We walked home, and the minute we entered the house, Mars yelled from the den, “Do you know there are tiles missing in your shower?”
“Yes, thank you. I am aware of that.” I removed Daisy’s halter and refilled her bowl with fresh cold water.
Mars strolled into the kitchen and poured coffee into his mug. “Do you need a loan?”
“Are you offering?”
“Sure.”
“If I recall correctly, I’m getting a nice little paycheck from Tilly.”
“So you are. Unless Tilly and Wesley are in the slammer for stealing Peyton-slash-Briley.”
The thought hadn’t even entered my mind. “I guess I’d better hustle and finish up. I’m going to run by the hospital to see how Charlene is doing. I should pick up some groceries. What would you like for dinner?”
“Chinese. I never get Chinese anymore because I’m always at The Laughing Hound. I’ll order and pick it up.”
That suited me. “Sounds good. I’ll see you later.”
I walked out to my hybrid SUV and drove over to the hospital. I recognized Natasha’s car in the parking lot and peeled in next to it. Inside, I asked for directions to Charlene Smith’s room.
I found it easily, but seeing her brought back memories of my former boyfriend who had been badly injured. No one else was in the room. Charlene’s face was swollen and bruised but not bandaged. I thought that might be a good sign.
I knew her mom, Griselda, had been there. Small stones lay beside her pillow. I recognized amethyst and tiger’s-eye. There were also pink and black stones.
Her left leg was in a cast and propped up on a pillow.
I touched her hand. “Charlene?” I said softly. “It’s Sophie Winston. I’m a friend of Natasha’s.”
She didn’t react in any way. I took her hand and held it in mine. “A lot of people miss you. Natasha has always wanted a little sister. Want to hear something funny? Your mothers are so much alike!”
“That’s what Natasha tells me.” Griselda spoke from the doorway. Natasha stood behind her.
“How’s Charlene doing?”
“Believe it or not, much better.” Griselda checked the monitor attached to Charlene. “When I arrived here, they told me I’d better say my goodbyes. Of course, I brought my own medicine. They can tell you stones and herbs don’t make a difference, but they do.”
“Has Fred been to visit?” I asked.
“He has,” said Griselda. “I don’t like him any better, but he has come by.”
“He brought the beautiful pink roses.” Natasha leaned over to smell them.
“That was thoughtful. They’re beautiful.” A vase of lilies and gladiolas sat next to them. “Who are the other flowers from?”
“Mia’s husband,” said Griselda. “He even came by to see Charlene. Why didn’t she meet a nice man like him? I still don’t like that Fred. He can bring all the roses in Old Town and it won’t change a thing. He has the evil eye.” Griselda tossed a handful of something in the air.
I was certain the nurses appreciated that! “Have the police told you anything?”
“I think they’ve forgotten about her.” Griselda yawned. “I apologize. Natasha and I are taking turns staying with Charlene.”
Natasha did seem tired, but oddly calm.
“You two must be exhausted,” I said.
Natasha moved to the other side of the bed. “I promised her I would stay. There’s nothing else I can do for her.”
“That’s not true,” said Griselda. She turned to me. “Charlene’s apartment building is going condo. She’ll have to buy or move. It’s not the best timing for either of those choices. Natasha has offered to let her live in an apartment over her garage.”
“That’s wonderful! It’s a very cute place. I’m glad she’s in good hands.” I said goodbye and drove home.
The piquant aroma of Chinese food drifted to me as soon as I entered the house. Mars puttered around the kitchen. I noticed he had closed the curtains over the sink.
“Feeling paranoid?” I asked.
“It’s those crazed reporters. I don’t want them seeing me from the street.”
Mars had set the table with chopsticks and my square Adelaide dinner plates. I had to admit that the blue on white toile-like pattern of lush flowers, branches, and birds had a decidedly Asian look.
“Dinner’s ready. I worked on it all day.” He poured white wine into Spode Blue Italian wineglasses. The pattern and color coordinated with the dishes surprisingly well.
“You won’t believe what happened.” Mars gestured for me to sit down at the table.
I gladly slid into the banquette and helped myself to Kung Pao Chicken. I peeked in another container. “Is this Peking Duck?”
“Only the best for you.”
I sipped my wine. “What’s your big news?”
“It’s all over the news shows. Remember how Wesley’s computer was hacked? Today someone released an e-mail he wrote that outs two American spies. It is such a huge breach. This will follow him his entire life. When he dies, the media will call him the congressman who outed undercover agents of the United States. I’m not sure he can get reelected now.”
Even I recognized the significance of that. “Does that mean they hacked into his system again?”
“Probably. As far as I can tell, it’s all happening very fast. Someone hacks into the computer, and the next day it’s on the news.”
“Can’t they track it? I thought all computers had identifying numbers.”
“They do. But hackers are very clever. It’s a shame that smart people use their skills that way.”
I rolled the duck into a steamed pancake. “Was Benton one of the agents who was outed?”
“I didn’t see his name. I hope those two can get to safety.”
“Wait a minute. Could Abby be a spy?” I gazed at Mars.
“She writes cookbooks.”
“What if she doesn’t? What if that was a cover? She was married to a guy who is probably a spy. Maybe the whole thing was a setup to get her into Wesley’s house and inner circle.”
“That’s so crazy!” Mars pulled out a pad of paper and a pen. “We have to get back to what we know for sure.”
“Mia was murdered,” I said. “And Charlene was there. Someone, maybe Mia’s murderer, must have beaten her at Abby’s house, because Charlene’s blood was found there.”
Chapter 30
Dear Sophie,
What do you bake when you need something in a big hurry? I’m always stumped. It seems like everything needs to bake for a long time or has to cool before it can be frosted.
Always in a Rush in Ding Dong, Texas
Dear Always in a Rush,
Coffee cake. Most only need a glaze. Even if you take the time to put a crumble on top and still add a glaze, they are remarkably quick to make.
Sophie
“Excellent. Those are facts. We’re on the right track now. Charlene must have managed to escape, though I can’t imagine where she was before you found her.”