Inherit the Wool Page 14

  When he was in high school, I gathered he’d been pretty convincing at being a badass while going home and doing everything from cooking to helping his sister get her first bra. Most of the time his mother wasn’t there or was passed out from her latest binge. His father was totally out of the picture.

  And now Dane had turned his garage into a karate studio where the local teens could train and hang out, basically to keep them out of trouble. He cooked copious amounts of pasta with homemade sauce so good you wanted to lick the plate. I knew about his cooking skills firsthand, as he always left me a plate of something.

  As we started down the walkway our footsteps echoed on the woodlike surface. The truth was I’d heard the slats were made of out recycled plastic bottles. For the moment we had it to ourselves, and he reached over and took my hand.

  “Hey, this isn’t a date,” I joked. “You’re on duty.” I gestured toward his midnight blue uniform and all the stuff hanging from his belt and the holstered gun.

  “Nobody can see us,” he said, shaking his head at how hopeless I was. “What are you worried about? Afraid Lieutenant Borgnine will get jealous.”

  I laughed. “You really think I was flirting with Lieutenant Borgnine?” My eyes went skyward. “I’m the first to admit that I’m completely lame in the flirting department, but even if I wasn’t I would never try to use flirting on him.”

  “I figured you must have done something to get him to agree to the meditation lesson cover.”

  “Actually, he realized it was a really good idea,” I said.

  “Then what was going on with the winking?” he said. We’d reached a fork in the pathway. Going straight ahead, we’d reach the end of the grounds and the street with the beach beyond. The other way trailed through the dunes. The boardwalk was meant to keep feet from trampling the native plants that dotted the sand. I pointed straight ahead.

  “I was trying to signal the Lieutenant.” I explained to Dane who Michael was. “I was afraid he’d jump in and try to interrogate him and I was trying to remind him of our plan. And when he winked back I knew he understood. See, no flirting going on at all.”

  Dane was back to his teasing self. “That’s good news. Because I don’t think Mrs. Borgnine would take it well that someone was flirting with old Rumpled Jacket.” He chuckled. “I was just picturing her knocking on your door, challenging you to a duel or something.”

  I nudged his arm affectionately at the absurd image. We passed through the gateway that marked the end of the grounds and waited for a car to go by before we crossed the street. Dane started to go onto the sand, but I held him back and pointed to two figures up ahead.

  “So that’s what this was about,” he said, recognizing the rumpled jacket.

  I nodded and smiled. “I wanted to see firsthand what his meditation lessons looked like.” We stood watching as they walked awkwardly through the silky white sand.

  “I’m not officially a detective, but I do know the thing about spouses being prime suspects. Do you think he did it?”

  “I don’t know. But he could have. All I know is that the killer had it all planned out. It just occurred to me now that the call for the bomb threat must have come from one of the pay phones in the Lodge. The bomb was a distraction, just like in one of Sammy’s magic tricks.”

  Dane was shaking his head again. “You and magic. How long are you going to keep on being his assistant? You have to know that Sammy is hoping you’ll be more than his partner in magic.” Dane seemed momentarily perturbed. “It would be kinder to just cut things off with him.”

  I checked Dane’s expression and I was pretty sure he was thinking more about himself than helping out Sammy. Maybe he was right, but even though it hadn’t worked out romantically for us, I still felt a connection to Sammy. But I didn’t want to talk about it or think about it, so I went back to talking about Michael as Vanessa’s possible killer.

  “What I was trying to say was that it could have been Michael. The Lodge was crowded. I wasn’t paying attention to who was where or even who was there. Michael kind of stands out now with the designer hairstyle and all, but put him in a pair of jeans and a baseball cap and he could have blended in with the crowd. He certainly would have known Vanessa’s habits—that she would have wanted wine and the particular kind she drank.”

  I continued to watch the action on the beach and the two men never sat in the sand. Michael appeared uncomfortable and started to walk back toward us. Instantly, I grabbed Dane’s hand and hustled him back across the street.

