Be My Valencrime

by Amy M. Reade

  She was a little surprised when Hassan didn’t call on Sunday. She thought maybe he needed some time to digest everything that had happened at Guy’s Place, though he did text her once during the day to say he was working. She tried calling him before going to bed that night, but his phone went straight to voicemail.

  On Monday morning she was cranky when she got to work, but one look at Harry when he walked into the shop snapped her out of her self-absorption. He looked exhausted and wan, his face devoid of its usual healthy color.

  “No news, Harry?” She knew she didn’t have to ask. His demeanor told her everything she needed to know.

  He shook his head. “It’s been a whole week, Lilly. She left her purse and ID and everything behind, so it’s looking less and less like she left on her own. She never goes anywhere without her purse.” His voice was glum and without inflection.

  “They’ll find her, Harry, I know they will.” Lilly tried to sound buoyant. He nodded, but just barely.

  Lilly’s fingers itched to phone Hassan that morning, but she wanted to be able to talk to him uninterrupted. Customers coming and going all morning made that impossible. She had just made up her mind to call him that evening after work when he came into the shop. When she heard him talking to Harry, she came out of the office and stood at a discrete distance, waiting until the two men finished talking. Hassan clapped Harry on the back and turned away, toward her. He wore a sheepish look.

  “Hi,” he said.

  “Hi.”

  “Are you busy for lunch?” he asked.

  Lilly shook her head. She was suddenly nervous.

  “I thought we could go over to the French bistro.”

  She nodded. “Okay. I’ll get my coat. Harry, can you watch things around here for a bit? If you need to leave in a hurry, put the ‘Closed’ sign on the door.”

  “Sure, boss,” Harry said. Lilly smiled at him.

  She grabbed her coat from the office and joined Hassan out on the sidewalk. Neither spoke again until they had walked a block up Main Street toward the bistro.

  “Has the shop been busy today?” Hassan asked. Lilly knew he was trying to make small talk. She would rather he just kept quiet until he was ready to talk about Saturday night.

  “Yeah, pretty busy today.”

  He didn’t reach for her hand as he normally would have. Lilly wondered if it was because he was still upset about the incident at Guy’s Place or if he was reacting to her standoffishness. She was careful not to brush up against his arm as they walked, keeping about a foot of space between them.

  When they got to the bistro he opened the door for her, then followed her inside. Armand, the owner, smiled when he saw them.

  They stood in line before the clean white marble counter with the glass-front case of sandwiches and French pastries, waiting their turn to order. Lilly was glad to see the lunchtime crowd inside the bistro—Armand’s wife had been murdered the previous summer and Armand hadn’t known whether he would continue to operate the small restaurant after her death. But the people of Juniper Junction had rallied around him and convinced him to stay, especially when it was revealed who had killed her.

  It wasn’t until they had their sandwiches and tea and were sitting across from each other at one of the quaint bistro tables that Hassan started to talk.

  “I want to apologize for the way I acted the other night.” He paused for several moments. Lilly sensed that he had more to say, so she waited for him to continue.

  “That was the first time anyone has made a reference to my skin color since I bought the house in Juniper Junction,” he continued, putting his hands, palms-up, on the table in front of him. “And, obviously, the talk about terrorism was a direct insult to the religion that guy assumed I practice. He was right about my religion, of course. But I was angry about it. There are so many Muslims where I live in Minnesota that it just seems natural for one to see them everywhere. But here it’s different. And I was finally made to feel different, less-than, on Saturday night.”

  Lilly opened her mouth to speak, but Hassan went on.

  “It makes me wonder what people are thinking and not saying about me whenever they see me. I mean, when I walk down Main Street, are people afraid there’s a terrorist in their midst? I haven’t noticed, but I probably will now.”

  “I’m so sorry about everything. If I had known what would happen, I would never have asked you to go with me,” Lilly said.

  “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known that was going to happen. And I’m sorry you had to witness the ugliness.”

  “I’m glad I was there with you so you didn’t have to handle it alone.”

