Death Drops (25 page)

The three of us went downstairs to get a cup of tea. Hector
and Allie waited at a table next to the window while Qigong followed me as I moved around the kitchen, putting the water on and depositing tea bags into mugs. I’d been in there only a minute when Allie came hustling in with a worried look on her face. “Someone is watching the store,” she said, and tugged me on the arm. “Come and see.”

Hector stood by the front door, looking through the windowpanes on the top. “They’re in the park. I think they have binoculars. Look to the right of your van.” I stood next to him and peered out. To the right of our van, I saw two people. I couldn’t tell if it was the pet shop boys.

“Aunt Claire has a pair of binoculars, too. I saw them in her bookcase.” I ran into the office and grabbed the pair, which sat on a shelf next to new-age DVDs, including those of Catherine Ponder, Louise Hay, and Deepak Chopra. I ran back out and focused on the two shadows, standing to one side of the carousel but just out of range of a large spotlight. Damn it.

“I’m going out,” Hector said.

“I’m going with you,” I said.

Hector shook his head. “That’s not a good idea. Maybe we should call that detective.”

I shook my head no. “Not until we have real proof.” I turned to Allie and said, “You wait here. If we don’t come back right away or you see something bad happen, call the cops and tell Jackson.” I checked to make sure I had my cell phone. “I’ll call you in a few minutes.”

“I don’t like this,” Allie said, shivering.

“I don’t like it, either,” I said. “But we’re in this now.”

Hector and I made our
way out the back door, cut behind Nan’s Needlework, and crossed Front Street to the other side
of the post office. The building blocked our approach. Once across, we headed toward the water and to the path that cut through the back of Mitchell Park and circled behind the carousel.

When we got to the carousel, we could see the two people talking, while one of them, the shorter one, who could be a woman, kept the binoculars trained on Nature’s Way. Since the first and third floor lights were on, I figured they were waiting for them to go off before making a move. But as we approached, one of them took off across the street. I still couldn’t tell who he or she was. The other person remained in place and I noticed a few strands of long, blond hair snaking out from under the watch cap the person wore. Polly?

We moved closer through the damp grass to the edge of the carousel. A light flickered from the steps of Nature’s Way. A signal perhaps? The person with the binoculars ran across the street, and before we could follow, Qigong began barking from inside the store. The flickering light on the steps went out, and moments later we heard a soft whooshing sound. The two people took off at a dead run toward the drugstore and 1st Street while Hector and I ran over to see what had happened. All four tires on the van had been slashed.

Dear Dr. McQuade,

My doctor tells me I’ve got high blood pressure. I know I need to manage my stress more effectively, but how can I change my diet to help? Are there any special foods that lower blood pressure?

Signed,

Too High

Dear Too High,

Yes, you are right, handling stress is a top priority when you have high blood pressure. Qigong breathing exercises can help. Qigong breathing is basically conscious breathing, with slow, gentle, deep breaths. To learn how, visit
www.SpringForestQigong.com
. The right diet can help as well. You can start by using the DASH diet (
www.dashdiet.org
) to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This diet, which focuses on fruits, veggies, whole grains, high fiber, and low-fat foods, can also help to lower “bad” cholesterol. Fun fact? Chocolate can help, too. The flavonoids in cocoa act as antioxidants and are good for cardiovascular function. Make it a habit to have an ounce of dark chocolate that is high in cacao content (at least 70 percent) once a day. Yum!

Signed,

Dr. Willow McQuade

“So they slashed the tires and ran?” Jackson asked us. The four of us and Qigong were back upstairs in Hector’s treatment room.

“I swear one of them was Polly,” I said. “Whoever it was had long, blond hair. Hector chased after them, but they had a good head start.”

“Track was not my strong suit.” Hector picked Jackson’s red-and-white flannel shirt up off the hutch and handed it to him. “Keep warm. We don’t want those muscles to tense up.”

Jackson sat up, pulled on the shirt, and eased off the table. “Obviously, they haven’t given up. Even if they do have the formula. Even if they did kill Claire. Exhibit A.” He pointed to my left arm, which was still in a cast. “Like we agreed at the Vine Bar, I think we’re going to have to be much more careful going forward.”

