The Girl with the Kitten Tattoo Page 11

  Aunt Fran had been tutoring Brooke Weston’s little brother, Darryl, who’d struggled to read aloud. Whenever his teacher called on him to read to the class, the poor little kid panicked. That day, Blue appeared at Darryl’s side, and the child began to read the words as if he were a high school student. But her aunt insisted she never had a Ragdoll cat, so Lara quietly let it drop.

  After that, Blue seemed to materialize whenever Lara needed her. The cat’s intervention when Lara was threatened by killers had been nothing short of miraculous.

  “I knew it,” Tina whispered triumphantly, after Lara had finished. She suddenly looked troubled. “Lara, does anyone else know about Blue?”

  “Only three people. My friend Kayla, who adores cats. And my aunt and my, um, significant other.”

  Tina’s face brightened. “You have a boyfriend, and he believed it? Wow, I’m impressed.”

  I thought he believed it. I’m not so sure anymore…

  “Maybe there’s hope for me, then,” Tina went on. “I so want to confide in Mom, but I’m not sure how she’ll react. We’re super close, but she’s a practical lady. She’s likely to tell me I’m dreaming it. She always says my head is in the clouds.” Tina smiled, but Lara saw the worry in her eyes.

  “Only you can decide who to tell,” Lara said. “But don’t try to rush it. The day will come when you know that the time—and the person—is right.”

  Listen to me, giving advice. My own life is falling apart.

  “Unlike you, I never see Jade,” Tina explained. “But I feel her warmth and her weight on my shoulder, and I sometimes hear the teeniest tiniest of purrs. It usually happens when I’m super stressed about something. After a while she fades away, and I always feel more at peace afterward.”

  Their server came by again and refilled Lara’s mug. Tina shook her head at her.

  “Lara, thank you for being open with me,” Tina said, after the woman had strode away. “And believe me when I say my lips are sealed. I will never reveal to anyone what you told me.” Tina wiped away an eyelash with the tip of her finger. “I’m sorry I snapped at you the other day. I really thought you were trying to get a bead on me, you know? But after I read more about you, I realized how many people you’ve helped. You’re one of the good guys. I get that now.”

  I was trying to pick your brain, Lara thought, but didn’t say it out loud. The old adage “let sleeping dogs lie” popped into her head.

  “Plus, you don’t just own cats,” Tina went on. “You rescue cats. I read all about your shelter when I was checking you out.”

  Lara smiled at her. “Most of the credit for that goes to my aunt Fran. I learned my love of cats from her at an early age. Plus, if it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t even have a shelter.” She glanced at her watch. She’d been with Tina almost forty-five minutes. There was still plenty of time before she had to get home for the book club. She still wanted to ask Tina about Wayne Chancer.

  The young woman must have been a mind reader.

  “You want to know about Megan and that slug, Chancer, don’t you?” Tina said.

  Lara admitted she did. “I have no right to ask you, but something is drawing me to this town. I don’t know if it’s Megan, or you, or—”

  Tina leaned forward and spoke in a whisper. “Is there a cat somewhere in the mix?”

  Lara honestly wasn’t sure. “I think so, but I don’t think that’s all of it.”

  Something else was drawing her to this town. It was a nagging feeling, and not a comfortable one. It was the sense that something bad was about to happen. Lara had no idea what it was.

  “Lara, I can’t tell you whether or not to help Megan. In my opinion, she’s kind of a sad sack, you know? She has only one real enemy—herself. I wish her aunt and uncle would make her get some help.” Tina took a sip of her now-cold coffee.

  “Sounds like you know her pretty well,” Lara said.

  “Not really. Her aunt and uncle used to eat at the Japanese Garden kind of regularly. That’s how I got acquainted with her. When I found out who her boss was, I started giving her the cold shoulder. I feel bad about that now, but I didn’t know if she was spying for him or not, so I wasn’t taking any chances.”

  “She told me how she crashed Chancer’s party the night he died and yelled threats at him.”

  Tina looked away, her cheeks going pink. “Yeah, I heard about that. I guess the whole town’s heard about it.”

  “Do you think she’ll be arrested? Have you heard any rumors?”

