by Vivien Chien
She smiled, taking in the group that formed, and waited for all attention to be on her. When everyone was silent and facing her, she took a step forward, the flower pattern on her suit jacket shimmering with the movement. “Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us on such short notice.”
“Good morning!” we replied in unison.
“As you know, we have had yet another tragic incident at Asia Village. And so soon after the loss of my husband.”
The crowd nodded, some bowing their heads in respect.
Donna, known for her articulate manner of speaking, took a moment to choose her next words. “While we transition through this difficult time, I must ask that all of you refrain from any type of unsavory gossip. If you know anything of importance, please pass this along to the police. Our point of contact for this situation is Detective Adam Trudeau. I’m sure all of you are familiar with him as he’s been in and out of our lovely plaza quite a bit.”
“I bet they’re not as familiar with him as you are,” Kimmy whispered to me.
Without turning my attention away from Donna, I elbowed Kimmy.
Donna continued. “The loss of this young couple is, without a doubt, tragic. And I’m sure that we are all equally surprised by these … developments. But we must remain respectful to the passing of Isabelle and Brandon. The media may want to talk to you about what kind of people they were or if they had any associations that might bring this type of danger into our workplace. I would like for everyone to stay away from those associated with the media as a courtesy to their families. This is a very difficult time for them, as you can imagine.” Her eyes slid in Ian’s direction.
A hand went up in the crowd. “Is the plaza going to shut down?”
Donna shook her head. “No, there will not be any changes in business. The plaza will remain open and we hope business will continue to thrive. Especially with Chinese New Year right around the corner.”
Another hand shot up. “What will happen to the Yeohs’ store?”
Donna glanced at Ian. “That is still to be decided. It will most likely be put on hold until after the Lunar New Year.”
“I think the store should stay empty! That spot is bad luck!” someone yelled from the back.
Murmured speech flowed through the crowd as people agreed and disagreed with this statement.
Ian, who had been standing behind Donna to give her the spotlight, stepped up next to her and clapped his hands together. “Let’s save that topic for another time. We can discuss things with the empty property as they come up, but for right now, we want to pass along that the funeral services will begin on Monday and the plaza will be closed for the duration of the ceremonies so we may all pay our respects. We have posted the details and information outside the community center.” He stepped back, returning the floor to Donna.
“I’ll be around for the next hour if you have anything you’d like to discuss. Otherwise, you are all free to go about your day,” Donna said. “Thank you for taking time out of your morning to meet with us.”
More than half the group stayed to talk with one another. With a break in the crowd, I spotted Peter, who’d been sitting on the floor outside the public restrooms. I waved him over and he responded with a nod, heading in our direction.
When Kimmy saw him coming, she ducked behind me and sneaked off to her store.
“Was that Kimmy?” Peter asked as he approached me. “Where’s she running off to?”
“Uh, yeah, she had to pee.”
He laughed. “She’s going in the wrong direction.”
Esther came up behind him, her face filled with worry. “Lana, I talked with your mommy this morning. She is very concerned about you.”
I sighed. “I know, I talked to her, too. I’m fine, really. Just a little sad, is all.”
She nodded in understanding. “Those two were very young people. They are too young to die.”
I felt that rock in the pit of my stomach again. “Yeah … way too young.”
“Me and your mommy saw Brandon at the casino the night before she left,” Esther said. “He was so happy; he said that he had won a lot of money that day. No one would think he would die the next day.”
Peter and I glanced at each other.
“Did you tell that to the police?” I asked.
Esther studied my face. “Do you think this is important?”
“Maybe. It could help them figure out what he was doing before … before what happened.”
“Okay, I will tell them.” She let out a deep breath, shaking her head. “Well, I will go open my store now. You call me if you need anything, yah?”
“I will, thanks.”
She gave me a once-over, and before she walked away, she said, “Stand up straight.” Peter and I headed to the restaurant while I fished the keys out of my purse.
“He was at the casino … I thought he was running errands that night?”
He shook his head. “Man, that’s so shady leavin’ his lady to fit in some gambling. I was hoping he would be a better guy than that.”
“I agree.” Even though I hadn’t liked Brandon to begin with, I had always held out hope that his errands were at least something of worth. That night he’d said he needed to run somewhere important before it was too late. Had he really ditched his wife at the store to spend time at the casino? And if so, what could have possibly been so dire?
And he’d run off with the mystery man. He had to be involved somehow. If he wasn’t involved directly, he would at least know where Brandon went next. I needed to find him.
CHAPTER
10
Anna May came rushing through the door. Her cheeks were rosy and she was gasping to catch her breath. It was one fifteen and she was well past late. “Sorry, sorry, my criminal defense class ran over and traffic was a mess … I swear, you’d think these people never saw snow in their life. It’s Cleveland, people.”
I rested a hand on the podium. “It’s fine, I’ll just add it to the list…”
“List of what?” Anna May asked, taking off her hat and smoothing her hair down. “We’re making lists of something now?”
