Chapter Seven: Who Can It Be Now?
Honey looked from Trixie to Dan, and the latter shrugged his shoulders. “It’s hard to say yet, Di. It could easily just be kids acting out, but I’m not keen on the timing.”
“Neither am I,” Trixie agreed.
“It can’t hurt for the two of you to go over some possibilities, can it?” Diana asked. “People who might have a reason to give you a hard time?”
“But nothing really serious has happened,” Honey maintained. “I’m not happy about being dragged out of bed, but no one has tried to break into my apartment, and surely if they wanted to really hurt us, or me in this case, they would. Or at least they’d lure me out of the apartment?”
“Maybe they know you’re too smart for that,” Mart suggested.
“Trust me, the more nights of interrupted sleep I have, the more impaired my judgment becomes.” Honey sighed. “I was so surprised to see an eye looking back at me the other night that I did start to open the door. If someone wanted to get to me, why would they run off?”
“She makes a good point,” Trixie said.
“She’s revealing some additional information too,” Brian noted, tapping his girlfriend on the back of the hand. “Tell me you won’t open the door to this person if they do happen to come back.”
“I won’t,” Honey promised. “I was just caught off guard. But my point is that when they heard me jiggling with the lock, the person ran off, which I think supports what Brett told us about the visiting teenager.”
Mart began pouring drinks for them all. “Why would some kid have a beef with you or the agency?”
“Well, I do remember coming home a couple of weeks ago and telling off some kids who were skateboarding in the yard,” Honey said. “I hadn’t thought about it until Brett reminded me about the teenage visitor. In fact, I hadn’t really seen him, apart from this one time. I didn’t even realize he was staying at the apartment block.”
“Killjoy,” Trixie said with a half-smile.
“I can’t picture Honey telling kids off,” Diana said, her smooth brow wrinkling.
“And I think she should remember that some ‘kids’ play dirty, especially these days,” Brian added. “It’s not always wise to get involved.”
“Brian Belden,” Honey said. “You don’t mean that. You tend to gunshot wounds, patch up drug dealers and god knows what else in the ER. You’ve seen first hand what happens when people don’t get involved, you’ve…” she paused to draw breath, and Brian took her hand in his.
“As usual, you’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry. I know you know what you’re doing. I’m not sorry for wanting to protect you though, no matter how many lectures that gets me.”
“You’re forgiven,” she said squeezing his hand in return. “And as for the rest of you—”
“Hey!” Mart interjected as he held his hands up. “I didn’t say a word.”
Honey laughed. “I was going to say please remember I’m a PI and have had some training and experience in law enforcement—even if I wasn’t top of the class in hand-to-hand combat and on the firing range.” Everyone looked at Trixie, who looked at the table in modest response to their glances. “I can hold my own,” Honey continued, “and I did ace profiling and risk assessment. They were kids, one was older and I wouldn’t have said anything, but they were tearing about in the area that’s fenced off for the little kids. After they almost knocked over Jemma, who’s five, her mother said something, and they smart-mouthed her. I went over and politely asked them to take it somewhere else.”
“And?” Mart prodded.
“And the biggest one asked me what I was going to do about it if they didn’t.”
“What did you do then?” Diana asked, her eyes wide.
“I walked a little closer, put my hand on my hip, which very nicely lifted my jacket and revealed my gun holster and my gun, and said I would have to think about it.”
“Honey Wheeler, you did not threaten a group of kids with your weapon?” Dan snorted.
“Weren’t you listening? I didn’t threaten anyone with anything. I just gave them time to reconsider, which they were smart enough to do. In fact, Paul, my neighbor’s son, hissed at him that I was a ‘real’ detective and the older kid said ‘that’s cool’ or something like that. He seemed fine with it, sort of grudging respect, if you know what I mean. But I guess maybe I made the oldest kid look bad in front of his friends.” Honey shook her head. “I can’t believe I’d forgotten about that. How dumb am I?”
