Well, that was easy, except Mina had learned nothing really new. Who should she ask? She wanted to know more, like exactly who was this man who stole Eva’s heart and money? Did she find him on The Matchmaker to the Stars site? Why would she be looking for love there of all places? However, if that was the case, Kalinda must feel pretty bad about it. Mina had heard of people getting cleaned out like that. Well, men mostly, because women were known as gold diggers, tending to steal the money legally, by conning the men into marrying them without legal protection for the wealth.
She returned her business phone calls, then fed Aria and Houdini, then called Millie about dinner, “How would you like some prosciutto on sourdough and a butter lettuce and radicchio salad?”
“It depends. If you are asking me to make that, well, not very much because I only have butter lettuce in the house and...”
“No. no. My turn. I’ll bring it over, along with the Prosecco. Remember, I mentioned it earlier? Keeping my promise. Give me twenty minutes.”
It suddenly occurred to Mina that if Margo and Kalinda came with the intention of spending the night at her place, she would need to improvise a guest room downstairs. The original floor plan had a fourth bedroom on the ground floor along with a bathroom, but that room was now her office. Perhaps they could put a bed in the living room and hide it during the day? How about bathing? Would she need to get in the shower with her wheelchair? Suddenly Eva’s role as assistant became a lot more valuable to impulsive Mina. She decided that Kalinda could skip a shower for a day. She wasn’t going to think about any other needs, not at the moment. Time to wash the lettuce and the radicchio.
Her house phone rang again. Must be Margo with information regarding the wheelchair. But this time the caller was Diego. Mina could hardly contain herself. Forget the salad and the wheelchair... she walked into the living room, the phone against her ear, and made herself comfortable. Nothing was more important at that moment than listening to his voice, which sounded tired, maybe sleepy. The effect of him talking to her was more uplifting than an energy drink.
“Hi. How are you? You okay? By the way, where are you? Do you know about the latest events in Hermosa Beach?”
“You mean Eva?”
“Yes, exactly. Is it true about the house arrest, or is Margo feeling victimized again?”
“Hmm, yes and no.”
Oh, not that game again.
“I promised no lies and frankly I can’t get into details about Eva’s case right now. So can I take a rain check?”
“A rain check? Just how do you take a rain check when someone’s whole life is on the line?”
“You’d be surprised the things you can do with a check…and some rain.” His voice was a tad husky when he mentioned rain.
The first time they’d made love it was raining. He remembered. Emotions rushed up her throat, taking her breath away. “Diego. Oh, God, I want to be with you so bad.”
“I know, bella, I know. It’s almost over.”
“What’s almost over? What?”
He didn’t answer, and she realized she wasn’t being fair to him. Accept him as he is. “I’m sorry. I didn’t get enough sleep last night.” She heard him chuckling. “Then this morning that awful Mr. Van der Voss brought over his Princess, a lovely Persian cat with the strangest eyes. Millie thinks it’s because she’s doped, you know, drugged. I don’t know. Why would someone do that to a cat? Maybe he just gave her a mild tranquilizer to keep her calm during the drive. What do you think?”
“I have no idea, but I bet Millie is familiar with the visual side-effects of doping. Although I’m with you, why drug a cat?”
“We decided to wait and see. If it was a onetime tranquilizer, she should be fine by morning, right?”
“I suppose. Did you invite Kalinda to come and visit you?”
“Huh, yes, well, I asked Margo to tell Kalinda that I suggested they get one of those light, folding wheelchairs so Margo can take her Camaro you know, top down, a drive on the PCH.” She didn’t have to share the whole invitation with him, did she?
“Mina. You’re so—so—you.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Yes, more than good. Special. That’s just what Kalinda needs. She feels so responsible for Eva’s misfortune, and she shouldn’t.” He hesitated, then shared what moments before he was hesitant to share, “As for the so called gentleman, I’m still trying to find out if he ever was on the Matchmaker to the Stars website. The computer student probably lied about that, a device aimed at convincing Eva to tamper with Kalinda’s computers.”
