Could this get any more ridiculous?
“Well, stop by my place for a drink, if you have time. I’m just around the corner from Ricky. My house is a work in progress, but would love to give you a tour.”
I opened my mouth to make excuses, but Alice beat me to it. “It’s a date, Charlie. I love restoration projects!”
“I mean it, anytime. If the truck’s in the driveway, I’m there.” With one more look in my direction, he turned and headed off. As I braced myself for the onslaught sure to follow, I scanned the crowd hoping for a diversion.
“Whoa,” Alice said. “He’s a hottie, Rick!”
I groaned. “Oh, Lord, here goes. What happened to our girls’ weekend?”
Lolly raised her now empty glass. “We’re talkin’ special circumstances here, girl. We will definitely be visiting Dr. Dreamy tomorrow.”
Katie nodded. “Top priority!” As I cringed, waiting for more, Katie’s attention turned from me to the crowd. “Hey, gals, I see someone I know!”
Chapter 34
Katie stood up, leaving her empty glass and us to forge into the crowd.
“Where the hell is she going?” Lolly said.
As we watched, she descended upon a couple who looked to be in their forties, the woman’s dark-hair pulled back in an extreme ponytail. She was skinny as a swizzle stick, overdressed for a clambake in pencil skirt, linen blouse and six inch heels. Her companion wore a sport coat, no tie, khakis and boat shoes, his longish, sandy hair tousled by the breeze.
Katie flung herself first at the woman, then her escort, giving each a bear hug.
Alice asked, “Do you know them, Rick?”
“Nope.”
“Well, I need another drink,” Lolly said. “Let’s stop by the bar, then go over and meet Mr. and Ms. Stick-up-their asses.”
Alice jabbed her as we rose. “You’re bad, Pruit.”
Drinks in hand, including another gin and tonic for Katie, we sashayed over to Katie and her best friends. As we neared them, she turned, “Oh, great, come here, girls. I’d want you to meet dear friends of mine, Muffy and Flip Richardson.”
Who names someone Flip? I thought, saying hello to the beautiful couple who looked ready to bolt at the first opportunity.
“Muffy and Flip live in our neighborhood,” Katie said. “We’ve known them for years.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, but we’ve lost touch with all the traveling Bob and I have been doing. We’re rarely in Connecticut anymore so didn’t know about their summer home here.”
“So you live nearby then?” I said.
“We’re in the Annex. Built our home two years ago. We love it.” she said. “And, you?”
I laughed. “I live far, far away in a different universe.”
“But Katie said your family is here?”
“Father and stepmother, our hosts tonight.”
“Oh, we love Rita and Ral,” she said. Her husband continued to stand mute and in a fog, occasionally doing the now-familiar crowd scan for people as important as he imagined himself to be. Ral, indeed. I could not imagine my father ever answering to that!
“Yeah, they’re great people,” I said through gritted teeth. “Do you spend much time here?”
“Most of the summer,” he said, suddenly awaking from his stupor. “I work from home.”
“Flip’s a venture capitalist,” Katie said, looking as proud as if she’d birthed him.
Of course he is, I thought. The profession was almost d’rigor for residents of the Bluffs. “How nice,” I said as we were all saved by the bell.
From somewhere on the opposite side of the lawn near the tent, a gong sounded. We turned and I spied Ruth Channing as she stepped up onto a small raised platform to the left of the tent’s entrance. “Welcome everyone,” she said, speaking into a handheld mike. “Thank you so much for coming! Each year this event surpasses our expectations and this year is no exception. Before we find our seats and enjoy this amazing bounty, let’s all raise our glasses in thanks to our hosts, Ralston and Rita Steele. Their incredible generosity has made tonight possible. Thank you, thank you, Ralston and Rita.” After the applause died down, Ruth said, “Without further ado, please check the tables beside me for you place cards with table seating. Each table has brochures listing all our wonderful benefactors as well as a complete list of auction items. Now, one and all, please enjoy the first course of chowder and fritters!”