  Tina laughed. “In this town? The rumor mill is grinding away, as it always is. I’m sure it’s the same where you live. Small towns thrive on gossip, whether it’s truth or fiction.”

  “That’s for sure.”

  “As for Megan being arrested, I guess it all depends. Chancer wasn’t exactly Mr. Popularity. In fact, he was a creep. For him, it was all about excess. Money, women, food, booze…”

  “Um, Megan told me what happened to your parents’ restaurant. I’m so sorry.”

  Tina’s slender features went taut. “That pig ruined my folks’ livelihood—and their reputation. They’ll never be the same.”

  “I’m sorry,” Lara said. “Do you think they’ll ever open another restaurant?”

  “I doubt it. If they do, it sure won’t be in this town. Right now, I’m working as hard as I can to help them out. I juggle two jobs, and I recently started my own business. I’m living with them for the time being, but I’m dying to move out and get my own place.”

  “I bet. When did you start your fortune cookie business?”

  Tina’s eyes shot open wide. “You know about that?”

  “I do. My friend Kayla and I were in the Peach Crate on Monday, right before we went to the bridal salon. She bought a bag of your fruit fortune cookies for her nieces and nephews. I tasted one—it was yummy.”

  “Thank you.” Tina snapped her fingers and pointed at Lara. “Hey, did you refer someone to me? A woman named Sherry went on my Web site last night and ordered fortune cookies for her wedding. Is that the wedding you bought the shoes for?”

  Lara felt herself blush. “Guilty as charged. Sherry’s my bestie. She has been since we were kids. She wanted something special for her favor boxes, but we were both coming up empty. After I checked out your Web page, I had a feeling she was going to go crazy for your fortune cookies. Turns out she did.”

  “Wow. Well, thanks for the referral.” Tina beamed. “Word of mouth is my best advertiser.”

  “I’m curious, Tina. Why fortune cookies?”

  She smiled. “From everything I’ve read—and I’ve done a ton of research—fortune cookies were originally introduced by the Japanese.”

  “Really?” Lara shoved her now-empty mug to one side. “I guess I learned something new today.”

  Tina nodded. “Over the decades—centuries, actually—there’s been a good deal of dispute over the fortune cookie’s origin. I won’t bore you with the history, but if you Google it, you’ll find some interesting articles about it. To me it doesn’t matter. I’ve always loved the silly little cookies. They’re crackly and tasty, even without a fortune inside. But the fortune makes them extra fun, right?”

  Lara laughed. “Absolutely. I always look forward to reading my fortune. Not that they ever come true.”

  “I want to make my company grow,” Tina said. “I want my folks not to have to worry about money, ever again.”

  “They’re lucky to have a daughter like you,” Lara said.

  Tina shrugged. “Thanks, but I feel like I’m not doing enough.”

  Lara glanced again at her watch. “Tina, I should be going. I’m glad you invited me—”

  “Tina?” came a voice from behind Lara.

  Tina glanced over Lara’s shoulder, and Lara turned to see a sixtysomething, balding man. He came over and stood beside their booth.
The scent of stale cigarette smoke clung to his camel-colored coat.

  “Hey, Gary. How’s it going?” Tina said, her expression neutral. “Gary, this is my friend Lara. Lara, Gary Becker.”

  The man nodded at Lara. “Pleased to meet you, Lara. Hey, sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to give you some good news for a change. I think we’ve got a nibble on the restaurant.”

  “Really? Did you get an offer?”

  “Not yet, but I think it’ll be coming in a day or two.” His thin lips flatlined. “They’re gonna lowball us, Tina. You and your folks need to be thinking about the lowest price you’ll accept. The building needs updating badly, which you already knew. A savvy buyer is gonna be looking for a deal.”

  Tina sagged. “I know. Do the best you can, and I’ll talk to Mom and Dad.” She looked over at Lara. “My folks are trying to unload the restaurant. It’s been sitting vacant for a few months, and the taxes and upkeep are killing them. Gary is our Realtor.”

  “Are you in the market to buy a home, Lara?” Becker asked. With two fingers he pulled a business card out of his coat pocket. “I’ve got some nice little places I can show you.”

