Hooked on Murder: A Crochet Mystery

'Girlfriend?' I said, interrupting. 'Who is she?'

'I don't know if she's his girlfriend. I just called her that. Maybe they were just there together.'

'She was definitely his girlfriend,' Sunny interjected. 'I remember thinking she was pretty obviously staking her claim, the way she kept putting her hand on his neck.'

But when I started asking for details about things like her name or what she looked like, both of them came up vague. 'She was a lot younger,' was the best I got.

'I think that's pretty shocking that he was out with anotherwoman right after his wife died,' I said to the table.

Mason again put his hand on my arm, a gesture that I began to realize was natural to him. 'Don't be so quick to judge him. Everybody deals with grief differently. I know Lawrence, and he's the kind of guy who just gets on with things. I'm sure he's keeping himself going by taking care of Ellen's clients. And the hand on his neck could have just been a sign of reassurance.'

I supposed he had a point. Mason was good. He had succeeded in getting me to believe that Lawrence was secretlygrieving and just being comforted by some younger, unidentified woman.

'I'll still take care of putting you together with Will Hunter, and if you really want to know who Lawrence was with, I can get hold of a seating chart. I'm on the board of directors for the charity,' Mason said as brunch arrived. With the arrival of the food, the conversation lightened up. Everybody was oohing and aahing about theirs, except for Morgan, who'd ordered some plain steamed-vegetable plate that she was barely eating. The combo of her ultrathin body and her manner with the food shouted anorexia to me, but I reminded myself that it was none of my business.

'This reminds me of how much I wish I got to spend more time with my kids,' Mason said, gazing around the table. He explained to me that he was divorced with a grown son and daughter, both of whom had moved out of state.

The nice family moment survived the main course, but everything changed with the arrival of dessert. We had all ordered something gooey and delicious, except for Morgan,who had opted for only a double espresso.

As we worked on our desserts, I made the mistake of asking Samuel how his gig was going. Since he had told me about it so proudly, I thought it would seem unmotherly not to inquire. Of course, I made no mention that I'd seen him or that I even knew any of the details.

Samuel muttered something about everything going okay. Morgan, juiced from little food and lots of espresso, spoke up. 'I don't know why you don't just tell them. It's nothing to be ashamed of.'

On the word ashamed, Peter's head shot up. It was one of his biggest worries-- being embarrassed by his family.

'Okay, I was going to tell you eventually,' Samuel started. Then he blurted out that he was playing in the courtyard at the Valley Promenade.

'But that's outside,' Peter began, his face lapsing into upset.'That's where the people play and push their homemade CDs and have guitar cases open for handouts.'

'They're not handouts,' Samuel said, growing angry. As usual, his brother had hit a sensitive spot. 'They're tips on top of a salary. And if you hadn't been so high and mighty, you might have helped me get something better. . . .'

Peter started to speak, but Samuel stopped him. 'And don't even think of saying that 'if I wanted to play a musician'thing.'

All this was being said in tense whispers so as not to alert the whole place that a family squabble was in session. But if it kept up, the loudness level was likely to explode. Mason leaned in front of the two of them and held up his hands in a time-out gesture.

To my surprise, both of my sons stopped and turned their attention to him. Getting in the middle had never worked for me. No wonder Mason always won cases. Not only was he brave enough to jump into the middle of a family argument when the family wasn't even his, but he handled himself with such charismatic power that he settledthe whole thing so everybody was happy.

First he defended what Samuel was doing. 'I personally know that the Promenade is very selective about who they hire as outdoor entertainers,' he said to Peter. 'If your brother got a gig there, he has to be good.'

Then he turned to Samuel. 'Don't be too hard on your brother for not trying to bring you into William Morris. It's not the right place for you right now.' He went on to say in the most face-saving of ways that Samuel would be lost in the shuffle there, but that Mason knew the place for him. 'I know somebody who books small clubs. He's a genius at developing talent, too.' Mason offered to set up something between them. Then he turned to me and winked with a smile. Peace again reigned at the table as Peter and Samuel began talking to each other about sports.

'Have you ever thought of being a judge?' I said, pleased and amazed at how everything had turned out.

'I'll take that as a compliment,' he said, waving the waiter over for refills on our coffee.

By the time we left the patio, everyone was talking in a new, friendly way. The only moment of contention had been when the check came. Since it was Peter's party, he had gone to pick it up, but Mason beat him to the small leatherette folder.

Though Peter protested, there wasn't a chance Mason was going to acquiesce. Mason knew how to win whatever he was after.

'This was the best afternoon I've had in a while,' he said. 'It was nice being part of a family.'

There was a flurry of hugs and good-bye kisses to Peter and Samuel and their dates before they headed to the valet stand. Mason asked for my valet ticket, but hung back on the walkway.

'I just realized I did see you on the news when Ellen Sheridan died,' he said.

'I hope you're not going to tell me I looked pasty,' I said.

He chuckled and said I certainly looked better in person.I thanked him again for jumping into the lion's den.

'I meant what I said. This was the best afternoon I've had in a while.' Our eyes met for a moment, and there was a sizzle in his. I didn't know quite what to do, so I started to babble about something. He chuckled again and pressed his card on me.

'I'll be in touch about Will Hunter, but in case you are a suspect in another murder, or need someone to bring you an aspirin in the middle of the night . . .' He touched my arm again; then we walked the last few steps to the valet stand and he handed over our tickets.

They brought his car first--a shiny black Mercedes S-class. He gestured for them to pull it aside, and waited until the greenmobile arrived.

He walked me to the car. 'I always thought that design of Mercedes was the best.' As I turned to acknowledge his comment, I noticed a black Crown Victoria pull up to the valet stand. Barry got out, dressed in his work suit and with his on-duty persona. Although he appeared to be talking to the valet, I knew he'd seen me.

Mason waited while I slid into the driver's seat, then leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek and a squeeze on my shoulder, and again mentioned being in touch. I didn't have to look to know that Barry was taking all this in.

When I finally drove away, I glanced in the rearview mirror. Barry had turned away from the valet and was watching my car. He was wearing sunglasses, but there was just the slightest twitch in his mouth that gave away his emotions. He didn't look happy.

It was only when I drove outside the gates that I realized it appeared for all intents and purposes as if I had just been at a hotel with another man.

CHAPTER 22

True to his word, mason called me at the bookstore with Will Hunter's number. He was still working on Lawrence's escort's name. He also asked me out. I felt a little funny about it, but, then, Barry and I really seemed over. I bought a little time to think about it, saying I needed a rain check, because I was in over my head with my crochetgroup. I mentioned the Tarzana Hookers and our Hearts and Barks auction donation.

'What a small world,' Mason said. 'I'm on the Hearts and Barks board of directors.' I made a comment that he seemed to be on every board of directors, and he chuckled in response. 'I suppose it does seem that way. It's my attemptto counteract being a lawyer.'