“Didn’t seem important, I guess,” Jim said with a smile for his sister.
“You’re right though.” Trixie sounded thoughtful. “It ties in with what the creepy guy told you.”
“Oh, the one from the apartment.” Diana nodded her head sagely.
“Brett isn’t creepy, just a little…odd.” Honey frowned at her friends.
“You have it your way, we’ll have it ours. Who the heck calls people Mr. This and Miss That when they live in the same apartment building? He can’t be more than three or four years younger than we are.” Trixie leaned back and settled her hands in her stomach.
“While I don’t want to contradict my girlfriend, I would like to ask her to be careful around the guy,” Brian said. “If both Trix and Di find him creepy, I think he bears watching.”
“That is an excellent point,” Honey conceded. “Though I think you all know that I’m rarely reckless or careless. I will keep my eye on or my eyes open, whatever you want to call it, just in case.”
“Mart why don’t you go and organize the coffee and get the cake—and no sampling,” Diana warned.
“On that note, I am going to have to make a move soon,” Brian said, glancing at his watch. “Do you think I can take a look at my nephew before I go?”
“Of course you can,” Di began. A wail emitted from inside, and Diana rose. “Come on, Uncle Brian, let’s see what the latest Belden wants now.”
Baby Drew had nurseries on both levels of his parents’ home. Naturally, Di and Mart wanted to be close to him at night, but as they both regularly worked from home with offices on the ground floor, they were determined to have a space for their child close by.
Diana led her brother-in-law into the small room that served as a nursery on the ground floor. The walls were a very pale yellow, restful and fun at the same time. The crib was painted a periwinkle blue, providing a pop of color. There was a bureau, which doubled as a change table, and a row of deep shelves, holding toys and supplies. Three canvases, hand-painted by Diana and featuring leaves with touches of yellow and blue, were lined up along one wall, and there were two chairs, one arm chair for nursing and a smaller chair for guests.
“You’ve updated since I was home last,” Brian said, lifting his nephew from his crib and cradling him in his arms. “I like it.”
“I loved all the really pale colors when he was a little baby, but now he’s developing his own personality,” Diana said smiling down at her son. “And I’m pretty sure it’s a blue and yellow personality.”
“I agree.” Having checked Drew out he carried him to the change table. Diana opened a drawer and handed him a diaper. “You know I hate to think what color you’d have to paint something if you were going by my personality,” he said with a rueful smile.
“Why would you say that?” Diana asked surprised. “You have a wonderful personality.”
Brian shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean you are so lavender and purples with white and hints of deep green, and Trixie is all sorts of blues but especially powder blue—and red, Trix is definitely a red person too. Jim is dark greens and deep blues. Dan is dark crimson and slate gray, and Mart, like Trix, is blues but also that weird color, what do they call it? It looks kind of like oatmeal.”
“Taupe maybe,” Diana said, smiling. “What about Honey?”
“Everyone says gold for Honey but I think she’s soft greens and creams, maybe peach, and this pale yellow is a Honey color too.” He laughed. “I bet you didn’t think you’d have this conversation with me of all people.”
“Actually, I’m not at all surprised. I remember years ago telling you I thought people had their own colors—not just me, and my love of purple, but lots of people. And you really listened to what I had to say. And, for your information, Brian Belden, I think you would be coffee and chocolate, charcoal and silver gray and a deep, deep teal and white—clean, crisp white. One day, I’ll do a room in your colors and show you just how good it would look.”
Having changed his nephew, Brian lifted him and held him close. “Thanks, Di. You know you have a way of making me remember that my friends and family don’t just see me as overprotective, dull and stubborn.”
Diana shook her head, her shiny dark hair sweeping across her cheek. “I don’t know why you would even think that. We’ve all grown up, found ourselves. You must know that none of us, least of all Honey, sees you like that.”
“Oh, I’m sure about Honey,” he said, his expression knowing. “She always saw other things in me. Saw them when I was still trying to hide them. I guess having been away so much I still sometimes feel for my place when I come home, and maybe fall back into old habits.”
