Silence of the Lamps

by Karen Rose Smith

“He went to school with my sister. She had a crush on his friend Bronson Chronister, but he only dated girls who came from well-to-do families like his own.”

  “I understand Bronson is successful in his own right now,” Caprice prompted, hoping to learn more.

  “That’s true,” Helen admitted. “He’s on several boards including the hospital in York, the school board in Kismet, and Kismet’s new Chamber of Commerce tourism board. He thinks his business influence can pull businesses into the area.”

  “He did expand his RV centers,” Nikki said. “And think about his client base. They come from far and wide, and they go far and wide.”

  “Each one of those customers could be a voter,” Helen explained. “I heard he might be stepping into politics soon. Since he’s a bachelor, my sister still has her eye on him. She even got a part-time job at the pro shop at the Country Squire Golf and Recreation Club hoping to chat him up. He plays a lot of tennis.”

  Caprice’s mind started spinning. She knew Bronson had invited her to Happy Camper to tour the property and the recreational vehicles, but she’d really like a conversation on turf other than his. Maybe it was time she used her own contacts. Roz had a membership at Country Squire. They could both play tennis if Caprice went as her guest.

  “Would you vote for Bronson?” Caprice asked Helen.

  “I might. He has a lot going for him. He’s intelligent, he has connections, and he’s traveled around the world. With family money backing him, he could be good.” Helen turned to Caprice. “Since you’re on the development committee, is this going to be a dressy reunion? It’s at the high school, so I kinda figured it wouldn’t be.”

  “If you want to go glitzy, you’re free to go glitzy. We’re old enough to be and dress the way we want to, don’t you think? We haven’t defined a wardrobe code. Nikki’s catering it, so the food will be exceptional. One of the guys is springing for bottles of champagne, and someone else’s family owns a winery, so he’s bringing wine. We have a DJ who can play anything from the forties to now. I am hoping the guys wear suits, and I’ll push that if anybody asks.”

  “That sundress I mentioned might be just right,” Helen said thoughtfully. “It has a cute sequined top. I can sparkle that night.”

  They all laughed. After a few more exchanged pleasantries and talk about the July Fourth fireworks over the reservoir that night, Helen took the shawl she’d thrown over her shoulders to the cashier and paid for it.

  After she walked away, Caprice turned to her sister. “So Bronson wants to run for something.”

  Nikki shrugged. “He probably has aspirations that will take him beyond Kismet.”

  As Caprice glanced toward the judging tent, she suddenly froze. Something odd must have shone in her expression, because Nikki grabbed her elbow. “What’s wrong?”

  “Look,” Caprice said morosely.

  Her sister looked in the same direction. Grant stood at one of the baked goods stands holding Patches’s leash . . . and next to him was a very attractive blonde.

  “Do you think that’s his ex?” Nikki asked with compassion in her voice.

  “I don’t know who else it would be.”

  Caprice took a step forward to get a better look.

  As she did, both Grant and the woman turned around and headed in their direction.

  Caprice wanted to duck behind one of the stands, or at least behind Nikki. But that would be a coward’s way out.

  Nikki leaned close to her and said, “They’re just walking beside each other, not arm in arm, or holding hands, or anything like that.”

  What Nikki said was true, but Caprice could see how their elbows brushed, and the body language said they’d done this before. There was a certain familiarity there that exes have. As she watched them come nearer, she saw her dreams going up in smoke. To think, only two weeks before, she’d been contemplating scouting vintage wedding gowns online.

  Scanning the area in front of him with Patches nosing ahead, Grant suddenly spied her.

  Patches spotted Lady and pulled on his leash. Lady, recognizing her doggie friend, did the same. Caprice had no choice but to walk forward and let the two dogs meet.

  Could any situation be more awkward?

  Grant crouched down with Lady and Patches, maybe to calm them a bit. Caprice felt she needed to be calmed too, but that wasn’t going to happen.

  Caprice noticed the look Naomi gave the dogs. It wasn’t an I-want-to-pet-them-too look. It was an I-wish-they-weren’t-here look. Possibly she wasn’t an animal lover.

