Full Bloom

by Janet Evanovich

  They arrived at Harry’s Place a few minutes later and found the parking lot packed. “Hope we can get a table,” Annie said as they made their way to the entrance. Inside they found a long waiting line.

  Danny looked at his wristwatch. “We’re doing okay on time as long as we don’t have to wait too long to get served once we get a table.” He glanced around the room. “Oh, look, there’s your pal. What happened to his face?”

  Annie glanced in the direction Danny was looking. She froze when she spotted Wes sitting in a booth in the back, across from him a pretty blonde. They were leaning forward talking, their heads so close they almost touched. “Um, he fell,” Annie managed, trying to keep her voice from wavering, but the sight of Wes with another woman almost made her ill. She resisted the urge to bolt out the front door.

  “The guy certainly has good taste,” Danny said, looking amused. “He must like ’em young; she barely looks old enough to vote. I’d ask to join them, but they look pretty intense.”

  “You know what?” Annie said. “I think I’d like to have a good steak after all.”

  It was all Annie could do to remain cheerful and attentive as they waited for their waitress, but she was determined to give it her best shot, since Danny had taken her to a nice steak house. Because all of the other tables were taken, they’d been seated at one in the bar where mostly men sat on the tall stools watching a sports program on a wide-screen TV.

  The waitress appeared, and Danny ordered each of them a glass of red wine and the filet mignon with béarnaise sauce. He waited until the waitress hurried off. “If you’re a good girl and eat all your vegetables, I’m going to order you your favorite dessert, Death by Chocolate.”

  “You’re so bad,” Annie said.

  “I know all your weaknesses, Anniekins.”

  Sometimes she wished he wouldn’t be so nice, and she wondered if maybe Theenie was right, that Danny wanted more out of the relationship. She looked up and found him watching her intently, his eyes telling her things he had never said out loud. Annie averted her gaze and reached for her wineglass. She raised it to her lips, and it slipped through her fingers, splashing wine across her blouse, and shattered on the table. “Oh no!” she cried, reaching for her linen napkin to blot the mess she’d made. “I’m so clumsy!”

  “Watch out for the glass,” Danny warned, using his own napkin in an attempt to help. The waitress arrived with a damp cloth.

  “I need to run to the ladies’ room and see if I can get the wine off my blouse before it stains,” Annie said, and hurried away. Inside the restroom she wet a paper towel and pressed it against her forehead. Jeez, what was wrong with her? She was losing it, that’s what. She was making a fool out of herself over a man. She tried to scrub the stain from her blouse, but it was no use.

  She looked up, spied her reflection in the mirror, and saw the pain and disappointment in her eyes. “Boy, you really know how to pick them,” she muttered to her reflection, her mind filled with the image of Wes and the blonde.

  Annie had almost forgotten how bad she could hurt, and she hadn’t even known Wes long. She thought of Nick and Billie Kaharchek. Love at first sight. Annie sighed. That sort of thing only happened to other people.

  She arrived back at the table to find the waitress had cleared the glass from the table and delivered their food. “The stain didn’t come out, huh?” Danny said.

  “I’ll try to treat it with something at home,” Annie said.

  “You’d better eat before the food gets cold.”

  Annie picked up her steak knife and considered falling on it. What did it matter? Her blouse was already ruined. Instead, she grabbed her fork and began the process of eating.

  “How’s your steak?” Danny asked.

  “Great,” she said, giving him an appreciative smile. She suddenly spied the wide-screen TV and saw her own reflection. The local news station was enjoying a real heyday thanks to her problems. Her smile faded.

  Danny followed her gaze. “Oh, hell,” he muttered. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Annie waited until they were in his car to say anything. “It’s okay, Danny,” she said. “I’m getting accustomed to my new-found notoriety. Look on the bright side. I could be discovered and end up on Star Search. And you can tell everybody you knew me when.”

  He shook his head. “Only you could crack jokes at a time like this.”