“But I don’t understand about the book. I mean, why have the instructions in the book? Why not use a phone?”
“Phone calls are easily traced, and don’t forget she lived with Kalinda, twenty-four seven. It seems that they, whoever they are, put a tiny chip in the book so they could track her movements as long as the book was with her. So they always knew where Eva was. Her instructions were to use a public bathroom in the stores where she usually shopped for Kalinda, and a page with written instructions would be slipped under the bathroom door, simple and clever. She never saw their faces. She has no idea who these people are. We’re trying to locate the so-called college student who got her into this mess to start with, but he seems to have vanished. I assume they had a woman tagging her, well more than one, otherwise Kalinda would have suspected something; she’s a very bright and capable person.
“Remember, she had the book when we went to eat at Gino’s new place? You found that strange. Well, she was getting scared. She knew Kalinda realized someone had been getting into classified information. Poor Eva brought the book with her thinking it was a public-establishment, and the cavalry would show up and rescue her. She probably was waiting for instructions when she went to use the bathroom and was gone such a long time. I'm not sure at what point she realized that the restaurant wasn’t open to the public, and no one was coming to save her. She’d been left to fend for herself. Like I told you, it’s almost over. Once Margo and Kalinda are out of the house we can put pressure on Eva.”
“We? You’re in Hermosa Beach?”
“No, I promise you, I’m not. We is just an expression. We work as a team. Sort of like you and Linda or you and Millie.”
“Millie, oh, damn, I promised to bring her dinner.”
“Seriously? You made dinner for both of you? I’m impressed.”
“Okay, don’t be. I’m making a salad and panini.”
“Sound delicious. I’ll let you go. Have to get ready.”
“Ready? For what?” Mina, stop asking questions!
“I have to fly somewhere. And no, I’m not anywhere near you. I swear. Not at the moment.”
“I believe you. The cats say hi. They’re both nibbling on my ankles, and I’m sure I fed them. They probably figured out I’m going over to Millie’s, and they want to go with me.”
“Are you afraid they’ll run off?”
“No, it’s not that. I made a deal with that awful man that no other cat would be at the cottage while his Princess was there. He doesn’t consider Zeus a cat. Don’t ask.”
Diego laughed softly. “Which one of the cats do you assume is on the take?”
“On the take? The cats? I don’t understand.”
“Neither do the cats. Who are they going to tell? Think about it. Goodnight, love. Be safe.”
Chapter Fourteen
Mina woke up late the next morning, got dressed in a hurry, and managed to get some coffee made while feeding Aria and Houdini. Their litter-box needed cleaning, but it had to wait until after breakfast.
She called Millie on her cell on the way to the garage. “How is the cat?” No need to name names, they both knew the cat was poor loopy Princess.
“Not sure,” Millie said. “She slept all cuddled up with Zeus. I think they’re two orphans who found each other. I know you’re in hurry to get to the shelter, so go ahead. I’ll call you if something looks out of whack, but so far so good. She d
id nibble on her food during the night. I gave her canned food. Her poop is different from Zeus’s, so that helps me keep everything in perspective.”
Interesting choice of words.
When Mina arrived at the shelter Tom, the security guard, was there chatting with Linda. That was strange, since he worked nights and it was now close to ten-thirty.
“Hey Mina, Tom here is telling me that there are investors looking at the place. He thinks they’re serious, since it’s their second visit.”
Mina shrugged. “It’s okay, it happens every time the economy is on the upswing. Either way, the shelter isn’t part of the strip mall. It’s free-standing, and we bought it as a single business.”
“But what if they make you an offer you can’t refuse?” Tom joked.
“Oh, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, like you Americans like to say,” she joked.
“Good philosophy. I like that. Well, just wanted to give you a heads up. I like you folks. You’re good people. Better head on home before the Missus sends out a posse looking for me.”
“That was weird,” Mina said to Linda after the guard left. “Does he come around often?”
“Not that I know of. Unless he comes the days we aren’t here. But he gets off at six in the morning, and it’s almost noon. What do you think he’s been doing? Sleeping in the car until you got here?”
