Authors: Cheryl Richards
“Nice to meet you,” Lloyd said shaking her hand.
“Sunny was right. You do resemble Rita Hayward, only prettier.”
Autumn blushed. “Thank you. Hear that Alan? That's a
compliment. Not telling me I look like Glenda the good witch.”
“What's wrong with Glenda?”
Autumn rolled her eyes. “So what's in the bag?” She
said eyeing the bag on the counter. “Cookies?”
“Oh,” I said. “Got a favor to ask Alan.”
“Oh oh.”
“Police work. Lloyd and I have been working together
on this one, but we think it's time to bring in the law.”
"She dragged you into this?" he said in
bewilderment. “Best not to humor her. The Kramer women are like spiders luring
us to their webs where they toy with us for enjoyment.”
Autumn and I each socked him in an arm.
“Hey!” he said rubbing his arms. “See,
dangerous.”
Lloyd chuckled. “Actually, my dad dragged us both into
it. Long story.”
“Well, we have the time,” said Alan. “Let’s go into
the living room.”
Autumn chose the loveseat where she drew up her slim
legs underneath her.
Lloyd and I sat down on the sofa. He crossed one leg
over the other, with his ankle resting on his knee and reached his left arm
around my shoulder. He appeared comfortable in their home and I was thankful. Personally,
I hated meeting new people in their homes. I always felt like I was at a
disadvantage.
Alan sat next to Autumn. “Shoot,” he said, playing
with her hair.
“Well,” I started. “Lloyd’s dad rooms with a man named
Mr. Schroeder. The man was almost ready for discharge when he became ill again
after drinking orange juice from his daughter.”
“Orange juice? Nothing illegal about that.”
“No, but I gave two samples of it to Lloyd.”
Alan looked from me to Lloyd. “Why?”
“Sunny thought maybe the orange juice was poisoned.
You have to understand that this poor old man is in and out of the hospital
continuously. Each time he looks worst.”
“And he was doing fine until the daughter started
seeing him and giving him the juice. It’s not like he can’t get juice at
Ageless Grace, so it’s weird that she brings it in. He drinks it and the next
day he’s in the hospital.”
“Sunny, shush. Let Lloyd speak. Go on,” Alan
said.
I sighed, crossed my legs, and drank some wine.
Quite tasty. I’d have to check the brand.
“Well, I took the sample bottles to a friend of mine
down in Illinois to analyze,” Lloyd said. For credibility, he added, “I
work for a pharmaceutical company. The lab is in Lake Bluff.” He took a swig of
beer. “But we don't have the results back yet.”
I continued. “I switched out Mr. Schroeder’s orange
juice on Wednesday with the identical brand, thanks to a helpful diversion by
Donna to get his daughter out of his room. The juice his daughter brought in is
in that bag. I want you to have it dusted for prints and see if there's
anything unusual with it. I only touched the cap of the bottle.”
“This is a joke, right?” He looked from me to Lloyd.
He looked at Autumn who gave him a hands up motion.
“No,” Lloyd and I said in unison.
He finished his beer and put it on the table. Autumn
lifted it and put it on a coaster.
“When do you get these lab reports back?”
“Any day now,” Lloyd replied.
“Why do you think his daughter is trying to hurt him?”
“She wants his money,” I said. “Told me he'll
probably die any day now so she's not going to pay his bill. Alan, this is
more than a coincidence. Something feels wrong.”
He looked at Autumn, then at Lloyd and finally his
eyes rested on me. He sighed. “Okay. I'll take heat for this one, but get me
those lab reports as soon as you get them. I don't care what time it is,
day or night. If you're right, and I hope you're not, this would be attempted
murder.”
“Thanks, Alan. See Lloyd, I knew we could count on
him.”
“Thanks,” Lloyd said. “I’ll get you what you
need.”
“Good.” He rested his hand on Autumn’s thigh.
“Well, guess it’s time to leave.”
