“Adele’s son certainly trained Felix well,” Daisy noted.
“Felix knows the basic commands,” Jonas agreed. “Other than that, he and I seem to have an intuition on what we need and when we need it.”
“That’s a good thing.”
Jonas took his fork and sliced first into the pastry shell covering on the soft-baked apple, and then down into the apple itself. He took the bottle of real maple syrup and poured it over the dumpling. When he took a bite, he closed his eyes for a moment. “This is so good, Daisy. You should really open a tea garden.”
She swatted his arm.
He kissed her with maple syrup on his lips.
As they were both enjoying their apple dumplings, Daisy’s phone played its tuba sound. She lifted it from the table and studied the screen. “It’s Trevor.”
Jonas waved his hand at her. “Go ahead. I have my mouth full of apple dumpling.”
With a roll of her eyes, she answered the call. “Hi, Trevor. Do you need something?”
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I have news for you.”
“What kind of news? Nothing’s happened to Tessa, has it?”
“No. Tessa’s fine and so am I. I found out that one of the techs from the clinic, Thelma Bartik, has disappeared. She’s not answering her phone and she isn’t at her house.”
“Is that odd?”
Trevor’s voice was tempered. “It’s very odd. Even worse than that, her neighbors haven’t seen her for two days.”
Daisy’s stomach clenched at that news even though she didn’t know the person he was speaking about. But anyone missing for two days wasn’t just a glitch. A person missing for two days could most likely have something to do with a murder.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The following morning at the tea garden, Daisy asked Tessa, “I have an appointment at ten. Can you cover for me?”
They were in the kitchen baking scones and cookies for the morning crowd. Tessa peeked into the oven and straightened up again. “Sure, I can. How long do you think you’ll be?”
“I’m not sure. Probably no more than an hour.” Tessa was wearing a fuchsia smock today. Her caramel-colored hair was French braided. Her eyes narrowed as she looked Daisy up and down. “Is anything wrong? Are you feeling okay?”
Daisy poked one of her hands into the pocket of her apron, not knowing what she wanted to say. After all, this was Tessa—her best friend. Since the security guard’s wife was a dead end, she’d decided to do something else to further the investigation, at least for now. “You know Trevor called me last night?”
“Yes, we were together when he did. One of the techs from the clinic disappeared. Her neighbors hadn’t seen her for two days. Does that have something to do with you?”
“In a way it does. Piper and Emory Wagner are suspects in Hiram’s murder. So is Eli Lapp. Jonas has a fondness for him.”
“Does that mean you’re going to do some investigating?” Tessa had lowered her voice so Eva, who was washing teapots at the sink, wouldn’t overhear.
“I think it’s time I do something that the detectives can’t.”
The buzzer went off on one of ovens.
Tessa held up her finger for Daisy to wait a minute. She removed a tray of snickerdoodles and set them on a rack on the counter. Then she went back to standing at the oven with Daisy. “And just what can you do that they can’t?”
“I’m a woman,” she said simply.
Tessa shook her head, still not understanding.
“I’ve decided to go undercover. Early this morning, I called and made an appointment at the Hope Clinic. They fit me in at ten. Let’s face it. They’re not getting a lot of clients right now.”
“What are you going to tell them?”
“I’m going to tell them I’m thinking about having children, but my age is a problem.”
“Women are having kids at forty.”
“Right, a lot of them with in vitro help.”
When Tessa cocked her head, her braid flipped along her smocked sleeve. Her voice lowered even more. “Are you thinking about having children?”
“You know I can’t have kids. That’s why we adopted Jazzi. When I had a miscarriage a year after we had Violet, it caused a uterine tear. It was highly unlikely then that I would carry a baby to term, and I imagine the same would be true today.”
“But?” Tessa prompted, still in that low voice.
Daisy glanced at Eva, not wanting her to think they were talking behind her back, even though they were. The water was running and Eva was concerned with the bone china teapot she was washing out.