  Dane glanced down at our joined hands. “I can’t believe what it takes to get you to hold my hand. But I’ll take it.” He gave my hand a squeeze. As soon as we got across the street, I picked up my speed and we rushed along the boardwalk to the spot where it separated into the path through the dunes and a way directly to the grounds.

  We took the took winding walkway and continued until it curved and we were out of sight. “They must have gone past by now,” I said, leading the way back to the main path. “You have to go.” I pulled away. “The less any of them see me with someone in uniform the better. I don’t want there to be any chance of my group thinking anybody is investigating or they’ll clam up.”

  “Okay, I get it,” he said. “And I won’t take it personally.” He grabbed a quick kiss and got ready to depart. “See you later.” He did an imitation of Lieutenant Borgnine’s wink and then turned to go back toward the street. I sighed. He was such a good guy, if only I could give my heart to him. I started to ruminate about my history of not sticking to things. From there I went to my standard thought that I was really thinking of him and not wanting to hurt him when I eventually left.

  Even I was getting tired of that story. Oh shut up, I told myself as I went in the other direction.

  I trailed far enough behind the pair that they didn’t notice me. I followed them as they left the boardwalk and went toward the Lodge. Michael appeared to be pulling ahead and Lieutenant Borgnine kept talking. It was easy to camouflage myself when they went through the Lodge. The lunch bell had started to ring and people were passing me on their way to the door I’d just come in.

  I was within earshot when they reached the other side of the large room and Michael got to the door on the driveway side.

  “The meditation was interesting,” Michael said to the cop, clearly preparing to leave.

  “Then you’re not staying here?” Borgnine said. He caught himself as his tone sounded a little too sharp. “I just assumed that since . . .” He let his voice trail off.

  Michael glanced around at the rustic room with disdain. “No. I’m staying at the Inn at Pebble Beach.” I knew the place and it was the antithesis of Vista Del Mar. It had a posh lobby, restaurants, a luxurious spa and rooms with every amenity. It was also where Sammy was doing the magic show on Sunday.

  Michael pulled open the door and looked out at the empty driveway. “What happened to my SUV?”

  “That was yours?” Lieutenant Borgnine said, pointing to the Loading and Unloading Only sign. At the bottom in small print it said all others would be towed.

  He might be a sometime meditator, but he was always a cop.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The lunch bell had stopped ringing by the time I headed to the dining hall. I never worried when Lucinda was part of my retreat because it was natural for her to play host. In fact, it seemed like it was uncomfortable for her not to play host.

  As expected, my group was at the same table they’d been at before and Lucinda was refilling glasses from a pitcher of ice tea. As I glanced around the table it sunk in once again that they were all suspects. Something was getting to Courtney and she appeared frazzled. Her usually sleek dark brown hair had a little frizzy puff on the top, as if she’d been grasping at her hair in frustration. She had papers on the table in front of her and I wondered about the case she was working on. I also wondered if Lieutenant Borgnine had found out anything interesting in their talk. But I knew he’d never tell me anyway.r />
  Zak was eyeing the room with interest. Was he trying to see if the big story he was promised was somewhere in the dining hall? His presence at the retreat seemed very contrived and I had the thought again that the whole mystery invitation was really just a cover-up and he’d planned it himself.

  I thought back to him in college. He had always been adventurous and fun, but also illusive. I recognized that it was part of his charm. It was easy to fill in the blanks about him with my imagination. One quality that was real was that he’d been set on a journalism career and had tunnel vision when it came to getting ahead. I pictured him living out of a suitcase with no ties to bind him. I fast-forwarded to the day before and tried to remember if there had seemed to be any special connection between him and Vanessa. If anything it seemed like she was annoyed about something.

  Lauren seemed intent on her food. Being such a do-gooder, I could see where she might have some differences with Vanessa. But would she kill her over them?

