Camilla T. Crespi - The Breakfast Club Murder (18 page)

Lori’s cell phone rang as she was leaving the Port Chester Costco parking lot.

“The neighbors saw and heard
nada
Monday night.” Margot’s whiskey voice sounded disappointed. “And I couldn’t come up with any real friends of Valerie’s except Ruth. I took her out to lunch in the city today at Le Colonial. Have you been? Fabulous. It’s like going back in time and dining in a lush French plantation in Vietnam.”

“Sounds great, but tell me what Ruth said.” Lori turned the air-conditioner to high to keep the food she’d bought for Saturday night’s dinner cool.

“She ate, mostly. Coconut shrimp, chicken ravioli, beef
briolle
with sticky rice, eggplant, and chocolate mousse. And drank most of a bottle of 1999 Pouilly-Fuissé. She kept crying between bites and sips and my heart went out to her. She’s taking Valerie’s death very badly.”

Lori veered left onto Main Street. “They were that close?”

“Ruth, as it turns out, is Valerie’s cousin. Her only living relative.”

That explained why she was the only one of Valerie’s employees mentioned in the will. “Does she have any idea why anyone would want to kill Valerie?”

“Well, she mentioned you, and said she didn’t really think you’d go that far. She leans toward the carjacking theory.”

“That’s what Rob thinks, and I wish the police did, too.”

“By the way,” Margot said, “Ruth loved your condolence note. She claims she doesn’t know much, but she’s more than happy to talk to you. She seemed eager to help. I don’t think she’s had too many people pay much attention to her.”

“Did she say anything about inheriting money from Valerie?”

“Oooh.” Margot exhaled into the phone. “Did she?”

“Yes, according to Warren.”

“Well, I hope it’s a lot. So what did my ex have to say?”

“Are you seeing anyone?”

There was a moment of silence. Lori thought she could hear Margot stewing. “I’m seeing several ones,” Margot finally said.

“Well, he’s convinced you’re in love.”

“Warren likes to own people and things and Warren doesn’t like to be crossed. One of the many reasons I left him.”

“But you still see him.”

“Let’s not talk about him. Tell me more about Valerie’s will.”

“Another time. I need to stop by Sally’s Blooms”—Janet wanted to show her some flower arrangements for Mrs. Ashe’s dinner party—“and I’ve just spotted a parking place large enough to accommodate your gorgeous car. By the way, are you in love?”

“I’m not ready to go public, but if and when, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Good luck.” Lori clicked off the phone, pushed the stick shift into reverse, and silently prayed for a smooth, silent maneuver.

“You’re looking good,” Janet said when Lori walked into the flower shop.

“I had lunch with Warren at his club. How are you?” Lori asked. Her friend looked tired and out of sorts.

Janet stopped fiddling with a pot of startling blue hydrangeas and tried on a smile. “I was going to ask you, you know, about that other business.” She glanced backward at Shirley, the owner, who was with a customer in the rear.

Lori leaned into the counter. “The plot thickens, but I’ll tell you later.”

“Seth has left Rob lots of messages.” Janet’s role in the sleuthing was to have Seth pump Rob for information about Valerie to try to come up with a possible suspect other than Lori. “He doesn’t call back.”

Of course Rob didn’t call back. He was suspect
numero uno
now. At least according to Warren. “I might be off the hook,” Lori said.

“That’s nice,” Janet said with surprisingly little enthusiasm. “Let me show you what I’ve thought of.”

Janet had to be really down to respond that way. “I’m sure whatever you’ve planned is going to be beautiful.”

Janet walked over to the refrigerator section and removed four small cream-colored ceramic bowls with different combinations of flowers. “I followed your suggestion and called Mrs. Ashe and asked her what she was going to be wearing Saturday night.”

“Gray?”

“Mauve, so I thought we could go for purple, white, and pink flowers, or just pink and white or pale orange and white. Which do you prefer?”

“Why don’t I bring them over to Mrs. Ashe and have her pick?”

“She said you should decide.”