“I could freeze my eggs. Jonas and I have talked about it a little, but not seriously. If I froze my eggs, I’d have to use a surrogate. Jonas has as much as said adoption is always on the table.”
“So this little jaunt you’re going on really is undercover.”
* * *
When Daisy showed up in the waiting room of the clinic five minutes before her appointment time, she scanned the room and almost whistled. Everything was sleek and modern, rather than simply utilitarian. The sign above the registration desk, in bronze metal lettering, read THE HOPE CLINIC. The wall under the sign was painted light gray. Stainless-steel cabinets with a counter ran across the length of that wall. The countertop there looked like marble but it was probably a form of quartz. The counter, about six feet removed from the stainless-steel cupboards, housed a receptionist and a desk with a computer inlaid underneath. The receptionist’s counter there again looked like quartz but Daisy supposed it could be granite with gray, black, and white marbling.
Daisy noticed the front of the receptionist’s desk was inlaid glass tile in colors of gray, white, and taupe. The luxury vinyl tile on the floor again had a porcelain-like look to it but could withstand wear and tear of clients coming and going. The six chairs scattered in the area appeared to be black leather, not vinyl. Chrome coffee tables were glass-topped and devoid of any magazines.
When Daisy walked up to the counter, the receptionist looked up and smiled. Daisy said, “I’m Daisy Swanson. I have an appointment at ten.”
The receptionist checked the list on a paper to the side of her computer. “I see that you do. Let me get you checked in.”
She asked for Daisy’s address as well as her birth date. She was ready to hand Daisy a clipboard.
Daisy knew what those papers would ask her—medical conditions, prescriptions she took, etc., etc.
To avoid all that, she told the receptionist, whose name tag said BARBARA, “I’m just here for a tour today. If I seriously decide to do something, I’ll fill out all your paperwork then.”
The receptionist didn’t look happy at that news. Barbara said, “That’s not how we operate here.”
Daisy returned, “If you want me to take the tour, that’s how I operate.”
Apparently weighing what she should do and say, Barbara finally advised Daisy, “Why don’t you have a seat. I’ll buzz someone for your tour.”
Crossing the reception area, Daisy sat on one of the leather chairs. Barbara had a muted conversation over her phone with someone. Shortly after, a woman appeared in a doorway that led inside the clinic itself. She was short, rotund, with black hair that was cropped and parted severely to the right. Her red cat-eye glasses made her face look even rounder. She was wearing black slacks and a loose pale green blouse with HOPE CLINIC embroidered over the pocket. Her multi-colored beaded lanyard held her name tag and probably a security card. Her name was Maya Neuman.
She called softly, “Daisy Swanson?”
Daisy stood and approached her. After Daisy knew she had this appointment this morning, she’d dressed a little differently than she usually did for work. She was wearing a tailored light-blue sheath with cap sleeves. It was a dress she sometimes wore to church with white chunky beads and a matching bracelet. She’d wanted to look upscale for this appointment. She was glad she’d taken the time to do that because Maya looked her up and down and then smiled as
if she approved.
Daisy felt a sick feeling in her stomach, suspecting everything this clinic did was based on money. She hoped not. Bringing children into the world needed to come from kindness and compassion, not monetary gain.
Daisy followed Maya into an office where Maya educated Daisy on freezing embryos, in vitro fertilization, and how the clinic operated.
Knowing she had to be engaged in the conversation, Daisy said, “I’m interested in having my eggs frozen. Then once I’m married, if I’d like to have children, it would be a possibility.” She told Maya about her own situation and about not being able to carry a child to term.
Maya insisted, “Our fertility specialists here would evaluate you and give you an honest appraisal of what can be done, including finding a surrogate and the legal ramifications of that.”
“If I wanted to delve into all that,” Daisy responded, “I’d bring my fiancé with me. I just wanted to come for a preliminary tour and see how I feel about the clinic.”
