by Becca Bloom
That seemed pretty consistent with my impression of Alex. “That leaves Antonio and Diana,” I looked up at him from my list.
“There’s no way those two could have studied enough to get the scores they did. No way.”
My head swam with motives. It was time to go back to the restaurant to hash over what we’d learned.
Thanking Luis, we stepped over Cody. He panted and grumbled at Lady, who poked him with her nose.
Luis laughed. “Looks like your dog has worn Cody out.” He reached down and ruffled Cody’s long ears. “She reminded you how much you dislike pups, didn’t she, old boy?”
The station manager rambled over.
Luis introduced him as Jorge. “Jorge used to work in construction, but his bones couldn’t take the hard labor anymore, so he’s been helping me out here for the past ten years.” He pointed to the arrows directing traffic through the station. “He makes sure the paint doesn’t fade and keeps the place spotless … well, everything except my office.”
We shook his callous-covered hand, and I tried to understand when Abuelita spoke to Jorge in Spanish, but they spoke too quickly. I needed to return to my Spanish classes. Between my art classes with Miss Patty (Baños’ resident hippie artist), filling doughnut orders, and my new pastime investigating murders, my Spanish studies had suffered and I had missed a few classes.
“Luis no kill Sophia, but he dangerous,” Abuelita said on the way back to the restaurant.
She had a point there. If Luis sought to revenge the life he’d lost with Sophia, we’d have to be careful with him in case he made things worse for himself by taking justice into his own hands. “I don’t think he killed her either, but I’m going to be careful what I share with him. I don’t want him to do something he’ll later regret.” I could imagine him doing like Edmond when he found out Fernand had set him up so he could marry Mercedes in The Count of Monte Cristo. It made for a heartbreaking tragedy, and one I didn’t care to see reenacted in real life. Some stories were best left in the world of fiction.
I opened the restaurant’s wooden-framed glass door for Abuelita and waited for her to pass. She stopped in the doorway. Something was wrong.
Looking past her, my eyes scanned through the dining area to see the tables bunched together, leaving more space near the counter separating the reception area from the diners. “It looks different in here.”
Abuelita groaned. “Rosa’s shipment.”
Chapter 13
“Why can’t they just put everything into Tia Rosa’s house for storage?” I asked Adi, as I rested my head against the back of her couch, my neck too tired even to lift it. Lady curled up at my feet, and it was all I could do to move my hand to scratch her head. I was going to be sore tomorrow.
Adi hadn’t moved from the spot she’d collapsed into either. “Have you seen Tia Rosa’s house?” she asked.
“I haven’t been inside, no.” Tia Rosa’s house sat next door to Abuelita’s and, at least from the outside, reflected a stark contrast to Abuelita’s orderly garden with its trimmed hedges and perfectly manicured rose bushes. Tia Rosa’s garden looked as if it was on a mission to take over her house with fuchsia bougainvillea vines crawling up the sides of the walls and colorful plants bursting out of their pots on every available surface. “Now that I think about it, I haven’t even seen her house through the jungle she has growing around it.”
Adi chuckled. “Then you can imagine what the inside looks like. Mom and I like to call it ‘organized clutter’ because it’s amazing how much she’s managed to fit into her house without it looking junkie.”
Okay, that made sense. “But what about Abuelita’s house? Couldn’t she store some things in her house so the restaurant won’t be so cramped?”
Abuelita’s house was as sparse as Tia Rosa’s was claimed to be crowded.
“We could, but then it would be much harder to move everything back to Tia Rosa’s building when we can finally get in. I don’t know about you, but my arms feel like they’re going to fall off, and I don’t much relish the thought of carrying heavy, glass display cases the width of town from Abuelita’s house to Tia Rosa’s shop.”
“The width of town” she referred to was about five blocks, but it may as well have been five miles.
“At least your apartment was spared,” I said.
“Thanks to the narrow, wooden stairs and Jake’s floor-level apartment. Poor guy. His place is small enough. He’ll have to stay with Mom and Abuelita when he gets back. I had a hard enough time closing his front door with all the stuff we packed in there.”
