Downton Tabby (11 page)

“I’m sure Diana will be pleased with her necklace.” I smiled at Neeley. “And I’ll be back to look at some of the rest of your collections.”

The two exited the store with me. As we stepped out into the sunshine, we all three reached for our sunglasses.

“Heidi.” I stopped her with a hand on her arm. “What’s this about an argument Jake and Cash had?”

“It was no big deal.” She shrugged my hand loose. “Don’t make it into one.” She walked away.

Heidi and Morgan hopped in Heidi’s Escalade which was parked at the curb and took off. I watched them pull away, bothered by how dismissive Heidi had been of the disagreement. Was she protecting Cash? What was the secret? And most importantly, had he been angry enough to strangle his friend and partner?

Maybe she was right and it wasn’t a big deal. Friends disagree. But one friend was dead, and the other was missing. And the missing one was someone she supposedly cared for. Wouldn’t you think she’d be sharing everything, big deal or not, with the police?

I had started walking in the other direction up the street to where my car was parked when Neeley came rushing out of her shop.

“Oh no.” She stopped. “Caro, do you know those girls?”

“I know one of them.”

“They left this on the counter.” She held up a sparkly hair clip.

It was Heidi’s. The one she’d taken off to try the headband on. She must have forgotten to pick it up and put it back on.

“Oh, that’s Heidi’s. I’ll return it to her, if you like.”

“Would you?” Neeley handed the hair clip to me. “I’d really appreciate it if you could. I’m off to a jewelry show and am closing the shop for a couple of days.”

“No problem.” It would give me another chance to talk to Heidi and to see if I could find out more information about this argument between Jake and Cash. And maybe I could find out what she knew about Jake’s fight with the next-door neighbor that Callum MacAvoy had mentioned.

DIANA KNIGHT lived in Ruby Point, an exclusive gated community just off of PCH. Top-notch security, gorgeous homes, and to-die-for views.

The guard checked me through, and I followed the winding street to Diana’s. Pulling my sporty silver car into the flower-lined driveway, I glanced up at the house. It was one of the larger ones on the street and, though not that old, had an old world feel. The front was lush with flower beds filled with elegant roses and feathery lavender. As I got out, I stretched and inhaled the fragrant combination.

Bella, her housekeeper and companion, answered the door surrounded by a few of the members of what I fondly refer to as Diana’s zoo.

“Please, come in.” The dark-haired Bella’s lilting voice was a bit breathless, and she angled her small body to block the doorway, making sure no one escaped. “She is so looking forward to your visit.”

Diana had a blended family of rescues: a gorgeous Maine Coon cat, Gypsy; Mr. Wiggles, her lop-eared puggle; Barbary, her grumpy one-eyed basset hound; and Abe, her goat. At one point, there’d also been a rooster, Walter. From time to time there were also foster animals, the difficult-to-adopt ones, who stayed with Diana until forever homes could be found. Sometimes the lucky fosters became permanent members of the household.

I slipped through the door quickly. “How is she doing?”

“
Bien
, good, but she is bored. And impossible to keep down.” Bella lifted her hands in a gesture of helplessness. “Thank you for coming.”

Diana was in her sunny-yellow kitchen which was state of the art. She’d laid out a sumptuous lunch and was in the process of carrying the food out to the terrace. Her foot was wrapped, and she limped a little, but it didn’t seem to be slowing her down much.

“Caro, lovely as always.” Diana put down the platter to hug me. Then she kissed my cheek and looked me over head to toe. “Stella McCartney always looks good on you.”

She’d nailed it as usual. I’d worn a sleeveless silk paisley crepe-de-chine dress with a racer back. I loved the comfort and the classic lines as well as the softness of the crepe. The dark-blue and deep-burgundy contrasting colors gave it a casual feel.

“You’re the one who’s good.” I swear the woman could pick out most any designer at sixty paces. I had the ones I liked (and some that left me cold), but this lady was a clothes horse of the first order.

I glanced at the spread on the counter top. Sandwiches, mini-salads, fresh fruit, and arranged with an artistic eye. It looked almost too good to eat. Almost.

“What is this?” I chided her. “You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.”

“Oh, pshaw. I know it looks like I’ve prepared a feast, but I haven’t. Bella picked it up for me at Sapphire’s Pantry. I just dished it up so it looks fancy.” Her trademark impish smile flashed my way as she loaded up her hands.