Mina shrugged. “Any idea what time Roger is coming by? He is coming by, right?”
“Yes, but after his regular office’s hours. Why? We don’t have any sick pet that I’m aware of.”
“No, no. It’s not that.” Might as well put Linda up to date. She told Linda all about Van der Voss and Princess, the sad cat.
“Oh, I remember Leigh mentioning something about some weird guy in a dark suit. She said he looked like a mortician.”
On any other occasion Mina would have probably laughed, but today, the word made the hair on her arms stand in salute, oddly. Luckily, a young woman who had visited the shelter before, came in to inquire if the Chihuahua she had liked the past week was still available. She’d finally got the green light from her landlord.
Mina and Linda exchanged places. Linda headed to the back room with the young lady, and as they approached the dogs’ quarters, the barking became louder and louder. The dogs seemed to know one of them would be adopted that day. Which one would be the lucky one? Adoptions were always a bittersweet event: sweet for the lucky furry friend who found its forever home, not so sweet for the ones left to wait. Mina sat at the desk and fingered through the file to find the adoption form for the Chihuahua. Everything was there, age, breed, sex, health status, vaccination and microchip number.
Microchip.
She let the word sink in ever so slowly. Microchip. Certainly a cat as precious and cherished as Princess would have a microchip. But what business was it of hers anyhow? Her job was to take care of the cat for a week, to keep her safe and return her to the owner in the same condition as she’d arrived. Or better…much better, she thought. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt edgy, and so responsible for the Persian with the strange eyes.
The bell over the front door chimed as two older women came in. They looked so much alike they had to be related, and both were interested in a cat. Their Bruno—Mina assumed that to be a cat’s name—had just died of old age. They would prefer an adult cat, the word senior came up, and Mina was thrilled to walk them to the back and introduce them to Theodore, twelve years young and orphaned because of his owner’s death.
Theodore had long hair that needed daily brushing, and that was the only reason he hadn’t been adopted yet, but the two grannies figured they had all the time in the word. Mina told them adult cats came with a coupon for one month of free quality cat food to be picked up at Roger’s office, and a free yearly vet visit as long as they came the Saturday when Roger was at the shelter. Of course, Mina was the one paying for the food and the vet. A small price to pay in exchange for a cat's and two sweet women’s happiness.
They played with Theodore and a few free roaming kittens in the cat room while Linda completed the adoption papers for the Chihuahua. The women told Mina that they were sisters, twin sisters to be precise, and they had brought along the cat carrier that had been Bruno’s. They explained that it had been washed, but since their cat had lived a long and happy life, the carrier should be a bearer of good luck. Emotional Mina found herself hugging the twins, and she couldn’t help compare their behavior with that of Mr. Van der Voss.
Margo phoned Mina just as the sisters were leaving with their happy cargo, and Linda was getting in her car to pick up some chicken nuggets for herself and Mina from the drive-through down the road.
“We did it. You’re a genius,” Margo said, sounding pretty happy for a change.
“You did what?”
“The traveling chair for Kalinda. It was delivered an hour ago. It’s perfect. We’ve been practicing how to get it in and out of the car, and to get Kalinda from the passenger seat to the chair and vice versa, all on her own. It’s terrific. Even Gino was impressed. We’ll hit the road around two so we avoid rush hour. We should be at your place by four or five. How does that sound?”
“Great, it sounds great,” Mina said while panic began to settle in. “Well, you have a key in case you get there before I do. You remember where we live, right?” She tried hard to sound oh, so cheerful even though the worries about the practicalities of caring for Kalinda were building. “Be careful, Houdini may try to get out. I hope not, but you never know. And Roger the Vet may come back with me. I need him to take a look at a cat we’re boarding. Anyway, it’s all good. You do your thing, and I’ll pick up some food on my way back. Okay? I’ll give Millie a heads up so she doesn’t shoot you.”
“Shoot us? Bad joke, bad joke.”
If she only knew.
