Alibis & Angels

by Olivia Matthews

  The idea of giving up television wasn’t as horrifying as Chris’s decision to give up coffee, but still. “For forty days?”

  Diego’s coffee brown eyes gleamed with humor. “I can catch up on my reading.”

  “But what about the NBA.” They were midway through the National Basketball Association’s season. “Aren’t you going to support your team?” Shari gestured teasingly toward Diego’s mug. She knew he wasn’t a Raptors fan. He only used that mug because he’d lost a bet—or so he claimed.

  Diego drank more coffee. “I can get stats and scores from the Internet.”

  “That’s not the same. And March Madness is around the corner. What were you thinking?” The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s March Madness was an annual televised competition of the best women’s and men’s college basketball teams across the country.

  Diego shrugged his broad shoulders under the snow-white cotton shirt he wore with a gold tie. “That’s what makes the sacrifice meaningful.”

  Shari still didn’t get it, but she was willing to move on. “I just spoke with Sister Lou. She said Heather’s settling into the motherhouse.”

  “Thank you for arranging that.”

  Shari felt Diego’s relief from the other side of his desk. “Thank Sister Lou. I just made a call. She’s the one who arranged it with her congregation.”

  “Then I’d like to call her. What’s her number?” Diego wrote the telephone number that Shari repeated from memory. It was the direct phone line to Sister Lou’s office.

  “The mayor means a lot to you, doesn’t she?” Shari regarded her boss closely.

  “We’ve known each other a long time.” Diego put down his pen and settled back onto his chair.

  “I remember that you knew each other fourteen years ago in El Paso, but were you friends?”

  “Sort of.”

  Shari felt the defensive walls rising around Diego. The personal discussion was making him uncomfortable. She could understand. Diego was her boss, after all. He also was becoming a father figure to her. It was an awkward feeling, but one she was starting to enjoy. “I know you care about her, but are you sure you want to go there? Heather’s pretty prickly.”

  Diego gave her a half smile. “People say the same about you.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m warning you.”

  His smile faded. “I appreciate your concern, Shari.”

  “I just don’t get the attraction.”

  “To prickly women?” Diego chuckled. “Ask Chris.”

  “Whatever.” She hesitated before adding defiantly, “I want you to be happy.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “You’re welcome. And don’t worry. I’ll be your shoulder to cry on if things head south.” Shari pushed herself from her chair. She turned toward Diego’s office door. “Sister Lou’s amateur sleuth team’s meeting with Heather tonight.”

  “I’d like to join you.”

  Shari turned back to Diego. “You really do care about her. I’ll have to check with Sister Lou. She’s the one running the show. And we’re meeting in her apartment, which is pretty small.”

  “I appreciate your checking with her.”

  “Sure.” Shari paused in the doorway. “Sister Lou serves weird tea and homemade cookies during the meetings. The tea’s growing on me and the cookies are delicious. We should serve snacks during our editorial meetings.”

  Diego looked dubious. “I’ll take that under advisement.”

  “You should. It would make the meetings much more pleasant. Do you know what would make them even better, though?”

  “What?”

  “If Hal didn’t attend.” Shari left her editor’s office, allowing Diego to digest her parting salvo in private.

  Chapter 10

  “I started reading the booklet you gave me on Lent.” Later that afternoon, Shari followed Sister Lou and the scent of cream of mushroom soup to one of the few available tables in the Briar Coast Café.

  The two were meeting for lunch on Ash Wednesday. Chris wasn’t able to join them. In his role as vice president for college advancement, he was meeting with donors of the College of St. Hermione of Ephesus. Shari was a little disappointed. Finally, she had a date for Valentine’s Day—and the occasion was being hijacked by college donors and Ash Wednesday.

  The happy chatter and bursts of laughter surrounding her in the cozy café reminded Shari that she was still better off this Valentine’s Day than she had been in the past. She wasn’t spending this one alone. Instead she was having a relaxing and nutritious lunch with a caring friend. That was part of being normal, wasn’t it?