  “The least you can do is look amused. I’m using my best material.”

  “Do you realize there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you?”

  “Of course I do. You’ve already proven it time after time.”

  “I’m not talking about sanding floors or making household repairs. I’m telling you that there are no limits, no line I wouldn’t cross, to protect you.”

  Annie felt herself frown. “Please tell me you’re not planning on doing anything dumb like Erdle did.”

  “We should get away,” Danny said. “Spend a few days in the mountains. Theenie and Lovelle wouldn’t mind. It would give us time to think. And talk,” he added.

  Annie looked out her side window and wondered when things had changed between them, wondered why she hadn’t seen it coming despite Theenie’s warnings. She had counted on Danny’s friendship for so long, what would become of them now?

  “Annie?”

  She couldn’t look at him. “You know I can’t.”

  He gave a sigh. “I thought things would be different with Charles out of the picture. I kept hoping. But I guess deep down I knew it wasn’t going to happen.” He looked thoughtful. “And now there’s Wes.”

  “I’m sorry.” She finally looked at Danny.

  His face was weighted with disappointment, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he reached for the key and started the car. “What do you say we skip the movie tonight?”

  Annie walked into the kitchen and skidded to a halt when she found Wes sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. And she thought things couldn’t get worse. “What are you doing here?”

  “Last time I checked, I had a room here.”

  “You’re home early. Why are you home early? What time did you get here? And where did you get that newspaper?” She had to pause to catch her breath.

  “I’ve been here a couple of hours, and I found the newspaper in the bushes. Have you been drinking a lot of caffeine? Is that a wine stain on your blouse?”

  “Why are you interrogating me? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  Wes studied her for a moment, a perplexed look on his face. “Could we start over?”

  “I want you out of here, Wes. I’m evicting you as of this moment. I’ll give you all your money back.”

  “I don’t want money. Besides, I like it here.”

  “This is my house, and if I say you’re out, you’re out.” She turned and marched up the stairs.

  Wes just sat there, shaking his head in confusion. Finally, he stood and started up the stairs. He found Annie in his room stuffing his clothes in his backpack.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m throwing you out. I should never have rented to you in the first place. You’d think I would have learned my lesson by now where men are concerned.”

  He shoved his face in hers. “Lady, what is your problem?”

  “I saw you tonight. With the blonde. Really, Wes, isn’t she a little young for you?”

  He looked surprised. “She’s not as young as she looks. Her brother is a plastic surgeon.”

  Annie grabbed his pack and lugged it from the room and down the stairs.

  Wes followed.

  Annie opened the door, dumped the backpack on the piazza, and crossed her arms. “See ya.”

  “Red, we need to talk.” He closed his arms around her waist and locked his fingers together.

  “Take your hands off of me!” she shouted.

  “Not until you calm down and listen to what I have to say.”

  “What is
going on here?” Theenie demanded from the doorway.

  Annie turned and found Theenie and Lovelle standing there, each holding her purse. “Wes was just leaving.”

  Destiny walked through the back door. She paused, glanced at Wes and Annie, and then made her way to the refrigerator. She nodded at Theenie and Lovelle. “Does anybody want a sandwich?”

  “How was the funny farm?” Wes said.

  “It sucked; how do you think it was?”

  Wes looked at Annie. “You weren’t kidding.”

  Annie picked up his backpack, stepped out on the piazza, and raised it high over her head.

  Wes hurried after her and reached for it. “Hey, don’t throw that,” he yelled. “My camera is in there.”

  They struggled.

  The women huddled at the door and watched.

  Erdle staggered up the back steps. “Who’s doing all the yelling?” he asked. His eyes were red-rimmed, his words badly slurred. He took one look at Annie’s face and staggered back. “Uh-oh, she’s at it again.”

  “Let me go!” Annie shouted, trying to wrestle the bag from Wes.

