by Cassie Page
Olivia needed to keep her anxiety about the call hidden from Tuesday, who would constantly bring up his name in an effort to counsel and console her. It was best to put him out of her mind, and maybe, if there was any justice in the world, she would forget entirely that he was going to be within a three mile radius of her in just a few days.
Who was she kidding? Darling Valley was a small town with one main drag and just a few very popular restaurants and shops. You were more likely to trip over somebody than avoid them. On the phone Brooks had said he was on the run and couldn’t talk for very long. He just wanted to give her a heads up. Which was fine with her. She couldn’t imagine a normal conversation with Brooks after his last disastrous visit some months ago.
Their problems started when he’d stood her up on the eve of their wedding, the reason Olivia had relocated to Darling Valley. He surprised her some months later during the media circus about the murder scandal that had landed on her doorstep. He claimed to be a fool and wanted her back. The reconciliation didn’t go well and she hadn’t spoken to him since. She didn’t regret her decision to give him the ax, but that didn’t mean her heart didn’t flip around like a fish at the end of a line when she heard his voice.
But now she wondered how to handle having him close by. He didn’t suggest getting together, which was good and bad. She would have liked the opportunity to turn him down. Should they exchange calendars so they didn’t show up at Hugo’s for dinner on the same night or stop in at The Salted Caramel for coffee the same mornings? Breathe the same air? She ruminated on these things as she set out plates for dinner. She knew herself well. Fat chance she could stop thinking about him between now and Friday.
The doorbell rang with the two pastas and calzone from Victor’s. She grabbed her wallet and ran down the stairs telling herself she was being ridiculous. This inconvenience would sort itself out, and if luck was on her side, and it was time it was, she and Brooks would be involved in projects on opposite sides of town. He’d slip away without their ever crossing paths.
Matt still hadn’t called about whether he would be free to come by and join them for dinner, but if he couldn’t make it, she would freeze the leftovers. No way she would throw out a crumb of Victor’s food.
She gave Pete, the delivery guy, a tip. They made the same joke they always did, that because she ordered take out from Victor’s so often she should hire him as her personal courier. She ran upstairs with the hot boxes still unable to banish Brooks from her thoughts.
Upstairs, Tuesday was setting the table, harping on the impending visit of Brooks.
“After destroying your heart, I would have thought he’d have the decency to destroy your number.”
“Now, now, Tues.” Olivia was crushing the pizza boxes and setting them aside to take down to the recycling bin.
“That’s a bit of an overstatement. I’m with Matt, you know. Sort of. If we can ever figure out where we are. So, as far as my heart is concerned,” she put her hand on her chest and paused, “still a detectible beat or two. Not totally destroyed.”
Tuesday pinched a piece of mozzarella and led a long string to her mouth. “Ouch. Ouch. Hot, hot.”
After a glass of water revived her tongue, she said, “Seriously, O, how can you even speak to him given his behavior?”
Olivia poured the wine, wondering how she could get Tuesday off this subject. “He was actually being a good guy this time. Warning me that he was going to be here on business. You know how Darling Valley is. With his international reputation, it was only a matter of time until he got a job up here or a chance to bid on one.”
Tuesday slid into a seat at the counter with her wine. “Yeah, I guess. But if you give up Detective McDreamy for that louse, I’ll take him myself.”
Olivia laughed. “Oh, does that mean Clipper would be available?”
Olivia had only seen an Instagram of Tuesday’s heart throb, but immediately saw the good looks that her friend liked and the humor in his eyes. Tuesday’s stories of their escapades almost made her jealous. Matt was everything she wanted in a man. Except he was a bit serious.
Tuesday narrowed her eyebrows. “If Clipper doesn’t stay home more, I’m going to give him to you on a platter.”
