it had come through its new purpose. One of the petals on the chartreuse yarn flower appeared a little smashed, but other than that it looked no worse for wear.
Sheila walked toward us as we stepped onto the boardwalk. Dinah put an arm around her and she joined us.
“Okay, maybe we’re the Four Musketeers,” Adele said in a surprisingly generous gesture. As we continued on through the dunes to the Asilomar grounds, Adele was already planning our Musketeer future. “The pouch bags can be our insignia,” she said in a happy voice. As we stepped into the peaceful grounds of the conference center, Adele stopped abruptly and threw her arms around me in a hug. “Pink, thanks for letting me be part of the action.”
When she’d released me, she grabbed Sheila’s hand. “C’mon, let’s get ready for the party. We can do each other’s hair.”
Just before they walked away, Adele mentioned that now that her car was not functional, she and Sheila needed another way to get themselves home, along with all the things they’d carted up there for the retreat.
“Do the problems ever end?” Dinah said, giving me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “I’ve got to find my writers and make sure they’re ready for their big moment at the gathering.” Figuring they might still be at dinner, she took off for the dining hall.
I stopped into the administration building to pick up the rhinestone clipboard and took the moment alone to call Barry. I was disappointed to get his voice mail. What I had to say didn’t work for a message, so I told him all was well and I’d try him again later. As I stepped out onto the deck, a cab pulled up below and CeeCee and Eduardo got out. With everything that had gone on, I’d forgotten she and the cover model crocheter had promised to come when their respective commitments were done. For a moment CeeCee glanced around, and it was hard to tell if she was taking in the untamed beauty of the tall pine trees and the wild growth underneath or if she was looking for paparazzi. Knowing the actress-reality host-Tarzana Hooker leader, it was most likely the photographers.
They both looked up as I started down the stairs. We exchanged greetings, and before I’d reached the last step, CeeCee had begun talking.
“I hope I packed the right things. Of course, it’s only overnight, but I was expecting something different. This doesn’t look like a heels sort of place.” She glanced down at the small suitcase Eduardo was holding along with his. “As soon as the charity event was over, I met up with Eduardo and we came up here,” CeeCee said. She apologized again for having to cancel out at the last minute, but assured me her presence at the fund-raiser had made a big difference. She looked like she had gone directly from the event to the airport. Her soft brown hair was freshly done, and she was dressed in a red pantsuit with gold trim and wearing heels. Eduardo looked extra tan, as if he’d been sprayed with something to make him appear to have been kissed by the sun for his photo shoot. It was a good bet the color extended under the soft green tee shirt he wore with the tan suede jacket. I’d seen some of the covers he’d done, and he was all rippling muscles and six-pack abs.
“I’m sure Bennett did fine in my place,” she said.
“I think he did a lot more than you planned,” I said, getting right to the point. I was too tired from all that had happened to ease into the story. “Bennett’s under arrest and on his way to the police station right now. He’s going to be charged with vandalizing Adele’s car, trying to kill me, and killing Izabelle Landers.”
CeeCee’s mouth fell open. “Oh dear! What happened?” I tried to stick with the main points and began with the fog delaying everything and the fact Bennett’s wife and Izabelle were twins. Izabelle recognized Nora, but due to all the changes in Izabelle’s appearance, Nora hadn’t recognized her. I recapped how Izabelle didn’t want to be a twin and had taken out her anger on her sister from the time they were kids. “Once Izabelle found out who was taking your place, she probably started planning what she thought was going to be the ultimate hurt to her sister- taking away her husband.”
“Oh dear,” CeeCee repeated when I got to the part about the peanut butter-laced s’more. “I suppose it figures some of the plot ideas would rub off on him after being on
“You mean an EpiPen?” I said. I told her about the crocheted pouch bag and the glow-in-the-dark yarn before I moved on to Adele’s car and my wild ride. At the end, she sighed with despair.
“I’m so sorry, Molly. If only I’d done the workshop, none of this would have happened. Well, I couldn’t have stopped the fog, but if Bennett hadn’t stepped in…”
Out of curiosity, I asked her how she’d gotten him to agree to take her place for the weekend.
The story was still sinking in for CeeCee, and she had to think a moment to remember. “Bennett runs a small theater. He’s the producer, director-the works and it’s his real love. It’s one of those Equity waiver places-under fifty seats, so nobody has to be paid scale, or anything, for that matter. I said I would do the lead in an upcoming production. It meant something, because my name would draw attention to the play-get reviewers to show up and a lot of press coverage.” She stopped and swallowed. “I guess that’s all in the past for him now.”
“So, what happened to the schedule? Did you cancel all the workshops?” Eduardo said.
“Izabelle died before most of the retreat people got here,” I explained. “And it was too late to cancel anything. Up until Bennett’s arrest, the workshops had been going along as planned. I don’t think most of the attendees even understand what happened.” Then the realization kicked in that the actors had lost their leader just before their big performances, and I muttered, “Oh no.”
“What is it, dear?” CeeCee asked. “Is there something I can do? Please, let me help.” Eduardo offered his services as well. I told CeeCee about the actors and she said as soon as she checked in, she’d find the group. I told Eduardo about the crocheters needing help with blocks for the blanket Mrs. Shedd had agreed to donate. He dittoed about checking in, and said he’d get out his hook and link up with the crocheters.
Finally, I headed back to my room to change for the party. Mason passed me on the stairs. He’d already transformed from tai chi master to the person I was used to by changing into well-fitting jeans and a black cashmere turtleneck.
“Are you all right?” he said with concern. “You’ve had a difficult afternoon, to put it mildly.” He didn’t say it, but I knew I probably looked pale and horrible. I hadn’t seen a mirror since morning and had been in an out-of-control car, taken a bumpy ride on the beach, had an embarrassing confrontation with Nora and another one that was at least successful with Bennett. And that didn’t even count being concerned with the retreaters and their good time. I supposed if I didn’t look horrible, something would have been wrong.
“How did you happen to come to the beach?” I asked.
Mason chuckled. “I think your investigating business is rubbing off. I saw Nora headed toward the beach, and I decided to follow her and see what she was up to. And if you’re wondering why I didn’t agree to represent Bennett, first of all, I’m off duty this weekend, but even if I was in my attorney mode, there was too much conflict of interest.” He tilted his head and gazed at me in a serious mode. “Any way you look at it, you’re involved in this, and to defend him I might have to try to discredit you as a witness.” His eyes caught mine. “Sunshine, there was no way that was going to happen.” He touched my arm in a supportive manner. “You can relax now. The murder is solved and the retreat almost over.”
“Almost is the key word there,” I said. “I told Izabelle’s ex I’d help him with her belongings tomorrow. And since I wrecked Adele’s car, I have to figure out a way to get Sheila and Adele and all the stuff they hauled up here back to Tarzana, and I have no budget.”
“I’m sure dealing with Izabelle’s ex won’t be a problem, and as for the other-” He was all upbeat now. “I can solve that in a few sentences. You and I have plane tickets. We transfer them to your Hookers, and then I drive you and all the stuff back in my rental SUV.” I was surprised by the offer, and after asking him several times if he was sure he wanted to do it, and he kept insisting he did, I accepted.
I said something about getting a red-eye to recharge myself, and Mason offered an alternative. He led me to the patio area behind the Scripps building. Once he made sure it was deserted, he stood facing me.
“I’m going to teach you a few tai chi movements. We’ll begin with Awaken the Chi,” he said, holding his palms facing up. He inhaled and raised his hands almost to eye level, turned them over and let them float down as he
