said he wanted to tell me something about the photo we’d been discussing and would call back the next day.
I got up to leave, but Mason shook his head and extracted my car keys from my purse. “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk,” he said, closing his hand around the keys.
“I had a half a glass of wine,” I protested
“For you, that’s enough to be impaired.”
My smile might have been a little loopy, and I was actually glad to sit down again on the pillowy sofa. “Well, at least you said we’re friends again.” Then I looked at him intently, but half joking. “But don’t get any ideas about taking advantage of me; it was only a half a glass of wine.”
Mason chuckled. “Don’t worry, Sunshine, if anything ever goes on between us, I want you to be one hundred percent present so you know exactly what’s happening.” Even the chuckle couldn’t hide the intensity of his voice, which only added to my rubber-leg feeling.
He sat back and abruptly changed the subject to something with less heat. “As long as you’re staying, you might as well tell me about the message you were so upset about.”
I think we were both relieved and I began to talk about the case. I told him about meeting Robyn’s brother and the missed phone call and what he’d said in the message.
“I can’t wait to hear what he has to say about that photograph. Did your assistant tell you why I called? It would really help if I could find out the identity of the missing head,” I said. Mason said he’d take care of it the following day. Then he asked me how my investigation was going.
“This case is so confusing. Just when I think things are going one way, something else shows up. There’s the issue of Mr. Missing. Who knows how he reacted to the breakup. Maybe he decided to cut her out of life in general. Then from what Robyn’s brother said, she was worried about Talia Canon’s reaction to her getting the promotion to segment producer. Talia certainly seems happy to have taken over. Really anybody could have sent the tainted sweetener. There are these peripheral people like Pierce Sheraton, D. J., Bob and even Barbara Olive Overton. It sounds like Robyn had taken something about the show in her own hands. Maybe the host found out and wasn’t happy about it. But then the whole issue of Robyn’s parents showed up. I don’t know if they knew she was the segment producer working on their appearance. Suppose they found out and figured out she was going to ambush them?”
“I just saw something with the celebrity couple’s name on it,” Mason said. He excused himself to go look for something. A few moments later, he returned and handed me a thick invitation for a charity celebrity golf tournament in Palm Springs. It was an all-day affair, with a banquet and auction capping it off. Becca Ivins and Derek Trousedale were the guests of honor.
“Hmm, interesting, Barbara Olive Overton is one of the sponsors,” I said. Then it rang a bell in my brain. Hadn’t the golf tournament been listed on the wipe-off board in the production office? I asked if he was going.
“I know where you’re headed,” he said with a knowing look. “You think it would be an opportunity to meet Becca and Derek.” I nodded in agreement. “I know for sure I’m not going. I have a family thing. But the firm will probably buy a bunch of tickets. I’ll see what I can do.”
By now the wine had worn off completely and Mason gave my keys back. He walked me out to my car while Spike protested at being left behind. The temperature had dropped to somewhere in the fifties and I shivered. Mason pulled off his sweatshirt and handed it to me. As soon as I put it on, I was enveloped in his scent and the remnants of his body heat.
He waited while I started the motor, and when I opened the window, he leaned in. “I’m glad we’re friends again. Call me after you talk to Barry. No matter what time.” He ruffled my hair and then stepped away from the car. As I drove away, I saw him wave before he went back to his house.
Now to deal with Barry.
CHAPTER 28
The phone ringing woke me and I sat up with a start. The lights were still on and I’d fallen asleep in a chair in the den. As I reached for the phone I looked at my watch. All I saw was the hour hand and it was on the four. It had to be Barry.
He was calling from his car. There was concern in his voice as he asked if everything was okay.
“You’re not in jail again or anything?” he said. I wasn’t sure if he was joking, trying to lighten the moment, or he really thought I was.
“I need to talk to you in person,” I said once I’d assured him there was no emergency.
By now I was no longer angry. The thing was, I understood what he’d tried to do, but just because I understood didn’t mean it worked for me. He said he’d be right over and my heart began to thud in anticipation.
I was sitting on the couch in the living room when I heard his key in the lock. Barry was a good detective, so of course, he’d figured out something bad was up. He held out a bouquet of mixed flowers, saying he’d gotten them at the all-night market. He looked exhausted, but he forced his face into an upbeat expression. “So what’s up, babe?” He glanced around for the animals. Blondie was asleep in her chair and the cats were sacked out somewhere. Cosmo woke up when he heard the door, but just like Barry, the black mutt had figured something was up and sat across the room, staring at us.
“I saw Mason,” I said. “And he told me everything.”
Barry’s expression darkened. “He’s a lawyer, I should have figured I couldn’t trust him to keep his word.” He laid the flowers on the coffee table and I made no move to get up and get a vase.
“I don’t want to move to Simi Valley,” I said. “I don’t want to make a fresh start.” He’d flopped on the couch next to me and I turned to face him. “You can’t just cut people out of my life and think suddenly everything will be different. And you can’t assume you know what makes me happy.”
Barry blew out his breath a few times but didn’t say anything. “It’s not that I don’t love you,” I said. “Can’t we just keep things the way they are?”
Barry seemed to be considering what to say. He sat forward. “They can’t stay the way they are because I want us to have a life together. I want us to live someplace that isn’t filled with memories and where I feel like a guest. I want someone who is committed to me, not hanging out with a bunch of troublemakers raiding garbage cans in the middle of the night. I don’t want to have to share you with everybody.” He didn’t say it, but I knew he meant Mason.
It was my turn, and I had a hard time saying it, but I spoke my piece. “I understand what you think goes with getting married. But I don’t want to give up the life I’ve made for myself. I love my job and my friends and even raiding garbage cans in the middle of the night. I don’t want to get married. It’s not you. I don’t want to marry anybody right now.” I paused and looked at him “Why can’t we just keep things the way they are?”
“You can’t have it both ways. Either you’re committed to me or you’re not.”
For a few moments, we sat there in silence as the gravity of the situation sank in. We had reached an insurmountable impasse, and there was only one thing left for me to do. My body felt heavy and worn down as I got up and went in the other room. I came back with the little blue box and held it out. He stared at it for a long time before standing up and finally taking it. Then he walked to the door and left without a word.
I sat on the couch, stunned. It wasn’t the same as when we’d had arguments and broken up. There was no anger, no heat, just resignation. This time, I knew it was really over. I felt like a piece of my heart had been ripped out and all the implications sunk in. I’d never find out what happened with Jeffrey and his girlfriend. With no one keeping an eye on maintenance, my house would fall apart. No more coming home to find Barry working on something. No more Barry. Just like that, gone.
I couldn’t seem to get myself off the couch and then the phone rang. For a moment, I thought Barry had reconsidered. That he’d realized something was better than nothing. But it was Mason. I heard him blow out his breath when I told him what happened.
“I didn’t think he’d be so all or nothing,” Mason said.
“Neither did I,” I said as my eyes began to water.