The rest of the afternoon flew by. No more adoptions. One of the volunteers stopped by with some water dishes donated by her art class. They were hand-painted.
“Linda, you want to close up a little early and come over to my place with your Roger? I’m going to run by the Pier and pick up some of their happy hour munchies so I have something else besides salad to feed my guests, and you two are welcome to join us. I don’t know if Roger wants to stay. I just thought of it.”
“How long has Margo been gone?” Linda asked.
“Six weeks, give or take a few days. She’s bringing Kalinda, not sure you even know who she is. Anyhow, she’s from Maui and is visiting Gino’s place, but the new restaurant opening is coming up. I’m guessing he doesn’t have time to play host. Boy that was sure a long explanation for an invitation for a drink at my place, huh?” Mina knew she was rambling. She rambled when she was nervous, and she was nervous because she’d dated Roger before Linda had.
“Nah. I have Roger’s house key. I’ll go over to his place and warm the—oven—for him.” She winked.
Mina laughed. “Oven, sure. I get it.” That wasn’t awkward. Much.
She left the shelter at five and headed down toward San Clemente to pick up Calamari and some cheese pizzas she’d ordered over the phone. Linda was going to stay and close the shelter, then go to Roger’s place and warm up something suggestive for him. Roger would stop by the Ritzy Cats B&B before going home. Everything was under control.
September was around the corner, time to start working on their annual fundraiser. The realization hit Mina as she pulled out of the parking lot after collecting the food. That was the part of her business that Mina hated the most. She felt like a beggar, even if none of the donations went to her. Plus, the best events were now organized with the help of computers and the Internet, and she sure didn’t know a thing about it, and neither did Millie.
Adams, her lawyer and wise adviser, had suggested she enroll at a community college and learn how to manage it. Thinking about that made her feel funny. She’d probably be the oldest woman in the class, and the younger people would poke fun at her accent and her total lack of know
ledge.
Mina headed toward the San Diego freeway ramp. Her car smelled like the fish market her grandmother used to take her to on Friday mornings back home in Italy. Well, today was Thursday. So there. Her cell chirped. Damn, she had to answer quickly. It had to be Margo and maybe there was a problem.
“Hey, Mina, we’re at the gate, did you change the code?” Margo didn’t wait for Mina to say hello.
“Um, no, why?”
“Oh, never mind, it’s working. Where should I park?”
“Better park toward the back. Roger the Vet is stopping by. He drives that flashy Corvette of his that’s hard to turn around and all that.”
“You seeing Roger again?! What happened to the boss slash boyfriend?”
“Margo, shut up. Roger is a veterinarian. He’s coming to take a look at our boarder. Honestly, Margo.” She heard Margo giggling. When would she ever grow up? On second thought, Mina sort of missed her ex-roommate’s silliness. They completed each other well. “See you soon. Welcome to Kalinda,” she shouted into the phone. Squealing of brakes is what she got back.
Same old Margo.
Chapter Fifteen
Margo’s Camaro sat smack in front of Mina’s front door. Mina surmised that she’d needed to park there to make it easier for Kalinda to get from the car into the house. Might as well go ahead and park her LTD in the garage. No sense making Roger’s life even more complicated. He probably was less concerned with parking and driving than she was, and he was certainly a better driver. Wasn’t everyone?
Mina was still debating if she should go by the B&B to check on Millie and Princess when she noticed Millie approaching her car. “Hi, Millie, I have the car full of food ready to eat. Care to join us? How’s our guest? The vet should be here shortly. You’ve met Roger before, haven’t you?”
“I have, I have. Nice fellow. Princess is good, walking around, eating, and playing with Zeus. Usual stuff. She does seem a little sluggish at times, but her eyes are brighter than yesterday. Perhaps you were right. The idiot—I mean—her owner, gave her something to keep her quiet for the drive here. If he indeed lives in Diamond Bar, that’s quite a trip. Save me some food. I’ll come over after the vet is done.”
Best In Show (Mina's Adventures Book 6) Page 9