“You worry too much.” Diana leaned over and brushed his cheek with a kiss. “And those qualities you are referring to make you the person we can turn to when we’re uncertain or struggling with something. I know how often Mart runs things by you, and you were really there for me when I was pregnant with Drew. I’m pretty sure we’re not the only ones. But I hope you know that you can come to us. We want to be needed too.”
“I do need you, all of you,” Brian said. “And as for this little guy.” He kissed his nephew’s soft cheek. “He’s incredible.”
“He is, isn’t he? Absolutely perfect,” Diana said with natural motherly bias.
“And before you know it, he’ll have a little cousin to grow up with.”
“It is exciting,” Diana reached for her son and held him against her. “Second generation Bob-Whites.”
“I wish I’d been able to get my studies sorted a bit sooner. I know how much it would mean to Honey to have been able to have a baby around the same time as you and Trixie.”
“Honey is over the moon about having another baby to fuss over and, as she puts it, practice on,” Diana assured him. “And she’s happy to wait, Brian. Trixie and I are still both relatively young to become mothers. Times have changed. A lot of women don’t have children until they’re in their thirties. There’s plenty of time.”
“I know you’re right. I just hate the idea of disappointing her in any way.”
“As long as you’re around a whole lot more, I’m guessing that’s not going to happen.”
Diana carefully placed her son back in his crib and turned to face her brother-in-law.
“You’re a very wise woman, Diana Belden,” Brian said giving her a quick hug.
“Let’s keep that our secret, shall we?” she said with an impish grin.
“Too late,” Brian said as they headed back to the patio together. “That secret is already out.”
*
Although Honey’s sleep was not interrupted by a strange knock at the door, she still tossed and turned for the second night in a row. She usually found that after having Brian home with her the following couple of nights were restless. In the morning, two days after Brian had gone back to Chicago, her bright, light apartment still seemed less welcoming than usual and she decided that rather than settling for toast and tea, she would treat herself to a large coffee and a muffin from the coffee shop at the end of the street.
Apparently she wasn’t the only one with that idea. There was a long queue at the counter, and it took her ages to get her order filled. Taking a step back in the crowded coffee shop after receiving her order, Honey almost stumbled as she inadvertently stepped on someone behind her. She spun around to see a man gingerly lifting his foot from the floor. He was tall, and his dark hair fell across his forehead in a way that had distracted and mislead her when she first met him.
“Evan,” she said. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going, obviously.”
“Honey Wheeler,” he said, tilting his head to one side and smiling slowly. “Aren’t you looking fine this morning?”
Even though she knew her wrap-around, knee-length jersey knit dress was flattering but not revealing, Honey felt as if she’d somehow turned up in public wearing very little at all. Which was frustrating considering the man standing before her had not actually got around to seeing her naked. On the third and last of their dates they’d fooled around a little but that was all. She could tell by the way he was staring at her mouth that he was remembering those few kisses and what he thought they were going to lead to. The fact that she’d given the idea serious consideration made her blush.
“Well, I’m just on my way to work,” she said lightly, making to move past him.
He stepped with her, and as he was a big man and notably taller than she was— she wished she’d worn her three-inch heels rather than the low-heeled boots—she couldn’t help but feel slightly intimidated. She knew that was his intention and resented it. For the first time in a long while she wished she had reached her mother’s full height of five-feet-eight-and-a-half, instead of stopping just shy of five-seven. Trixie must feel like this all the time, she thought irrelevantly of her far shorter friend.
“Things going well at Belden-Wheeler Investigations?” he asked.
“We’re keeping busy,” she replied, not wanting to engage further. With everything that had been going on recently, she found she was not at all comfortable around him. Coupled with that, spending the past few days with Brian had reminded her why dating Evan hadn’t worked out.
“I’m still trying to get my business back on track. Hard work when your partner’s screwed you over and you’ve got no comeback.”
