Ripe for Murder

by Carlene O'Neil

  It appeared he, too, thought I’d pushed the wrong person, and made it clear with his next statement. “It’s best, of course, to leave these things to the police. They know what they’re doing.”

  “Well, I don’t like it.” Big Dave leaned on the bar and studied my face. “You take this seriously. I agree with him.” He bobbed his head toward Jim. “Let the police handle it. Now, I understand,” he said to Antonia, “that it’s your daughter caught up in this and you want to find out exactly what happened. We all do. Just remember it was my wife”—his voice cracked—“it was my wife that was killed. Let the police solve it.”

  “She can’t. That’s the funny part.” Vance leaned in to look at me. “You don’t know when to stop, do you? You’re going to keep pushing into people’s business, pushing until somebody pushes back.”

  “That’s enough!” Big Dave, his face red, pushed the half-empty glass of wine away from his son. “You’ll keep a civil tongue in your head.”

  “Yes, let’s change the subject. I’m sorry I brought it up,” Bill said.

  The group fell silent until Antonia finally asked Bill some question about the train schedule. I only half listened. My attention was taken with some unspoken energy. Something was very wrong with one of our group. I could feel the fury. Someone who held their wineglass just a little too tight, holding their smile just a little too long. One of them very much wanted me to stop and knew I wasn’t going to.

  Eighteen

  WITH an effort I turned and focused on Bill. “It’s so nice of you to host this lunch. Although, I suppose for you it’s work.”

  “Well, we want to make sure your trip is as nice as can be. At least as nice as it can be, under the circumstances. In any event, I’m sure you’ll be able to return home soon. In the meantime,” he rubbed his hands together, “you’re in for a real treat. We’re having a Northern California specialty for this time of year. Crab!”

  “You know, we do have crab along the central coast . . .”

  “Antonia, let it go.” I turned to Bill. “That sounds lovely.”

  An hour of good wine and fresh crab didn’t make the day any worse, and I dug in with gusto as the hotel’s head chef walked us through the preparation.

  “This is exactly how I like my crab. Pulled from the ocean this morning and a quick cook in hot water. Crack and eat.” He pulled the meat from a claw and ran it across his plate. “Butter is never a bad thing. It’s rich and that influences the wine selection. Chardonnay’s the way to go, but look for something that isn’t also rich. The ones with the buttery undertones are too much. Go for something with a fruity bite to it, or maybe try a Riesling.” He swirled the liquid in his glass. “This is great Northern California dining.”

  Antonia threw down her claw. “Yes, because apparently the only crab worth eating—”

  I poured more Chardonnay into her glass. “Have some more wine, Antonia.”

  After lunch, Vance bolted toward the rear door. Big Dave shook his head and watched him go.

  Kim kissed Jim on the forehead. “Time for my massage.”

  “Have fun, darling. Do you want to bring some water or club soda with you, maybe a glass of wine?” He gestured toward the bar. “Seth can get you something.”

  “I can get whatever I need at the spa. They have refreshments there. Either way, I wouldn’t ask him for anything. I really don’t like that guy.”

  She wasn’t alone. I stood and walked toward the entrance, stopping by the table where Connor and Chantal still sat.

  “I heard the story about last night,” Chantal said. “How you were left in the dark after going back for my shawl.”

  “Yes.” I waited.

  “You know, I kind of saved your life.”

  “What?”

  “Well, if I hadn’t tripped and needed help walking, we would have made it to the car faster. We might have left before we saw Antonia and realized you were missing. Nobody would have known you were still there. Good thing I twisted my ankle, and it took so long to get me to the car.”

  I rubbed my temples as Connor turned away to hide his smile.

  “Chantal, if you hadn’t forgotten your wrap in the first place, I wouldn’t have needed to go back into the caves at all.”

  “Oh. Well, I suppose that’s another way to look at it.”

  “It certainly is,” I said. Chantal had on high heels once again. “It looks like your ankle isn’t giving you any problems.”