I had been curious about Jake’s apartment, but Sylvia and Adi had already moved enough stuff in there to make room for Tia Rosa’s shipment, I couldn’t see much by the time Abuelita and I had returned to help.
I tried to raise my hand to move a strand of hair tickling my nose, but ended up having to puff it away when my rubber arms refused to move. Lady propped her head on my leg and looked at me with her dark puppy eyes brimming with pity.
Nobody said as much, but the pressure to find Sophia’s murderer became increasingly more urgent. Sylvia could lose business and Jake was crowded out of his own home until we could get the keys to Tia Rosa’s shop. And Adi was suspiciously quiet about her plans.
“I want to go by the bakery in the morning. The hotel gets their bread there, and Martha and Fernanda offered to find out when the hotel expects the other guests for the gala to arrive.” I wished I could do like Hercule Poirot and gather all the suspects into the same room. The mustached detective made it all look so easy.
“I’ll go with you. Tia Rosa needs to be nearby to sign for her shipment, Mom will call us when it’s time to help unload everything, and Abuelita won’t miss out on an opportunity to boss everyone around.”
I smiled at that, grateful that Abuelita had decided early on that I was a friend, not a foe. But as quickly as my smile had appeared, it faded at the thought of having to move more stuff — heavy stuff! — tomorrow.
Adi winced as she sat up and faced me. “I’m going to break into the studio tonight.”
“I knew you were up to something!”
“Will you be my lookout? I’ll have to climb from my front window to the terrace next door. I left everything locked, so I’ll have to break the glass to get in. I’ll need your eyes to make sure as few people as possible see me.”
“That sounds dangerous, Adi. Are you sure?” While I applauded my friend’s determination, I didn’t want her to get hurt.
Adi’s forehead bunched up. “It’s no more dangerous than Jake climbing Chimborazo. It’s only one floor up. Even if I fall, the worst that can happen is that I’ll sprain something.”
“That’s reassuring,” I said sarcastically.
“When was the last time you threw caution to the wind and did something crazy? I mean, other than chasing after murderers…” she said, lightening her tone.
“Oh yeah, my dream has always been to become a crime-solving private eye, living a life of adventure in a third world country with her trusty (and more daring) friends.”
Adi shrugged her shoulders. “Sounds worthwhile … and fun.”
She didn’t understand. It was only okay because it was temporary. It was only a matter of time before Jessamyn called with some dramatic emergency I’d have to help her sort through. Jessenia had been hinting in her emails that starting up her online shop while supporting her husband with his growing construction business while trying to be Supermom to Jayden and preparing the nursery for the newest addition to their family was much more difficult than she had anticipated. When she burned out, I’d need to be there to help her hold it together again. And then, there was Dad. It was just a matter of time before his depression overwhelmed him.
I felt Adi’s eyes on me, waiting for an answer. “My family needs me,” I said.
“My family needs me too, but they’d never stand in my way if they thought I could be happy — even Abuelita. I can’t imagine your family would p
revent you from living your life just to make theirs easier.”
“My family’s different,” I said, rebelling at the thought Adi had planted in my head. She made them sound so selfish and they weren’t at all. It was my role to pick up the pieces, and I was good at it. It had always been that way.
She raised her eyebrows, expressing her doubt better than words could. If I hadn’t been such a new friend, I might have explained things to her so she could understand. But I wasn’t the sort of person to burden others with my problems when I could carry them on my own while easing theirs.
“Hmm,” she said, tapping her finger against her chin. “You like to help others. I can see that. You’ve done the same here. I bet you don’t complain at all when others start relying on you more than they should.”
“Why would I? You make wanting to be helpful sound bad.” I was no whiner. But I wasn’t a pushover either. Well, not too much. Okay, maybe a little bit.
Her face lit up like all the pieces in a puzzle finally clicked together and she saw the picture. “You’re an enabler!”
I opened my mouth to deny it, but a forceful knock on the door made us both jump off the couch. Even Lady jolted up.
