The Jewels of Sofia Tate (15 page)

Stained-glass windows surrounding the nave cast a bluish-red light onto the pews that were nearly three-quarters full. Over the centre of the altar, above the flower arrangements, hung a plain wooden cross. Garnet smoothed out her pale-yellow skirt and took a seat next to Dan and his family near the back of Trinity Lutheran Church. Dan had picked her up in his car and they had arrived only moments earlier. She was surprised they didn't sit in the front pew. Somehow she had expected that the minister's family would be front and centre.

Dan quickly introduced his parents and his twelve-year-old sister, Jenna, who eyed her with some curiosity. His parents nodded and smiled at her. It was obvious that Dan took after his father with his dark hair and build, but he had his mother's blue eyes. Jenna, with her blond hair, was the younger image of their mother.

Bells rang and Pastor Norman Peters appeared at the front of the church. A white and gold stole curled around his collar and down the front of his knee-length white garment, which covered an ankle-length black
cassock. A silver cross hung over his chest. His confident voice filled the room as he opened the service with the words, “The Lord does not forget his promises. Let us remember this today as we begin with our first hymn.”

Then the music began and Garnet was surprised that it was lively and uplifting, not the muted organ music she was expecting and had last heard at her grandmother's funeral. Two men played guitar at the front of the church while one woman played the recorder and another the keyboard. A small choir of men and women harmonized with the congregation as they sang “Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling” from the hymn book.

Dan passed Garnet the printed order of service and she tried to follow along. Pastor Peters would say something and Garnet responded when Dan and the congregation did. Then Pastor Peters read from 1 Samuel in the Bible. Garnet was intrigued by the story of an irrational King Saul and David, a shepherd boy, who had killed a giant named Goliath with a slingshot. An evil spirit would sometimes enter King Saul and, to try to calm the king's nerves, David would play the harp for him. After some time, though, King Saul became jealous of David because the people liked David more. So, in a rage, Saul tried to kill David with a spear as he played the harp, but missed. Saul tried to kill David numerous times again after that, but God kept him safe.

After the sermon, Garnet found herself lightly tapping her toe as the choir sang and the offering plate was passed around. She fumbled through her purse for a toonie and placed it on the plate when it came to her. Several pews ahead of them, she noticed Gerdie seated with Stan. Gerdie sat with her back straight, in a flowered skirt and blouse, while Stan sat slightly slouched and was biting his nails.

They were an odd couple, Garnet decided as she watched them. Gerdie, with her chimp-like face, was not what she would call attractive. Stan, on the other hand, with his rugged features, could possibly be considered handsome for someone his age.

“How did Gerdie ever meet up with Stan?” Garnet whispered to Dan.

“I don't know,” Dan replied. “He's new to the congregation. He started coming here a few months ago, when he and Gerdie started dating.”

When the offering had been collected, Pastor Peters led the congregation in prayers, a couple more hymns were sung and then the service was over. Pastor Peters walked down the aisle and stood at the exit of the church to greet the departing parishioners. Dan introduced Garnet to his grandfather on their way out.

“Wonderful to have you here today,” Pastor Peters welcomed Garnet with a warm smile and a firm handshake. “I hope to see you again soon.”

“Maybe you will,” Garnet replied.

She squinted in the late morning sun as they left through the doors and strolled along the sidewalk to the parking lot.

“Isn't your family coming?” Garnet asked when she noticed they weren't behind them.

“Nah, they'll probably be a while. They usually stay and talk to people.”

“Don't you stay?”

“Sometimes. But I didn't know if you wanted to. I thought I'd break you in slowly,” Dan replied with a grin. “So, what did you think?”

“What did I think of what?”

“The service.”

“It wasn't bad. It was more upbeat than I thought it would be.”

“That's because it was the contemporary service. We have one every other week unless it's a special day in the church calendar. Then it's just the regular kind. You know, organ and stuff.”

“Well, it wasn't as boring as I thought....” Garnet stopped and stared. “Hey!”

“What?” Dan turned and followed her direction.

