Pastor looked at her son, “But you, I didn’t even recognize you. I almost doused you with a scalding pot of tea! If it hadn’t been for that nonsense about not wasting tea...”
He looked at her sheepishly, “I thought you might realize it was me when I said that, or when I asked for that flavor.”
“How could I? You look like some type of muscle-bound goon! Not my son! I just thought the young man had good manners and it wouldn’t make sense to hurt him unless I had to do so. Plus, it wouldn’t have helped with Alice.”
“That was a quick assessment, Mom. I’m proud of how you were on your toes. Julie was pretty terrific too, wasn’t she?” he said, gesturing towards the woman across the room.
“Yes, she was. Where ever did you learn to kick like that?” Pastor asked, standing up to grasp Julie in a tight hug. “You scared me when you came in here! I had just gotten rid of Pam and Joe, and then you were in the middle of the danger!”
“Karate as a kid. Lois hated sports, but Dad wanted us to be able to fight if we needed to. I haven’t used it in years, but I have stayed in some shape, in yoga and Pilates classes since then.”
Pastor looked around, “What about Sam Waters? How does he play into this?”
Andy shrugged, “As far as we can tell, completely innocent. He was brought in by some agents in New Jersey and interviewed. He did recognize the Craigslist ad and say something to Alice about it, but unless she contradicts him, the idea to go for it was all hers. Since his ex also went after the cards, it seems he might just be the kind of man that women do stupid things for to impress him.”
“Speaking of his ex, how did she know to impersonate my stepmother?” Julie asked.
He shook his head, “That’s one thing we are hoping to learn from Alice. The best we can conclude is that she found out about the cards and was going to try to get them before Alice did. But it doesn’t connect all the dots. Unless she realized you, or someone who knew Lois, would come here, and she was planning to wait for you, so that she could steal the cards from you. But how she knew what happened to Lois, we don’t know. Nor do we know why exactly she happened to be outside William’s door. Our best guess is she realized he suspected something. Maybe she thought he had the cards.”
Just then they heard the Kinks, and Pastor wondered with a sigh why she hadn’t locked the door and turned the sign when the police left. Joe came in, carrying a pistol, aiming it at Andy. “Get away from the women!”
“Joe!” Pastor called out, stepping away from her son as she approached him. “What are you doing?”
He looked at her, bewildered. “I got your note. Jason wasn’t available, so I’m saving you, aren’t I?”
Pastor started to laugh as she took the gun from his hands. It was a deep hearty laugh, one she hadn’t been able to let loose for days. “Yes, Joe, you are. But this is my son Andy. I admit he looks a bit rough right now, but he already helped catch the criminals.”
Her son stood and shook hands with Joe. “Pleased to meet you, sir. Thanks for saving my mom, although I think she is fine now.”
Joe looked puzzled, but sat down anyhow. “You’re okay as well, young lady?” he asked Julie.
“Yes, everything is lovely right now. Thank you!” she said lightly. “Are you the Joe that plays tennis with my Uncle William?”
“Why yes I am, and where is that old rascal? I didn’t know he had any pretty young nieces,” he replied. He grabbed his stomach as Pastor pretended to hit him.
Pastor got up and locked the door, and turned the sign to read closed. “I think I am ready for a little peace in here. I hate to waste a pot of tea; anyone want some?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
The next morning was a Saturday but Pastor had decided to stay closed for the weekend, giving herself an extra day of recovery. She and Julie went for a long walk on the beach after saying farewell to Andy, who was returning his rental to New Orleans and then flying home. He had given Julie his number, telling her to call if she was ever in the DC area. When they got back to her condo, Pastor made a pot of tea and took it out to the balcony.
“So what have you decided to do with the cards?” she asked.
“Well, Andy kept the ones we just purchased and didn’t need to give to your grandchildren. But I don’t think you meant those,” she answered with a smile. “I guess I’m glad Jamie had the other box of cards and photos, so Cindy Smith couldn’t steal it after attacking my mom. I can’t believe she forgot she took them when I called and asked her about them. She’s so flakey! The rarest ones Jamie and I have decided to loan to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. We’ll still own them, but the museum will have to worry about the security. The others we have in a safety deposit box in Princeton. We can go see them when we go home and visit Lois. It is amazing the lengths people will go to for love and objects, isn’t it? ” Julie said.
“Some of humankind’s greatest moments are because of love, but also some of our worst. Passion is an interesting emotion. But to take it away would leave us empty. Then we may as well be machines.”
“That’s very true. This has certainly opened my eyes to the way I was living, almost in a sleep. Though I can thank my father for all those years of karate lessons. He was adamant his daughters should be able to defend themselves.”
Pastor laughed, “Please don’t underestimate your elders, dear. We’ve learned there are quite a few things worth being passionate about.”
The doorbell rang and the older woman excused herself. She returned with William and another cup for tea. Julie rushed over and hugged him “Oh, Uncle William, thank you!” she said with a cry.
The former spy held her out at arm’s length, “Thank you, my dear girl! Next time you have a question about something related to baseball, do me a favor and come to me first!”
“Next time I have a question about anything outside my normal realm of life, I will call you. How’s that, Uncle William?”
“That, my dear, sounds like a great plan!”
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ONE CUPPA BREW
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
One Cuppa Brew: Book 1 in The Thyme for Tea Series Page 6