  “Miss Annie, please stop!” Erdle pleaded. “You can’t keep acting like this. You’re only going to end up killing someone else.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  All eyes turned to Erdle. Wes and Annie stopped struggling.

  Annie realized her mouth was hanging. “Erdle, what the hell are you talking about?” she demanded.

  He covered his mouth as though only just realizing what had come out of it. “Uh, I need to lie down.” He stumbled toward the door.

  Annie grabbed his arm. “Oh no, you don’t. Not until you explain what you just said.”

  “I don’t r’member.”

  “Then you’d better search your memory, because I’ll call Lamar and have you thrown into detox if you don’t finish what you started.”

  He looked hurt. “You’d do that?”

  “Damn right. Now, start talking.”

  “I don’t want to cause no trouble,” the man said, glancing at Annie. “I could be wrong, but I thought, um . . .” He glanced down at the floor.

  “What did you think?” Annie said. “That I killed Charles?”

  Erdle shrugged. “I just wondered, that’s all. I mean, I knew the two of you didn’t get along. Far as I’uz concerned, he was a no-’count husband, and I didn’t much care what happened to him. ’Sides, I figured you had a damn good reason. So I kept quiet.” He looked up. “Reckon I was wrong.”

  Annie was clearly stunned.

  Theenie had begun picking her nails.

  “I think he’s had too much to drink,” Wes said to Annie. “Why don’t I help him to bed?”

  “I can make it,” Erdle said. “I’ve had a lot of practice.” He looked at Annie. “Can I go now?”

  She shrugged and turned away.

  He let himself out the back door.

  Theenie was the first to speak. “You can’t take Erdle seriously. He’s a drunk.”

  “Who else in this room thinks I murdered my husband?” Annie asked.

  Theenie gave a snort of disgust. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “It never crossed my mind,” Lovelle said. “I wouldn’t have moved in if I had thought you were responsible for his disappearance.”

  “I know damn well you didn’t do it,” Destiny said.

  Annie looked at Wes. “And you?”

  “Would I be looking for the real murderer if I thought you’d done it? Erdle is just whacked-out on booze.”

  Annie went to the table and sank tiredly onto a chair. “My life sucks. I’ve got a drunk for a handyman, a crazy, senile neighbor, and a spirit in my house stealing everything.”

  “Speaking of which . . .” Destiny carried her sandwich to the table. “I think I’m finally gaining Lacey’s trust. I had a long talk with her when they threw me in the rubber room. She stayed with me most of the time to keep me company.”

  Theenie gasped. “You were in a padded cell?”

  Destiny’s look was deadpan. “The Hyatt was full.”

  “She wasn’t in a padded cell,” Lovelle said. “They only put dangerous nutso cases in those kinds of places.”

  Destiny went on. “I met with a guy from the historic foundation, Mr. Hildenbiddle, this afternoon, and he gave me some interesting information. Also told me about some of your more colorful ancestors,” she said to Annie. “But you already know, because Mr. Hildenbiddle said he’d shared the information with you a long time ago.”

  Annie’s face pinked. “Okay, Destiny, you insist on airing my dirty laundry, so I may as well tell it all. Your spirit, Lacey Keating, was my great-great-grandmother, and madam of the bordello which she named Passion’s Fruit. In her diaries, she claimed she got the idea because at the time there were dozens of peach trees on the property.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us, dear?” Theenie asked.

  “I didn’t particularly want to share that information with anyone, but I suspect a lot of people already know.”

  “People aren’t going to think badly of you because of what your great-great-grandmother did,” Lovelle said. “My brother married a lesbian stripper, and nobody held it against our family.”

  Theenie looked confused. “He married a lesbian stripper? How does that sort of thing work?”

  Lovelle shrugged. “Beats me.”

  Destiny reached into her pocket. “I don’t know if this means anything, but Lacey gave it to me. I have a feeling it’s significant.” Destiny set a single sapphire earring on the table. Tiny diamonds surrounded the blue stone.

