Downton Tabby

by Sparkle Abbey

  I glanced at the spread on the counter top. Sandwiches, mini-salads, fresh fruit, and arranged with an artistic eye. It looked almost too good to eat. Almost.

  “What is this?” I chided her. “You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.”

  “Oh, pshaw. I know it looks like I’ve prepared a feast, but I haven’t. Bella picked it up for me at Sapphire’s Pantry. I just dished it up so it looks fancy.” Her trademark impish smile flashed my way as she loaded up her hands.

  “Let me get those.” I reached for the plates.

  “You can grab the iced tea.” She nodded toward the pitcher and glasses.

  There was a slight ocean kissed breeze. The large terrace was shaded by the palm trees that bordered the property, so the temperature was ideal for outdoor dining. The landscaping had been configured to continue the old-world feel with more blooms and greenery. An occasional glint of the sun on the vast Pacific peeked between the shrubberies and trees, reminding me of its closeness.

  Diana was dressed in black-and-white-striped crop pants and a white cotton pullover, but somehow she still managed to look classy. Even with her right ankle wrapped in an elastic bandage. My guess was Diane von Furstenberg (the outfit not the bandage), but I wasn’t as accurate as my friend was so I didn’t share my speculation aloud.

  “So.” Diana leaned forward in her chair and took a dainty sip of tea. “What’s the latest on the murder?”

  “Funny you should ask.” I reached for a sandwich. “It seems like new developments at every turn.”

  I filled her in on the conversation I’d just overheard between Heidi and her friend about the fight Jake and Cash had just a few days prior to Jake’s murder.

  “It does sound like she should have reported that to the police.” Diana moved back and propped her injured foot on a small stool Bella had carried out to the terrace.

  “It makes me feel like an idiot for trusting Cash. From the way he sounded on the phone, I truly believed he was in trouble himself.” I took a bite of the sandwich, chicken salad with bits of apple and walnut.

  “Hon, 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, and there are the boxes for the ARL that I mentioned before.” She grinned, her blue eyes dancing. “You’re going to be sorry you offered to help.”

  “Never.” My eyes skimmed her face. I hoped she really was as okay as she claimed.

  “It’s just a few things I’d picked up for the shelter. I’d intended to drop them off last week, but then that’s when I did this.” She pointed at her foot in irritation.

  “Sugar, I know you’re out of patience with it.” I hugged her. “You do what the doctor says, and it will be healed before you know it. A silly old sprain can’t keep a good woman down.”

  “That’s right.” She grinned.

  We walked through the kitchen to her living room and got her settled in an easy chair.

  “I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate your help.” Diana settled her injured ankle on an ottoman. “There’s a basket of cranberry muffins on the counter for you. I tried a new recipe, but it made far too many for Bella and me. Consider it down payment for all of this work I’m causing you.”

  “I’ll check in on you again in a couple of days.” I picked up my bag and kissed her on the cheek. “You make me a list.”

  Bella helped me cart the boxes to my car, her strong brown arms helping me make short work of loading up.

  “How is she really doing?” I asked as we packed the items in my trunk.

  “Very impatient.” She shook her head. “She is supposed to keep her ankle elevate, you know, up, to help with the swelling, but she will not stop long enough to do as the doctor said she must. I am afraid she’s going to make it worse.”

  “How did she do it?” I asked. “She wouldn’t tell me.”

  “Her pride.” Bella smiled, her dark eyes dancing. “And she didn’t want you to worry. She was getting down from her trampoline.” She handed me another box. “No, no. I see what you are thinking. Not that kind.”

  She could app
arently tell from the expression on my face that I was picturing elegant Diana bouncing up and down on a trampoline.

  “It is one of those little ones she jogs on so she does not have to run around the neighborhood.” She pumped her arms like she was jogging.

  “Oh, Bella, that’s no deep dark secret.” I laughed. I was relieved it was something so simple and a little amused that Diana hadn’t wanted me to know. She’d wanted to avoid the “be careful” lecture she knew I’d put her through.

  “Are you sure you can get these?” Bella asked. “I told her I could have picked up the necklace and dropped these things off. But I think more than anything she needed your company.”

