Part 16 (1/2)
”Did you find out what you needed to know?” Brian asked.
”Joe told me that Pammy started coming to these little jaunts at Pete's invitation. Of course he told me this after Pete and Lisa left.”
”Was it Pete?” Brian asked. ”I thought it was Joe.” He shrugged. ”Guess I'm wrong.”
A number of cars whizzed by in the opposite direction.
Tricia frowned. ”Is there some way I can get hold of Pete? I'd like to talk to him--without Lisa being around. I think she took a dislike to me.”
”She'd dislike anybody who was Pammy's friend,” Ginny said.
”Why?”
”That woman was a terrible flirt. Just like Eugenia,” Ginny grated.
Pammy had never given Tricia that impression. Or maybe it was just perceived that a woman alone was man-hungry.
”Do you have a number where I could reach Pete?”
”Sure,” Brian said. ”But you can look it up yourself. He works at the convenience store in Stoneham.”
No wonder Pete had looked familiar--he'd probably waited on Tricia more than once. Had he found Pammy digging in that store's Dumpster? ”I a.s.sume he works the day s.h.i.+ft?”
”He works whenever he feels like it. His father owns the store.”
Tricia felt the SUV accelerate.
”Why are you going so fast?” Ginny asked.
”There's a car speeding up behind me.”
”So, let him go past,” Ginny said.
Tricia looked behind her.
Brian pulled the car closer to the side of the road, but the car didn't go around them. Instead, it rode mere feet from the back b.u.mper.
”What's this guy playing at?” Brian asked nervously.
”We've got an SUV--outrun him!” Ginny cried.
Brian steered back onto the road and gunned the engine. The SUV took off like a Formula One car, leaving the smaller car to eat its dust, until it was a couple of pinp.r.i.c.ks of light on the darkened road.
”Yee-ha!” Brian called.
Suddenly another set of lights pulled onto the highway. Not just headlights, but blue flas.h.i.+ng lights.
”Oh, no,” Brian groaned as he braked the SUV. ”Here comes a ticket. And a couple of points on my license.”
He pulled over to the side of the road and hit the b.u.t.ton on his armrest. The driver's-side window slid down, and he dug for his wallet so he could fish out his license. The Sheriff's Department cruiser pulled up behind them, its lights eerily piercing the surrounding landscape.
Another car whooshed past them, and Tricia could've sworn she heard someone yell from its window, ”Suckers!”
TWELVE.
Tricia let herself into the Cookery, then trailed through the darkened interior to the back of the store and the stairway that led to Angelica's loft apartment. Then she thought better of just appearing on her sister's doorstep--or threshold, or whatever you wanted to call it.
She reached into her pocket and withdrew her cell phone. She pushed the b.u.t.ton that autodialed Angelica's number. It was answered on the first ring.
”Trish? Where are you?”
”Inside the Cookery. I wanted to let you know I'm on my way up. That is, if it's convenient.” She hadn't seen Bob's car parked outside, but she didn't want to interrupt a romantic interlude--should one be going on.
”Sure, come on up,” Angelica said cheerfully. ”Are you hungry? I was just going to make some cocoa and cinnamon toast.”
”Cinnamon toast?” Tricia repeated, brightening. ”I haven't had that since I was a kid.”
”Then you're in for a treat. I'll put another two slices of bread in the toaster. Hurry on up.”
Angelica had unlocked the door, which was open for Tricia. She could already smell the heavenly aroma of the ultimate comfort food as she entered the hallway and followed it to Angelica's kitchen.
”Sit down,” Angelica encouraged. She was clad in a pink robe and matching bunny slippers, with her hair hanging in damp ringlets around her shoulders. She'd been letting it grow out. Tricia wasn't sure that was a good idea, since Angelica looked great in short hair, but it did suit her when she wore it up, dressed in her vintage togs while working at the cafe.
Tricia peeled off her jacket and settled at the dining room table just as Angelica thrust a mug of cocoa at her. She could smell the nutmeg Angelica had no doubt just grated on the top. She took a sip, savoring the taste. Before she could swallow, Angelica settled a plate of cinnamon toast in front of her.
”Hey, you made this for yourself. I can wait for the new toast to pop up.”
”Don't be silly. Eat. You're too skinny.”
”Hey, I work at it.”
”You may as well enjoy yourself. Life is too short to deny yourself anything. Particularly diamonds.”
”Diamonds. Where did that come from?”
”Oh, I've been thinking about Mr. Everett and Grace. I think I'm going through marriage withdrawal,” she said, and glanced at the ringless fourth finger on her left hand. ”I have to figure out what to give them for a wedding gift. What are you giving them?”
”I haven't decided yet, either.”
Angelica leaned aginst the island counter and took a sip of her cocoa. ”What do you give the elderly bride and groom? A members.h.i.+p in AARP?”
”I'm sure one or both of them already has that.”
”Do you think Grace is registered anywhere?”
”No. I'm sure they don't want or need anything.”