  Elizabeth was sitting with her head in her hands, which I assumed had more to do with Michael than Vanessa. By the time I reached the table, Elizabeth had lifted her head and was looking at her fellow diners. “Okay, who knew that Vanessa was married to my old boyfriend?”

  Lauren put down her forkful of baby lettuces. “Where did that come from?”

  Elizabeth told them about running into him in the café and then she looked at me.

  “You must have known. You were sitting with him.”

  I had to explain that I’d just met him for the first time. I turned to the others. “The hospital called him last night and he flew up here.” I turned back to Elizabeth. “I didn’t realize who he was until I saw you sitting there and then I got the connection.”

  Lauren shrugged. “Well, I didn’t know until this moment, but what’s the difference anyway?”

  Courtney looked up from her papers and shrugged. “Vanessa didn’t keep me in the loop about her husbands. I didn’t even know she wasn’t still with the first one.”

  Elizabeth slumped and leaned on her elbow. “You don’t understand. How could you?” She was looking at Lauren and Courtney. “You both have it made. You have careers and families. I was supposed to be in the same place, too. I don’t understand how it didn’t work out that way for me.”

  “You ought to think about what you have,” Lauren said. “You have your freedom. Juggling a husband, kids, foster kids, and a job isn’t easy.” She seemed about to say more but stopped herself.

  “Casey’s not married either,” Courtney offered. “Or Zak.”

  “Leave me out of it,” he said with that disarming smile of his. “With my lifestyle it would be unfair to have a wife and kids. As a field reporter, I’m always traveling all over the place and at a moment’s notice. It’s hard to even have a girlfriend when you don’t know where you’re going to be next week.”

  Isn’t that just what I’d thought about him?

  “And you never know what’s in your future,” Lucinda said to Elizabeth. “Look at me. I never expected to end up with my high school sweetheart living happily ever after.” I noticed Lucinda avoided looking at me when she said the last part.

  Elizabeth appeared to perk up. “You’re right, you never know what’s around the corner, do you?”

  I was glad that Elizabeth had calmed down, but I still felt uneasy about the whole situation. I was thinking about going and getting some food when I heard someone say, “Hey, Case.”

  There was only one person who called me that and before I looked up, I knew Sammy was standing there. He was tall with a hulky build and soulful eyes. “So these are your college friends,” he said, checking out the table. His gaze stopped on Zak, who smiled and gave him a salute as a greeting.

  I didn’t know how to introduce Sammy. I really didn’t want to tell them that he was my ex-boyfriend from Chicago or that one of my multitude of professions was being part of his magic act. “This is Sammy. He’s a friend of mine from Chicago,” I said finally. I was afraid he was going to add something, so I quickly got up and pulled him off to the side.

  “What’s up?” I asked when we were out of earshot.

  “I was hoping we could get in a practice today. This show is a big deal. If we do well, there will be more like it.”

  “You really need to find another assistant,” I said. “I can’t get away this afternoon.”

  “Doing a show at a Pebble Beach resort is a lot better than table magic on the weekends here,” he said, making a broad gesture toward the dining hall.

  “Now you’re dissing this place, too.” I threw up my hands. “I remember when you were thrilled to get the gig.”

  “I’m still happy to do close-up shows here, but you have to admit it’s nice doing a show at a fancy resort.” He put his hand on my arm in a reassuring manner. “About getting a new assistant—I’ll try, but we work so well together. Like I always say, you’re the only one who gets me.”

  “Okay,” I said finally. How could I not help him out? He’d come to Cadbury because of me. I felt guilty about the whole thing. I cared about Sammy. I really did. “I’ll try to figure a time. It’s different with this group. They’re people I know, and after what happened to Vanessa, they’re all upset.”

  “You’re the best, Case,” Sammy said, giving my arm a squeeze before he let go.