Maya didn’t seem too happy with that news, but she kept smiling. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”
As they walked, Daisy realized she’d used the term fiancé for Jonas. She found she liked the idea of being engaged to him. Did he feel that way too? The facilities in the main section of the clinic were fairly mundane until Maya and Daisy came to a closed door with a small square glass window. There was a key pad on the door and Daisy imagined Maya’s security card would open it.
Maya pointed through the window. “That’s where the magic happens. I can’t take you on a tour inside there. Everything must remain sterile. I hope you understand.”
Daisy was about to answer when Maya’s phone buzzed. At least that’s what Daisy thought it was.
She was proved correct when Maya pulled a phone from her pocket.
“I’m needed in one of the exam rooms,” she told Daisy. “But I’ll be right back.” Maya disappeared down a hall.
Daisy stood there waiting, taking in everything she could.
Suddenly the door she was standing in front of opened, and a woman in blue scrubs came out. She studied Daisy with questions in her eyes.
Daisy said lamely, “I’m just taking a tour.”
The tech smiled. “You’re going to try in vitro?”
“Possibly. I’m curious about something.”
“What?”
The young woman looked to be in her twenties. She was wearing a blue scrub cap but blonde strands peeked out underneath it. She didn’t wear makeup and she was very attractive. Daisy wondered if she was a nurse or an LPN. She decided to do a little poking. After all, that’s why she was here and she didn’t have much time.
“I had this appointment and I wasn’t sure I should come.”
“Why not?” the young woman asked.
“There’s been a lot of bad publicity about the Hope Clinic. The latest rumors concern the disappearance of one of your techs . . . Thelma Bartik.”
The woman in front of her glanced through the window in the door, then she looked around the room as if she were expecting someone to barge in suddenly. “I can’t talk about that,” she said in a low voice. “I really can’t.”
She scurried off down the hall that Maya had disappeared into.
Maya reappeared seconds later. Maya said, “Something has come up, and I think our tour is going to have to end. Why don’t you make an appointment with the receptionist to start testing?”
“That sounds like a good idea. Thanks very much for your time today.”
Maya smiled. “That’s what we’re here for.” Then she hurriedly walked her out to the reception area again.
The receptionist targeted Daisy with her gaze. “Shall I schedule you for another appointment?”
“I’m going to have to consult my calendar at home,” Daisy said. “But I’ll give you a call.”
Before the receptionist could make any other comments or ask more questions, Daisy hurried out the door.
Outside, she decided to reconnoiter a bit. Going around the side of the building, she saw a janitor dragging a trash bag out to the dumpster. She knew sometimes those who seemed faceless learned the most about the facility where they worked. She went up to the man who was stocky and short, wearing gray overalls and a gray shirt. He was almost bald with steel-colored hair growing above his ears and in a thin row across the back of his head.
After he tossed the black bag into the dumpster, Daisy said, “Hello. Can I talk to you?”
After the man turned toward her, she could see he had a stubby nose, a high forehead, and bushy silver brows. His jowls wiggled as he asked, “Pardon me?”
Daisy looked around to see if anybody else was in the vicinity. No one was. “My name is Daisy Swanson. I’m looking into Thelma Bartik’s disappearance. Do you think you can help?”
The name tag on his shirt read CLETUS SIMPSON.
Cletus’s mouth opened into a round O as if he were stymied for words.
“Did you know Thelma?” she asked.
“I knew her,” he mumbled.
“Can you tell me if she was the tech who caused the accident that destroyed eggs and embryos?”
Cletus took a step back from her. “I ain’t saying nothin’. I don’t know nothin’.”
Looking him straight in the eyes, she suggested, “Cletus, I think you might know more than anybody else in that clinic.”
“I don’t,” he maintained stubbornly.
Daisy sensed she couldn’t push any further. He would just go inside and shut the door. So she did the only thing she could do. Opening her purse, she took out a business card that she’d prepared in case she needed it.
She held it out to Cletus. “I own Daisy’s Tea Garden. The police have their eye on friends of mine and think they’re involved in Hiram Hershberger’s death. But I think his death might have something to do with this clinic. If you remember anything, or if you know anything else, especially about Thelma, give me a call, okay?”