We got up and I took Lloyd’s empty bottle from
him and followed Autumn to the kitchen to toss it and place my glass in the
sick. I glanced at the bottle of chardonnay. Robert Mondavi.
“Is it real cold?” Autumn asked.
“Yes, but not windy.”
She nodded and pulled a mid-length wool coat from
her front closet.
Lloyd helped me on with my coat, and wrapped my
scarf around my neck. I thought that was cute.
“I’ll drive, Lloyd. Did you pull over to the
left?”
“Yeah,” I said. “You should have enough room to
get out.”
“Okay then, let’s go. I’m always so excited to go
to these affairs,” Alan stated sarcastically.
“Once a month won’t kill you,” Autumn opined.
“It might,” he laughed. “You’ll understand soon
enough, Lloyd.”
We piled into the garage, Lloyd opened the rear
door for me, and I scooted into the seat behind Autumn. Lloyd got in and closed
the door. The garage door rose and we were on our way.
“Lloyd, did Sunny tell you about Aggy,” he asked
looking in the rearview mirror.
I shot him a warning glance and I saw him smile.
“No,” Lloyd replied. He looked at me. “Who’s
Aggy?” he asked innocently.
Alan continued before I had a chance to speak.
“Nice one, Sunny. Aggy is part owner of the Greek restaurant we’re going to
today. He’s Nino’s cousin. Handsome millionaire. Real charmer, like Sam, and
crazy about Sunny.”
Alan was asking for it. I narrowed my eyes and glared
at him. He caught my eye and I swear his eyes were laughing at me. Lloyd’s face
took on a tortured look as Alan continued. I kicked Autumn’s seat.
“He’s standing up with her in Spring’s wedding. Glad
he won’t be holding onto my Autumn. Man’s an octopus. I guarantee he’ll ask
Sunny out right in front of you. Super arrogant.”
“Alan,” I scolded. I wanted to kill him.
“A man has to know his competition. Right? Damn,
Lloyd, I’d date the guy for a million bucks.”
Lloyd gazed out the window. “Fucking great,” he
swore under his breath. He turned toward me. “If this guy’s such a catch, why
don’t you grab him?” he asked sullenly.
Alan narrowed his eyes, wondering if I’d play
along. He’d give me hell if I didn’t and we were almost at the restaurant.
“Oh, Aggy’s too macho for me,” I fibbed.
I thought I heard Autumn snicker.
“You know the type, lots of chest hair, gobs of
gold jewelry, thick black hair—like some Greek mafia guy.”
Alan’s eyes smiled back at me in the mirror. “Or
Greek god.”
This time Autumn started coughing. I knew it was
to cover her laughter.
I cursed him. I hoped Aggy made his appearance
early on, so Lloyd’s misery would be short lived.
Chapter
46
Alan pulled into the lot and parked. Lloyd appeared
apprehensive about leaving the vehicle, as though he were contemplating not
going in. When he finally got out, I sighed with relief. He made a point of
putting his arm around my waist as we entered the restaurant. A small smile
played at the corners of my mouth. Maybe I’m evil, but a part of me was
enjoying Lloyd’s jealousy.
Dad, Spring and Nino were already seated when the
waitress showed us to the table. I hugged my dad and started the introductions
as Alan and Autumn sat down.
“Dad, Nino, Spring, this is Lloyd Harper.”
They started to rise and Lloyd stopped them.
“Don’t bother to get up.” He shook my dad’s hand. “Mr. Kramer, nice to meet
you.” He continued onward as if this was just another business meeting. “Nino,
Spring. I hear congratulations are in order.”
“Thank you, Lloyd,” Spring gushed forth. “Sunny’s
told us all about you.”
Lloyd gazed at me with a raised eyebrow. I shrugged.
“Thank you. Always good to meet one of Sunny’s young
men,” Nino said charmingly.
I cringed. He made it sound like I brought a different
man to dinner every week. I noticed Lloyd give Nino the once over, probably
wondering if Aggy looked anything like him. I could see his anxiety level
rising.