  After Grant rose to his feet, he said to Naomi, “These are the De Luca sisters. Caprice and Nikki, this is my ex-wife, Naomi. She just flew in today. I thought the Raspberry Festival was a good way to introduce her to Kismet.”

  The De Luca sisters? That was how he was going to introduce her? Of course, what could he say? “I’ve been dating Caprice, but now you’ve interrupted our relationship. Caprice was getting serious about me, but I don’t know what I’m feeling about her.”

  She told herself to get a grip. This was awkward for everybody, because she had the feeling that Naomi did know who she was from the look and assessment the blonde gave her. From Naomi’s well-tailored slacks and her fashion-forward blouse, Caprice suspected she didn’t appreciate Bohemian chic.

  Trying to be polite as well as civil, Caprice forced herself to make conversation. “How do you like the raspberry desserts?”

  Nikki gave her a can-you-think-of-anything-lamer? look. Oh well.

  Naomi sent her a practiced smile. “Those dessert stands are a dieter’s nightmare.”

  Grant interjected, “But the raspberries look really luscious, don’t you think?”

  All Caprice could think of was sharing a bowl of fresh raspberries topped with whipped cream with him. This wasn’t going well.

  “Bella, Joe, and the kids are over at the swings,” she mentioned. “I’m sure they’d love to see Patches. I’m going to take Lady over there in a little while, after the dessert judging announcements.”

  “Did you enter?” His attention was all on Caprice, and she could feel his regret and longing.

  “I did, but so did Nana and Bella, and about thirty other people.”

  Patches and Lady somehow got tangled around Naomi’s legs. She did a little two-step to extricate herself and frowned. “They must be quite rambunctious when they’re together.”

  Grant answered before Caprice could. “After their first burst of excitement, they get along really well and calm each other down. But neither of them is crazy about football. They snooze when it’s on.”

  Caprice knew he was trying to stay connected to her by referring to the time when he pup-sat Lady with Patches and they’d joked about what TV show they should be watching.

  But Naomi had her own ammunition. “Seems to me you used to snooze through football too.”

  Oh, yes, get that history in, Caprice thought.

  Nikki’s shoulder bumped Caprice’s. “Everyone’s gathering over at the dessert judging tent. We’d better get over there in case you won.”

  Caprice saw the expression on Grant’s face. He looked as if he wanted to stop her from leaving. Yet there was no point in her staying.

  “Have a good time at the festival,” she told the couple. Then she patted her hip and called to Lady to follow her. But Lady was reluctant to leave Patches.

  Caprice took a treat from her fanny pack and patted her hip again. When Lady went to her, she gave her the treat.

  Before she could move away, Grant said, “Good luck. I hope your dessert wins.”

  Caprice threw a “thank you” his way and a “nice to have met you” over her shoulder to Naomi. Then she hurried off with Lady to find out if she’d won the dessert competition.

  But she couldn’t help taking a last glance over her shoulder to see Naomi and Grant walking away. She already felt as if she’d lost him.

  “She doesn’t like dogs.” Nikki sounded sure of that as they approached the dessert tent.
/>   “She just didn’t want to get those pretty slacks slobbered on.”

  “Me-ow,” Nikki said, giving her a you’re-not-usually-catty look.

  Caprice shook her head. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

  “True love.”

  “It can’t be true if he’s looking in another direction.”

  “He’s looking back. That doesn’t mean he can’t look forward again.”

  Out of nowhere, Caprice heard a beeping. Her phone didn’t beep.

  Nikki slipped hers from her pocket. She said, “I recognize this name. She inquired about my services. I should take this.”

  Caprice gave her a nod and went toward the tables where the judges and onlookers were gathered. The judges, however, weren’t ready to announce. Caprice dropped to the ground giving attention to Lady until Nikki came back, a worried expression on her face.

  Before Caprice could ask, she said, “I have a decision to make.”

  “It doesn’t sound like one you want to make.”