Clipper had a thriving business solving crimes that stumped the police. Private clients hired him and he made his own rules and hours. As a former detective for the LAPD, he was suited for the job of private investigator. But much to Tuesday’s dismay, he took assignments around the globe, mainly white collar crime for corporations with deep pockets looking for culprits who embezzled funds or rigged stock offerings.
“Shall I get the salad, O?”
Olivia nodded yes as she stuck the second pizza in the oven to keep warm. Tuesday grabbed the salad servers and put the bowl on the counter with two place settings.
As Tuesday helped get dinner going, she said, “Just our luck to have the only two men in the known world who deal with the mean streets.”
Olivia helped herself to a piece of pizza and some salad. “Well, they aren’t totally on the dark side. Clipper delves into white collar crime and this is only the second murder case since I’ve been in DV. Not a bad ratio, when you compare it to say, LA.”
Tuesday shook her head. “With what it costs to live here, you’d think they’d outlaw crime.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, Tues. They do outlaw crime. Some people just don’t read the memos.”
Halfway through their meal, Matt texted he would have a bite with them, but he would have to make it short. “Dty clz.” His code for having to work all night.
The door bell rang again and this time it was Matt with a bottle of sparkling water for himself and a bottle of Pinot for Olivia and Tuesday.
The three friends moved to the dining table and sat back in their chairs and chatted, Matt catching Tuesday up on his adventures since her last visit. Olivia put the wine away for another time. She had just opened a Merlot.
“Well, with Olivia’s help I have settled into my apartment. You’ll be happy to know that it is no longer furnished with orange crates but has actual chairs and tables from a respectable store.”
Tuesday pointed out that, “I’m using my imagination since I’ve never seen the inside of your apartment with or without orange crates.”
Matt nodded. “I tell you what. Once we resolve this case, we’ll have a little celebration at my place. We’ll christen the furniture at the same time.”
Tuesday and Olivia toasted each other. Tuesday said, “We’re going to keep him to that, right girlfriend?”
“You better believe it,” answered Olivia.
Matt toasted them back with his sparkling water. “And you know Olivia and I have been getting to know one another.”
“I’ve heard words to that effect.”
He gave a wry grin. “I bet you have, Tuesday.”
Tuesday and Matt laughed but Olivia didn’t join in. What was with the mixed signals? Matt was being pretty flirty for someone in a relationship timeout. Olivia wasn’t sure she minded, but since Brooks’ call she felt distanced from Matt, perhaps from both of them. Brooks reminded her of the heartache that can come from loving someone. Did she want to get her emotions tangled up in a difficult relationship again? She changed the subject.
“Can you tell us any news about Jed Fisher’s death or the environmental investigation? I’ve got everybody and his deadbeat brother asking me for information. Charles Bacon is very patient, but this is such an important project for him and I’d like to be able to give him some reassurance that all will be well before too long.”
Matt nibbled on his last crust of pizza, grimacing. “I’m trying to decide what I can reveal and what’s confidential. I’ll start with the site. Normally, the police department wouldn’t get involved in environmental issues on a construction project. But I sat in on the meeting Scott and Charles held with the environmental consultant a few hours ago. Since Jed had artifacts in his home and his discoveries may ha
ve led to his death, I had a reason to be there.”
Olivia threw down her napkin, clearly annoyed. “Oh? Why wasn’t I invited? When Scott told me he had called Sacramento, I specifically told him I wanted to sit in on that meeting.”
Matt fished in his pocket and retrieved a business card. “I don’t know about that, but you didn’t miss much. You can call the consultant if you want.”
He squinted at the card. “Francesca Lauren. She seems to know her stuff but just wanted a look around before they started examining the site again. I gather she signed off on the report that the team submitted. She wants to handle it personally this time. Make sure there are no screw-ups.”
Olivia gave him an arch look. “A little late for that, don’t you think?” She rethought that remark. “Of course, I’m not blaming you.”
Matt didn’t have any more he could reveal about Jed Fisher, other than he and his team were frantically looking for Victoria and the baby.