“Every question we ask seems to stir up a lot of trouble,” I said. “I just want justice. I want the truth. I owe it to her.”

“Walk me out,” Jackson said to me, and took my arm. I felt a zing of electricity pass between us so strong it almost took my breath away. We headed down the stairs in silence, and when we got to the bottom he turned to me. “With everything that’s happened, I think we have to consider abandoning the idea that we can solve this thing. Maybe Koren was right, it’s better left to professionals.”

“You are a professional.”

He shook his head. “Willow, I
was
a professional. I’m retired. On disability. I can barely get around. You were right—if it hadn’t been for that adrenaline rush, I never would have been able to take on those two boneheads. This is getting complicated. And I’m worried about you.”

“You’re worried about me?”

He smiled. “Let’s just say that you’ve grown on me, McQuade. You’ve got guts. I like your style.”

“Back atcha, Spade.” I punched him on the arm like I was in third grade.

We stood there awkwardly for a few moments, and then Jackson shoved his hands into his pockets. “Guess I should be going.”

We walked down the aisle, past the dairy refrigerator, fruit juices, coconut water, and snacks, to the front of the store. I made small talk to dispel any weirdness. “But Hector helped you, didn’t he? You feel better?”

“Yes, I feel much looser and my muscles feel energized somehow. I almost feel normal. Thank you, Willow.”

“It’s part of our personal service.”

“Is that right?” He gave me that 100-watt stare and crooked smile.

I felt all gooey inside. “Yes, that’s right.” It was one of those moments that could go either way. Would we kiss or not?

Jackson leaned in and I closed my eyes. Then the front door flew open and Simon stepped in.

“Willow, you okay?” Simon said
as he rushed over to me. He held his manuscript in one hand and a Starbucks cup in the other. Obviously, he’d made it there after all. “I was worried about you.” He gulped down some coffee.

Now he was worried? What about during the big fight? And with the cops? Self-centered Simon. But what good would it do to fight? “Simon, I’m fine. Thanks for checking.”

“No problem, no problem,” he said, clearly hyper from the caffeine. He hooked his thumb in Jackson’s direction. “What’s he doing here?”

Jackson pushed past him. “I’ve got to get going. I’m sure you’ll be safe with Simon,” he said, a bemused expression
on his face. “We’ll talk in the a.m. I’ve got an early morning appointment with Hector and Allie. Night.”

After Jackson left, Simon processed this development. Willow with another man. “So he’s why you don’t want to get back together?”

“We’re working on the case,” I said. “He’s helping me figure out who killed Aunt Claire and who stole her formula.”

“I’ll bet,” Simon said, thinking about this. “He’s definitely into you. That’s just an excuse to hang around.”

“Claire was important to him,” I said. “That’s why he’s helping me.”

Simon snorted. “Whatever.”

I started to turn off the lights in the front of the store. Maybe he would take the hint. “Simon, it’s late. I want to go to bed.”

He took a sip of his coffee and eyed me over the lid. “Sure you want to sleep alone?”

Actually, I would have liked it if Jackson had slept over, but I kept that idea to myself. For now. “I’m sure.”

Okay, so sleeping alone was
a lot less fun than sleeping with Jackson would have been. Well, I wasn’t exactly alone, since I had Qigong, Ginger, and Ginkgo to keep me company. For some reason, though, I overslept, and the next morning, by the time I’d done a few sun salutations, a seated meditation, showered, dressed, and opened the door to head downstairs, Jackson had stepped onto the third-floor landing and was headed for Allie’s treatment room.

“Mornin’, McQuade.”

“Mornin’, Spade. Here for your next session?”

He nodded. “Allie is going to give me a hot stone treatment, and then Hector will give me a tune-up. He’s got some exercises I can do at home, too.”

Allie stepped out of her room, holding a lavender candle. She lit it with a match and smiled at Jackson. “You are going to love this treatment. It’s just heaven. It just melts away stress, tension, and muscle stiffness.”

“What exactly are you going to do to me?” Jackson arched an eyebrow.