“I can see that would be difficult.” Honey was proud of herself for not apologizing. She and Trixie had done a thorough job of investigating Evan’s business partner, and if they had nothing to show for it, it was because the man was a virtual genius or Evan was mistaken.
“Be easier if someone could make some dirt stick.”
She didn’t respond to that.
“I guess this is your local coffee place, isn’t it?” he said, leaning a little closer. “Your apartment is just down the street.”
She knew he knew that, so denying it was pointless. “That’s right,” she said. “It’s convenient, especially for my boyfriend. He’s moving in soon.” It wasn’t one of her normal, tactful remarks but she had no desire to be subtle. Even given the cramped quarters in the shop, Chambers was standing too close for comfort, but the throng of customers moving around her made it impossible to increase the distance between them.
“I hope he’s finally learned to appreciate you,” Evan said, eyes narrowing. “I can’t really imagine why he needed to flex his muscles in another direction if you want the truth.”
“That isn’t—he didn’t—” Honey pulled herself up short. Her relationship with Brian was none of this man’s business and she was not going to get drawn into discussing it. “We’re looking forward to spending more time together,” she said instead.
“You know…” His hand reached out, and with people standing directly behind her Honey was stuck where she was. His fingers brushed her cheek. “You actually look tired. Have you been working too hard? Not sleeping well?”
His words threw her, and suddenly the people moving and edging around the two of them seemed almost hostile.
“Oh, hi, Honey, how are you?”
Honey looked up to see Steve moving through the crowd and coming to a stop next to Evan.
“I’m fine, Steve, how are you?” Honey said grateful for the interruption.
“Same old, same old,” he said, blue eyes smiling. He ran a hand through his thick fair hair.
“Well, I’d better to get to work. Trixie will be waiting for me.” She edged past him rather than Evan and made good her escape.
MPD:MAIN NEXT
Word Count: 2860
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks to Dana whose insights continue to catch my narrative nuttiness. All remaining nuttiness is my own.
Trixie Belden et al belong to Random House (who should be subject to the same rules as abandoned property and let us squatters take ownership) No monetary profit is being made from these scribblings.
“Neither am I,” Trixie agreed.
“It can’t hurt for the two of you to go over some possibilities, can it?” Diana asked. “People who might have a reason to give you a hard time?”
“But nothing really serious has happened,” Honey maintained. “I’m not happy about being dragged out of bed, but no one has tried to break into my apartment, and surely if they wanted to really hurt us, or me in this case, they would. Or at least they’d lure me out of the apartment?”
“Maybe they know you’re too smart for that,” Mart suggested.
“Trust me, the more nights of interrupted sleep I have, the more impaired my judgment becomes.” Honey sighed. “I was so surprised to see an eye looking back at me the other night that I did start to open the door. If someone wanted to get to me, why would they run off?”
“She makes a good point,” Trixie said.
“She’s revealing some additional information too,” Brian noted, tapping his girlfriend on the back of the hand. “Tell me you won’t open the door to this person if they do happen to come back.”
“I won’t,” Honey promised. “I was just caught off guard. But my point is that when they heard me jiggling with the lock, the person ran off, which I think supports what Brett told us about the visiting teenager.”
Mart began pouring drinks for them all. “Why would some kid have a beef with you or the agency?”
“Well, I do remember coming home a couple of weeks ago and telling off some kids who were skateboarding in the yard,” Honey said. “I hadn’t thought about it until Brett reminded me about the teenage visitor. In fact, I hadn’t really seen him, apart from this one time. I didn’t even realize he was staying at the apartment block.”
“Killjoy,” Trixie said with a half-smile.
“I can’t picture Honey telling kids off,” Diana said, her smooth brow wrinkling.
“And I think she should remember that some ‘kids’ play dirty, especially these days,” Brian added. “It’s not always wise to get involved.”
“Brian Belden,” Honey said. “You don’t mean that. You tend to gunshot wounds, patch up drug dealers and god knows what else in the ER. You’ve seen first hand what happens when people don’t get involved, you’ve…” she paused to draw breath, and Brian took her hand in his.