As we made our way in, I heard someone call, “Fiona!” and turned in time to spy a short, stocky guy in his late sixties, early seventies, waving to a thirty-something babe, medium height, long, voluminous raven hair and violet eyes. A young Liz Taylor came to mind, until one took in her attire—billowy, floral clown pants, rose colored kimono top and clunky beaded necklace that appeared to have come from Carmen Miranda’s personal collection. She was heavily made up, enormous synthetic breasts visible beneath her diaphanous top. Her suitor was what I call oily, his dyed black hair slicked back with gobs of Brillcream. His pants shone, his shirt was unbuttoned revealing several gold chains on a hairy chest.
“Coming Oskie!” she called as she sashayed in his direction, waving their placecards.
I had no doubt I was looking at Oscar Winters and his homewrecker paramour, Fiona Veruga. “Find our seats and I’ll be right with you,” I said to my companions, sprinting forward to catch up with the elusive couple.
“Hello,” I said, flashing them my best smile. “How fortuitous. I’ve been trying to reach you both for days!”
He glared as she regarded me, eyes wary. No doubt she recognized my voice from her phone machine? “This is neither the time or place.” She took hold of his arm. “Come on, Oskie.”
He shrugged her off. “Do I know you?”
“No, but we have mutual acquaintances. The late Jimmy Chen? Then, there were your goons who attempted to bury me alive.”
In vain she attempted to propel him forward. “Come on, Oscar, our table is waiting.”
“Mr. Winters, if I could just have a few minutes of your time. I have no wish to disturb your various business activities.” Liar liar, pants on fire. I wanted to annihilate them all! “I’m looking for two children. Lin and Joy?”
“Ms. Steele, I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Now, step aside, our friends are waiting.”
“Oh, my—I thought you didn’t know me.”
“Excuse me?”
“I didn’t introduce myself, yet you just used my name.”
He leaned close to me, his voice a low growl. “Go to hell.”
“You first.”
“Back off, cunt,” he hissed, or the next time you won’t be so lucky.”
“Is that a threat?”
“You bet your sweet ass it is. Now fuck off.” He pushed past Fiona and trundled off.
I touched her arm lightly. “Please Ms. Veruga, five minutes of your time?”
“He’s right, honey. You should back off. These guys don’t fool around.”
“So you know about Jimmy Chen’s murder?”
“Are you serious?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“I handle their marketing, period. Meridian imports all kinds of designer labels.”
“What about the kids?”
“What kids?”
“Some of them are as young as four or five. How do you sleep at night, Ms. Veruga?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Winters is waiting.”
I stepped aside and watched as she made her way toward her table. As she sat, I scanned her table mates, wondering who they were. Beside Winters sat a tall, patrician looking guy, sandy hair, slender. He appeared to be roughly the same age, but somehow the two men didn’t fit.
I jumped as I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Chapter 35
“Good evening, my dear.”
I turned to find Ruth Channing behind me. “Hey, Ruth, nice party.”
“Just headed there.”
“Aren’t getting into trouble, are you?”
“Who, me?”
“Stay out of it, my dear. Tonight is not the time or the place.”
I hugged her. “I know, I know...can I ask you one teeny little thing before I gorge myself on fritters?”
“What is it?”
“Do you know everyone here?”
“Hardly, but try me.”
“See that table,” I said, indicating Winters’ group.
She shook her head. “Don’t know ‘em, but Clara might. She was with your dad and Rita, taking tickets.” She waved to a young woman, who appeared to be counting heads as people entered. Reluctantly, she abandoned her post and headed toward us.
“Clara, I told you we don’t need to keep track. You already have everyone’s tickets.”
“But what about people who simply walked in?”
“Well, for one thing, they won’t have a seat,” Ruth said, smiling at the young woman, who appeared to be twenty-something. Her auburn hair was styled in an unruly bob and she had a pale complexion, but arresting green eyes. She wore a United Way tee shirt, khakis and penny loafers. Who wore penny loafers these days?
“Sorry, Ruth,” she said, not sounding the least bit sorry.