“I’m going to place smooth, water-heated stones at key points on your back to relax your muscles and tissues, which will release toxins and improve your circulation. After that, I’ll give you a full body massage.” Her cell phone rang inside her room and she went to answer it. “Come in when you’re ready.”

“I’ll be right there, Allie, thanks.” He pulled me aside. “Have you given any thought to what I said about leaving this investigation to the cops?”

“Nothing to think about,” I said. “I’m in this thing and I’m hoping you are, too. But you’re under no obligation. The sessions are free no matter what. We agreed.”

“Uh-huh.” He rubbed his chin. “You mean if I don’t help you, you’re going to do it anyway?”

“You bet.”

Jackson blew out a sigh. “I was afraid of that.”

Allie came back out and pointed to her watch. “We’d better get started. It’s nine and I just booked an appointment at ten. Word must be getting around about our services. Merrily has our cards by the counter.”

“And when you Facebook and tweet and get LinkedIn, you’ll have even more,” I said, glad things were moving in a positive direction despite recent events. People either didn’t know or didn’t care about what had happened here, which
might have a lot to do with an interview that Koren had given to
Newsday
. Not that I was going to thank him.

“I think Claire advertised in the
Suffolk Times,
” Jackson said. “Maybe they’ll do a story on you. Maybe if you focus on the business rather than you-know, you’d feel better.”

“I don’t think so,” I said pointedly, determined to find Aunt Claire’s killer, even at the expense of a promising budding romance.

Merrily ran up the steps, holding an energy drink and wired as usual. “We need to get the bread, and since the van is out, can Stephen borrow your car?”

I fished out the keys and gave them to her. “Can you call the mechanic and have him come over, too?”

“On it.” She spun on her heel and ran back down the stairs.

“She’s hopped up on caffeine. Just like your friend Simon last night. Kind of late for him to be stopping by, wasn’t it?” He folded his arms in front of his chest and appraised me.

“Simon acts on impulse. He doesn’t bother with things like checking the time. It’s part of the reason we are no longer together.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Oh, so you two used to be involved?”

“Yes, but not anymore.”

He uncrossed him arms and took a step toward me. “So you’re back on the market?”

Before I could answer, Hector came out of the apartment opposite and gave Jackson a once-over. “Feel any better?”

Jackson kneaded his lower back and looked at me. “Yes. And I’m ready for more.”

At eleven o’clock, Hector opened
his door and invited me in. “We’re just about done.” Jackson lay on the table.

“How do you feel?” I asked him.

“More opened up. Like the energy is flowing. Does that make sense?”

“Yes, indeed,” Hector said. “Okay, now bend your knees to your chest.” Jackson did so. “Place your fingertips in the center of the crease behind each of your knees.” Jackson managed to do this, too. “Okay, now holding on to the points, gently rock your legs back and forth.”

Jackson looked at Hector skeptically. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Not at all. Try doing it for just one minute.”

Jackson, looking ever more the pretzel, rocked back and forth a few times on the table. “Good,” Hector said. “Good. Now let your feet rest flat on the table with your knees bent and relax.”

Jackson did as he said. “I do feel like some tension is being released.”

“If you do this three times a day, you will notice a difference within a week,” he instructed, helped Jackson sit up. Just then we heard a zinging noise, and the glass in the window next to the table shattered. Jackson went down.

Dear Dr. McQuade,

My grandfather has heart disease, and I told him that there were lots of foods and supplements that can help your heart. He doesn’t believe me. What can I tell him specifically to convince him to go natural?

Signed,

I Heart My Grandpa

Dear I Heart My Grandpa,

It’s great that you want to help your grandfather feel better and be healthier. First, it’s important that he follow the American Heart Association’s guidelines for eating healthy. This means eating a varied, balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies and fiber, 25 to 30 grams a day for heart health. It’s also important to achieve and maintain a healthy weight and keep blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels. One of the easiest ways to reduce cholesterol is by eating foods that are fortified with plant sterols, which help to block its absorption. You’ll find plant sterols in everything from OJ to margarine or in a supplement. Co-enzyme Q10 is another important nutrient that supports heart and blood vessel function. Take 100 to 300 milligrams a day. Whatever you try, though, be sure to check with his doctor first.