“Open or they see me, Adi!” shouted Abuelita’s muffled voice through the door.
Sore muscles forgotten, we ran to the door and flung it open to see a wall of stuffed, black garbage bags. When they squished through the frame and tumbled to the floor to reveal Abuelita dressed like a ninja in all black, Adi asked, “Abuelita, what did you do?”
I opened one of the bags and pulled out a bolt of ivory satin.
“I help you. Machines too heavy for me, but I get the materials for the dresses.”
Adi’s jaw dropped. “How?”
Abuelita winked. “No ask, no have to lie. You come my house and you use my machine. You finish dress and save you business, yes?”
Adi bent down to squeeze her grandma enthusiastically, and I would never embarrass Abuelita by telling her that I saw her close her eyes and smile until Adi stepped away. “Wait, you have a sewing machine? I’ve never seen one in your house,” Adi asked.
“Is in the spare room. You promise no touch the guns, I let you sew inside the room. Is old machine, like drive car.”
“A pedal machine?” Adi exclaimed, looking more excited than dismayed. “I’ve always wanted to try one. It’ll take a bit of time to learn how to use it without snagging the delicate fabric, but I can tell my client that her 50’s-inspired gown was made with a vintage machine. This is so cool! Thank you so much, Abuelita! You’re the best!”
“And you no do nothing stupid,” Abuelita shrugged, looking uncomfortable with her granddaughter’s praise.
“What? Like what you did?” Adi countered.
“It keep me feel young. Is good for the heart.” To me, she said, “I see you tomorrow. Adi need work. I go with you.” With that, Abuelita turned and disappeared down the stairs.
Chapter 14
My muscles protested the next morning when my alarm blared. Holding my breath as I turned to slap at my phone to turn off the evil sound, I looked out my bedroom door when I heard a jingle. It was Lady. She held her leash in her mouth and looked between me and the front door expectantly.
“Not a bad idea,” I told her. “Maybe a walk will loosen things up so I can function today.”
After a ridiculous amount of time spent trying to get my t-shirt down and my jeans up, I hobbled down the stairs with Lady and out the metal door leading to the street.
“We’re going to take it slow today, Lady, okay?” I said, recalling the one time I’d accompanied Jessamyn to a spin class. I’d sworn never to set foot in a gym ever again after that.
The sun, already high in the cloudless azure sky, warmed the damp streets, sending a humid midst rising around us. The morning breeze, cooled by the mountains surrounding us, rustled my loose hair as it swirled by, carrying with it the mouth-watering smells of fresh baked bread and citrus fruit spiced with cinnamon and sugarcane fresh from the stalk.
“Hey, Jessica,” called a droll voice, too cool to shout where others might hear her.
By the time I turned around, my smile was wide to greet Fernanda. She wore a black tank top over a neon green one matching her nails and the stripes in her ebony hair.
“Hi, Fernanda, what’re you up to?” I asked.
“I’m on my way to the bakery to help my mom. I was kinda hoping I’d see you. Last night, the hotel placed their order, and I overheard my mom ask who’s recently arrived and who they expect today.”
“Fantastic! Thank you so much for your help.”
“I love this kind of stuff. Baños was boring before you showed up.”
I kept hearing that. I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not. “Thanks, I guess.”
“Miss Matty checked in at the hotel late last night. She came a day early to rest and relax before the student-faculty dinner tomorrow,” Fernanda said in her low monotone.
“About that,” I asked, “Why is Miss Matty staying at the hotel when she could stay in a house? She is moving here, after all.”
“I asked about that. Word in the hotel kitchen is that Miss Matty signed a lease on a house that won’t be available until the end of this month. She’s just here for the event, then she’ll return to her home in Quito to start packing for her move here. But that’s not the most interesting news.” Fernanda paused, clearly wanting to be prompted before divulging any more information.
Lady nudged her leg, then sat on Fernanda’s feet as if to say, “You’re not leaving until you tell us what you found out.”