“Clara, I don’t think you’ve met my dear friend, Ricky Steele?”
“Are you related to Mr. Steele?”
“Daughter,” I said, extending my hand, which she shook firmly. “Nice to meet you.”
“Clara, Ricky was wondering about the people at table six. Do you remember their names?”
She nodded. “That’s Mr. Pullman’s group.”
“Oh, really,” I said. “Which one is Mr. Pullman?”
“He’s the tall one, pink shirt, next to his business partner, Mr. Winters.”
“And, the woman beside Mr. Pullman?”
“His wife, Lesley. Isn’t she gorgeous? Used to be some kind of model before she went to work for him?”
Surprised, Ruth gazed over at her assistant. “And you know this how?”
“She told me. We chatted a little as they came in while your dad was talking with her husband.”
“What about the couple across the table?” I asked.
“That’s Mr. McCann, Barry McCann and his wife Sarah, I think. They live here at the Bluffs, in the Annex section, I believe. He was Mr. Pullman’s college roommate.”
Now it was my turn to gaze in awe at Clara. I need her on my team, I thought.
She noticed my surprise and laughed. “Ms. Pullman is very chatty and they came in with the McCann’s.”
“Now go and eat,” Ruth said. “That’s an order!”
“Yes, sir,” I said, giving her a mock salute. “Great to meet you, Clara.” As I headed to my table, I mused how I’d hit the mother lode at this clambake. All these elusive shadowy figures I’d been trying to track down here in one place! How could a girl get so lucky? Now, how was I going to talk to them?
“It’s about time, girl,” Lolly said as I slid in beside her.
“Sorry, ladies. I’ve been trying to find certain elusive people all week and it turns out that some are right here under my nose.”
“And?” Katie said, leaning over her empty chowder bowl.
“And, zip. They wouldn’t give me the time of day, of course, and Winters went a little further with threats, etc.”
“If you’re talkin’ about that greasy little guy and balloon pants woman, they’re sitting with Muffy’s uncle,” Katie said.
“Excuse me?”
“Her Uncle Barry. She introduced us earlier. Can’t remember his last name.”
“McCann,” I said, grinning. If Katie had been sitting beside me, I’d have kissed her. I had my in with the pack of wolves.
“Oh, you met him then?” Katie asked.
“No, my darling, but after dinner you are going to introduce us so I can get close to Wade Pullman.”
“Oh, Lord, save us!” Lolly said, rolling her eyes. “I think Frank better bring in reinforcements. I’m sure after you rile them all up, they’ll send an army of guerillas after us.”
“God this chowder’s amazing,” I said. “Might even be better than Francis Farm’s.”
Lolly made a face. “Don’t change the subject. We’re talking about life and limb here.”
Katie patted her shoulder. “We’ll be fine, Loll.”
Lolly rolled her eyes. “Thank goodness I stuffed myself with appetizers since it’ll be hours before the lobster arrives. By the way, Rick, Dr. McDreamy keeps stealing looks in our direction and they’re always trained on you.”
“Baloney. Now can we please focus!”
As the meal and auctions went on, Katie and I spent the time plotting a way to infiltrate the Meridian gang. By the time the last auction and raffle winner had been announced and the wait staff passed trays of watermelon and ice cream, I had amassed my usual mountain of clams, lobster shells at the summit. I had worn my lobster bib so as to avoid looking like Ms. Greasy Galore when I met Wade and the gang. Even so, I was covered with grease and clam juice up to my elbows. As I rummaged under and around my clam mountain searching for wet wipes, a wet towel magically appeared attached to Charlie’s arm. “Need this?”
I looked up to find him grinning. “Where did you— “
“I come prepared. After the last bake, I brought a bag of wet dish towels for my table mates and me, but I saved one for you.”
I knew I shouldn’t accept it, but I grabbed it and said, “Thank you, this is really helpful.”
“What’re you ladies up to now?”
“Don’t ask,” Lolly said rolling her eyes. “Alice and I are planning to stroll the grounds working off our dinner, but Holmes and Watson here are on the case.”