“As usual, you’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry. I know you know what you’re doing. I’m not sorry for wanting to protect you though, no matter how many lectures that gets me.”
“You’re forgiven,” she said squeezing his hand in return. “And as for the rest of you—”
“Hey!” Mart interjected as he held his hands up. “I didn’t say a word.”
Honey laughed. “I was going to say please remember I’m a PI and have had some training and experience in law enforcement—even if I wasn’t top of the class in hand-to-hand combat and on the firing range.” Everyone looked at Trixie, who looked at the table in modest response to their glances. “I can hold my own,” Honey continued, “and I did ace profiling and risk assessment. They were kids, one was older and I wouldn’t have said anything, but they were tearing about in the area that’s fenced off for the little kids. After they almost knocked over Jemma, who’s five, her mother said something, and they smart-mouthed her. I went over and politely asked them to take it somewhere else.”
“And?” Mart prodded.
“And the biggest one asked me what I was going to do about it if they didn’t.”
“What did you do then?” Diana asked, her eyes wide.
“I walked a little closer, put my hand on my hip, which very nicely lifted my jacket and revealed my gun holster and my gun, and said I would have to think about it.”
“Honey Wheeler, you did not threaten a group of kids with your weapon?” Dan snorted.
“Weren’t you listening? I didn’t threaten anyone with anything. I just gave them time to reconsider, which they were smart enough to do. In fact, Paul, my neighbor’s son, hissed at him that I was a ‘real’ detective and the older kid said ‘that’s cool’ or something like that. He seemed fine with it, sort of grudging respect, if you know what I mean. But I guess maybe I made the oldest kid look bad in front of his friends.” Honey shook her head. “I can’t believe I’d forgotten about that. How dumb am I?”
“Didn’t seem important, I guess,” Jim said with a smile for his sister.
“You’re right though.” Trixie sounded thoughtful. “It ties in with what the creepy guy told you.”
“Oh, the one from the apartment.” Diana nodded her head sagely.
“Brett isn’t creepy, just a little…odd.” Honey frowned at her friends.
“You have it your way, we’ll have it ours. Who the heck calls people Mr. This and Miss That when they live in the same apartment building? He can’t be more than three or four years younger than we are.” Trixie leaned back and settled her hands in her stomach.
“While I don’t want to contradict my girlfriend, I would like to ask her to be careful around the guy,” Brian said. “If both Trix and Di find him creepy, I think he bears watching.”
“That is an excellent point,” Honey conceded. “Though I think you all know that I’m rarely reckless or careless. I will keep my eye on or my eyes open, whatever you want to call it, just in case.”
“Mart why don’t you go and organize the coffee and get the cake—and no sampling,” Diana warned.
“On that note, I am going to have to make a move soon,” Brian said, glancing at his watch. “Do you think I can take a look at my nephew before I go?”
“Of course you can,” Di began. A wail emitted from inside, and Diana rose. “Come on, Uncle Brian, let’s see what the latest Belden wants now.”
Baby Drew had nurseries on both levels of his parents’ home. Naturally, Di and Mart wanted to be close to him at night, but as they both regularly worked from home with offices on the ground floor, they were determined to have a space for their child close by.
Diana led her brother-in-law into the small room that served as a nursery on the ground floor. The walls were a very pale yellow, restful and fun at the same time. The crib was painted a periwinkle blue, providing a pop of color. There was a bureau, which doubled as a change table, and a row of deep shelves, holding toys and supplies. Three canvases, hand-painted by Diana and featuring leaves with touches of yellow and blue, were lined up along one wall, and there were two chairs, one arm chair for nursing and a smaller chair for guests.
“You’ve updated since I was home last,” Brian said, lifting his nephew from his crib and cradling him in his arms. “I like it.”
“I loved all the really pale colors when he was a little baby, but now he’s developing his own personality,” Diana said smiling down at her son. “And I’m pretty sure it’s a blue and yellow personality.”