“It's the car!” Garnet exclaimed, pointing at a dark blue BMW waiting to turn out of the church parking lot.

Dan shielded his eyes and they watched as the car
turned right and sped onto the busy four-lane street. “I've never seen that one here before. Either someone has a new car or we had a visitor at our church today. Come on! Let's follow it!”

They ran to Dan's car and he quickly unlocked the doors. As they hopped in, they were met by a wall of heat and yelped simultaneously as they sat down onto the scorching seats that had absorbed the sun's rays. Dan started the engine and quickly rolled down the windows and switched on the air conditioning as he began to manoeuvre toward the parking lot exit between parishioners walking to their cars. They were almost there when a gold Chrysler cut in ahead of them, his left-turn signal flashing.

Dan groaned. “Oh great. Now we'll never get out. Not with Mr. Yager in front of us. The guy's close to ninety and way too cautious making his left turn. He's been known to make prisoners of everyone in the entire church parking lot. And there's no way around him.”

Garnet kept her eyes trained on the blue BMW. “It looks like it's stopped at the red, two lights ahead.”

The traffic finally cleared for Mr. Yager to make the left turn. Dan quickly turned right, hit the accelerator, and sped down the four-lane road, weaving between the left and right lanes. The traffic lights remained green and soon they were gaining on the BMW. It turned right and
Dan and Garnet followed. They were getting closer, with only several vehicles between them. Dan switched to the left lane. A bare, white, masculine arm came out of the driver's window of the BMW and flicked a cigarette butt.

“Try and get the licence-plate number,” Dan said, his knuckles white as he clutched the steering wheel.

Then, without warning, from one of the side streets, a green Buick turned into the lane directly in front of them and slowed.

Dan slammed on the brakes. “What in the world is that guy doing?”

They were forced to a crawl, the traffic not allowing them to switch over to the right lane, while the BMW drove on.

Dan banged his fist on the steering wheel. “And they complain about young drivers. Look at this guy. He can barely see over the dashboard!”

Garnet scanned the road ahead. “It switched lanes. I think it's turning left.”

Dan looked over and was so focussed on the BMW that he didn't notice the Buick in front of him had come to a complete stop.

“Watch out!” Garnet screamed.

The tires of the Grand Am squealed to a halt, a hair's breadth away from a collision. Traffic came to a stop behind them and slowed in the next lane. A woman
in a Camry glared at them and shook her head at the near-miss. Only then did they realize that the Buick had stopped because the car in front was waiting to turn left at the traffic light. The driver of the Buick signalled to enter the right lane and eased over. Then the light turned red.

“Great! Now we've lost them for sure!” Dan fumed.

Garnet looked up the road and her heart quickened. “Hey! I think I just saw it.”

Dan squinted into the distance. “Where?”

“In the left lane near the expressway. I think it's getting on.”

When the light turned green, Dan floored it to the Auditorium. He turned left onto the ramp but by this time, the BMW had vanished. They travelled on the expressway for several kilometres, searching for the car, but as they came near the exit to Trussler Road, Dan finally conceded defeat. “I think he got away.”

Garnet nodded. “Me too. He could have gotten off anywhere.”

Dan sighed. “So what do we do now? Got any plans today?”

Garnet shrugged. “I was thinking of visiting Elizabeth.”

“Okay. Let's go.”

Three days had passed since the heart attack. Elizabeth was propped in a partial sitting position in bed with the mattress slightly elevated, her head resting on a pillow. Though the purplish bruise on her temple was still evident on her slightly pasty complexion, one of the IVs had been cleared away and only the heart monitor remained.

“You're looking less tangled up today,” Garnet remarked.

“Yes,” Elizabeth agreed. “They took some of the tubes away this morning. They say I may even be able to go home next week.”

“Next week!” Dan said. “That's quick.”

Elizabeth nodded. “I'll need some hired help, of course. Maybe Gerdie will agree to stay with me for a while. We'll see. In any case, if our search for the jewels goes the right way, it wouldn't be for long. My roommate here has nearly convinced me that retirement-home living isn't all that bad. Isn't that right, Anna?” she said, smiling at the woman in the bed across from her.