  “Really, it’s no problem at all.” I closed the trunk. “And if you need my help, sweetie, you just call me. Between us we’ll strap her to a chair if we have to.”

  “It may come to that,” she laughed and waved as I pulled away.

  Chapter Nine

  WITH THE CONVERTIBLE’S top down I was able to soak in the sunshine and sea air on my way back. I found a classic rock-and-roll station on the car’s radio and turned the music up. The Beach Boys’ sound was ageless, and “Good Vibrations” seemed like the perfect soundtrack to the drive along PCH. Our beautiful Southern California weather always puts me in a good mood, and this time of day there was very little traffic as I turned my car south and enjoyed the glimpses of the blue Pacific and breaking waves.

  I’d called the phone number Bella had given me before I’d left Ruby Point and spoken with Mary Jo, the Laguna Beach Library lady. She said she’d be home if I wanted to come right then. It was on my way to the office so it worked out well for me to swing by en route.

  All the cataloguing and organizing of the items for the exhibit had become quite a time-consuming undertaking, she’d said, that had spilled over into evenings during her time off. I knew exactly how those types of volunteer commitments went, having been caught up in a few myself.

  The library was small, but they had gotten creative in surviving tough times. This exhibit and the related event sounded like fun. They would have the memorabilia up for thirty days along with books, biographies, and exposes about the Golden Years of Hollywood. They had several stars, Diana among them, coming in for talks, and then the whole event would culminate in a gala with some of the memorabilia and signed books being auctioned off. It was a brilliant idea, and I could see why Diana had been asked to participate.

  I found the address easily and pulled up in front of the small white house, parking in the shade. I popped open my trunk and lifted out the boxes Diana had sent. Bella had clearly marked which ones were destined for the library. A quick knock on the door brought Mary Jo, followed by a jaunty little black Scottish Terrier, whom she introduced as Niki. The dog hurried to greet me.

  Scottish Terriers are independent and often stubborn, and Niki was no exception. The dogs can sometimes be hard to train because they were bred to work apart from their owners without direction. They often don’t do the best in obedience trials because they don’t really appreciate direction; they make up their own minds. It takes a strong owner to match a Scottie’s independence, but I sensed Mary Jo was up to it.

  “So how did you decide to become a librarian?” I asked Mary Jo as we stacked the boxes from Diana on her large dining room table.

  “Libraries and books have always been a part of my life from growing up in the Midwest to college, then as a working librarian, and finally a director. Now, my retirement has brought me here.”

  “It seems like you enjoy the work.”

  “I really do love it. It’s a great library, but it’s like a lot of libraries”—she shook her head—“there’s never enough money to meet the needs.”

  “So, this exhibit is also a fundraiser?” I understood being under-funded and trying to fill the gap; I’d worked on several events for the Laguna Beach PUPS group, and believe me we’d come up with some interesting events to bridge our funding gap. The annual Cough Up Some Cash Fur Ball was one of my favorites.

  “That’s right,” Mary Jo answered. “My other passion has been classic Hollywood movies, and amazingly we have had quite a few former leading men and leading ladies who have lived right here in our community.”

  “We have?” I hadn’t known that.

  “Oh, yes. From George Beranger, the silent film star, to Tab Hunter down the road in Dana Point. And there’s Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Edith Head, the costume designer, and of course, your friend, Diana Knight.

  “I don’t know what all Diana sent, but she mentioned a special dress.”

  Mary Jo began opening boxes. “Oh my, look at this.” She pulled out a silver sparkly dress with a full skirt and layers of crinoline. “She wore this in Little Sis.”

  “It’s beautiful.” I admired the vintage styling. “And it appears to be in great shape.”

  “I loved that movie.” Mary Jo held up the dress. “Diana played a female spy in the British Secret Intelligence Service, which you’ve probably more often heard referred to as MI6. The title was sort of a play on words. The character Diana played was able to gain all sorts of very helpful intelligence because no one suspected the glamorous ‘Little Sis.’” She laughed. “Sorry, my head is full of trivia like that.”

  “No problem. I’ll have to see if I can find a copy of the movie. It sounds like fun.”