  “No.” She lifted her leg and wagged her foot back and forth. “I guess it wasn’t as bad as I thought.”

  “Gee, I guess not.” I took a deep breath and turned to Connor. “And what are your plans for the afternoon?”

  “I’m thinking a game of bocce ball.” Connor pushed back from the table. “There’s a bunch of Italians here and they asked earlier if I wanted to play.”

  Big Dave sat alone at his table.

  “I hate to see him like that,” I said. “Too bad there isn’t something to take his mind off Tara’s death.”

  Connor shrugged. “It’s all the same to me. I’ll ask him if he wants to play bocce ball.”

  “Hey, that sounds like fun.” Jim walked by. “Mind if I join you?”

  “Not at all.”

  The two of them walked to Big Dave’s table. Antonia was up with the head chef, likely arguing the merits of Central California crab, and I was left alone with Chantal, who’d straightened up when Connor left her gravitational pull.

  She flipped back her masses of sable-colored locks and looked up at me. “Why’d you have to go and scare him off like that?”

  “Do you hear yourself?”

  “Penny, relax. I’m only joking, trying to take my mind off, you know, everything else.”

  “Is it working?”

  “Some. And worst case, maybe I get lucky and Connor takes me up on my standing offer.”

  Perhaps I was just tired, or it might have been the wine. I pulled out a seat, dropped into it, and leaned in. “That’s enough. Connor’s off-limits.”

  “What?” The vibrant green eyes, so like Antonia’s, opened wide. “He isn’t like private land. You can’t put a sign on him and tell me not to trespass there.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” I shook my finger. “I’ve got a long memory, and I clearly recollect back in junior high you made off with my first boyfriend. The first time I really liked a guy, and you knew it.”

  Chantal studied her scarlet red nail polish. “I don’t remember any of this.”

  “Of course you don’t! Does the name Bill Davenport ring a bell? I’ll never forget coming around the corner and seeing you two kissing in the parking lot.”

  She tapped the table with her nails. “Nope, I got nothing.”

  “Well, I’m not interested in a repeat of that experience.”

  “Wait a minute. Are you saying you and Connor are an item? Why wouldn’t he mention it?”

  I held up my hand. “I didn’t say we’re an item.” What exactly was I saying? “Look, you don’t know what’s between Connor and me—”

  “So you’re saying there is something between the two of you?”

  “No! But you didn’t know that!”

  Chantal scrunched up her forehead and chewed on the inside of her mouth. “But if there isn’t anything between the two of you, then why do you care?”

  Damn, she was actually making sense. I didn’t have a comeback for this scenario. It was just so unexpected.

  “Look, forget I said anything.”

  She did the hair flip. “Okay by me.” She took a closer look at me. “You look terrible. Have you been sleeping?”

  “No! Have you already forgotten I was trapped in a cave last night in total darkness with poisonous gases building up around me? And all because you left your throw, which became my problem after you tripped and
hurt your ankle.” I bent over and looked at her leg. “If you even did.”

  She opened her mouth but nothing came out.

  “What?”

  “Well, it hurt last night, anyway.” She squirmed in her seat. “I’m a fast healer.”

  “Ha! Come on, it’s a lot more fun to trip and have Connor catch you. Then you can let me go back to get your throw—”

  “Which I never did get back—”

  “Only to get left in the dark.”

  She shivered. “I didn’t know that was going to happen.”

  “Believe me when I say I didn’t either. Otherwise I would have let you go get your own damn throw.”

  Antonia tapped me on the shoulder. “What are you two going on about? I could hear you from across the room.”

  “Penny and Connor are an item.”

  “That isn’t what I said!”

  Chantal tossed her hair and stuck out her chin. “Did you or did you not just tell me Connor was off-limits?”

  “Yes, I mean no! Look, he works with me and you live next door. Let’s be honest, we have history . . . I just see this going down a bad path.”

  Antonia peered into my face. “You look terrible and you’re overreacting. You need to get some rest.”