  Lara smiled and took his card. “Thanks, but right now I’m all set. But I’ll keep your card in case I’m ever looking.”

  His smile fading, he nodded but said nothing. No sale, no smile.

  “Um, Lara,” Tina said, “Gary is Karen Chancer’s dad. Gary, Lara is a friend of Megan Haskell.”

  “I’m more of an acquaintance than a friend,” Lara said quickly. She didn’t want anyone to get the wrong impression.

  Becker fixed his gaze on Lara, as if trying to decide if she was friend or foe. “Well, then, let me tell you something, Lara. I feel sorry for Megan, but if she killed that bum Chancer she did the world—and my daughter—a favor.” His fingers twitched. “I know that sounds harsh, but I’m too old to mince words. My daughter put up with that scumbag for too many years. I’m glad it’s over.”

  It was an odd thing to say, given that his own daughter was a possible suspect. Lara wondered if he realized it.

  “Gary, you’d better not let the cops hear you say that,” Tina said, looking nervous.

  He coughed, a phlegmy sound that made Lara cringe. “Too late for that,” he barked out. “I already laid my cards on the table with the police. Chancer and I had bad blood, and they all know it. No point trying to hide it now.”

  “Is your daughter taking his death hard?” Lara asked him.

  Becker narrowed his eyes at her. “Actually, she’s been pretty stoic. Poor kid. I should’ve stopped that marriage a long time ago, before it ever took place. Given what I knew—” He broke off and hacked out another raspy cough.

  Lara wanted to press him, but she was afraid he’d clam up if he thought she was getting too curious. Either that or hack out a lung. There was one thing, though, that she needed to know.

  “Mr. Becker, were you at the birthday party that night?” She was pushing her luck, she knew, but this might be the only opportunity she’d get to question him.

  “First off, Lara, it’s Gary. Let’s not stand on formalities, okay? And no, I was not at the party. I was about a hundred twenty miles away, at a Realtor’s conference in Maine. I was supposed to be there all weekend, but given what happened, I had to cut it short. Any particular reason you ask?”

  “Oh no. I just wondered if you might’ve heard what Megan said to Wayne Chancer that night. You know, if it was as bad as she said it was.”

  Gary studied her with tired eyes. “You’re very inquisitive, Lara. Are you working for Megan Haskell? You’re not a lawyer, are you?”

  “Oh my, no,” Lara said with what she hoped was a disarming giggle. “I feel bad for her, that’s all. She seems so down on her luck.”

  Gary shrugged. “She made her bed when she went after Chancer. You know what they say—you lie down with dogs, you get fleas.”

  “What do you mean, ‘went after Chancer’?” Lara asked.

  “Exactly what it sounds like. Megan Haskell had a thing for her boss. That’s the main reason he fired her. He couldn’t get her to leave him alone.”

  Stunned, Lara sat back against the booth. If what Gary said was true, then Megan had been deceiving her from the start.

  “Hey, don’t get me wrong,” Gary added darkly. “Wayne cheated on my daughter, all the time. But not with Megan. I think she was a little too off-kilter, even for him.”

  Looking more uncomfortable by the minute, Tina piped in, “Gary, I thought I saw Karen’s car at Felicia’s shop this morning.”

  “Yeah, she’s there now.” He coughed. “She got sick of reporters calling her, trying to interview her. She sneaked out through the garage and drove over there. She said being at the store with Felicia gives her the most comfort right now. She’s just praying none of those pushy reporters spots her car there.”

  The door to the diner opened. A group of three women toddled in and immediately sought out a booth.

  “It’s starting to get busy in here,” Tina said, glancing at the wall clock. “A lot of people come in early for lunch.”

  “I should go, anyway,” Lara said. “Lots to do at home.” She stuck Gary’s card into her tote and buttoned her jacket. She pulled a ten out of her tote and tucked it under her empty mug. “I’d like to treat, okay?”

  Tina smiled. “Sure, as long as I can treat next time. But you know you’re leaving way too much, right?”

  “That’s okay. I really enjoyed our chat. I hope we can do it again soon. It was great meeting you…Gary.”

