Closet Confidential (14 page)

“Thanks. I appreciate that. Little Nick’s not so new anymore. That reminds me. I’d better go get him before Jack decides to keep him.”

“Pepper, I keep saying, let me know what I can do to help.”

She opened the driver’s door and hopped out of the vehicle. “You have helped, Charlotte. A lot. More than you know. I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”

Which was a lot more than I could say for myself.

Tuesday was fully booked. By nine thirty I had headed out to Wendy’s place, carrying a file full of ideas, sale brochures, and digital photos from the dollar stores and my other favorite haunts. I had my digital camera with me to take a “before” photo. People are always amazed to see where they started from at the end of a project. After the strange conversation with Pepper the night before, it felt very good to be meeting Wendy, kind, uncomplicated, agreeable. I put the contract in my briefcase, told the dogs to behave, and headed over to North Hemlock to pick up Lilith at Rose’s place.

I had turned onto Long March Road when I jerked at the sound of a siren behind me. A patrol car was on my tail, roof lights flashing. I pulled over, heart thumping. What had I done now? Was I so caught up in my own schedule that I hadn’t signaled? Had I cut someone off? I knew it wasn’t Tierney this time. He wouldn’t be caught dead in a patrol car.

I opened the windows, fished out my license and insurance papers, and did my best not to look guilty. Until Nick Monahan’s face loomed in the open window on the passenger side. He opened the door and got in.

I said, “Oh, what the hell? Are you trying to give me a panic attack?”

“Hi, Charley.”

“This calls for more than ‘hi,’ Nick. This requires an apology for practically freaking me out. Sirens and flashing lights? What’s that about?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“Trust me, there are easier ways.”

“I know, but I saw you and I got the idea. You don’t mind if I pretend to be giving you a ticket?”

“What?”

“You don’t mind if—?”

“I heard you, but why would you want to pretend to give me a ticket if all you want to do is talk to me?”

“Because I don’t want anyone to know.”

“Anyone? You mean Pepper?”

“No, I mean anyone. So let’s see your license.”

I handed it over, but at least I got to roll my eyes. He took my info and pretended to write a few things.

I said, “I think you need my registration, too.”

“I know that, Charley.”

“I’m sure you do, but in case anyone is watching, we might as well look realistic.”

“Good thinking.”

“And I believe you need to take my documents and go to your squad car and check them on the computer. I don’t think you’re supposed to sit in my passenger seat and have a heart-to-heart. Although I’m not the cop here.”

“We’re just talking . . . but maybe you’re right. I’ll be back in a minute.”

A few minutes later, he returned and handed me back my documents through the open window. “You’re clear,” he said.

“Imagine that. Okay, what are we talking about?”

“Pepper.”

“What about her?”

“She came to see you last night. What did you talk about?”

“How do you know that she came to see me last night?”

“Because I . . . you know what, Charley? I think you better come with me to the squad car. To look realistic.”

“Um, I’m not sure that is realistic, Nick. Do you put many of the people you ticket into the squad car?”

“Good point. Okay, I’ll get in yours.”

“No. Stay where you are and keep talking. How do you know that Pepper came to see me? Did you follow her?”

“No way.”

“You’re a lousy liar, especially considering all the practice you get. Following your own wife around? Shame on you, Nick Monahan.”

“I didn’t follow her. I happened to turn onto your street and I saw you sitting in the car together. I need to know what she said.”

“She didn’t say much of anything, Nick.”

“Come on, Charley. This is Nick. You can’t fool me.”

I don’t know where he would get an idea like that. My dogs are harder to fool than Nick is. “Believe me. It was all girl talk.”

He snorted. “Pepper’s not much for girl talk.”

“As a rule, I’d agree, but she’s been changed by motherhood. It was girl talk, Nick. Accept that.”

He stared at me for a while, trying to read my thoughts, I guess. “Like what?” he said finally.

“Oh, you know, hair and stuff.”

“You mean she’s going to do something with her hair? That would be good. She’s let herself go.”

“You listen here, Nick Monahan. Your wife is up half the night with your son. And then she’s there alone with him during the day. Babies take a lot of time and energy. How’s she supposed to spend time on herself?”

“Okay, okay, don’t get your thong in a twist. I thought her hair used to look better.”

“Haven’t you ever heard of hormones?”

He blinked. Of course, Nick was a walking hormone, but that didn’t mean he’d be up to speed on the effects of a birth on skin, hair, and mood. “What’s that got to do with it?”

“New mothers, lots of hormone changes. Get used to it. Be a man.” I wasn’t sure if hormones would be much of a factor after nearly eight months, but what did I know. Anything to distract him.

“It’s not easy to get used to, Charley. But forget the hair. Did she say anything about me?”

I sat back and pretended to think. “Like what for instance?”

“Nothing special. Didn’t she mention me at all?”

