Talk to me, Red. I can feel how upset you are.
She sent him the text from Cindy. She saw no reason not to share. He would know soon enough there had been another break-in. And another death.
Ask Cindy if this woman who found the body or the police confirmed who the suitcase belonged to.
Rory’s breath caught in her lungs. She hadn’t thought of that. It hadn’t occurred to her to even ask that question. Panic began to grip her all over again.
Just take slow, steady breaths. It’s my job to think of all the possibilities,sweetheart. What was the point of putting the body in the laundry room? Whoever killed him wanted him found. The suitcase was wedged between two machines. The killer knew that sooner or later someone was going to get curious and open it.
Rory forced her breathing to stay under control, but it took effort. Gideon made sense. She asked Cindy the question.
Black suitcase on rollers. Very expensive-looking, Cindy texted back.Shandra, the woman who found the suitcase, even has a photo of it.
Rory closed her eyes as relief poured through her.Not mine, Gideon. If the intention was to frame me, they didn’t use my suitcase. I have cheap but very adequate ones.
Are Lydia and Sally aware their apartments have been broken into?
She was very grateful Gideon changed the subject.I don’t think so. Not yet. Even with a new job, Lydia will have a difficult time replacing the contents of her apartment. She has renter’s insurance, but the money isn’t going to come in overnight. I’ve got money I saved to move that I’ll be able to help her with, but she’s very independent, and she won’t want to take it. She’ll be embarrassed, and it could ruin our friendship.
What if the money wasn’t specifically coming from you? Or just to her? You said your friend Sally lost everything as well. You did. So did Janice and Pam and Cindy. That’s all of you, right? We can set up something online to donate to, but also there in the apartment building and at the bar and in the harbor and at local restaurants. That would add up fast. We know a few people who are generous with contributions. Let me see what I can get started. If we have it in place immediately, all we need to do is figure out what to do for a couple of days for her and the others.
Gideon’s instant response was the reason she had fallen so fast and hard for him. There was no doubt in her mind that he would have something in the works by morning to ensure that money would be flowing toward fixing Lydia’s problem. Not just Lydia’sbut all their problems. For all she knew, he might have already been doing that. It would be just like him.
She wished things were different between them. She wanted, this once, to lean on his strength. It wasn’t as if she felt weak, just tired, exhausted from all the body blows.
That’s a good idea. Thank you for thinking of it.
I’ll get that started now.
In the middle of the night?
Can’t sleep. Haven’t been sleeping since I screwed things up with you. I keep going over it and what I should have done differently. But then I’m not even sure the things I’m thinking I should have done would have been right either. Never had a mother or father to show me the way. I guess those lessons count for something.
She felt his genuine regret. Rory put her inhaler away and rubbed at her lower lip. She didn’t know any more about relationships than he did. Who was she to judge?Since you’re going to be up anyway, and I am too after work, maybe you can fill me in on your childhood.
She found herself holding her breath. This was his opportunity. She’d cracked open the door. A crack only. She hoped he recognized that was all it was. He could take it or leave it.
Like you, I never talk about it because mine was a shit childhood.
I don’t remember my past. You do.She wasn’t going to push him. If he didn’t want that door to open any further, a part of her would be grateful. She wasn’t even certain what she would do if he told her personal things he never talked about to anyone. She was terrified to think about letting him back in.
Our place?
She stood up. Break was over. She had to get back to work, but her treacherous heart skipped a beat at his question. They had a special place. It was rather silly when he had his cool rooftop and she had hers. The little patio in the Koi Garden where they spentthose first early morning hours just talking and laughing together. She treasured that time. The San Francisco fog had enclosed them, making her feel as if they were the only two people in the world. They talked about everything and nothing, yet she had fallen hard for him.
She should go back to the apartments and help Lydia, but she knew Lydia would stay with Cindy. Sally would be fine with Janice and Pam. She had no idea where she would be staying, but it didn’t matter, not if Gideon was really going to share something of himself with her. She wanted his childhood. Nothing else. Something of his that was private that he didn’t share, didn’t give to others. Something she could hold on to even if she never had him for herself.
See you there if you don’t change your mind.She gave him an out and abruptly broke off all contact with him.
Rory knew by now that Brad would be feeling desperate. Once more behind the bar, the customers were lined up several rows deep. She immediately took over her station, spotting Detective Larrsen entering as she stepped up, glanced quickly through the tickets and then took several orders at once. She went on autopilot fast, keeping her eye on Larrsen, knowing he was about to break the news to Sally and Lydia.
This was Lydia’s first day on the job, and the pressure on her was horrendous. If she blew her one chance with Brad, she could lose the high-paying job she needed. The tips alone were better than the money she made from her day job. She wasn’t just good; she had every appearance of being one of the better bartenders, who would be sought after if she kept at it.
Rory was able to get drinks out at a fast rate, moving the lines quickly, making the waitresses happy. She took care of the beer drinkers, mixed the cocktails fast, especially the ones that were thesame, and then the whiskey drinkers. Next were those in the blenders.
She loved Kevin, her barback. He kept up with her with the ice, bitters and syrups. Each time she needed citrus, ice or a fresh keg, he had it immediately. She never had to ask. Her glasses were clean and replaced. She was always generous sharing her tips and was elated that Brad was just as fair with all his employees. He treated his barbacks as valuable members of the family he was trying to create. He’d had setbacks, losing two of his experienced bartenders, but he wanted his business to succeed, and he paid as much as he could to waitresses and barbacks, more so than other bars.
Larrsen finally reached Lydia. She looked to Brad, asking for a break. He nodded and took her position. Lydia allowed Larrsen and Sally to step behind the bar and accompany her to the break room. Rory knew what a body blow it had been to see her apartment torn to shreds. It was such a violation to know that someone had been in your personal space, that you weren’t safe.