“I agree.” Having checked Drew out he carried him to the change table. Diana opened a drawer and handed him a diaper. “You know I hate to think what color you’d have to paint something if you were going by my personality,” he said with a rueful smile.
“Why would you say that?” Diana asked surprised. “You have a wonderful personality.”
Brian shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean you are so lavender and purples with white and hints of deep green, and Trixie is all sorts of blues but especially powder blue—and red, Trix is definitely a red person too. Jim is dark greens and deep blues. Dan is dark crimson and slate gray, and Mart, like Trix, is blues but also that weird color, what do they call it? It looks kind of like oatmeal.”
“Taupe maybe,” Diana said, smiling. “What about Honey?”
“Everyone says gold for Honey but I think she’s soft greens and creams, maybe peach, and this pale yellow is a Honey color too.” He laughed. “I bet you didn’t think you’d have this conversation with me of all people.”
“Actually, I’m not at all surprised. I remember years ago telling you I thought people had their own colors—not just me, and my love of purple, but lots of people. And you really listened to what I had to say. And, for your information, Brian Belden, I think you would be coffee and chocolate, charcoal and silver gray and a deep, deep teal and white—clean, crisp white. One day, I’ll do a room in your colors and show you just how good it would look.”
Having changed his nephew, Brian lifted him and held him close. “Thanks, Di. You know you have a way of making me remember that my friends and family don’t just see me as overprotective, dull and stubborn.”
Diana shook her head, her shiny dark hair sweeping across her cheek. “I don’t know why you would even think that. We’ve all grown up, found ourselves. You must know that none of us, least of all Honey, sees you like that.”
“Oh, I’m sure about Honey,” he said, his expression knowing. “She always saw other things in me. Saw them when I was still trying to hide them. I guess having been away so much I still sometimes feel for my place when I come home, and maybe fall back into old habits.”
“You worry too much.” Diana leaned over and brushed his cheek with a kiss. “And those qualities you are referring to make you the person we can turn to when we’re uncertain or struggling with something. I know how often Mart runs things by you, and you were really there for me when I was pregnant with Drew. I’m pretty sure we’re not the only ones. But I hope you know that you can come to us. We want to be needed too.”
“I do need you, all of you,” Brian said. “And as for this little guy.” He kissed his nephew’s soft cheek. “He’s incredible.”
“He is, isn’t he? Absolutely perfect,” Diana said with natural motherly bias.
“And before you know it, he’ll have a little cousin to grow up with.”
“It is exciting,” Diana reached for her son and held him against her. “Second generation Bob-Whites.”
“I wish I’d been able to get my studies sorted a bit sooner. I know how much it would mean to Honey to have been able to have a baby around the same time as you and Trixie.”
“Honey is over the moon about having another baby to fuss over and, as she puts it, practice on,” Diana assured him. “And she’s happy to wait, Brian. Trixie and I are still both relatively young to become mothers. Times have changed. A lot of women don’t have children until they’re in their thirties. There’s plenty of time.”
“I know you’re right. I just hate the idea of disappointing her in any way.”
“As long as you’re around a whole lot more, I’m guessing that’s not going to happen.”
Diana carefully placed her son back in his crib and turned to face her brother-in-law.
“You’re a very wise woman, Diana Belden,” Brian said giving her a quick hug.
“Let’s keep that our secret, shall we?” she said with an impish grin.
“Too late,” Brian said as they headed back to the patio together. “That secret is already out.”
*
Although Honey’s sleep was not interrupted by a strange knock at the door, she still tossed and turned for the second night in a row. She usually found that after having Brian home with her the following couple of nights were restless. In the morning, two days after Brian had gone back to Chicago, her bright, light apartment still seemed less welcoming than usual and she decided that rather than settling for toast and tea, she would treat herself to a large coffee and a muffin from the coffee shop at the end of the street.