  Gary moved aside and held out an arm, as if ushering her out of the booth. “You too, Lara. I’m gonna stick around and gab with Tina for a bit. We have some details to work out.”

  Lara took the hint. She grabbed her tote and her gloves and slid out of the booth. “Tina, it was so nice talking to you. And thanks again for giving me the deetz on the fortune cookies. I think I know what I’m going to do now.”

  With a conspiratorial wink, Tina said, “You got it, Lara. Any time.”

  Chapter 17

  Lara sat in her car and started the engine, her mind reeling with everything she’d learned.

  Had Megan really developed a “thing” for her boss? If what Gary said was true, it added a whole new layer to Megan’s potential motive. More disturbing was that Megan had lied. To Lara, and possibly to Gideon.

  Tina Tanaka had been a surprise—a pleasant one. She was sharp and intuitive, and in tune with cats. Even Lara—who was adept at spotting details—had never noticed the pinpoints of light on the photos of herself.

  Lara still couldn’t believe she’d revealed her secret about Blue to a near stranger. Something about Tina had been so genuine that she’d spilled the entire story without giving it a second thought. Lara had also been relieved that Tina wasn’t angry with her. They’d probably never be friends, but she admired the young woman. And yet, Tina had withheld the information about Megan having “chased after” her ex-boss. Was she trying to be discreet, or did she think it wasn’t worth mentioning?

  As for Karen Chancer’s dad, she didn’t know how to read him. Gary Becker’s bluntness in front of a total stranger had astounded her. Lara couldn’t stop thinking about the comments he’d made. He’d clearly known something bad about Wayne Chancer before his daughter married him. If he hadn’t had a sudden coughing fit, would he have told them what it was?

  Now that she thought about it, she wondered how accidental her meeting with Becker had been. Could Tina have orchestrated the timing? Had she already planned to meet Becker, and decided to add Lara to the mix? If so, why? What had Tina hoped to gain?

  Questions, questions. Not a whole lot of answers.

  Lara gazed through her windshield as her car warmed up. Bakewell really was a cute little town. Several of the storefronts had striped awnings, making the shops look warm and we
lcoming. Up ahead was the Peach Crate, the gourmet shop owned by Felicia Tristany. Lara and Kayla had enjoyed browsing there, especially with all those homemade goodies to drool over. Karen Chancer’s dad had mentioned that his daughter was there today, trying to evade reporters.

  Lara remembered the cherry fruit spread she’d bought there. She’d planned to use it to make something special for Gideon. Maybe muffins or scones. Thinking of him made her feel glum all over again. The last time they’d spoken, he’d sounded disappointed in her. The thought made her sad and angry at the same time. She knew Gideon loved her and cared about her, and that he worried about her safety. But her tendency to stumble onto murders seemed to be wearing on him, and Lara fully understood that. Still, she was entitled to her feelings, and to her opinions. If he didn’t share them, so be it. At least he could respect them.

  Lara shoved the gearshift into Drive and headed for the Peach Crate.

  The store’s parking lot had only three cars. Lara pulled in next to a spotless white Lexus. Karen Chancer’s car? She couldn’t imagine how the car stayed so clean in the dead of winter. Aunt Fran’s Saturn was coated in road grime. Lara had been meaning to run it through a car wash, but with all the hullabaloo over Megan, she hadn’t had a chance.

  “Good morning, Lara,” a voice trilled the moment she entered the shop.

  Lara glanced toward the back. Felicia was waving at her from the adorable checkout counter—the one designed to look like a peach crate. Today the proprietress wore an appropriately peach-colored cable-knit sweater over gray slacks.

  “You remembered me. I’m impressed.” Lara smiled at Felicia.

  “Oh, how could I forget such a lovely customer?” Felicia said. “Lily remembers you, too, don’t you, sweetie?” She bent and retrieved the small white dog from underneath the counter. Felicia lifted the dog’s paw in a wave at Lara.

  Lara removed her gloves and shoved them into her pockets. She went over and took the dog’s paw in her hand. “Hi, Lily. Were you taking a snooze? Did I interrupt your nap?”