you’re a great judge of character. This disagreement with his partner doesn’t mean he lied to you or that he’s not in trouble.”
“I don’t know about the great-judge-of-people pronouncement,” I reflected, picking up my glass of tea. “I can think of a case where I really missed the mark.”
Diana knew all about my family history and my ugly divorce. I recounted the bizarre scenario of Geoff showing up at house and then at my appointment.
As I described the scene with Geoff, Sam, and Malone, I could tell she was entertained by the picture I painted. In retrospect it was a little funny in an awkward sort of way, but entertainment I didn’t want to repeat any time soon.
“Now, about this Heidi.” Diana was back to the murder. “What do you know about Cash’s girlfriend?”
“I don’t know her well at all. She works at a boutique downtown near Mel’s shop. She had stopped in the office occasionally to see Cash, but not very often. She doesn’t seem as upset by the fact that he’s missing. Or at least not as upset as you’d think she would be.”
“And the rude neighbor? Do you know his name?” She leaned back in her chair.
“Hmmm.” I took a sip of sweet tea. “I don’t think anyone has mentioned it. Heidi’s the one who told me about him and the fuss over his claim of Cash’s cat being vicious.”
“Well, he seems like a jerk.” Diana calls them like she sees them.
I have to say the man did not make a very good impression on me. But then people like Diana (and me) don’t cotton much to folks who don’t like animals, and he was downright nasty about Toria.
As if she were reading my thoughts, Diana asked. “What about the young man’s kitty? I’m sure Toria was falsely accused.”
I couldn’t believe it had taken her this long to ask about the cat. With Diana it’s always about the animals.
“Oh my, Diana, she is flat adorable. I may not give her back. She’s about this tall and this wide.” I held up my hands to show her. “She’s adapted fine to Dogbert and my two felines. Toria is much more of a lap cat than Thelma or Louise, and I think Dogbert is a bit put out about the situation.”
“The Scottish Fold cats are so cute. Almost teddy bear-like faces, aren’t they?” She began gathering dishes. “What color is she?”
“She’s a grey tabby. I gather from what Cash said, he brought her with him from his home in England. He’s very attached to her, which is why I can’t imagine him taking off and leaving her behind.”
“Except he knew he left her in good hands.” She looked thoughtful.
“Stop, now. Let me pick up.” I took the dishes from her hands.
“If you take those inside, I’ll get the rest.” She collected the remaining items on the table. “I have another favor to ask of you, if you don’t mind running one more errand for me.”
“Happy to do it.” I carried the dishes to the kitchen and went back for the other things.
Diana was on her way inside with more of the remnants of our lunch. I took the tray from her.
“Do you need something else picked up? I enjoyed my side trip to Baubles, and I’m ready and willing for more shopping errands.”
“No, in this case, dropped off.” She limped inside. “The Laguna Beach Public Library has asked if I’d donate something for their Golden Age of Hollywood exhibit, and though it makes me feel ancient, Bella and I went through my things and found a few items.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“I’m donating a dress I wore in a movie eons ago and a book about the making of the movie. The author and the costume designer had already signed it, and so I signed it too. I don’t know if that will help, but they’re welcome to it.”
“No problem.” I stacked dishes in the sink. “Do I drop the things off at the library?”
“No, to Mary Jo, the woman who’s curating everything for the exhibit. Bella has her address and phone number.”
“Sounds like an exhibit I’ll have to see.”
“Oh,
“I don’t know about the great-judge-of-people pronouncement,” I reflected, picking up my glass of tea. “I can think of a case where I really missed the mark.”
Diana knew all about my family history and my ugly divorce. I recounted the bizarre scenario of Geoff showing up at house and then at my appointment.
As I described the scene with Geoff, Sam, and Malone, I could tell she was entertained by the picture I painted. In retrospect it was a little funny in an awkward sort of way, but entertainment I didn’t want to repeat any time soon.
“Now, about this Heidi.” Diana was back to the murder. “What do you know about Cash’s girlfriend?”
“I don’t know her well at all. She works at a boutique downtown near Mel’s shop. She had stopped in the office occasionally to see Cash, but not very often. She doesn’t seem as upset by the fact that he’s missing. Or at least not as upset as you’d think she would be.”
“And the rude neighbor? Do you know his name?” She leaned back in her chair.
“Hmmm.” I took a sip of sweet tea. “I don’t think anyone has mentioned it. Heidi’s the one who told me about him and the fuss over his claim of Cash’s cat being vicious.”
“Well, he seems like a jerk.” Diana calls them like she sees them.
I have to say the man did not make a very good impression on me. But then people like Diana (and me) don’t cotton much to folks who don’t like animals, and he was downright nasty about Toria.
As if she were reading my thoughts, Diana asked. “What about the young man’s kitty? I’m sure Toria was falsely accused.”
I couldn’t believe it had taken her this long to ask about the cat. With Diana it’s always about the animals.
“Oh my, Diana, she is flat adorable. I may not give her back. She’s about this tall and this wide.” I held up my hands to show her. “She’s adapted fine to Dogbert and my two felines. Toria is much more of a lap cat than Thelma or Louise, and I think Dogbert is a bit put out about the situation.”
“The Scottish Fold cats are so cute. Almost teddy bear-like faces, aren’t they?” She began gathering dishes. “What color is she?”
“She’s a grey tabby. I gather from what Cash said, he brought her with him from his home in England. He’s very attached to her, which is why I can’t imagine him taking off and leaving her behind.”
“Except he knew he left her in good hands.” She looked thoughtful.
“Stop, now. Let me pick up.” I took the dishes from her hands.
“If you take those inside, I’ll get the rest.” She collected the remaining items on the table. “I have another favor to ask of you, if you don’t mind running one more errand for me.”
“Happy to do it.” I carried the dishes to the kitchen and went back for the other things.
Diana was on her way inside with more of the remnants of our lunch. I took the tray from her.
“Do you need something else picked up? I enjoyed my side trip to Baubles, and I’m ready and willing for more shopping errands.”
“No, in this case, dropped off.” She limped inside. “The Laguna Beach Public Library has asked if I’d donate something for their Golden Age of Hollywood exhibit, and though it makes me feel ancient, Bella and I went through my things and found a few items.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“I’m donating a dress I wore in a movie eons ago and a book about the making of the movie. The author and the costume designer had already signed it, and so I signed it too. I don’t know if that will help, but they’re welcome to it.”
“No problem.” I stacked dishes in the sink. “Do I drop the things off at the library?”
“No, to Mary Jo, the woman who’s curating everything for the exhibit. Bella has her address and phone number.”
“Sounds like an exhibit I’ll have to see.”
“Oh,
Similar Books