  Sister Lou took the seat on the far side of the table for two, leaving the closer chair for Shari. Sister Lou kept her coat on, apparently in deference to the chilled breeze seeping through the window beside them. Shari folded her emerald coat over the back of the honey wood chair.

  Once she was settled at the table, Sister Lou bowed her head, making the sign of the cross and saying grace over their lunch. Shari echoed the “Amen” before lifting her head and dousing her colorful garden side salad with honey mustard dressing.

  “The information in the booklet is very detailed and will help you to better understand and appreciate the Lenten season.” Sister Lou spread the white paper napkin over her lap.

  “I want to understand what you and Chris are experiencing and what you hope to gain from Lent.”

  Sister Lou looked up at Shari. “Do you have any questions about what you’ve read so far?”

  “I have a lot.” Shari lifted her fork in preparation for digging into her salad. “Like what’s the big deal with penance? Why is there such an emphasis on that?”

  Sister Lou swallowed a mouthful of lettuce and other vegetables from her salad. “Penance is the opportunity to recognize that we’ve sinned, how we’ve sinned, and to make amends for the wrongs that we’ve committed. The acts of penance help us to restore our harmony with God and to have a conversion of the heart.”

  “That’s a big deal in the booklet.” Shari started on her salad. The sweet honey mustard dressing made the raw vegetables more palatable.

  Sister Lou took a drink of her ice water. “It’s a big deal in real life, too. Acts of contrition encourage us to turn away from the darkness and what is wrong, and to turn toward the light and what is right. A true conversion allows us to focus on Jesus Christ, on goodness, on beauty, and on the truth. That’s the purpose of penance and why it’s encouraged, especially during Lent.”

  Shari was in awe of the message Sister Lou had shared with her. If Shari’s fourth foster mother—the religious zealot—had taken the time to explain her faith beliefs, how different would Shari’s life have been? If any of her foster parents had taken the time to see her and to care for her the way Sister Lou had in just the last six months, what impact would that have had on her life?

  Shari drank deeply from her glass of water. The cold, refreshing drink eased her dry throat. “Some of my questions are about things I’ve wondered off and on over the years.”

  “What are they?” Sister Lou gathered some more of her salad with her fork.

  “I’ve heard that most of Jesus’s followers thought He was going to lead them in a revolution against Rome.” Shari had a vague memory of a minister making that claim during a particularly impassioned speech. “Why didn’t He?”

  “Jesus was here for a bigger purpose. The revolution He led was the fight for our minds, our hearts, and our souls. He preached peace, love, and unity. That was a much more important and lasting message to share. And it also was very revolutionary. It still is today.”

  Shari wasn’t certain she bought into that. Perhaps in time, she’d change her mind. But based on what she knew about history and the very little she’d read in the Bible, Jerusalem had needed a more traditional revolution to bring about change.

  As she ate her salad, Shari’s gaze roamed the café. Perhaps a handful of diners had ashes drawn in the shape of a cross on their
foreheads. Was it that there weren’t that many Catholics in Briar Coast or that there weren’t that many observant Catholics?

  Shari turned again to Sister Lou. “You’ve explained the importance of Ash Wednesday, but what about Good Friday?”

  “What about it?” Sister Lou finished her salad and brought her vegetable soup to the center of her black plastic tray.

  “What’s good about the day Jesus Christ was crucified and died?”

  Sister Lou offered another smile. “What’s good is that He didn’t stay dead. He rose again on the third day in fulfillment of His promise to defeat death.”

  The lightbulb came on in Shari’s mind. “That’s why I always see those ‘He is risen’ posters during Easter.”

  “That’s right. His victory over death is the most important aspect of Easter and the reason we celebrate the season.” Sister Lou ate a spoonful of the fragrant vegetable soup.

  Shari started on her cream of mushroom soup. She usually chose one of the chicken soups, but in support of Sister Lou’s Lenten observance, she chose one of the vegetable soups to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday. It just so happened that today, the café offered a large variety of vegetable soups and meatless dishes. The owners must realize that at least some of their patrons were fasting.