“Sit here, Lloyd,” Alan said pointing to the seat
between himself and my dad. “That way Sunny can sit across from you and next to
her sisters.”
Lloyd sat, but I know he would have preferred to
sit next to me. My heart went out to him. I crossed my fingers that Aggy would
be there soon.
My dad waved over the waitress. “We’d like to
order some drinks. Lloyd, since you’re new to our little group, you can start.”
“Genuine Draft,” he said to the waitress.
She took everyone’s drink order and left us to
chat amongst ourselves.
“So, Lloyd,” my dad said, “you from around here?”
“Yes. sir,” he said politely, “lived in South
Milwaukee all my life.”
“By the lake,” he said.
“Not far from it. Sixth and Michigan Ave.”
Getting the drift of what my dad was really asking, he added, “Nice,
middle-class subdivision. Low crime.”
“Uh huh. What is it you do for a living?”
All eyes were on Lloyd. He looked around for the
waitress. As if she sensed him, she showed up with the tray of drinks and
placed a beer in front of him. He took it and swallowed a third of it. “I’m a
pharmaceutical rep for southeastern Wisconsin and the northeastern suburbs of
Illinois.”
“Hey, I’m in sales too,” Spring chimed in.
“Corporate office is in Waukesha but I rarely get there. Lots of travel. I sell
restaurant supplies. That’s how I met Nino.”
“You have no idea how much glassware I had to buy
to get a date with her,” Nino laughed. The rest of joined in, which lessened
some of the tension.
“Guess we better order,” my dad said. “The soup’s
good here,” he said, offering his advice to Lloyd.
“Okay, thanks,” he said and winked at me.
The waitress stopped by again and took our
orders, starting with Spring. I ordered my usual turkey and mashed potato
dinner and Lloyd ordered the same, except opting for the soup over salad. This
time he switched from beer to whiskey. I wondered if he really wanted soup or
if he did it to please my dad. If so, I wished him luck.
“What kind of a name is Harper?” Nino asked.
“Excuse me?” Lloyd questioned back.
“Origin.”
“Oh. Scottish. Mother’s side of the family is
from England.”
“Alan’s last name is English,” Autumn added.
“Kramer is usually German but we’re actually of the Irish descendants. Our
mother’s maiden name, Hoffman, is German though.”
“Making you a stubborn, Irish lass,” joked Alan.
Everyone laughed but my dad.
Alan looked grimly at Lloyd and swallowed some
beer.
“So Lloyd, who do you plan to
vote for in the next election?”
“I’m not sure, Mr. Kramer,” said Lloyd, rolling
his beer bottle back and forth between his two hands.
“Call me, Bill.” He smiled coldly. “Who did you
vote for last time?”
Lloyd’s eyes begged me for help but my hands were
tied. Once my dad started on politics, the conversation took on a life of its
own. I mouthed, “I’m sorry” and he grimaced.
“Well, Bill, I didn’t vote in the last election.”
My dad was outraged. “Not vote! It’s your patriot
duty to vote son.”
“Dad,” I tried interrupting. He put his hand up.
“I only trust men with strong opinions. What’s
your stance on gun control?”
I covered my face with my hands, and then moved
them up my forehead and ran my fingers through my hair. Poor Lloyd had no clue
that my dad was just getting started. I looked over to Autumn and she shrugged
helplessly. Alan made a slicing motion across his throat.
“I think people have a right to protect
themselves, I’m just not sure I like the idea of every whack job running around
with a gun strapped to his leg.”
My dad ran his hand over his mouth and nodded
toward Autumn and I. “My daughters own guns. I wouldn’t let them move out on
their own without teaching them how to shoot, how to protect themselves. Once a
month I take them to a shooting range for practice. All three have a license to
carry. Sunny carries a Beretta, Autumn has a .38 Special, and Spring carries a
Colt 45.”