  They were all staring when I got back to the table. “He seems like more than a friend,” Lauren said. I smiled weakly. I was worried how Elizabeth would react to the comment, but her mind seemed elsewhere and I detected a slight smile.

  By the time I finally got a plate of lunch and brought it to the table, they’d all finished and left. Only Lucinda hung around and made sure I had lots of ice tea. “Tell me everything. Any closer to who killed Vanessa?” she asked.

  “As you heard, her husband showed up.” I told her the whole spouse as number-one suspect thing and that he’d been reached by cell phone, which she understood immediately.

  “He could have been anywhere when they called him,” she said.

  I nodded and put down my grilled cheese sandwich. “It would be so much easier if it was him,” I said and told her how uncomfortable it was that the entire group were all suspects. “I can’t help but wonder if Elizabeth’s shock at finding out that Michael was Vanessa’s Number Two was really an act.”

  Lucinda’s eye widened. “And she knew all along. I would say she certainly had a motive.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  When I left Lucinda, she was on her way to the Lodge. She promised to take a break from playing host and relax with her knitting. She also promised to keep her ears open.

  I was looking forward to a little alone time as the morning had been intense, to say the least. Whipping up some cookies to bring back for the afternoon workshop was just the kind of therapy I needed. I was already thinking about what I was going to bake as I headed up the driveway. Since time was an issue, a pan cookie sounded like the best idea.

  I thought I heard a noise behind me, but when I turned to look, there was no one there. When I’d gone a little farther up I turned again, and this time I noticed rustling from one of the bushes that grew around the tall Monterey pines. I convinced myself it was probably just an animal. Deer were always wandering through Vista Del Mar, along with squirrels, raccoons and rabbits.

  Even so, I picked up my pace as I crossed the street. I had fished out my key before I got to the kitchen door. It was crazy, but I could feel someone’s presence. This time I didn’t bother to look behind me as I rushed to open the door and get inside. But before I could manage it, I heard a flurry of footsteps and then someone was behind me pushing me inside.

  “I know karate,” I yelled, putting my elbows up, ready to strike them in their ribs. I didn’t really know karate, despite Dane’s offer of lessons, but I figured it sounded menacing. And I’d seen the elbow move on a TV news segment about what to do if you were attacked.

  “Don’t hurt me. All I want is your WiFi.”

>   “Courtney?” I said, letting my arms go down to my sides. To prove her point she held up a trim leather case and opened it to show me her slim laptop.

  The adrenalin rush was starting to subside and I leaned against the door frame to recover. “You could have just asked.”

  “I think I did in so many words, and when you didn’t pick up on it I took matters into my own hands. You said you lived nearby, so when I saw you leaving the grounds I followed you.”

  “As I told the group, I’m in the midst of a remodel,” I said, trying to explain why I hadn’t offered my place. Remodel was a bit of an overstatement. I was doing some painting and changing the slipcovers on the sofa and chairs in the living room. She looked around the kitchen, which other than a coffee mug in the sink looked in perfect order. I quickly added that the kitchen wasn’t part of it and vaguely pointed to the rest of the house.

  “I don’t care if the walls are ripped off. I just need some time on your WiFi.”

  She was already inside so I gestured toward the kitchen table. “You can set up there and use my WiFi while I bake something for this afternoon.” Julius had come into the kitchen to see what was going on. He eyed her for a moment before jumping on the table. His tail went straight up and swished from side to side. As soon as Courtney saw him, she shrieked and put up her hands, as if to fend him off.

  “A cat? You have a cat. Get it out of here. I’m allergic.” As if to prove it, she sneezed and waved in his direction, as if that would make him leave.

  “Sorry, Bud,” I said, grabbing the black cat and taking him out of the room. I promised him it wouldn’t be for long as I put him in the bathroom with his cat box, just in case.

  When I came back in the kitchen Courtney had already set up her computer. “What’s your password?” she demanded.

  I must have made a face at her abrupt manner because she apologized and also promised she wouldn’t tell the others she’d come over.