  “The call was from Trudi Swenson. She wants me to cater her wedding reception.”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Drew was supposed to cater it. Her wedding is Tuesday evening and she can’t find anyone else. I had even met with them, and they decided to go with Drew instead.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I said I’d call her back. She was in tears, Caprice. If I don’t cater it, she’s going to have to cancel her reception. But if I do it, how’s that going to look to the police?”

  “You can’t live your life worried about what the police are going to think. You also have to make an income. On the other hand, if the powers that be need just one little excuse to go after you, I don’t know if that could give it to them. Why don’t you call Vince and ask his opinion.”

  “I don’t want someone else making decisions for me.”

  “This could be an important one, Nik.”

  “Instead of thinking about the police or consulting Vince, I’m just going to put myself in her shoes. Her wedding is a few days away and she can’t find a caterer. What would I want someone to do for me?”

  “And the answer is?” Caprice knew what Nikki was going to say.

  “I’m going to cater it, and I’ll deal with the fallout later.”

  That fallout could be a murder charge that Nikki wasn’t ready for.

  Someone tapped on the microphone at the head of the tent, and Caprice heard a man’s booming voice say, “We have the results. We’re ready to disclose the winners of this year’s Grocery Fresh Raspberry Festival.”

  The manager of the store, Irving Bradford, was doing the announcing. Caprice could see he was enthusiastic about what he did and how he did it. That’s why Grocery Fresh was one of her favorite places to shop.

  There was a round of applause, and Irving raised his hand. “Here we go. In third place, for a twenty-five dollar gift certificate from Grocery Fresh, the winner is Caprice De Luca’s raspberry bread.”

  Nikki gave her a hug and Nana waved from across the tent.

  “In second place, for a fifty-dollar Grocery Fresh certificate, the winner is Teresa Arcuri with her raspberry rhubarb cobbler.”

  Caprice knew Teresa. She’d redecorated her living room and dining room not so long ago. She was her mom’s age and took baking as seriously as anyone in the De Luca family.

  “And for our grand prize, a one hundred dollar Grocery Fresh gift certificate, the winner of this year’s dessert raspberry competition is Celia De Luca with her raspberry shortcake. I’ve got to tell you, Celia, there isn’t much of it left. The judges gobbled it all.”

  Everyone laughed, and Caprice and Nikki rushed to Nana to give her a hug. At least something good had come from today.

  Then Caprice remembered talking to Helen and learning about Bronson’s tennis matches. As soon as she found a quiet spot, she’d call Roz and see if her friend could pull a few strings to reserve a court next to his.

  She couldn’t do anything about Grant and his ex-wife, but she could solve Drew’s murder. It was time she put more effort into that endeavor.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Caprice was so excited as she and all of her family, as well as Roz trailed from the parking area toward the Giant Center on Sunday evening. They entered as soon as the doors opened and went to a special window. Dulcina, Rod, and the girls met them there. After introductions, Caprice could see Dulcina was excited too.

  “I can’t believe he did this for all of us.”

  Leslie said, “He’s a rock star. He can do whatever he wants.”

  Caprice spoke up. “Ace might be a rock star, but he’s just a nice guy too. He likes lasagna and times with his family, and most of all he loves music. You’ll see that tonight.”

  When Leslie looked as if she might have a retort, her father hung his arm around her shoulders. Rod was about five-ten, with sandy brown hair and hazel eyes. All of his attention was on his daughters, and Caprice supposed that’s how it should be. But he was dating Dulcina. He should be giving her some attention too.

  After Caprice presented their tickets and their backstage passes at the window, the clerk made a call. A security guard came to escort them to the area where they’d be meeting Ace. Caprice’s uncle Dom and Dulcina began discussing Halo as they followed the security guard. They all clambored into an elevator that took them to the ground floor.

  Excitement practically hummed in the air as they followed the security guard . . . or bodyguard. This was the home of the Hershey Bears Hockey Club. It also sponsored other sports events. Soon the place would be filled with an enormous concert crowd that could number more than ten thousand fans who wanted to hear Ace’s music. This was a huge venue for Ace, and she wished him every success.