  “Oh, I think you’ll love it. I’ll loan you my DVD.”

  “I think there’s a book about the making of the movie in here as well.” I opened another box. “It’s a first edition, signed by the author and the costume designer, and Diana said she signed it as well.”

  I pulled the book and a note from Diana from one of the smaller boxes. “It looks like from her note that she intends it to be part of the auction.”

  “Oh, how wonderful!” Mary Jo was clearly excited by the prospect and so was Niki. The little black dog circled and barked as if trying to see what all the excitement was about.

  “Hi, there.” I rubbed the top of his head. The terrier was a handsome guy. “Have you had Niki long?”

  “It’s a long story, but my husband and I got him as the result of a Christmas present gone wrong. He was a gift for a two-year-old.” She shook her head. “A two-year-old who didn’t like his licking and nibbling.”

  “Go figure, huh?” I shared Mary Jo’s view of the questionable decision to get a two-year-old any puppy.

  “My husband, Rod, was really the Niki fan. And when he got sick, Niki helped him get moving and on the road to recovery. They had some great times. Since Rod has been gone, Niki and I have taken care of each other.”

  “Sounds like a Christmas mistake that turned into a wonderful life for Niki.” I smiled at Mary Jo.

  She paused for a moment. “And for me,” she said. “Let’s see what else we’ve got here.”

  She moved back to the boxes from Diana. Clearly a no-nonsense lady.

  I helped her open everything up. She seemed thrilled with Diana’s donations, and I knew Diana would be happy they were a hit.

  “I understand you were the unfortunate person who discovered the young man who drowned.” She gave me a sidelong glance.

  I nodded.

  “I’m sorry. That must have been very difficult for you.”

  “Thank you. Yes, it was terrible.”

  “The two young men, Jake and Cash, donated several computers to the library for public use.” She set the last box aside. “I didn’t know either one of them well, but they seemed very nice. I hope the police get this sorted out.”

  “I do, too,” I replied. “I guess I’d better be going.”

  “Well, thank you so much for dropping the items off. I’ll get this all logged, and once the event is over we’ll send Ms. Knight a receipt for tax purposes.” She walked me to the door.

  “No problem, I was happy to do it. Good luck with your exhibit.” I stepped outside and was walking to my car when Mary Jo called out.

  “Oh, wait. I wanted to loan you that
movie, Little Sis, that Diana is in.” She dashed back inside.

  I turned my head just in time to see a late-model black SUV pull away from the curb. That did it. I was sure this time. I’d call Detective Malone and see if he was having me followed.

  Mary Jo came hurrying out, movie in hand. “Here you go. I think you’ll love the movie and enjoy seeing your friend in it.”

  “Thank you so much.” I was still distracted by the SUV. “I’ll get it back to you as soon as I can.”

  I called Malone, not surprised by getting voice mail this time. I left a message for him to call me back, then turned my car toward home. Not taking my usual route, I glanced periodically in my rearview mirror as I drove. The steady traffic was full of SUVs of all colors, but not a dark-colored one that made the same turns I did. Either being followed was a big honking figment of my imagination or my tail was a real pro.

  Chapter Ten

  ALL DAY IN THE back of my mind, I’d looked forward to beach time that evening with Sam and the dogs. Once home I took a quick shower and changed out of my Stella McCartney and into something better suited for walking along the waves.

  The cats had moved from their daytime spot in the sunshine streaming through the patio doors, to their preferred evening perch on the front windowsill in the living room. I put down fresh food and water, and they came to check it out, Thelma and Louise leading the way and Toria trotting behind.

  After giving each of them a few pets, I grabbed Dogbert’s leash. He paced from me to the door, sensing something special was in store. We didn’t have to wait long for Sam to pick us up. I opened the door, and Dogbert shot out in a mad dash for the car.

  Sam had brought Mac, his handsome Border Collie and the dog of my dreams. If I had a bigger place, I’d ask Mac to move in.

  Dogs settled in the back, we made the short drive to downtown. After circling a few times we found a parking spot. Sam opened the door for me, and I climbed out. The dogs eagerly followed, their noses in the air. They knew where we were and what was in store.