Silence Is Golden (A Pet Psychic Mystery No. 3) (17 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

I decided I needed to throw a dinner party. It would be a great distraction to get my mind off of Will and a good excuse to invite Kimi over. I planned on bringing up the fact Eugene might already be seeing someone to see how she reacted. Would she be embarrassed? Jealous? I'd find out tonight. Besides, if nothing came of it, Willow was thrilled with the idea of spending time with her and Jade.

"Mmm, that smells amazing!" I hurried down the stairs with my hair still wet from the quick shower. "You always were the best cook."

"Thanks." Willow grinned, her face flushed from the warm kitchen. "I still have to cook the stuffed mushrooms. How long do we have?"

"About an hour." I pulled out a can of Goldie's food. She began turning circles in the kitchen and let out a small
woof!
"I'm hurrying," I said. "Someone's appetite is back in full force. Must be all the yummy smells in here."

Willow plucked the can from my hand. "You go finish getting ready. I've got everything covered here."

"Thanks, Sis. It's really great to have you here." I gave Willow a quick hug and she shooed me from the kitchen.

*     *     *

Frankie showed up first, toting Itty and Bitty in a green designer bag that matched her outfit; her boyfriend, Jack, by her side.

"Hey, y'all. You look fabulous, as always, Frankie." I gave her and Jack a quick hug. "Come on in."

"Thanks for the invite, Darwin," Jack said. "Nice to see you."

"You, too. Been awhile." I motioned to the basketful of wine bottles on Jack's arm and laughed.  "Looks like y'all raided someone's wine cellar."

"What?" Frankie chuckled. "You did say this was a party? And oh my good gracious, what is that delicious smell?" She shuffled into the kitchen where Willow had just removed the stuffed mushrooms from the oven.

"That's the
dinner
part of the dinner party." I shook my head as I showed Jack where to put his offering.

Sylvia and Landon arrived next with a bakery box I didn't even dare open. Jade and Kimi also arrived with some of their own delicious smelling offerings. As laughter and conversation filled the townhouse, I was trying really hard not to think about the fact that Will should be here. And the fact that he hadn't even talked to me in four days. How could I feel alone with all these happy souls around me?
Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Darwin. Be grateful for the wonderful people who are here.

"Oh, just squeeze it in anywhere there's room," I said to Jade, who was eyeing the table for some place to unload her food.

"Okay, I think there's a spot right there." She pushed aside a plate of deviled eggs. "Perfect. Oh, hey, sweetheart." Jade reached down and scratched Goldie, who had trotted over and sat in front of her, her tail swishing the floor. "Yes, I brought you a treat. You must smell it, smarty girl." Goldie inhaled whatever Jade gave her and licked her chops, eyes locked on her pocket hopefully.  "Oh, and who do we have here?" Jade asked as Itty and Bitty came over to see if there were any more handouts. "Aren't you two just precious?" She squatted to give them some scratches under their dainty chins.

"Those are Frankie's dogs, Itty and Bitty," I offered. "They'll mooch off you all night if you let them."

 "Sorry I don't have any more treats. I'll sneak you two something later. Don't tell your mom."

"You need a dog, Mom." Kimi walked over shaking her head. "Where do you want the frybread for the chili, Darwin?"

"Just squeeze it in anywhere." I rearranged the cheese and veggies to try and give her some room. "Wow, lots of amazing food here. I hope everyone's hungry."

"Estou!
I could eat a horse." Sylvia pulled Landon over to the table. "Smells
delicioso."

"You don't count," I teased. "You're always hungry."

"I don't know where she puts it." Landon wrapped his arm around her waist and buried his nose in her neck.

She tilted her head to whisper something to him and they both laughed. My heart ached a little.
Stop it, Darwin.
You've been alone for twenty-eight years and are fine. I sighed.
Yeah, but now I knew what I was missing. And that was Will.

I busied myself lighting the candles on the kitchen bar and dining table and putting on some background music while Jack played bartender.

Frankie caught up with me and handed me a glass of something white and cold. "So, have you heard the news?" She glanced around. "Where's Will anyway?"