“All three are gorgeous. If I have to pick one, I go for the orange and white arrangement, but it’s really your choice. You’re my flower expert.” Lori lowered her voice. “Hon, are you okay?”

Janet did not meet Lori’s eyes. “Shirley thinks the purple, pink, and white arrangement is the prettiest, and she’s the real expert, so I’ll go with that, if you don’t mind.”

Lori raised her hands. “You’re the boss. See you Saturday at the Ashe apartment. I’ll be there from three o’clock on, so come any time after that. Guests are arriving at seven p.m., and I’m home tonight if you have any questions.” Lori waved and walked to the door.

“Wait!” Janet called out.

Lori turned around.

Janet came close. “I’m fine. So is Seth,” she said in a whisper. “Our problems are over. We’re going to be fine.”

Why was she whispering? What was there to hide? “Oh, great!” Lori hugged her. “He has a job?”

Janet shook her head. “We’re going to be fine,” she repeated. “An investment came through.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard in ages,” Lori said, her eyes fixed on Janet’s face. “I’m really happy for you both.”

“Thanks,” Janet said. “What should I wear? I’ve never been a waitress before.”

The arrangement they had made for Janet to help Lori serve the food had been made on Monday, when Janet still needed money. “You’re still okay with helping out?” Lori asked.

Janet looked hurt. “I’m not going to back out on you at the last minute.”

“Thanks. I really appreciate it. Black slacks or a black skirt and a white shirt is the usual uniform. And you’re a food server, not a waitress. As for never having done it before, I guess Seth’s been eating out every night.”

Janet nodded. The smile Lori was hoping for didn’t come. They kissed each other’s cheeks, said goodbye. As Lori walked to Margot’s car, she wondered. If Janet and Seth’s money problems were finally over, if they were “going to be fine,” why didn’t Janet look happy?

At home, Lori put the food in the refrigerator, changed into her usual shorts and T-shirt, washed makeup and layers of cream off her face, then called Jess on her cell phone. She explained about Warren needing to leave tomorrow. Angie had already told Jessica.

“I don’t know, Mom. Dad said it’s okay but . . . I don’t know.”

Rob hadn’t told her about Valerie’s will. It would have been the first thing she would have blurted out. “Jess, whatever you decide is fine with me, but I’m going to be too busy preparing for the dinner party to drive you anywhere tomorrow or Saturday.”

“What about Grammy? She wanted me to come over on Saturday.”

“I’ll drive you over tomorrow morning early.”

“Then it’s okay to go?”

“Of course it is. What do you want for dinner?”

“Pizza. It’s lousy where we’re going. And Mom, oh, Mom, I’ve got lots to tell you except I can’t talk now.”

“Deuce?”

“Uh huh.”

“Can’t wait to hear all about it. Come home soon.”

“Forty-five minutes max.”

Lori went downstairs to the kitchen. Now she needed to call Rob. She was still scared. It was nice to think the police might not suspect her anymore, but she had Jess to worry about. First her mother a murder suspect, and now her father. What if the police arrested Rob? What kind of scar would that leave on her daughter? Rob had to have an alibi. The doorman must have seen him come home that night. And if he was meeting someone as Angie and Jess thought, that person could vouch for him and he’d be fine.

Lori changed the water for the flowers. They were still holding up. Lord, she hadn’t sent Alec Winters a thank-you note. What was she waiting for? Such a small task, why couldn’t she handle it? Lori walked over to her desk with determination. On a plain card, she wrote a fast thank you, addressed the envelope, sealed it, put a stamp on it, and went to leave the note on the hall table to put in the mailbox later.

Back in the kitchen, she glanced at the wall phone by the refrigerator. She had no desire to get involved in Rob’s problems. Thanks to him, she had enough of her own. Concentrate on pizza. She had tried making it countless times. She’d even bought a baking stone in order to get a crisp crust, but she never could match Gino’s Pizza, three miles down the road. She’d stopped trying. Lori walked to phone. First the pizza. Then Rob.

She called Gino’s and ordered a large pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms, and extra mozzarella that she would pick up in an hour. Now it was Rob’s turn.

“How was lunch with the bear?” Beth asked when she answered the phone at the gallery.