  Caprice kept her gaze on her Nana as they went down a hall. They seemed to be headed to the hockey players’ dressing rooms. This had been a long walk for Nana from the entrance of the arena where they left her off to where they were now. Although Nana was a spry seventy-six, Caprice worried about her.

  She tapped her nana’s arm, leaned close, and whispered, “Are you okay?”

  “Don’t you start,” Nana retorted. “That security guard asked me if I wanted a wheelchair. Seriously? Just look at my sneakers. I walk every day. I’m fit for more than this.”

  Caprice had to smile. That was Nana. Raring to go.

  Soon they were shown to an area that was set up for Ace’s Meet-and-Greet. Ace was waiting at a table for them. Caprice caught sight of Marsha, Ace’s ex-wife, and his daughter, Trista, talking to the band members, who were also milling about. Marsha waved and Trista ran over to give Caprice a hug.

  “Isn’t this so exciting?” Trista asked. “I’ve never seen Dad perform in a place like this before. And Mom and I might be moving to Kismet to be near him.”

  “That’s wonderful. Then I can see you more often too.” She saw that Marsha was smiling as she spoke to Zeke Stoltz, Ace’s bass player. Zeke had almost quit the tour, but he and Ace had resolved the misunderstandings between them.

  Caprice noticed Ace give Marsha’s arm a squeeze before he came over to them, and she seemed to be looking at him adoringly once more. Was it possible the two of them would reunite?

  Ace was a different man now than he’d been before his divorce. He’d taken responsibility for his daughter and a past road-life he didn’t want to repeat with his comeback tour. Whether or not he and Marsha got back together again, their renewed relationship could only be good for Trista.

  Although she and Ace had become friends and he’d met Nikki, he’d never been introduced to all of her family until now.

  He gave Nana a big hug, and Caprice heard him say to her, “From what Caprice tells me, you remind me a lot of my own grandmother. She was a big influence in my life growing up. I consider her my guardian angel now.”

  Nana whispered something in his ear, and Ace laughed.

  The evening seemed to take wings as there were photo
s all around, for her and her family, and for Dulcina, Rod, and the girls. The Meet-and-Greet fun was over way too soon. But Caprice knew Ace had other fans to greet, some who had won an autograph session from a nearby radio station, and others who had won a contest via e-mail through his fan club.

  The guard walked everyone back out to the main arena and showed them to their seats in the front row. The ground floor seating was slowly filling up. The bright lights would be dimmed at concert time, but for now it was easy to see the flow of people, all age groups, who had come to hear Ace and his band perform.

  Caprice’s attention wandered to Bella and Joe down the row from her. Joe’s arm was around his wife’s shoulders, and they both looked happy to be here. With a baby, date night was a special thing for them. Maybe she and Nikki could hold down the fort for them some night soon so they could go out again. Caprice didn’t feel quite capable of handling an infant and two kids on her own. She was about to say something to Nikki in the seat beside her when Nikki snagged her attention first.

  “Caprice, look over there.” She pointed to a row of seats behind a railing, up the first few steps from the ground floor. Caprice didn’t even need the binoculars she’d brought along to see who it was.

  “Is that Judy Clapsaddle and Jeanie Boswell?” Nikki asked.

  “Sure looks like it.”

  Judy Clapsaddle owned the Nail Yard in Kismet where Caprice had had her nails done and had bought a gift certificate for her mom. Judy had given her good information when Caprice looked into the murder of her mom’s best friend.

  “Maybe I’ll just wander over there and talk to them,” Caprice said. “I’ve got plenty of time before the concert starts.”

  “Do you want me to come with you?” Nikki asked.

  “No, you stay here. I won’t be long.”

  But as she made her way over to the steps and started climbing them, she noticed Jeanie leave the row and head toward a concession stand in the back. Apparently she wanted an Ace Richland T-shirt more than she wanted to talk to Caprice.

  Judy, however, aimed a welcoming smile at Caprice. “Imagine seeing you here. I’ll bet we’d notice a lot more Kismet residents if we take stock of everybody who walks in.”