But Anna, a slim woman with freckles and short, pinkish hair, around the same age as Elizabeth, was not paying attention. Her eyes were fixed on Garnet. Only when she realized that Elizabeth was waiting for a reply did she pull her gaze away and blink.

“Pardon?”

“I said, the retirement home isn't all that bad,” Elizabeth said.

“No, no, it's wonderful,” Anna said with a hint of a French accent. “There are daily activities and the food is delicious. Better than the food here, that's for sure,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Anna, these are my young friends. Dan was a former music student of mine and Garnet is my guardian angel.”

Garnet's head swung around. “Oh, Elizabeth ...”

“No, no, it's true. If you hadn't found me, I'd be, well ...” Her voice trailed off.

“Anyone would have done the same,” Garnet insisted.

“Don't count on that,” Elizabeth said. “Not in this day and age. There are people in this world who only look out for themselves.”

Garnet regarded her more closely. “Elizabeth, do you remember anything about the day you had the heart attack?”

She thought for a moment. “Not really. Sometimes a vision comes to mind but then it's gone again and I can't identify it. No, I don't remember.”

“Do you know anyone who drives a blue BMW?” Dan asked.

“No, I don't think so.”

Garnet wondered whether Elizabeth didn't know or whether she simply didn't remember after the trauma she had suffered. The recollection of the smashed vase and Elizabeth lying on the floor in the front entrance after that car drove away was certainly still fresh in Garnet's mind. Perhaps it was too soon after the heart attack to risk upsetting her with any further questions about what had happened, but once she regained her strength, Garnet was determined to get some answers.

“Elizabeth, Dan and I've been looking around the house and were wondering about the clock in the library. How do you wind it?”

“That old thing? It never did work. I just keep it on the mantel because it looks nice.”

“How often do you wind the other clocks?” Garnet asked.

“The porcelain one in the living room, once every five days. The grandfather clock, about once a week.”

Garnet caught Anna looking at her again and frowned.

“I'm sorry,” Anna said, appearing slightly embarrassed. “But you remind me of my granddaughter, Jenny, though she's a little older than you. She's in university now.”

A woman in a blue uniform arrived with a trolley, carrying covered trays of lunch. She pressed the button on Elizabeth's bed to elevate her to a full sitting position before she wheeled the tabletop over and placed a tray on top of it. She delivered one to Anna in the same manner and left the room. Elizabeth peeked under the lid of the dish.

“Mmm. Would you look at that? Prime rib roast smothered in a peppercorn gravy with roasted potatoes and dilled carrots on the side. For dessert we have cherry cheesecake.”

Anna lifted the lid on her tray. “Oh,” she gasped, and she clapped her hands. “And I have a chicken cordon bleu with duchess potatoes and tender green beans in a creamy herbed sauce. And for dessert, my favourite: chocolate mousse. Only the finest cuisine for us!”

The two women looked at each other and giggled like schoolgirls. Garnet bent her head to see as Elizabeth lifted the lid all the way off, and wrinkled her nose. A piece of skinless overcooked chicken thigh, with mashed potatoes and cooked peas and carrots, was the only entrée visible.
On the side for dessert was a portion of fruit cocktail.

“Time to go,” Dan said, “and let these ladies enjoy their fine dining. Bon appétit!”

The sound of the ladies' laughter followed them as Garnet and Dan made their way down the hospital corridor.

“Want some lunch?” Dan asked when they reached the car. “My treat.”

“Okay.” Garnet's heart flipped an unexpected somersault. Calm down, she told herself. It's not a date. It's just two people going for lunch because they're hungry. She couldn't help but wonder, though, what Laura would think if she knew.

They settled on the Harvey's drive-through and ordered burgers, fries, and soft drinks. Dan paid, then drove to Victoria Park where they found a picnic table under a shady willow beside the lake. They sat down side by side and unwrapped their burgers. A family of ducks swam by as they ate.

“So, how'd you decide you wanted to study business?” Garnet asked.