“Let me get those.” I reached for the plates.

“You can grab the iced tea.” She nodded toward the pitcher and glasses.

There was a slight ocean kissed breeze. The large terrace was shaded by the palm trees that bordered the property, so the temperature was ideal for outdoor dining. The landscaping had been configured to continue the old-world feel with more blooms and greenery. An occasional glint of the sun on the vast Pacific peeked between the shrubberies and trees, reminding me of its closeness.

Diana was dressed in black-and-white-striped crop pants and a white cotton pullover, but somehow she still managed to look classy. Even with her right ankle wrapped in an elastic bandage. My guess was Diane von Furstenberg (the outfit not the bandage), but I wasn’t as accurate as my friend was so I didn’t share my speculation aloud.

“So.” Diana leaned forward in her chair and took a dainty sip of tea. “What’s the latest on the murder?”

“Funny you should ask.” I reached for a sandwich. “It seems like new developments at every turn.”

I filled her in on the conversation I’d just overheard between Heidi and her friend about the fight Jake and Cash had just a few days prior to Jake’s murder.

“It does sound like she should have reported that to the police.” Diana moved back and propped her injured foot on a small stool Bella had carried out to the terrace.

“It makes me feel like an idiot for trusting Cash. From the way he sounded on the phone, I truly believed he was in trouble himself.” I took a bite of the sandwich, chicken salad with bits of apple and walnut.

“Hon, you’re a great judge of character. This disagreement with his partner doesn’t mean he lied to you or that he’s not in trouble.”

“I don’t know about the great-judge-of-people pronouncement,” I reflected, picking up my glass of tea. “I can think of a case where I really missed the mark.”

Diana knew all about my family history and my ugly divorce. I recounted the bizarre scenario of Geoff showing up at house and then at my appointment.

As I described the scene with Geoff, Sam, and Malone, I could tell she was entertained by the picture I painted. In retrospect it was a little funny in an awkward sort of way, but entertainment I didn’t want to repeat any time soon.

“Now, about this Heidi.” Diana was back to the murder. “What do you know about Cash’s girlfriend?”

“I don’t know her well at all. She works at a boutique downtown near Mel’s shop. She had stopped in the office occasionally to see Cash, but not very often. She doesn’t seem as upset by the fact that he’s missing. Or at least not as upset as you’d think she would be.”

“And the rude neighbor? Do you know his name?” She leaned back in her chair.

“Hmmm.” I took a sip of sweet tea. “I don’t think anyone has mentioned it. Heidi’s the one who told me about him and the fuss over his claim of Cash’s cat being vicious.”

“Well, he seems like a jerk.” Diana calls them like she sees them.

I have to say the man did not make a very good impression on me. But then people like Diana (and me) don’t cotton much to folks who don’t like animals, and he was downright nasty about Toria.

As if she were reading my thoughts, Diana asked. “What about the young man’s kitty? I’m sure Toria was falsely accused.”

I couldn’t believe it had taken her this long to ask about the cat. With Diana it’s always about the animals.

“Oh my, Diana, she is flat adorable. I may not give her back. She’s about this tall and this wide.” I held up my hands to show her. “She’s adapted fine to Dogbert and my two felines. Toria is much more of a lap cat than Thelma or Louise, and I think Dogbert is a bit put out about the situation.”

“The Scottish Fold cats are so cute. Almost teddy bear-like faces, aren’t they?” She began gathering dishes. “What color is she?”

“She’s a grey tabby. I gather from what Cash said, he brought her with him from his home in England. He’s very attached to her, which is why I can’t imagine him taking off and leaving her behind.”

“Except he knew he left her in good hands.” She looked thoughtful.

“Stop, now. Let me pick up.” I took the dishes from her hands.

“If you take those inside, I’ll get the rest.” She collected the remaining items on the table. “I have another favor to ask of you, if you don’t mind running one more errand for me.”

“Happy to do it.” I carried the dishes to the kitchen and went back for the other things.

Diana was on her way inside with more of the remnants of our lunch. I took the tray from her.

“Do you need something else picked up? I enjoyed my side trip to Baubles, and I’m ready and willing for more shopping errands.”

