“What if she was going to ruin the tribute to them by revealing what they were really like as parents?” CeeCee said. “Like in the middle of the show come forward and confront them.”
“And what if they found out?” Dinah added.
CeeCee nodded. “Something like that would tarnish their image forever. Knock them off their pedestals.”
We all looked at each other, and I know we were thinking the same thing. How far would they go to protect their image? Would they murder their own child? Finally CeeCee spoke.
“I’ve heard of wanting to kill to get a part. . . .”
CHAPTER 25
I GOT TO THE BOOKSTORE AROUND NOON AND went right to the yarn department. No surprise, Elise and Rhoda were hanging out at the table. Elise seemed stuck on turning out black cell phone covers with red decorations. Though Rhoda had talked her into letting go of the vampire connection and she’d started adding things like red heart-shaped buttons. I began putting out some new yarn we’d just gotten in, which was dangerous. It was all I could do not to set some aside for myself. Barry’s shelves would be overflowing before they were even finished.
As soon as I had time for a break, I went into the cafe. CeeCee had pulled me aside before Dinah and I had left and asked me to talk to Mason. Even if Nell didn’t want a lawyer, maybe he could offer some advice.
As soon as I sat down at a table by the window, I tried calling him at his office. I was sure it would work out better than when I’d reached him home and not alone.
“What’s up, Sunsh—Molly?” he said. Hmm, so my nickname was dead. No doubt this other woman was his sunshine now. He was polite but distant as I told him about the sweetener drop off and CeeCee’s concern.
“Just tell her to say nothing,” he said. Then I brought up who Robyn’s parents were. I thought for a moment that he was interested.
“I had no idea Becca and Derek had any kids,” he said, then his voice flattened and he asked if there was anything else. I thought there probably was, but I was so unnerved by how he was acting, I couldn’t remember, and we hung up.
Bob dropped off a red-eye just in time. I needed something to perk me up because the call had totally bummed me out. I could deal with Mason meeting someone but not losing him as a friend. Dinah had said that Mason had probably faced I was more or less engaged to Barry and he decided to move on.
“I’ll just have to get used to it,” I said to myself, feeling my lip tremble. I swallowed back my tears and told myself I had to be a big girl. I’d taken to sticking a hook and wad of yarn in my pocket for times like this. I took it out and started working on another cell sock. Bob had his computer on the counter and, after delivering my drink, went back to hammering away, no doubt on his screenplay. I glanced around at the tables and nobody was talking—everybody seemed to be hovering over a computer or reading a book. I hadn’t even noticed D. J. before.
The quiet ended abruptly when the door whooshed open and Pierce Sheraton came in.
“Hey, there,” he said. “Did you find a little black notebook?”
Bob must have been lost in tales of the werewolf planet. He glanced up at the sound, but it took a moment before he realized who was there. Bob’s eyes lit up and he straightened.
“Sorry, I was just taking a moment to work on my script.” There was heavy emphasis on the word
Just then Rayaad come up to me and jostled my arm. “Here she is,” our cashier said. I was surprised to see Annie the nanny was with her. Rayaad went back to her station.
“I’m sorry to disturb you while you’re working, but I didn’t know any other way to contact you,” Annie said. She explained she was on an errand for her employer and only had a few minutes but accepted my invitation to sit. She picked up the cell sock I was working on and admired it.
“I don’t know if you know, but Robyn has a brother,” she began. “Miles is nothing like her. He took all the rejection from his parents badly and was a cliche of a Hollywood kid with too much money and too much time.” She shook her head with dismay. “He struggled with a drug problem for years.” Her face brightened. “But he’s doing okay now. He used to be a resident at the halfway house, but now he’s a counselor.” She digressed and said she didn’t normally stay this connected with her charges, but seeing how their parents had shut them out had left her with a feeling of responsibility for them. She wanted me to know that Robyn had a soft spot for her brother and had done what she could to help him. I was still processing the information she’d given me when she asked me for a favor.
“I go to the halfway house once a month to teach a crochet class. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you about the tranquilizing benefits of it. It’s good for them to keep their hands busy, too. I’m sure this impatient crochet would appeal to them. The idea they could make something fast might encourage more of the residents to join us, and maybe they could even use the items for a fund-raiser.” She paused and smiled. “I know this is all last minute, but the class is in a few days, and I was wondering if you would be willing to come along and show them how to make one of these.” She held up my cell sock.
My brain was clicking. Robyn’s brother was another piece of the puzzle and talking to him seemed like an excellent idea. And I didn’t mind spreading the word of crochet. I told her the impatient crochet wasn’t really my idea, but I’d be happy to go with her and help show the group how to do it. I could bring patterns for some small items and everything. Annie seemed pleased and we set a time to go there together.
I mentioned the boy doll I’d rescued from the trash. “Did that belong to Miles?” Annie seemed surprised.
“I didn’t know Robyn kept it. Yes, I made them each a doll when I was taking care of them. I do it for all the kids in my charge.”
“Should I bring it for Miles?” I asked.
Annie nodded. “I think he’d like that.”
As she was getting ready to leave, I threw a few more questions at her about Robyn, but all I managed to find out was that the celebrity couple knew about their daughter’s death and that was why they were at the memorial service. But they had decided it was best for everyone not to publically acknowledge their relationship. I suspected the only ones it was best for was them. I wanted to ask if she thought the couple capable of murder, but she looked at her watch and rushed off.
The rest of the day went by in a blur of books and yarn, and it was dark when I drove home. As I pulled into my driveway, I saw Barry’s Tahoe parked on the street in front of my house. Barry and Jeffrey were walking toward me when I got out of my car.
“We’re just coming from open house at school,” Barry said as an explanation. I was glad that Barry had made it to the event, though the expression on his son’s face made me wonder if he felt the same. We all walked into the backyard together just like a regular family.
“Any more problems with your cell phone?” Barry said. I was relieved to see he was smiling. If we were going to be together, he had to have a sense of humor. I asked how he’d happened to show up and he laughed.
“Babe, all I had to hear was the color and make of the car. How many blue green 1993 190 E Mercedes, do you think there are?” He unlocked the back door with his key and slipped on the lights. Cosmo was waiting by the door and ran outside. Jeffrey went on ahead, saying he would feed them.
“Have you eaten?” I asked. Barry said he’d taken Jeffrey out after the school thing.
“Sushi,” he said with an unhappy face. “I can’t believe my kid wants to eat raw fish.”
When we were out of earshot of Jeffrey, I asked Barry if he’d had the “talk” with him yet.
“I’m waiting for the right time,” he said, obviously uncomfortable. “And some noisy restaurant with the tables on top of each other isn’t the place.” As we passed the hall that led to Samuel’s room, I noticed a stack of moving