“Why did you tell Mom about what happened next door? I thought we agreed that you weren’t going to mention it.”
“You said that, I didn’t,” Anna May shot back. “I told you I wouldn’t say anything unless the plaza came up in conversation. And it did.”
“I told you I didn’t want them to worry about this. They just left and they don’t need to add more to their plates while they’re trying to deal with A-ma.”
Anna May rolled her eyes. “Oh please. The only reason you didn’t want to tell them is because you don’t want them to know that disaster follows you everywhere you go.”
I gasped. “It does not!”
So the pleasantries were over, then.
“It’s starting to seem that way, little sister,” she said in a smug tone.
“Whatever, what do you know about me?” I went behind the hostess station and straightened the menus, tapping them on the counter.
“What I do know is that they should have left me in charge.”
“Is that what this is about? You told them to get back at me?” I slapped the menus on the counter. “You can’t even get here on time!”
“That’s beside the point. I’m the oldest … and way more responsible than you are.”
The door chimes tinkled and we stopped bickering before our conversation was overheard by a potential customer. A petite woman with a round face and even rounder curls smiled at us as she approached the hostess booth. Immediately, I recognized her, but I couldn’t place her.
Shaking off the agitation that Anna May had boosted into high gear, I got my smile ready, returning hers as best I could. Anna May slipped away to the kitchen.
“Hello, how can I help you?” I asked.
“I’d like a table for one, please.”
“Follow me.” I grabbed a menu and lead her to a booth. “Would you like som
e tea?”
“Yes, please.” The same expression was on her face, and I started to wonder if that was how she looked all the time. She was so familiar, but where had I seen her before?
I scurried into the kitchen, almost smacking Anna May in the face with the door.
“Watch it!” she yelled. “You’re going break my nose one of these days.”
“Who stands by the door like that? It’s a door, people, open it.”
“You’re impossible, you know that?” Anna May said, shaking a finger at me. “You just want to fight with me all the time over nothing.”
“Me? You’re the one who starts the arguments all the time.” I went to fill up a teakettle, turning my back to my sister.
Peter clanked around in the background pretending we weren’t there. He’d known us long enough to know it was best to avoid contact when we were squabbling.
“That’s so typical of you,” my sister said to my back. “Walk away while we’re arguing. An argument you started, by the way.”
I whipped around with the teakettle in hand. “I don’t have time for this conversation. I have to get this tea out and then you need to take over that woman’s table so I can go to the bank. We can fight about this later if you want.”
Anna May lifted her chin. “Fine … where’s Nancy?”
“On lunch,” I spat. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I left her stewing in the kitchen.
When I returned to the woman’s table, she was scanning the menu with a pleased look on her face. She nodded to herself as her eyes went up and down the menu page.
I placed the tea on the table along with a glass of ice water. “Your server will be over in a few minutes.”
She held up a hand to stop me. “Actually, I was hoping I could speak to one of the owners if they’re available?”
I studied her features more closely, trying to place her. Now I knew who she was—she was the woman that Peter and I ran into the other day. The woman with the amazing cheekbones. Of course! “I remember you from the other day. You were here asking about Brandon and Isabelle. I knew you were familiar when you walked in.”
She blushed. “Yes, I wasn’t sure if you’d remember me.”
“The owners are on a … business trip at the moment. But I’m handling things while they’re away. Is there something that I can help you with?”
She closed her menu and gestured to the empty seat across from her. “Please, have a seat with me.”
“Okay…” I hesitated for a minute before sitting. What on earth could this woman possibly want to talk to my parents about?
She poured herself a cup of tea. “Would you like some?”
I shook my head, finally deciding to sit. “I’m okay, thanks.”
She nodded. “Well, I’ll just get right to it, then.” She stopped, eyes focused intently on her teacup, and smirked. “I’m sorry, how rude of me. I’m Marcia.”
“Lana,” I replied.
“I was wondering what you could tell me about what’s been happening with the store.” She pointed at the wall that separated us from City Charm.
“The souvenir shop?”
“Yes, I understand there was an incident that happened the other day…”
“Are you a reporter?” I gave her another once-over.
“No, definitely not,” she laughed. “I’ve tried leaving the property manager a few messages, but he hasn’t returned my calls. That’s why I thought I’d stop by. I figured since you were right next to it, you might know something that could help me. I’m very eager to get all my affairs in order.”
“Your affairs?”
“Yes, you see, that souvenir store technically belongs to me now, and I’d like to get everything situated as soon as possible before I have to drive back to New York.”
I shook my head, trying to clear my brain. Who the heck was this woman? “Wait, I’m sorry, did you say the store belongs to you?”
Her eyes shifted down to her hands. “I should have mentioned that upfront. I’m Brandon Yeoh’s ex-wife.”
