on the shoulder.
“I don’t worry. You’re way too busy courting every female within a radius of fifty miles. I don’t like sharing so I think I’m safe.” She walked across the yard and down the driveway to her car. A glance told her that David stood staring after her until she drove away.
“Jane? Listen. You wanna go to a party with me tomorrow? . . . Where I’ve been working. I won’t know a soul ‘cept for the owners of the house. Why do you think I’m trying to drag you there with me? But you might enjoy seeing the house and garden . . .
“Full cocktail regalia. Yeah, little black dress time . . . No, don’t bother with a hairdresser. We aren’t likely to see any of these people again. At least I hope not . . .
“I’m trying to finish it up today. I should be out of there before lunch. Will I be glad! . . . No, not the work. I’ll tell you all about it soon. Okay? . . . Can I pick you up around four tomorrow? I saw the caterers, so there’s bound to be good eats.”
After a few more minutes, Cheryl hung up and returned to work. The cutting garden might be her best feat of improvising yet. She had to restrain herself from giggling at all the little stakes in a row holding the blooming gladiola heads upright. But she had gotten the job done. Finished. Completed in two weeks in time for a garden party or something like that.
She hated to do it, but she knew she needed to return to the house to say the job was finished.
She looked around and spotted Larkin and another worker she suspected was a fellow cop. Tom was directing them in placing the last bit of sod. How they would manage to be around tomorrow she had no idea, but it wasn’t her place to worry about it. She trusted David and his police department to keep her safe and that’s all that counted as far as she was concerned. She sneaked a peek through a leafy shrub at David’s wide shoulders and rippling muscles. Certain he couldn’t see her, she paused to enjoy and admire her sexy neighbor. No doubt about it, he was one gorgeous hunk of eye candy and she was only human after all.
She walked briskly up the hill and tapped on the back door.
Francine opened it, giving her a cool stare but invited her in. “Sam’s in his study. I presume it’s him you wanna see?”
With a stomach full of dread, Cheryl nodded and stepped down the hall after Francine.
“Hello, Mr. Toledo,” Cheryl said. “I’m here to let you know I’ve finished right on time.” She stayed close to the door giving Toledo a bland face. He looked up and grinned at her. The old lecherous dog, she thought. Let me get out of here. But she held her ground.
“You all ready for the party? Frannie, here, has been working hard too. She’s about got me broke ordering the food and such.” He waved his hand negligently at his live-in.
Frannie flashed him a surgery smile and stuck out her hip toward him.
“You see any of our guests yet, Fran?” His face changed to one of menacing steel as he glared at his live-in.
Cheryl clenched her hands together to keep from running out the door. It reminded her that this was a hardened criminal who was under police surveillance. And might be a murderer. She needed to conclude their business.
“I will be here tomorrow afternoon around five o’clock, Mr. Toledo. Do you mind if I bring a girlfriend along? I’ll hardly know a person here.”
His face changed as his gaze turned back her way.
“Suit yourself. Yeah. The more da
mes here, the better. Ain’t that right, Fran?” He bellowed a laugh as Fran tried to contain her annoyance. “Take this check as a bonus because you got the job done right on time. I appreciate when a person keeps her word.”
He gave a sharp look over at Fran who shifted her feet and stared out the window.
Cheryl didn’t have a clue what that was all about but was delighted it need not be her concern. She reached for the check, and he grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her close to his face.
“Don’t disappoint me, little lady. I expect to see you here with a pretty dress on. You remember that?” He stared her in the eye, and then suddenly released her as his laugh bellowed out again.
Heart pounding, Cheryl turned and left the room with a measured tread. She refused to let him see how intimidated she really was. Fran trailed her toward the door, but she opened it and escaped without a backward glance.
Outside, she waved to Tom who was walking toward the house. There was no sight of David or anyone else, so she presumed the last bit of sod had been transplanted.
“I have a bonus check.”
They bumped fists and grinned at each other. Not a bad profit for two weeks work. “You wanna go for a cup of coffee to celebrate?” Tom threw his arm around Cheryl’s shoulder, and they headed for the parking lot and their vehicles. If it weren’t for that darn party tomorrow, she might feel more festive. Anyway, they both had made hefty profits and it was a signal for a celebration.
“You were brilliant, Cheryl. Can’t believe how you pulled that mess together. I laughed at that cutting garden with the stakes.”
They sipped their outrageously priced cups of gourmet coffee.
“Hard to explain, but I’d promised her that from the very beginning. She wanted to cut her own flowers for the party. What was I to do? She had no idea that I couldn’t just magically produce a full-fledged cutting garden.”