“You didn’t find any links to friends or relatives in the house?”
Matt shook his head. “Her computer was shut down and it’s password protected. Our warrant didn’t cover turning it over to our IT gang. We checked the mail that was on a desk and looked for obvious signs of family around the house, asked neighbors if they knew her whereabouts or if she had family, but we came up with nothing. The thing is, she didn’t look like she’d left town. There were two suitcases in her closet and the usual toiletries in her bathroom. A makeup kit, baby bottles in the sink that needed washing. No spaces in the closet where she might have scooped up an armful of clothes to take with her. The house looked kind of destroyed, but I’m thinking she just wasn’t a very good housekeeper. You know, with the baby throwing things all over. It really looked like she was coming right back. Normally, it’s not time to file a missing person’s report, but under the circumstances this is worrisome.”
Tuesday offered an opinion. “Maybe she just needed to drive out to the ocean or something to get away and process all this. I mean, gee, she just lost her husband. Don’t you think she just wanted a little peace and quiet?”
Matt folded his napkin and set it on the table preparing to leave. “That’s just it, Tuesday. We have no way of knowing.”
He shrugged on his jacket. “Thanks for the pizza. I never turn down Victor’s.”
He seemed to realize he’d given Olivia and Tuesday a back handed compliment. “Or the company of two wonderful women, of course.”
9:4
Tuesday cleared the few dishes away while Olivia walked Matt down the stairs and through the showroom to the front door. They replayed the awkward goodbye of the night before. They were quiet for a moment, then Matt pulled her close. He looked into her eyes and brushed her hair back.
“I don’t know where we are, Olivia. But when this case is over we have to decide. Either on or off. This in between stuff is driving me crazy.”
She hadn’t mentioned that Brooks was now part of that equation.
Olivia leaned her forehead into his chest for a moment, then looked up at him. “I know. And we will. It’s all just too complicated right now. I thought my life would calm down after the groundbreaking, but now it’s even crazier.”
He grazed her chin with his knuckles, then kissed her slowly and deeply. “Okay,” he said straightening up. “Let’s hope we solve all of our problems quickly.”
“Me, too.”
Matt opened the door and the old fashioned bell over the door tinkled as he stepped over the threshold onto the porch. He looked down.
“What’s this,” he said alarmed.
Olivia was more startled than he was. He had almost kicked over a lighted candle.
Olivia plunked the candle on the counter and said, “Speak.”
She had already doused the wick and assured Matt she would be fine. He said he would send a squad car around to keep an eye on her house. For his peace of mind as well as hers. Now it was time for Tuesday to talk.
“I want to know everything you know about black candles, Tues. We have to figure out who’s doing this.”
Tuesday grimaced as she stared at the stubby lump of wax.
“For starters, it’s homemade or very cheap.” She pointed to the side. “Look, you can see where the candlemaker had to dig it out of the mold. Amateurs.”
Olivia was pacing now. “Yes, but what does it mean? Is this some kind of threat? My guardian angel certainly didn’t leave it. And how could someone slip on to my porch without us hearing them. The kitchen is right above the front door.”
Tuesday smelled the candle. “Yeah, but we were a bit raucous and probably just didn’t hear her.”
“Why do you insist it’s a she?”
Tuesday explained, “You just don’t find men going in for this stuff and it’s pretty fragrant, though personally patchouli is so twentieth century. Maybe even nineteenth for all I know. No one uses it any more. It’s hippy stuff.
Olivia smelled the candle and made a face, then pushed it down the counter away from her.
“First off, Ollie, the candle maker could be someone who is jealous of you, maybe you and Matt. Or, it may be a Wicca in training, someone learning spells out of a book.” Tuesday translated. “You know, Wicca? Female witch.”
Olivia sat down to take all this in. “Why would a witch put a spell on me? I haven’t done anything to anyone. Despite what cable news is saying.”