  “I wish you hadn’t seen it at all. It’s embarrassing.”

  “Why should you be embarrassed? Those buffoons at the bar should be the ones who are embarrassed. Every last one of them.”

  “I doubt they’ve given it another thought,” Hassan said.

  Unfortunately, he was probably right.

  They ate in silence for a few minutes, each lost in thought, until Armand got a break from the lunch crowds and came over to their table.

  “How are things, Armand?” Lilly asked.

  He gave an expansive shrug of the shoulders. “As well as can be expected, I suppose,” he said. Lilly could have listened to his thick French accent all day long. “It is a good thing that the bistro has been busy. It keeps me—how do you say it—busy in the mind and in the body. I have less time to think.”

  “Have you been back to France?” Hassan asked.

  “Oui. I returned to scatter Cerise’s ashes in the village where she grew up. It is a beautiful place. Cerise is at rest now.”

  Lilly smiled sadly at Armand. She had barely known Cerise when the poor woman was murdered, but she had a feeling they could have been friends. And even Noley, who had initially been charged with Cerise’s murder, would probably have been good friends with the couple.

  That brought her thoughts back to Noley and her plan to ask her best friend to go back to Guy’s Place with her to find out more about Alice. She didn’t want Hassan to know she was returning to the bar.

  Someone called Armand from the kitchen and he left, but not before making Lilly and Hassan promise they would return to visit him at the bistro soon. Once he left, they finished lunch and went back to the jewelry shop. This time Hassan held Lilly’s hand and she didn’t mind walking close to him.

  When they reached Juniper Junction Jewels, Hassan held the door for Lilly, then said, “I’ll talk to you later. I’m headed back to the house.”

  “Wait.” Lilly beckoned him into the shop. It was time to show him his Valentine’s Day gift.

  Hassan tilted his head and squinted slightly. “What’s up?”

  She grabbed his hand and led him back to the office. Harry looked on, his eyebrows raised.

  “There hasn’t been a good time to give you your Valentine’s Day gift, so I’m doing it now.” Hassan smiled and closed his eyes.

  Lilly placed a small tray on her desk. The XO template was on the tray. She covered it with a black cloth and told Hassan to open his eyes.

  He opened them and looked at Lilly, then his gaze followed hers to the tray on the desk.

  “Is that it?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Lift up the black cloth.”

  He did as she told him to and stood gazing at the XO template in black crystals.

  He turned to her with a smile. “What is this?”

  “I designed it for you. I mean, not to give you as a piece of jewelry, but in your honor. I tried to design something that exemplifies how I feel about you. I’m going to sell it in onyx, not black glass crystals, and give the proceeds to an Afghan charity.”

  He stared at her for several seconds, then gathered her into his arms. “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten,” he said into her hair. He held her away from him and shook his head and shrugged. “I don’t even know what else to say. I love you. Thank you.”

  “I’m gla
d you like it.” She beamed.

  Chapter 20

  When Lilly got home from work that night, the first thing she did was call Noley.

  “What are you doing tomorrow night?” she asked.

  “No plans. Bill has to work,” Noley replied.

  “Care to take a run over to Lupine with me?”

  Noley was always up for a road trip, even a short one, so Lilly had known she would say yes.

  “Sure. What are you doing in Lupine?”

  Lilly would have preferred to spring the reason on Noley once they arrived at Guy’s Place, but she figured Noley might appreciate a heads-up.

  “I’m going out to Guy’s Place. That’s where Alice was working.”

  “You want me to go to the strip joint with you? That’s not really my scene, Lil.”

  “I know, but hear me out. It’s not my scene, either, you know that. But I have to do something to help Harry. You should see him in the shop. He’s sad all the time, apprehensive, glum. I can’t just sit by and do nothing.”

  “But a strip club? Really? I’m sure the police have already been there asking questions.”

  “I’m sure they have, but people are suspicious of police asking questions, especially in a place like that. They might speak to us if we go in there like regular patrons.”