“Fine.” Lori walked the receiver over to a chair by the table and sat down. Somehow her fingers had dialed the wrong number, which Lori took to mean that she needed comfort first. She told Beth about Rob’s visit, about Valerie’s will, and the police shifting their suspicions to Rob.

“That’s good for you and tough on Jess, which I guess ends up making it even tougher on you,” Beth said.

“Jess doesn’t know anything yet, and I’d like to keep it that way for as long as possible.”

“How much is Rob inheriting?” Beth asked.

“I don’t know the dollar amount, but according to my mother, except for a few thousand for Ruth, the office manager, he gets the lot.”

Beth whistled.

Lori told her about Janet. “She said her money worries are over, that an investment came through for them, which is great, but she didn’t look in the least bit happy.”

“Maybe it’s not that easy to shrug off the worry weight. Maybe she’s afraid to believe that they are finally going to be okay. People can react to good news in funny ways. Give her time.”

“You’re right,” Lori said. “When you made dean’s list, you had to write it down on an index card that you carried with you for a week before you allowed yourself a smile.”

Beth laughed. “Ah, the good old days. No worries, no fears. And now . . . Lori, I can’t believe how well you’re holding up. You’re a mountain of strength. I’d be blubbering in a closet.”

“I can’t fall apart with Jess around, but believe me, inside I can’t stop shaking.”

“Want me to come over with a case of wine?”

The thought made Lori smile. The last time they had gotten drunk together was the night before Beth’s wedding. They’d ended up dancing in their underwear in Beth’s backyard with all the sprinklers turned on. The next morning Beth’s wonderful mother had wondered why they hadn’t stripped everything off.

“Thanks, Beth, I’d love it, but it’s my last night with Jess for a couple of weeks.” They made a brunch date for Sunday at Beth’s place in Bedford. Before hanging up, Lori asked, “You didn’t by any chance unplug my phone when you were here on Monday?”

“Why the hell would I do that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you tripped on the cord?”

“What did you have to drink for lunch?”

“Bloody Murder. It can make you a little crazy.” Lori took a deep breath. “Sorry. I’m being silly.”

“No, you’re not. You’re trying to get a grip.”

After hanging up, Lori reached into the fridge for a slice of salami, which she rolled and popped into her mouth. A little fat always helped.

Lori got Rob on his cell phone. “I’m glad you’re letting Jess go to Cape Cod tomorrow.”

“I can say the same for you.”

“It’s the best thing for her.”

“Ditto.”

“You do have an alibi?”

“As a matter of fact I don’t.”

“Didn’t you go straight home from the restaurant?”

Rob answered with a big sigh, then, “Lori, I know you mean well. You always do. I know you’re worried about what Jessica will suffer if I should . . . Look, I’ve been answering questions at the police station for hours today, and a bunch of reporters are panting outside my building, which means that right now all I want is to sit down and drink myself through a bottle of Scotch, so if you don’t mind I’m going to hang up and do just that.”

“Jessica doesn’t believe you were sick. If you were sick, you would have gone straight home. You were meeting someone. A man, a woman, whoever it was, that’s your alibi. And if he or she didn’t show up, then maybe he or she is the murderer. Did you tell the police that?”

“Listen, I don’t need your help anymore.”

A bubble of hot anger burst inside Lori. “Now you listen to me, Rob. For all I care you can rot in some hole for the rest of your life, but you happen to have a daughter who you’ve hurt more than you’ll ever know, and I’m not going to let you end up in jail for murder and ruin her life.” Lori stopped to breathe. “Where were you Monday night?”

His answer was a dial tone.

“Deuce gave me his e-mail address and his phone number AND, Mom, you won’t believe this.” Jessica paused to add drama, her eyes glittering. The pepperoni and mushroom pizza had been polished off. They were now indulging in Callie’s apple pie.

“What won’t I believe?” Lori asked.

“He’s going to be fifteen miles from us up in Cape Cod!” Jessica beamed enough happiness to light up the Empire State Building. “And he’s got a bike up there and he’s going to come over.”