“She usually talks about you, but I honestly don’t recall.”

Of course, I’d said honestly, which is always a clue that I’m fibbing. A white lie in this case, because I had good reasons. Whatever Nick was mixed up in, it wouldn’t do any good to have him think that his wife might be blabbing it all over town. If it was dangerous for him, it could be dangerous for her, too.

“That’s kind of weird, you know, Charley.”

“It was late. She was tired. The baby woke her up. I think he’s teething. You sleep through that usually. She did mention that. So I guess she did talk about you. You know what, Nick? You’d better try to take better care of your wife and child.”

He stood up and looked down at me with sad puppy eyes. “That’s what I’m doin’, Charley.”

Through my rearview mirror, I watched him walk back to his police car, no sign of his usual swagger. No question, Pepper had something to worry about, all right.

It was only after Nick peeled away in the cruiser that I realized I had missed an opportunity. I was still distracted by that when I picked up Lilith. Of course, her enthusiasm could always bring me back to the moment. And if that didn’t do the trick, then her teal blue hair sure would. I knew she’d already picked up the bins from my off-site storage and delivered them to Wendy’s place using Rose’s car. I had to give some serious thought to investing in a more practical vehicle. Of course, I love my Miata. It’s paid for and we’ve been through a lot together. So rent-by-the-day vans and Lilith’s services would have to do for the time being.

“This will be awesome,” she said, hopping into the Miata. “And in case there’s not enough food at Wendy’s place, Rose sent along some of her Toll House cookies.”

“No danger of there not being enough food,” I said, sniffing the air. “But I don’t think the cookies will last long anyway.”

“Rose thought Wendy might need a break from baking if she’s working on her closet.”

The drive to Wendy’s was long enough that I got caught up on what was happening to Lilith at college and her three jobs, and how Rose was doing.

“I’m sorry about my outburst over Anabel. I know you knew her and liked her. I was bothered by that thing with Dimitri, but I realize it wasn’t fair to her memory.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “Up until that point, Anabel had seemed way too good to be true.”

That reminded me I had intended to follow up on Lilith’s friend Jewel and Dimitri.

“Thanks. By the way, Rose wants you to come by and bring the pups,” Lilith said. “Schopie misses having smaller dogs to boss him around.”

Schopenhauer, like half the dogs I knew in Woodbridge, had been rescued by Jack, who has a rare talent for that. Schopie had a history with Truffle and Sweet Marie, and I had narrowly escaped being his owner myself, even if he was roughly the size of my kitchen.

“And Charlotte?”

“Yup?”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence on the big closet job, if we get it.”

“You’re more than equal to it. But it won’t be as much fun as this one is even if it will be a lot more money.”

“Money’s not everything, Charlotte. I know that more than most people.”

“You’re a great friend, Lilith. By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask, did you keep in touch with Jewel? It sounded like she might have needed a shoulder to cry on.”

She shrugged. “I tried, but I think she wanted to put the whole thing behind her. She headed out to California, I think. Too bad, because now Dimitri’s . . .”

I could tell Lilith hadn’t meant to suggest that with Anabel gone, Dimitri might have turned back to Jewel. And she didn’t want me to think about the implication.

Wendy answered the door with a mile-wide smile. “You won’t believe it! I did all my homework. I practiced the questions. I am ready to purge. Ooh, Toll House cookies? Let me guess. Rose sent them. Nobody makes them like her.”

She reached out and gave Lilith a big motherly hug. Lilith managed to look surprised and pleased in equal measure. I got a smaller, shyer hug. I was pleased, too. Motherly hugs are not part of my unique heritage.

“Great. I have the contract and some ideas to explore.”

“Coffee’s ready and I’ll put out the cookies!” Wendy said.

“Please do. I’ve been inhaling the aroma all the way over and they’ve made me a bit crazy.”

At the table, I pulled out the contract, and Wendy signed it without even looking. Lilith’s eyes widened. Luckily, I’d never take advantage of her trusting nature.

I said, “First thing we’re going to do is take every single item out of the closet.”

Wendy nodded. “Lilith hinted at that when she dropped the bins off.”

“Great. Now Lilith will give you a hand to sort your clothing. You’ll have to work fast so there’s not a pile on your bed when it’s time to go to sleep. You’ll have a bin for the stuff that you want to toss: stained, unfixable, worn out, or faded. WAG’D, the dog rescue group, can use nice used cotton material for bedding for doggies in shelters. If something needs to be mended or cleaned, we’ll find a spot to put it aside.

Lilith picked up there. “Then we’ll get a bin going for donations. I can drop it off at the youth shelter tonight. They’ll be glad to get whatever we bring, and they’ll give you a tax receipt, too.”

“Wow. You’re sure not wasting time.”

We grinned in unison, and I said, “You got it. The more time you give yourself, the less likely you’ll succeed in clearing things up and meeting your goal.”