“Need any help?” he said.
I glared at Lolly. “No, thank you. And, we are not on the case. We just want to do a little mingling.”
“Funny, I didn’t figure you as the mingling type,” he said, gazing around at the four of us, grinning.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” I said, a trifle too huffily.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it. Ladies,” he said, bowing slightly. “Don’t get into too much trouble. I’ll hope to see you tomorrow.”
“Count on it!” Lolly said, batting her long, thick eyelashes.
“We’ll see how the day goes,” I said, giving him a smile.
As Alice and Lolly headed off for their stroll, Katie and I made a beeline for the Meridian group. Our plan was to linger nearby out of sight, then swoop when the moment seemed right. She would have some cockamamie question for Barry McCann. I would stay out of sight, then swoop in after she’d been introduced to the Pullmans, Winters and Fiona. As often happens, the best laid plans can go awry.
Chapter 36
Oscar Winters had not yet spotted me as I watched Katie’s introductions to the Meridian group. She had just shaken Wade Pullman’s hand, when a voice behind me bellowed, “Why Ricky Steele, as I live and breathe! Haven’t seen you for ages!”
I turned to find Sol Perkins, one of my father’s oldest friends. “Sol, hi, what a surprise!” As I hugged him, I gazed over to spy the Meridian group practically running out of the tent. McCann and his wife stayed behind and were chatting with Katie, but the rest had vanished as I listened to Sol go on and on about this and that. I love Sol, but wanted to strangle him. When we parted, I headed over to Katie and she introduced me to McCann and his wife.
After a few pleasantries, I said, “Wow, your table cleared out in a hurry.”
“You know these charity things. Once they’re over everyone disappears quick,” he said.
“Oh, I wasn’t aware of the end-of-the night charity event stampede phenomena,” I said, smiling sweetly. McCann appeared to be three sheets to the wind, his pale blue eyes watery. His stomach strained the buttons of his plaid, seersucker sport shirt and
his wrinkly, grease-sprinkled khakis sat well below his nonexistent waist. His wife, Sarah, who appeared to be about his age, was in considerably better shape. Slender, she impressed me as a stalwart Yankee-type, who looked as if she’d rather be anywhere but standing beside her red-nosed, blurry eyed husband. She was what one would call a handsome woman, angular face, little make-up, shoulder length salt and pepper hair pulled back in a thin black velvet headband. She wore a pale pink cotton sweater, single strand of pearls, tailored gray linen slacks and espadrilles. Her outfit was immaculate, not one drop of grease or clam juice anywhere.
As he swayed back and forth, McCann’s gaze took in every inch of me. “You’re Ralston’s daughter, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” I said. It could have been my imagination, but I thought I glimpsed a flicker of interest in Sarah McCann’s gaze.
“He’s a great guy. Wouldn’t want this mess on my lawn though, I can tell you.”
“Katie tells me you live nearby?” I said.
“Couple of streets over. In the Annex. We built our dream house a few years ago. Come for a tour sometime. The wife and I love it here, don’t we hon?”
“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t spent a night here in five years,” Sarah McCann said as she turned away from her husband and gazed over the crowd.
“Wife loves the city and our condo,” he said. “Not much of a beach person.”
“What about your kids?”
“Don’t have any. Sarah and I were never blessed,” he said, catching the back of a chair to steady himself.
“Does your friend, Wade Pullman live out here?” I said, hoping Wade and Fiona had not communicated to Barry the reason for his hasty departure.
Watery eyes attempted, unsuccessfully to focus on me. “You know Wade, do you?”
“No, but I’d like to,” I said sweetly. “For some reason, he’s avoiding me.”
“Would you excuse me?” Sarah McCann said. Not waiting for our reply, she turned and headed for the side of the house leading to the street.
“Don’t mind her. This isn’t her scene. Why don’t I buy you and Kathy a drink and we can discuss why a snoopy, over the hill PI is harassing one of my best friends.”
Poof! Page 15