* * *
I’d excused myself to the kitchen and paced the length of it while Peter and Anna May watched. “How many wives can this guy have?” I asked, incredulous. “He was what, thirty?”
“So, wait,” Peter said. “You mean that hot woman from the other day was Brandon’s wife, too? Man, that guy…”
Anna May leaned against the stainless-steel sink with her elbows propped on the edge. “I don’t see how any of this is our problem. Just call Ian and have him deal with her. Why did she come here? She should have gone straight to the property office.”
“I don’t know. She said she was having a hard time getting ahold of Ian. But if she really did call Ian, why would he not mention that another ex-wife had surfaced?” I asked, directing my question to both of them. “What if she’s not who she says she is and that’s why she came here first? Maybe she’s trying to feel out what we know before talking to anyone else.”
Peter’s eyes widened. “She could be like a secret reporter trying to get the inside scoop or whatever.”
“But she showed up before any of us knew what happened to Isabelle and Brandon … so she had to originally show up for something else.”
“Unless…” Peter started.
We stared at each other, both of our imaginations getting the better of us without another word being exchanged.
Anna May groaned. “Who cares? It’s not our problem, Lana. Plus, it probably is his ex-wife. That guy was a complete jerk; he probably had ten ex-wives for all we know.”
I continued to pace. Something was bugging me. This guy had been married two other times—that we knew of—and Isabelle had never mentioned it. And both exes now claimed to have rights to the souvenir shop. How was that even possible? And more important, why them?
Anna May stood up straight. “Forget this, I’m going out there and taking her order. Call Ian already. He can handle this and we can move on with our lives. Didn’t you say something about getting to the bank?”
I nodded.
“Well, okay then. Go to the bank already.”
Ian didn’t answer his office line so I called his cell phone, which he picked up on the first ring. I told him the situation and he said he’d be by in a few minutes. In the meantime, I counted the cash in the safe and got the overnight bag ready to drop at the bank. A thought skipped through my brain—should I call Adam and tell him another ex-wife had popped up?—but I decided to wait and see what happened after Ian talked with her. Besides, he probably already knew about this one, too.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the office door.
“Come in!” I yelled.
Ian poked his head in. “Lana, I’d like you to accompany me while I talk with … Ms. Yeoh.”
“Why?”
“If she’s anything like the last one, I need a buffer.”
“Why me? Anna May can chaperone. She’s already out there.”
“Your sister is a little off-putting.” He grimaced. “Please, Lana, don’t make me sit this one by myself. You have that gentleness about you that puts people at ease. I could really use that right now.”
“Fine.” With an exaggerated huff, I locked the money bag back in the safe and followed Ian out into the dining room.
Nancy was back from lunch, and I waved at her while she served a family of four. She gave me a curious glance when she saw me with Ian. I shrugged as I led him to Marcia’s table.
“Marcia, this is Ian Sung, our property manager,” I said, stepping to the side.
Ian straightened the lapels on his suit jacket. “Pleasure to meet you,” he said.
She extended a hand. “Oh, I’m so glad that you were able to meet with me on such short notice. Please, have a seat.”
Ian sat down across from her, sliding in the booth to allow me enough room. I hesitated before I sat.
Marcia crinkled her brows. “Are you joining us?” She looked between me and Ian.
Ian smiled ap
ologetically. “I’m sorry, I should have explained. Lana is my right-hand man, so to speak. She sits on the board of directors with me and usually helps with this sort of thing. I hope that’s not a problem.”
I smiled as if in perfect agreement.
Marcia gave a slow nod. “No, that’s quite all right.” She moved her soup bowl off to the side.
Ian folded his hands on the tabletop. “How can I help you? Lana mentioned something about you claiming to own the souvenir shop next door.”
“Yes, I’m afraid that my attorney was not able to come with me today. He’s in the middle of a big court case. But I have all the documentation to pass along to you. I thought you could review it with your legal staff.” She sifted around in the oversized purse next to her and dug out a manila envelope. “Everything you need is in here.”
He took the envelope from her and removed the clasp from the back, taking the papers out to examine them. “I see,” he said to himself.
Marcia directed the conversation to me while Ian skimmed the documents. “You see, Brandon was a bit irresponsible with his finances, and he needed a little help with start-up money. When he found this place, he contacted me with a proposition.”
“A proposition?” I asked.
“Yes. I would front him the money for the store and he would pay me back over time. If anything were to happen to him and he couldn’t pay me back, then I would take over the store for him.”
Ian looked up from the documents. “And I’m guessing that he didn’t finish paying you back?”
Marcia’s laugh was gentle, almost apologetic. “No, I’m afraid not. He’s only had this store for what … maybe a month or so at most? And I haven’t received any payment from him at all. That’s why I was here the other day,” she explained, looking at me. “It’s not like him to not contact me, and I came to check on things.”
“These documents will need to be assessed further. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of knowledge in this particular department,” Ian said, straightening the papers and putting them back in the envelope.