“Good girl,” I smiled, patting her on the head.
Fernanda asked, her face deadpan, “Who? Her or me?”
I rolled my eyes at her. “Both, if you must ask.”
She cracked a rare smile. “What I have to tell you is worth a dozen doughnuts.”
“Information for pastries?”
Fernanda folded her arms and stared me down. “I don’t joke about doughnuts. It’s a fair trade.”
Shaking my head and sighing, “You’re as bad as Abuelita. Of course I’ll give you a dozen, but can it wait until Friday?”
“Are you making them for the faculty dinner?” she asked.
“Yeah, and for the gala. Tia Rosa arranged it.”
“Smart,” Fernanda nodded. “Okay, I can wait if you’ll make all mine strawberry.”
Just like Tia Rosa. “With sprinkles?” I asked.
“And cream,” she negotiated, then added, “If it’s no trouble, that is.”
“No problem,” I said, making a mental note to clean out the grocery store’s supply of powdered sugar. “Now, what did you hear?”
Looking around conspiratorially and dropping her voice, Fernanda said, “Do you know who Antonio Manjarrez is?”
“He was Sophia’s boyfriend through school. The soccer star.”
She shrugged. “Boyfriend, yes. Soccer star … not so much. He played on the university’s team, but he never made it big. He’s some hot shot at a bank now.”
“Okay,” I said, not understanding where Fernanda was going yet.
“And have you heard the name ‘Diana Delgado’ yet?” she asked.
I hadn’t heard much about her, but I remembered her name. “She was Sophia’s best friend.”
“That’s right,” Fernanda said, adding, “And guess who started dating as soon as they left for university and got married?”
My heart beat faster. Well, that changed things. “The boyfriend and the best friend got married?” I muttered under my breath, my mind whirling a mile a minute. “You’re sure they started dating right away?” I asked.
“That’s what I heard,” she nodded. “Bad timing, huh?”
“No kidding.” Could it all boil down to jealousy? I hated to suspect Antonio or Diana of anything untoward before I’d even met them, but they sounded like the ideal suspects. “Maybe they found comfort in each other,” I justified aloud.
Fernanda snorted. “Or they got rid of her so they could get together. It’s very Count of Monte Cristo, isn’t it? The question is: Did they work together or has one of them kept this horrible secret from their spouse all these years?”
My whole body felt fidgety. “I need to talk to them. Are they at the hotel yet?”
“Not until this afternoon. I wish I could go with you, but I have to help my mom.”
I saw a movement over Fernanda’s shoulder down the street, and my skin crawled involuntarily.
Fernanda looked behind her, then back at me questioningly.
“I think someone’s watching us,” I whispered, tugging on Fernanda’s elbow for her to follow me around the corner.
Turning to the side, I dove behind a display of leather purses and alpaca figurines hanging outside a shop door, Fernanda following close behind me and Lady barging past both of us.
Peeking between a messenger bag and a lady’s handbag, I gritted my teeth when I saw The Suits round the corner, their eyes shifting as they argued between themselves.
“Who are those people?” Fernanda whispered.
“A problem.”
We hung out for a several minutes until the couple disappeared. Fortunately, they didn’t walk down our side of the street where the owner of the leather store, who turned out to be one of Lady’s adoring fans, fitted her for a brand-new collar — complete with spiked studs and eye-catching crystals pasted to the hot pink dyed leather. It was a one-of-a-kind mixture of “don’t mess with me” tough and girly bling, and Lady knew it looked good on her. She pranced down the street all the way back to the restaurant.
Fernanda joined me so she could share her discovery with Sylvia and Tia Rosa while I headed to the hotel with Abuelita in search of Miss Matty.
I left Lady in the backyard, not wanting to risk seeing The Suits with her again. No, they were worse than The Suits now. They were Creepy Suits, and so far I’d kept them away, but they were proving to be irritatingly persistent.
As it turned out, it was for the best I didn’t take Lady with us. Abuelita elbowed my side as we set out down the street to the hotel. “The bad people there.”