  Chantal nodded. “That’s what I told her.”

  “I’m not overreacting!”

  “I haven’t done anything I don’t always do, and it’s never bothered you before,” Chantal said.

  “Of course it’s bothered me before. It bothers me all the time.”

  Antonia took my arm. “Penny, I have a treat for you, which appears to be well-timed.”

  “What?”

  “I took the liberty of booking you a massage this afternoon.” She looked at her watch. “You clearly need it. You have an hour, but get a longer one if you think it will make a difference.”

  A massage. The knot between my shoulder blades loosened at the thought. “All right, fine. That sounds pretty good, if you want to know the truth.”

  “Of course it does. It was easy to get the appointment this early in the day. That nice girl from Chicago, Kim, is getting one, and it sounds like you two will have the place to yourselves. It should be quiet and peaceful. Maybe you can even get in a nap.”

  I rubbed my eyes, which were gritty with exhaustion. “The spa is supposed to be spectacular. Thanks.”

  “There, you see?” Antonia said. “A perfect way to spend the afternoon. Something may even come to you while you’re relaxing. Things often present themselves at moments like that.”

  I thanked Antonia, ignored Chantal and went up to my room. On a shelf I found one of the thick comfy robes I’d seen other guests wandering around in. A few minutes later I made my way down the sweeping stairs, across the lobby and through the back doors.

  The golden light of an Indian summer afternoon washed over me the moment I stepped outside. Bees flew lazily through lavender, the warm air heavy with its scent. A couple of youngsters sat eating vanilla ice cream cones, sticky drops falling around their bare feet and into the grass. Crickets chirped and laughter drifted from the bocce game.

  Connor saw me and sprinted up the hill. “Where are you off to?”

  “Antonia booked me a massage. Thought I needed it.”

  “You do look pretty thrashed. Obviously you didn’t sleep last night.”

  Everyone’s a critic. “How’s the game going?”

  “Jim’s a ringer at this. He’s beating everyone.”

  “Big Dave didn’t join you?”

  Connor shook his head. “He wasn’t up for it. As annoying as Tara was, I think he really loved her. He’s lost.”

  Jim shouted it was Connor’s turn.

  “Gotta run. Have fun at the spa.”

  I stood there for a while longer, watching the kids finish up their ice cream. The wine had made me lazy, and I didn’t feel like moving much. A massage was the only thing that sounded better than staying right where I was. After what Chantal had been putting me through, I was going to let Antonia spring for the whole package. “Heated stones?” Sure! “Brown sugar scrub?” You bet! “Care to upgrade for another half hour?” Who wouldn’t?

  With this happy thought I shuffled off down the path. Moments later I pushed open the double glass doors and took a deep breath of lavender-scented air. “Wow, it smells great in here.”

  The bubbly attendant behind the counter smiled and bobbed her head, long blonde hair falling around her shoulders. She must’ve used a shoehorn to get into the formfitting black smock that was just long enough and apparently counted as a uniform. “We get that a lot, but after a while you get used to it.” She pulled out a clipboard. “I’m Sandie, with an ie. You must be Penny.”

  “Good guess.”

  Sandie shrugged, miles of blonde hair flipping all over the place. “The weather’s so nice, everyone wants to be outside. There are only two people, including you, here for treatments today. It was pretty easy to figure out.”

  I held up a finger. “Let me guess. Is the other person named Kim?”

  “That’s right. Also, with you I had some help. The lady that booked your massage said you’d be the one looking like you really needed it.”

  Perfect. “Um, Sandie, any chance of getting some upgrades to that basic massage?”

  She smiled, like I’d just announced it was Christmas, and typed something into the computer. “You bet. We’re having a special on the seaweed thermal wrap followed by a Calistoga mud full-body mask. You’ll love it.”

  “I’m sure I will.” I took a minute to look around the room. Along one wall, from ceiling to floor, water cascaded down a jade face. “What’s that surface?”