  Shari swallowed a spoonful of the cream of mushroom soup. Her taste buds enjoyed the rich flavors of butter, onions, garlic, and nutmeg. She didn’t feel as though she was denying herself anything. “The sacrament of reconciliation involves you actually making your confession to a priest in an actual confessional.”

  “That’s right.” Sister Lou looked up from her soup. “It’s another feature of the Lenten season that’s encouraged although not required.”

  “Is there a statute of limitations on reconciliation?”

  Sister Lou looked amused. “Not at all.”

  “If I decided to confess, I’ve got a lot to repent.”

  Sister Lou seemed to hesitate. “May I ask the nature of some of these sins?”

  Shari didn’t detect judgment in Sister Lou’s eyes or expression, just simple curiosity—and caring. Always caring. She dropped her gaze to track the wafts of steam drifting from her bowl of soup. She lowered her voice. “I’ve stolen things. School supplies. Food. I’ve broken into buildings to find a place to sleep. I’m not ashamed of what I’ve done, but I’m sorry that I couldn’t figure out a different way to handle it. A better way.”

  Sister Lou reached across the table. She cupped her hand over the back of Shari’s where it lay on her lunch tray. “You’ve survived difficult circumstances that many people simply can’t relate to, but at the same time too many people have experienced. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You didn’t hurt anyone. You did what you needed to do at the time to survive.”

  As true as Sister Lou’s words were, they didn’t make the memories any easier to live with. “Speaking of warm, safe places to sleep, thanks for taking in Mayor Stanley.”

  “Of course.” Sister Lou gave Shari’s hand a final squeeze before accepting her abrupt change of topic. “I’m glad that you and Chris are willing to help with this investigation as well. I couldn’t do it without both of you.”

  “We just follow your lead, Sister Lou.” Shari shook off the old memories and made the effort to lighten her tone. “Speaking of the investigation, my editor would like to come to the meeting tonight. I told him I needed to get your permission first since you’re leading the team.”

  “His joining us would probably be a good idea.” A thoughtful expression came over Sister Lou’s serene features. The look in her eyes reminded Shari that this quiet, understated woman had earned a doctorate in philosophy and was reelected to an organization’s leadership team. “You told me that Heather and Diego knew each other in El Paso. It’s possible that he has some insights into the mayor based on their shared past.”

  “‘Heather’?” Shari gave her friend a teasing look. “So that’s how you roll? You’re on a first-name basis with the mayor now?”

  Sister Lou blinked. “She asked me to call her that.”

  Shari chuckled. “I’m teasing you. I’ll let Diego know he can join us.”

  Sister Lou gave her a playful smile. “Who knows, by the end of this investigation, you could be on a first-name basis with the mayor, too.”

  Shari succumbed to another wave of amusement. “I doubt that. I don’t think the mayor likes me.”

  Sister Lou seemed puzzled. “That’s strange. The two of you share quite a few similarities.”

  “That comment was uncalled for, Sister Lou.” Shari feigned offense although she’d noticed a few similarities herself. For example, neither woman could step away from a challenge, which was the reason they often butted heads. It also was the reason Shari understood Heather’s need to hunt down this harasser herself.

  The threads of their teasing faded and a comfortable silence settled over Shari and Sister Lou. Shari’s attention drifted to the view outside their window. Pedestrians huddled deeper into their winter coats as they rushed between shops or from stores to their cars. A cynical smile tugged at her lips. These New Yorkers were so soft. They wouldn’t last a week in a Chicago winter.

  Sister Lou leaned into their table, drawing Shari’s attention. She lowered her voice. “Shari, is it possible that Diego could be involved with these threats?”

  Shari burst out laughing again, then she realized Sister Lou was serious. “No, Sister Lou. That’s not possible. Diego really cares about the mayor. A lot.”

  Sister Lou sat back on her chair, but her look of concern didn’t ease. “Still, if I remember what you said correctly, the two have a somewhat troubled past. We should look into it just to be sure.”