"We're kind of having a thing... a fight I guess." I waved that thought off. "Long story. What news?"

"They arrested Tara Scarpetta." She took a sip of her wine and nodded at my open mouth. "Crazy, right?"

"For Victoria's murder?" I asked when I could speak.

"Yes! Betsy Mills called me. She was with Tara at the real estate office when they showed up to arrest her. Apparently a witness from the night Victoria died identified her in a photo lineup, though he wasn't one hundred percent positive because he was on his boat. But then, another witness from the car rental place picked her out of the photo lineup, too. And she couldn't give them her whereabouts that night so they brought her in."

"What's going on?" Willow asked as she brought some silverware and napkins to the table and saw my face.

"Tara Scarpetta, Victoria's dog show rival, has been arrested for her murder."

Willow looked from me to Frankie. "I guess that's good, right? That they've solved her death."

"Yeah, it's good," I said, still digesting the news and everything it meant. Did all the pieces fit? I couldn't think.

"I can't believe it," Frankie said. "You just never really know about people."

"Yeah." I answered, still thinking about the implications of Tara being the killer. Did she do it on purpose? Did she just mean to knock Goldie out of the competition or did she actually mean to kill Victoria? "I guess the police can concentrate on finding out who killed Josie now."

 Frankie motioned to me and Willow. "It must have been such a shock for you girls, finding her dead like that."

"
You
found her?" Kimi asked, as she and her mom joined the conversation.

I sipped my wine and nodded. "Yep, with Goldie's help."

Kimi's dark eyes were hard to read as she asked, "How?"

"Josie had left a message on my phone. I got it right after we went to dinner with y'all that night. She said she found something, and her dad wasn't crazy after all."

 Jade and Kimi stared at each other, their eyes widening.

 I watched them curiously. "Anyway, she said she was going to Big Barnie's house and wanted us to meet her there. I'm thinking she found something, an artifact maybe? An artifact that proved his Gasparilla story was true. What do y'all think?" Actually, that idea just popped in my head. But, that was the only thing I knew of that made people think he was a little off his rocker.

Kimi shook her head slightly at her mom, but Jade ignored her. "Maybe she found the treasure map."

"Treasure map?" We all said at the same time.

"Yeah, Renny used to tell a story about an engraved copper map that was passed down from his great-great-grandfather, the one who supposedly pirated with Gasparilla," Jade replied. "Said it told the coordinates of a treasure buried right here in St. Pete. Part of the spoils his crew—including Renny's ancestor—took off with after Gasparilla was taken down by a U.S. Navy warship."

"That's quite a story. Did anyone ever see this map?" I asked.

"Nope."

I eyed Jade. I couldn't tell if she believed it or not.  "Okay, for the sake of argument, say a map did exist and Josie found it. Why would she take it to Big Barnie?"

"Barnie would be her best bet if she wanted to figure out the map," Jade said.  "Plus, like Kimi said, she's been in love with him forever. Eugene and Barnie used to eat up Renny's stories as kids and always dreamed of finding the treasure one day. They always believed him."

"Of course," Frankie said. "A story like that is tailor made for little boys."

I looked at Frankie thoughtfully. "True and there's still nothing to prove it exists. Josie didn't have a map on her when we found her. I checked her bag before the police got there." I shook my head. "And if it did exist, why didn't Renny try to find the treasure himself?"

Kimi and Jade both nodded. "That was the million dollar question. And the reason we believe it was just a story he liked to tell."

But if it did exist, it was a good motive for someone to kill Josie.

"All right," Frankie said as Jack came over and freshened up her drink. "I'm trading in pirates for magicians. Landon looks like he's putting on quite a show over there."

"Cool!" Kimi said.

I held up my hands. "Please fill your plates first or y'all are going home with leftovers."  

 
As everyone obligingly filled their plates and began migrating into the living room, something was still bothering me. I needed to know the identity of the mystery woman in Eugene's house.

"Hey, Kimi?" I stopped her before she joined the others. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How well do you know Eugene?"

"Pretty well, why?"

 "I think Eugene is seeing someone already. Would that surprise you?"