  “Quartz. It was dug up near here over a hundred years ago,” she said.

  “I love the sound of water. So peaceful.”

  She moved out from behind the counter. “You have a robe, so all you need is a key to a locker and sandals.” She glanced at my feet. “What’s your shoe size?”

  “Nine.”

  “Umm.” She eyed my feet. “Let’s just make it ten to be on the safe side.” She handed me sandals and a numbered key, and pointed down the hall. “Changing rooms and lockers straight ahead. You’ll find the solarium, steam rooms and heated pools branching off from there.”

  “The steam room sounds fabulous. I wonder if I have time.”

  “Take the time.” She eyed me. “Trust me on this.”

  I didn’t have it in me to take offense. Anyway, I knew what she was talking about. I’d seen the blue circles under my eyes that morning.

  “The masseuse I booked you with has a flexible schedule today. I’ll just tell her to find you in the steam room in half an hour.”

  “Thanks.” I gathered my sandals and key and made my way down the hall, entering the solarium a few moments later. The room was furnished in beiges and greens, with big comfy loungers. In the center of the room, under the skylights, was a large round fountain and palm trees. Along one wall was a large stone fireplace and an attendant was adding a small log to the flames. In one corner was a coffee and hot tea bar, with raw almonds and banana chips. The table opposite had a decanter of water laced with sliced strawberries, a bowl of rolled facecloths and another with sliced cucumbers.

  Although I’ve never really understood why, I know you’re supposed to drink extra water when you get a massage. I poured a large glass and perched on one of the loungers, sipping away as I munched on a couple of sliced cucumbers.

  The attendant had finished with the fire and came to stand next to me. She looked a lot like Sandie-with-an-ie, except her hair was jet black. I didn’t really notice her until she did a double take.

  “I know. I look like hell. I really need to relax. That’s why I’m here, to get a massage.”

  “Uh, no, that’s not it,” she said.

&n
bsp; I faced her, taking another swig of the water. She had on a white smock and her name was embroidered on it: Suzette.

  “Well, then, what can I do for you, Suzette?”

  “It’s just that, those cucumbers,” she pointed to the bowl. “We soak them in rosewater first. They’re for putting on your eyes.”

  Terrific. I was eating eye pads. “I wondered why they tasted so different.”

  She was just watching me.

  “Not bad exactly, just different.” Please just let me stop talking.

  “Here,” Suzette said. “Let me take that from you. I can get you some almonds, or perhaps banana chips.”

  I handed her my napkin with the rest of the cucumber. “No, I’m fine, thanks. Heaven only knows what I’d do with those, right?”

  She looked puzzled. “Those actually are for eating.”

  “No, I get it. I’m fine.” Completely humiliated, but fine. “I’m just going to go take a steam bath before my massage.”

  “Here then, you really do want a couple of these.” She handed me two fresh slices of cucumber. “Sometimes the heat can irritate clients’ eyes, and having your eyes covered can help you relax.” She took a closer look. “They also help firm the skin.”

  “Okay, fine, I’ll take them. Which way is the steam?”

  Suzette pointed me down the hall to a glass door. Next to the door was a robe rack and a wicker basket of fluffy white towels. I grabbed a towel, ducked into a dressing room and exchanged my robe for the towel, adding my robe to the one already on the rack.

  Nothing was visible through the thick wall of steam. When I pushed open the heavy door, a fresh blast of hot mist came from somewhere above me. The vapor was heavy with eucalyptus. I began to relax as I crept forward. Lying flat on the heated tiles, with cucumbers over my eyes, the scented steam soon had me drifting off. I had no way of knowing how much time had passed before I heard someone at the entrance.

  “It’s time for your massage, Kim. Kim? Is there a Kim here?” It was Sandie from the front desk. She stood at the open door, peering through the dissipating steam. I turned my head and, for the first time, realized I hadn’t been alone. I rolled on my side and took a closer look at the person lying across from me. She also had cucumbers over her eyes, but I recognized the profile.