Apparently she wasn’t the only one with that idea. There was a long queue at the counter, and it took her ages to get her order filled. Taking a step back in the crowded coffee shop after receiving her order, Honey almost stumbled as she inadvertently stepped on someone behind her. She spun around to see a man gingerly lifting his foot from the floor. He was tall, and his dark hair fell across his forehead in a way that had distracted and mislead her when she first met him.
“Evan,” she said. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going, obviously.”
“Honey Wheeler,” he said, tilting his head to one side and smiling slowly. “Aren’t you looking fine this morning?”
Even though she knew her wrap-around, knee-length jersey knit dress was flattering but not revealing, Honey felt as if she’d somehow turned up in public wearing very little at all. Which was frustrating considering the man standing before her had not actually got around to seeing her naked. On the third and last of their dates they’d fooled around a little but that was all. She could tell by the way he was staring at her mouth that he was remembering those few kisses and what he thought they were going to lead to. The fact that she’d given the idea serious consideration made her blush.
“Well, I’m just on my way to work,” she said lightly, making to move past him.
He stepped with her, and as he was a big man and notably taller than she was— she wished she’d worn her three-inch heels rather than the low-heeled boots—she couldn’t help but feel slightly intimidated. She knew that was his intention and resented it. For the first time in a long while she wished she had reached her mother’s full height of five-feet-eight-and-a-half, instead of stopping just shy of five-seven. Trixie must feel like this all the time, she thought irrelevantly of her far shorter friend.
“Things going well at Belden-Wheeler Investigations?” he asked.
“We’re keeping busy,” she replied, not wanting to engage further. With everything that had been going on recently, she found she was not at all comfortable around him. Coupled with that, spending the past few days with Brian had reminded her why dating Evan hadn’t worked out.
“I’m still trying to get my business back on track. Hard work when your partner’s screwed you over and you’ve got no comeback.”
“I can see that would be difficult.” Honey was proud of herself for not apologizing. She and Trixie had done a thorough job of investigating Evan’s business partner, and if they had nothing to show for it, it was because the man was a virtual genius or Evan was mistaken.
“Be easier if someone could make some dirt stick.”
She didn’t respond to that.
“I guess this is your local coffee place, isn’t it?” he said, leaning a little closer. “Your apartment is just down the street.”
She knew he knew that, so denying it was pointless. “That’s right,” she said. “It’s convenient, especially for my boyfriend. He’s moving in soon.” It wasn’t one of her normal, tactful remarks but she had no desire to be subtle. Even given the cramped quarters in the shop, Chambers was standing too close for comfort, but the throng of customers moving around her made it impossible to increase the distance between them.
“I hope he’s finally learned to appreciate you,” Evan said, eyes narrowing. “I can’t really imagine why he needed to flex his muscles in another direction if you want the truth.”
“That isn’t—he didn’t—” Honey pulled herself up short. Her relationship with Brian was none of this man’s business and she was not going to get drawn into discussing it. “We’re looking forward to spending more time together,” she said instead.
“You know…” His hand reached out, and with people standing directly behind her Honey was stuck where she was. His fingers brushed her cheek. “You actually look tired. Have you been working too hard? Not sleeping well?”
His words threw her, and suddenly the people moving and edging around the two of them seemed almost hostile.
“Oh, hi, Honey, how are you?”
Honey looked up to see Steve moving through the crowd and coming to a stop next to Evan.
“I’m fine, Steve, how are you?” Honey said grateful for the interruption.
“Same old, same old,” he said, blue eyes smiling. He ran a hand through his thick fair hair.
“Well, I’d better to get to work. Trixie will be waiting for me.” She edged past him rather than Evan and made good her escape.
MPD:MAIN NEXT
Word Count: 2860
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks to Dana whose insights continue to catch my narrative nuttiness. All remaining nuttiness is my own.
Trixie Belden et al belong to Random House (who should be subject to the same rules as abandoned property and let us squatters take ownership) No monetary profit is being made from these scribblings.