Kimi blinked and kept her expression neutral. "Not really. People deal with grief in many different ways."

I wanted to ask if she had any idea who he might be seeing and also, why she made that comment about Renny owing her something, but Sylvia interrupted.

"Darwin!" She threw Kimi an apologetic look.  "Sorry, sorry, I just cannot wait. I'm so excited to ask you if you will be my maid of honor?"

My hand went to my heart, Eugene and his mistress forgotten. "Of course!" I'd never been asked to be a maid of honor and was surprised at how touched I felt. It truly did feel like an honor.  

"
Muito obrigada
." Sylvia grinned, squeezing me in a one-armed hug while balancing her plate in the other hand. "You will help me plan then. There's so much to worry about, flowers and cake and invitations."

I nodded, flushed with excitement. "Don't worry. We have lots of time and it'll be fun." I noticed Kimi had taken the opportunity to slip away. Sylvia and I talked about the wedding until Landon came and whisked her over to be his assistant in a magic trick.

*     *     *

That night, after another narrow escape from a dream featuring Zach, I paced the bedroom, clutching my cell phone. Goldie watched me from her perch on the edge of the bed, her head resting on Gator between her front paws.

"How much time exactly does a person need to decide whether he's going to forgive a person or not?" I asked Goldie. "I mean, good heavens, it's not like I poisoned him. I was trying to help him. Shouldn't that count for something?" I nodded and crossed my arms as Goldie yawned and rolled over. "You're right. I should just call him. Why am I waiting around for him to call me?"

My heart fluttered in my chest as I waited for it to ring. Right to voicemail. Of course. After all, it was like two in the morning. "Hey, Will, it's me... Darwin. I think it's time we talked and got this sorted out. If you don't ever want to see me again, that's fine but you need to tell me. Not just keep ignoring me. I'm real sorry you feel what I did was wrong. But, I don't." I stopped, shocked I actually said that. And meant it. "So, please call me tomorrow. Good night. Or good morning, because you'll probably get this message in the morning." I hung up before I could ramble on anymore.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Every minute that passed the next day without Will's call was painful. I was exhausted already and the emotional rollercoaster I was putting myself through made the day almost unbearable. By the time lunchtime came around, I was sure we were done. I was angry and fighting back tears even as I helped customers with their purchases.

So, when Will walked through the door, his face drawn and a picnic basket in one hand, I felt a flood of emotions that catapulted me forward into his arms. I didn't care if he was there to dump me. I just had to be in his arms one more time. I pressed my cheek against his powder blue dress shirt and closed my eyes. His free hand came up and caressed the back of my hair, his lips pressed warm against the top of my head.

When I gathered the courage, I looked up into his eyes. They were bright with pain. I wiped at my face and nodded at the basket.

"Lunch?"

"Yeah." He cleared his throat. "Can you get away?"

I glanced back at Willow, who was watching the scene unfold while helping a customer pick out cat food. She nodded, giving me the green light.

"Be right back." I grabbed the blanket from the storage room that I used to sit across the street in the park, told Sylvia I was going to lunch, grabbed my sweater and clipped Goldie's leash on her. "Ready."

The sun warmed our faces as we spread out the blanket on the park lawn.

I watched Will unpack the picnic basket as Goldie stretched out on her belly in the grass beside us and sniffed at a grasshopper. Even though there was plenty of noise from traffic and park-goers, the silence between us was painful. I chewed on the inside of my lip.

"So, what are we having today?"

"Well, for you, a roasted veggie pita." He handed me the wax-paper wrapped sandwich and a bottled water. "And turkey for me." He pulled out an extra wax paper package. "And one fresh butcher bone for Goldie."

I smiled as he offered her the treat and she took it, looking up into his face with a swish of her tail.

"I believe that look was utter adoration," I said, wondering if I give him the same look.

Will glanced at me. He looked like he wanted to say something, but sat back and unwrapped his sandwich instead.

I took a bite and tried to swallow past the lump starting to form in my throat. So, here we were.
What now?
I watched Goldie gnaw happily on her bone. Why couldn't happiness be that simple for humans? I finally swallowed and took a sip of water to wash it down.