  “Women aren’t regular patrons of strip clubs, Lilly.”

  “You’d be surprised at how many women were there Saturday night.”

  “Wait. What? You’ve already been?” Noley asked.

  Lilly sighed. “I went there with Hassan Saturday night and it was a complete disaster. I’ll fill you in on the way there tomorrow night.”

  Noley laughed. “Quite a place for a date.”

  “It was the date from hell.”

  Noley sobered. “I’m sorry. You’ll have to tell me about it.”

  “I will.”

  “What time? And what should I wear?” Noley asked. “Did you wear the dress I lent you?”

  “Yeah. I was a bit overdressed, to say the least. Just wear jeans and your homeliest flannel shirt. And work boots, if you have any. You’ll fit right in.”

  “And this place is in Lupine?” Noley sounded incredulous. “I don’t want to make a fool of myself by going somewhere totally underdressed.”

  “Don’t worry. You won’t.”

  Noley sounded dubious. “All right, if you say so. But maybe I should take a dress with me, just in case.”

  “Trust me, you won’t need it. And if you have any blue eyeshadow, I would recommend wearing that.”

  “I’m a little concerned about the way tomorrow evening is shaping up,” Noley said.

  “It’ll be fine. I’ll pick you up around six. Eat before you go, since I wouldn’t trust the food there.”

  “Now I definitely don’t like the way the evening is shaping up.”

  Lilly could hear the grimace in her voice. Noley didn’t like to go to places where the food wasn’t good.

  “You do this for me and I’ll buy you lunch at the bistro,” Lilly said.

  “Deal.”

  Lilly hung up and sat back in her chair at the kitchen table, wishing the dinner fairy had visited while she was at work.

  “You’re going to a strip club?” The sound of Laurel’s voice made Lilly jump.

  Rats, she thought. Who knew Laurel was eavesdropping? Of all my traits, that’s the one she inherits?

  “Yes, but let me explain why,” Lilly began.

  Laurel held up her hand for silence. “Never mind. I don’t think I want to know, Mom. I can never unhear what I just heard.”

  “You’re being a bit dramatic, aren’t you?” Lilly asked.

  “What would you say if Gran announced that she was going to a strip club?” Laurel asked, her head tilted and her eyes challenging.

  I see she also inherited my ability to ask ruthlessly unnerving questions.

  “I would say, ‘Mom, you are a grown woman and you should spend your free time in any way you see fit,’” Lilly lied. Honestly, I wouldn’t be too surprised to hear Mom announce she was headed to a strip club.

  “You would not. You would react the same way I did.” Then Laurel gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “Does Hassan know about this?”

  “Let me explain, will you? Harry’s girlfriend Alice works at a strip club in Lupine,” she began.

  “You’re kidding.”

  “I wish I were. But it’s true, and I want to go there to ask the other, um, dancers a few questions about her.”

  “Does Uncle Bill know you’re doing this?”

  “No, and he’s not going to find out.” Lilly pointed at Laurel and gave the girl a burning look.

  “Is Hassan going with you?”

  “No.” Lilly shook her head emphatically. “He went with me the other night and things didn’t go well.”

  “What?! You’ve already been to the strip club? Why would you ever go back?”

  “Because Hassan and I were asked to leave.”

  “Why?” Laurel fixed her mother with a suspicious, confused look.

  “It’s a long story, but they were harassing Hassan and we thought it would be best if we left. We never made it too much farther than the front door of the place.”

  “What were they saying to Hassan?”

  “That’s probably a conversation for another day, honey.”

  “You can tell me. I’m old enough to take it.”

  “It’s not that, it’s just that it was upsetting and I don’t really feel like discussing it right now.”

  “Oh. Okay. So who’s going with you tomorrow?”

  “Noley.”

  Laurel shook her head. “My mom and her best friend are clubbing with strippers. This is so embarrassing.”

  “I’m not clubbing. I’m investigating. There’s a world of difference.”