  Shari was still dubious, but perhaps Sister Lou had a point. “You’re right. We shouldn’t make assumptions or take anything for granted. The mayor’s life is at stake. I’ll speak with Diego.”

  She bit back another sigh. That was not going to be an easy conversation.

  * * *

  They were outnumbered.

  Shari’s gaze surreptitiously swept the small sitting area in Sister Lou’s apartment at the motherhouse. The room was comfortably warm and fragrant with the scent of apples and cinnamon from the bowl of potpourri on the corner table beside Sister Lou’s armchair.

  The group had gathered after a meatless Ash Wednesday dinner. As usual, Sister Lou sat on the overstuffed sky blue armchair on the far side of the room. Shari and Chris shared the matching love seat to Sister Lou’s left. Chris was so close to her, Shari could feel his body heat at her back. This wasn’t the way she’d imagined a Valentine’s Day date would play out. But she could admit, at least to herself, that the reality of it was even better.

  Heather and Diego sat stiffly on the matching sofa to Sister Lou’s right. Shari noted that she and the mayor were the only ones in the group who didn’t have ashes on their foreheads. The other three—all devout Catholics—had worn their ashes all day. Not for the first time, Shari found herself in the minority. Well, at least she wasn’t alone. She sent a grateful glance toward Heather.

  The mayor didn’t notice. Apparently, Heather had made a few observations of her own. “Why is the media here?”

  Shari didn’t like Heather’s condescending tone. “To help with the investigation, of course.”

  Heather gave a long, silent considering look first to Shari seated on the other side of the small walnut wood coffee table and then Diego seated an arm’s length from her. Her observations—whatever they were—didn’t appear to reassure her. “I don’t want either of you at this meeting.”

  Sister Lou’s smile didn’t warm her onyx eyes the way it usually did. “Shari is a valuable and critical member of my team. Diego is here at our request. We value his insights.”

  Shari warmed at the praise Sister Lou heaped on her. She masked a giddy smile behind her gold teacup, part of the set Sister Lou used to serve the tea and cookies for their meeting. Shari took a sip of the chai tea. Sh
e’d finally acquired a taste for the spicy brew. Its cinnamon scent wafted up from the mug. Hopefully, the snacks would impress Diego enough to spring for tea and cookies for their editorial meetings.

  “Their only interest is in covering this event for the Telegraph.” Heather’s scowl deepened. “This isn’t a news story. This is my life.”

  Behind her, Chris stiffened before facing Heather. “Shari has already proven on more than one occasion that she covers these news stories with great sensitivity.”

  Shari’s cheeks heated with a blush. Now Chris was adding his praise, albeit in a voice tight with anger. Shari was overwhelmed. She could defend herself, of course. She was used to doing that. But this novel experience of having other people validate her work was nice.

  Heather crossed her arms over her emerald green suit jacket. “I don’t care if her articles come with a dozen roses, I don’t want the press here.”

  Sister Lou spread her arms. “I’m afraid that’s not your call, Heather. I can’t perform an investigation without Shari’s assistance. And I believe we would all benefit from Diego’s input.”

  “Thank you, Sister Lou.” Diego’s expression of surprise was almost hilarious.

  Shari turned to Heather before she gave in to the smile teasing the corners of her mouth. “I’ll need this information to write the newspaper article later, but the article isn’t our first priority. Your safety is.”

  Diego faced Heather. “No one in this room wants to hurt you. The reason we’re here is to help you. However, you seem determined to hurt yourself.”

  Heather directed her temper toward Diego. “What does that mean?”

  Diego gestured toward the mayor. “You helped yourself to Sister Lou’s tea and cookies, then with almost the first statement out of your mouth reject two of the people who have volunteered to help save you. Do you want this investigation to fail?”

  “Of course not.” Heather lowered her glare to the vibrant scarlet and gold area rug beneath the coffee table. “Fine, I understand that Shari and Diego are critical to this investigation, but I need assurances that neither of you will write a word about these threats until after this criminal is caught.”