  Annie’s eyes widened, and she reached for it.

  “Don’t touch it,” Destiny said. “I’m hoping if I hang on to it a couple of days I might get some vibes. Find out who it belongs to and why Lacey seemed to think it was important.”

  “Don’t bother,” Annie said. “I recognize it. It belongs to Donna Schaefer.”

  Annie and Wes remained at the kitchen table as, one by one, the others drifted off to bed. Although Annie was embarrassed that the entire household had witnessed what Theenie referred to as Annie’s “hissy fit,” she was still hurt over seeing Wes with another woman.

  It was no wonder Erdle had suspected her of killing Charles; she had to do something about her temper.

  But right now she needed to accept the fact that Wes did not feel as strongly about her as she did about him. She had only been a diversion.

  “Annie, I can see the wheels turning in your head,” he said finally. “We need to talk.”

  She shook her head. “It’s late, and I don’t want to discuss our relationship. . . .” She paused. “Correction: what I thought was a relationship. I’m not going to insist that you leave tonight, but I would appreciate it if you would vacate the room as soon as possible. Preferably in the morning.”

  “No.”

  She looked up. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m not going anywhere. Not until your name is cleared.” When she started to object, he held up his hand. “But right now, you’re going to listen to what I have to say.”

  She crossed her arms. “Five minutes.”

  “There is absolutely nothing going on between me and the woman you saw me with tonight.”

  She did an eye roll. “Jeez, where have I heard that before?”

  “Probably from your dearly departed husband, and by the way, I don’t appreciate being compared to him. The blonde, Peggy Aten, is my ex-partner from when I was a cop.”

  Annie gazed back in disbelief. She remembered how nervous she’d been at the thought of him living there, recalled Destiny telling her Wes Bridges was not what he seemed. “You were once a cop and you never mentioned it to me?”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t see the need. I got out a while back because I could tell I was getting burned-out after spending ten years as a homicide detective. I needed a change.”

  “So you became a photographer?” she said, thinking it an odd choice.

  Wes gazed down at
his hands for a long moment, his eyes troubled. He looked at Annie, opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it as though he’d changed his mind. “I’d rather not talk about that right now,” he said. “I need to concentrate on the problems before us. I’m just asking you to trust me. And know that I have your best interests at heart.”

  Annie pondered it. Trust didn’t come easy for her. Not when men were involved. But the concern in Wes’s eyes, as well as the numerous unanswered questions about her husband’s murder, told her it was best not to press him for more information.

  “I wish you had told me about the cop part earlier,” she said. “I would have worried less knowing I had an expert investigating the murder. Instead of someone who made his living taking pictures,” she added.

  He almost smiled. “Peggy was able to get her hands on some valuable information. You might be interested to know that Norman Schaefer never checked into his hotel the night of the murder. The night his wife claimed he was out of town.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “He was supposed to be at a real estate seminar. It wasn’t listed on his expense reports, charge card, or checking account. In other words, he never showed.”

  “How did this Peggy person find out all of that?”

  “She has friends in all the right places. The less you know, the better. If the case was to go to court and Norm was a potential suspect, Nunamaker would naturally ask him to produce proof of his whereabouts the night his wife claimed he was out of town.”

  “What do you think it all means?”

  “It sounds suspicious as hell, if you ask me. But it gets even better. Norm had an oil change the week before your husband came up missing, and they recorded his mileage. A week later he had a small fender bender, and the mileage was included in the report. Had Norm attended a sales meeting in Savannah or Hilton Head, he would have put at least a couple of hundred miles on his car, only the odometer listed less than one hundred miles during that period.”

  “So he never went out of town,” Annie said. “Wonder what he was doing?”

  “Following his wife, maybe? I’m going to pay Lamar Tevis a visit tomorrow. Tell him what I know.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “Maybe, maybe not,” he said.