  “I’m surprised Harry would date a stripper.” Laurel looked at Lilly with mischief in her eyes. “How do you think they met?”

  “Not at the strip club, that’s for sure. He was as surprised as anyone else to learn she’s working there.”

  “Is it safe there?” Laurel asked.

  Lilly shrugged. “Safe enough.”

  “In the movies, murders always take place in strip clubs,” Laurel pointed out.

  “Well, hopefully there’s been no murder at this one. We’re hoping to find Alice alive and well. And maybe her co-workers can help.”

  “Wait ’til I tell Tighe about this,” Laurel said. The mischievous look had crept back into her eyes.

  “Don’t you dare.”

  “What will you give me?” Laurel asked. Lilly had to hand it to the kid—she was shrewd.

  “I won’t extend your grounding.” Lilly gave Laurel a pointed look.

  “We’ll see.” Laurel turned on her heel and sped toward the stairs. She stopped on the first step. “What’s for dinner?”

  “Whatever you made.”

  “Hmm. That would be nothing. Can we order burgers?”

  Should she force leftovers on both of them? Nah—burgers sounded good and as long as Laurel was willing to sit and talk to her jailer, it might be worth the schlep in the snow to pick them up.

  “Burgers it is. Order them, will you? Make mine medium. I’ll go pick them up. After dinner you can go to Gran’s with me to do some cleaning.”

  “Okay.”

  No argument?

  “Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?” Lilly asked with a smile.

  Laurel laughed and continued up the stairs.

  Having a grounded child in the house wasn’t nearly as bad as Lilly had expected.

  Chapter 21

  Lilly fretted all day Tuesday until it was time to pack up the displays for the evening.

  “Are you okay, boss?” Harry asked more than once. It was sweet of him to be concerned for her with all he had on his mind.

  “I’m good, Harry. Don’t worry about me.”

  “If you say so.”

 
“Is someone still staying with you at night?” Lilly asked. She felt like chatting, anything to keep her mind off her upcoming field trip.

  “Yeah. Mary Louise and Mack are taking turns.”

  “They’re good to you,” Lilly mused aloud.

  Harry shrugged. “I guess.”

  Lilly looked up sharply. “What do you mean by that?”

  Harry shrugged again. “Mack’s okay, but I sort of wish it was just him and not Mary Louise, too.”

  “Why not?”

  Harry blushed to the tips of his ears and down his neck. “She’s got kind of a crush on me, I think. At least that’s what Mack says.”

  “Does it make you uncomfortable when she stays at your house?”

  “A little. I don’t want her to think I’m leading her on.”

  “Have you told her that?” Lilly asked.

  “No, because it’s so nice of her to stay with me. I don’t want her to think I’m ungrateful.”

  Lilly could understand his feelings. Especially at such a difficult time, he didn’t want to be alienating his friends. But on the other hand, having Mary Louise at his house might be making life harder for both of them.

  “Maybe Mack or one of your other friends can say something to her,” Lilly suggested.

  “Maybe. I’ll think about it,” Harry said. Lilly was pretty sure that was his way of ending the conversation, so she didn’t say anything else about it. But she was a little worried.

  “Let me know if you hear anything about Alice,” Lilly reminded him as they walked out the door together.

  “I will. I promise.”

  Lilly’s mind reeled with preoccupations while she drove home. She didn’t want to go back to Guy’s Place, but she knew she had to. She was worried that Mary Louise might be taking advantage of a bad situation to ingratiate herself with Harry. And she was still worried about Hassan. She wished he hadn’t turned inward when the idiots at Guy’s Place had upset him. And she was worried about her mom, as usual.

  When she got home she took off her work clothes and slipped into something a little less comfortable: a pair of jeans that had fit her two sizes ago, a long-sleeved tee shirt advertising a local roofer (she had won it in a radio contest years before), an old pair of Tighe’s work boots that pinched her feet, and a baseball cap. She gathered her hair into a ponytail and slid it through the opening in the back of the cap. Before doing that, though, she swiped some hideous old makeup on her face.