“No, in this case, dropped off.” She limped inside. “The Laguna Beach Public Library has asked if I’d donate something for their Golden Age of Hollywood exhibit, and though it makes me feel ancient, Bella and I went through my things and found a few items.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“I’m donating a dress I wore in a movie eons ago and a book about the making of the movie. The author and the costume designer had already signed it, and so I signed it too. I don’t know if that will help, but they’re welcome to it.”

“No problem.” I stacked dishes in the sink. “Do I drop the things off at the library?”

“No, to Mary Jo, the woman who’s curating everything for the exhibit. Bella has her address and phone number.”

“Sounds like an exhibit I’ll have to see.”

“Oh, and there are the boxes for the ARL that I mentioned before.” She grinned, her blue eyes dancing. “You’re going to be sorry you offered to help.”

“Never.” My eyes skimmed her face. I hoped she really was as okay as she claimed.

“It’s just a few things I’d picked up for the shelter. I’d intended to drop them off last week, but then that’s when I did this.” She pointed at her foot in irritation.

“Sugar, I know you’re out of patience with it.” I hugged her. “You do what the doctor says, and it will be healed before you know it. A silly old sprain can’t keep a good woman down.”

“That’s right.” She grinned.

We walked through the kitchen to her living room and got her settled in an easy chair.

“I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate your help.” Diana settled her injured ankle on an ottoman. “There’s a basket of cranberry muffins on the counter for you. I tried a new recipe, but it made far too many for Bella and me. Consider it down payment for all of this work I’m causing you.”

“I’ll check in on you again in a couple of days.” I picked up my bag and kissed her on the cheek. “You make me a list.”

Bella helped me cart the boxes to my car, her strong brown arms helping me make short work of loading up.

“How is she really doing?” I asked as we packed the items in my trunk.

“Very impatient.” She shook her head. “She is supposed to keep her ankle
elevate
, you know, up, to help with the swelling, but she will not stop long enough to do as the doctor said she must. I am afraid she’s going to make it worse.”

“How did she do it?” I asked. “She wouldn’t tell me.”

“Her pride.” Bella smiled, her dark eyes dancing. “And she didn’t want you to worry. She was getting down from her trampoline.” She handed me another box. “No, no. I see what you are thinking. Not that kind.”

She could apparently tell from the expression on my face that I was picturing elegant Diana bouncing up and down on a trampoline.

“It is one of those little ones she jogs on so she does not have to run around the neighborhood.” She pumped her arms like she was jogging.

“Oh, Bella, that’s no deep dark secret.” I laughed. I was relieved it was something so simple and a little amused that Diana hadn’t wanted me to know. She’d wanted to avoid the “be careful” lecture she knew I’d put her through.

“Are you sure you can get these?” Bella asked. “I told her I could have picked up the necklace and dropped these things off. But I think more than anything she needed your company.”

“Really, it’s no problem at all.” I closed the trunk. “And if you need my help, sweetie, you just call me. Between us we’ll strap her to a chair if we have to.”

“It may come to that,” she laughed and waved as I pulled away.

Chapter Nine

WITH THE CONVERTIBLE’S top down I was able to soak in the sunshine and sea air on my way back. I found a classic rock-and-roll station on the car’s radio and turned the music up. The Beach Boys’ sound was ageless, and “Good Vibrations” seemed like the perfect soundtrack to the drive along PCH. Our beautiful Southern California weather always puts me in a good mood, and this time of day there was very little traffic as I turned my car south and enjoyed the glimpses of the blue Pacific and breaking waves.

I’d called the phone number Bella had given me before I’d left Ruby Point and spoken with Mary Jo, the Laguna Beach Library lady. She said she’d be home if I wanted to come right then. It was on my way to the office so it worked out well for me to swing by en route.

All the cataloguing and organizing of the items for the exhibit had become quite a time-consuming undertaking, she’d said, that had spilled over into evenings during her time off. I knew exactly how those types of volunteer commitments went, having been caught up in a few myself.

The library was small, but they had gotten creative in surviving tough times. This exhibit and the related event sounded like fun. They would have the memorabilia up for thirty days along with books, biographies, and exposes about the Golden Years of Hollywood. They had several stars, Diana among them, coming in for talks, and then the whole event would culminate in a gala with some of the memorabilia and signed books being auctioned off. It was a brilliant idea, and I could see why Diana had been asked to participate.