He stared at her business card as if it might bite him. Then he quickly took it and stuffed it into his pants pocket.
Without another word, he hurried inside and closed the steel door.
Daisy wasn’t sure if her appointment had been a waste of time . . . or if it would eventually provide clues.
* * *
Did dogs really hate cats?
This was the night that Daisy and Jonas were going to find out.
She and Jonas were together in the way that was only going to get more serious. He was a doggie parent now and that meant Felix would be welcome in her house. She really didn’t want to close Marjoram and Pepper upstairs in one of the bedrooms when Felix and Jonas were over. They didn’t like closed doors and neither did she. But . . .
Jonas kept Felix on a lead as they stepped over the threshold into Daisy’s house. Daisy wasn’t sure what would happen if Jonas didn’t hold onto Felix.
However, once inside, Felix just sat and looked up at Jonas as if asking what happened next.
“Should we let him sniff around?” Jonas asked.
“It’s really Marjoram and Pepper’s domain, so they should be the ones to decide where he goes and what happens.”
Jonas stared into Felix’s shiny brown eyes. “The women rule the roost here, bud.”
As if Felix understood what Jonas was saying, he plopped onto the floor and waited.
Jonas slipped the lead off his collar. “Are you sure you don’t want to pen up Pepper and Marjoram and let him smell at them under the door or something. Isn’t that what all the experts suggest?”
“We could do it that way,” Daisy agreed. “Or . . .” She waved at the stairway.
Marjoram and Pepper had stopped on the landing and were peering through the slats. Marjoram gave a sharp meow as if she’d just seen Felix. Pepper, who always listened to her sister, ran back up the stairs as if to get Jazzi. Daisy could hear Jazzi, who had been warned about this meeting, come out of her bedroom.
“Come on, Pepper,” the teen sa
id conversationally. “Let’s go downstairs and see what’s happening. I think we have a new visitor.”
The two feline sisters stayed on the landing while Jazzi descended the rest of the stairs. She motioned to Felix. “Don’t you want to meet him?”
Felix’s tail was swishing quickly back and forth. His nose was in the air even though all four paws were stationery.
“I don’t know, Daisy,” Jonas said. “Maybe I should take him back outside.”
She laid a hand on his arm. “Let’s see if they can settle their relationships without our barging in. I’m going to go over to the staircase so Marjoram and Pepper know they have another ally.”
“Four against two? Do you think that’s fair?” Jonas asked, amusement in his voice.
“You two are big enough to hold your own,” Daisy teased.
As Daisy reached the staircase, silence prevailed. Everyone was frozen in place.
Marjoram was the first one to budge. After all, she liked Jonas, and she was the more curious of the two cats.
“Go to it,” Jazzi said. “You’re more ferocious than he is.”
Marjoram glanced at Daisy and then Jazzi as if their coaxing helped. She drew herself up tall and pranced down the rest of the stairs. After she leapt off the bottom step, she slowly crossed two feet toward Felix, then arched her back, hissed, and straightened her tail until it arrowed straight up in the air.
“Oh, this is going well,” Jonas muttered. “Felix, stay.”
Felix’s tail swished faster. He inched forward.
“Release him from his command,” Daisy offered.
Jonas eyed her as if she were crazy.
“Really, Jonas,” she coaxed.
Jonas reached down and patted Felix on the head and made an up gesture with his hand. “Okay, boy. Let’s see what happens.”
Pepper slowly came down the stairs behind her sister. She hissed too, her tail a black fluffed wand.
Whether Felix was used to cats or not, Daisy didn’t know. Nevertheless, he seemed to be because he ignored the cats, padded over to the coffee table and spread out on the rug.
Daisy couldn’t help but laugh.
Pepper and Marjoram ran back up the stairs.
“You’re retreating,” Jazzi accused them. “Come on back down. He won’t hurt you. I can tell. He’s a good boy.”
Murder with Orange Pekoe Tea Page 15