“If it is a Wicca, the black candle is to banish negativity. If it’s a newbie who wants to scare you, they don’t know their symbols. This is a mis-spell. In their belief system a black candle is actually very positive and healing. But I don’t think this is from the good witch of the north. Look.”
Olivia leaned over and saw something pressed onto the side of the candle. “What is that?”
Something was carved into the side of the candle.
Tuesday picked it up and examined it closely, covering her nose with her free hand to block out the offensive patchouli. “Bingo. A gravestone with RIP on it. Now we have four. A second candle, the scythe, the vine and this. I think it is definitely a warning. Overkill maybe, in case they don’t think you’re paying attention, but definitely a warning.”
Olivia’s hands were shaking. “Or a promise.”
“What do you mean?”
“You said it’s a symbol for death. Maybe whoever killed Jed Fisher is after me. It’s common knowledge I’m associated with the project. Maybe they blame me for desecrating the sacred Indian burial ground and they are going to stop me.”
“We have to figure out a way to neutralize the negative energy.”
Olivia’s said, “I think Matt is already working on that.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s having a police car drive past the house to keep an eye on us.”
Tuesday scoffed. “Don’t put too much faith in those guys. Oh, I know they mean well. But if black energy wants to get to you, a police car won’t do it. First, they could attack while they are driving around the corner . . . “
Olivia stopped her. “Whoa there girlfriend. You’re scaring me more than the candle is. We’re going to check the locks, pour another glass of wine and sit down and watch a comedy. That’s the best negativity neutralizer I know.”
Just then her phone rang. She checked caller ID before answering. She didn’t want another surprise like Brooks.
It was Charles, sounding mournful. “I don’t know what to do with myself,” he said. “I’m worried sick that this whole project is going to fold and there’s nothing I can do about it. I feel responsible for Jed Fisher’s death. All of a sudden the environmental agency and the police have control over the museum. What am I gonna do?”
Olivia slipped her shoes off and handed the remote to Tuesday. “My dear friend, I have half a bottle of Cannizzo-Page Merlot left from dinner and Tuesday’s calling up a Will Ferrell movie on Netflix.”
“I’ll be right over,” he said.
As the credits rolled and Tuesday gathered
up the wine glasses, Olivia said, “So what’s up with the environmental people?”
Charles was putting his shoes back on. “Yeah, how come you didn’t show up?”
“Didn’t show up? I didn’t know about it.”
“Come on. Scott said he told you. We waited a bit but Dr. Lauren was on a tight schedule.”
Olivia scowled at him. “Charles, you know me. I don’t miss meetings. Especially one that important. I’m telling you, Scott told me he had contacted the State agency. That’s all. I specifically said to let me know when you were meeting. I wanted to be in on it. Then I hear from Matt Richards that he was invited to the meeting for crying out loud, but not me.”
Charles shrugged. “I don’t know what’s up with that. Scott’s got a lot on his mind. Anyway, not much happened. They’re going to do an assessment and get back to us. At least we have the boss supervising things. She seems pretty sharp.”
Charles got up to leave, said goodbye to Tuesday in the kitchen and Olivia walked him down the stairs. At the bottom he said, “You got a cat?”
“No, do you hear one?”
He nodded in the affirmative.
“Drat. I meant to check with the neighbors today. I think one’s been hanging around the garbage cans. It’s kept Tuesday awake at night.”
She flipped on the lights and they walked through the showroom to the front door. She opened it and the overhead bell tinkled. She hadn’t said anything to Charles about the candle. It might be nothing and she didn’t want to put more worry on his shoulders. Cautiously, she opened the door and peered out onto the porch, but saw nothing. Charles shook her hand as he always did. “Don’t forget, Olivia. I’m your guy.”
She smiled. “And I’m yours, Charles. Drive carefully.”
When the last dish was washed, she announced to Tuesday that she was going to get to the bottom of this Scott business. She started dialing his number.