“What?”
“You weren’t the only one at the retreat who had a confrontation with Everett that night. Remember Jane telling us that she ‘called him out’ when she saw him on his front porch?”
Kelly had forgotten. “Oh, yeah, she did. But that sounded like she gave him a piece of her mind, that’s all.”
“Still, a confrontation is a confrontation in my book,” Lisa said with an emphatic nod. “And I wanted to make sure Peterson knew about it.”
Kelly could tell her friend was sticking up for her just in case Marty’s dire prediction proved true. The idea of being on Detective Peterson’s Most-Likely-to-Do-Something-Bad list was not pleasant.
“Thanks, Lisa. I appreciate your efforts to make sure I’m not alone on Peterson’s list. That was sweet of you to come to my defense.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
Kelly smiled to herself. Lisa hated the idea of being “sweet.” She liked to think of herself as the take-charge leader, organizing everything in sight. In reality, Megan was the hard-as-nails Trail Boss, and Lisa was the Worrier and Caregiver. The Warrior role Kelly had taken for herself.
“Did he say if he’d interviewed Jennifer yet? I haven’t had a chance to talk with her because they were swamped at the café when I came in a little while ago.”
“He asked me where would be the best place to catch Jennifer to ask questions, her real estate office or the café. I told him she worked mornings at the café, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up.” She glanced out the window. “Actually, that’s another reason I rescheduled everybody. I wanted to be here in case he does talk to Jen today. That’s bound to be hard for her.”
“You’re right. I’m glad I took my break early. I’d rather be here for Jennifer. Even though Burt always reminds me that we can’t protect her.”
“Jen wouldn’t let us anyway.”
“Did he say who else he’s interviewed?”
Lisa shook her head. “Not a word. But he did get to talk to Greta before she left for class. So that’s one more down.” Lisa knitted another row of rosy pink stitches.
The sound of tires crunching gravel drew Kelly’s attention, and she glanced through the window in time to see a black car driving into Lambspun’s parking lot. She didn’t get a good look at the driver, but instinct told her it was Peterson.
“A man driving a black car passed by. I’m betting it’s Peterson,” she said and dropped her crocheting onto the table.
Lisa looked up, concern already on her face. “I bet you’re right. Let’s head over to the café.”
“We’d better stay in the background,” Kelly said as she left the main room. “Peterson might get annoyed with us hovering around, like Mother Hens.”
Lisa followed Kelly. “Yeah, not to mention how aggravated Jen would be.”
Kelly headed through the hallway toward the café and down a narrow passageway only the kitchen staff used. “We can hide out here in the corner.” She pointed to the windows that overlooked the patio garden outside and the parking lot beyond.
The outside tables were still filled with breakfast customers. Warm, sunny mornings brought out the crowds even on weekdays. Kelly looked beyond the customers and over the garden fence with flowering vines and spotted Peterson exiting his car.
“You were right,” Lisa said. “Where’s Jennifer?”
Kelly scanned the garden area outside, not spotting her friend, then turned to Eduardo, who was working at the grill. “Is Jennifer working inside or outside this morning?”
“She and Julie are covering both,” he said, flipping a cheesy omelet onto a plate.
“Look, there he goes,” Lisa said, pointing out the window.
Kelly followed Lisa’s direction and saw Jennifer approach Detective Peterson by the gate to the garden patio. Peterson gestured toward an empty table away from the others. Jennifer nodded, then followed behind Peterson to the secluded spot.
“Who’s that guy with Jen?” Pete’s voice came from right behind Kelly’s shoulder.
Kelly hesitated for a second before answering. She couldn’t protect Pete, either. “That’s Lieutenant Peterson from the county police. He’s interviewing all the retreat attendees again. He interviewed me yesterday and Lisa this morning.”
Pete’s normally smiling face sobered quickly. “Why? Did they miss something?”
“Apparently the medical examiner wants to make sure Everett’s death was accidental. So he’s asking more questions.”
Pete’s eyes popped wide. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
Kelly gave a rueful smile. “I wish I were. He even questioned me because I’d had a discussion with Everett myself. I told him to stay away from Jennifer or else.”
“Oh, God, you didn’t.” Pete looked appalled.
“That’s precisely what we all said last night.”
Pete looked from Lisa to Kelly and back again. “It’s no accident the two of you are here, right? You’re here because of Jennifer.” He glanced through the window toward Jennifer and Peterson, clearly engrossed in conversation at the shady table. “And that means . . . oh, God . . . Jen didn’t tell him, did she?”
Kelly shook her head. “Nope. When he was questioning us at the retreat, I kind of danced around and distracted him so he wouldn’t ask her straight out if she had ever met Everett before. I mean, I figured he’d dived off the deck himself, so it didn’t matter if Peterson found out. I—I just wanted to protect Jennifer.”
They all stared out the window again, watching Peterson clasp his hands together and lean forward over the table. Jennifer folded and refolded a napkin in her lap as she spoke.
All three friends watched in silence for several minutes.
“Oh, God . . .” Pete whispered.
Kelly
leaned her arms on the café table in the quiet alcove. “What did Peterson say? I mean, what questions did he ask?”
Jennifer stirred the coffee in her mug and took a sip before answering. “Actually, he did more listening than questioning. He started out by asking if I’d ever met Everett before the retreat.” She ran her index finger around the rim of the mug. “I said ‘yes,’ then I told him . . . everything.”
“Was he understanding? I mean, how did he act?” Lisa probed, worry lines furrowing her brow.
“Oh, he was very understanding . . . and very kind,” Jennifer replied, clasping the mug. “But then, we’ve had a chance to talk before.” A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “In fact, he gave me some fatherly advice over a year ago. If I’d taken it, I probably never would have met Cal Everett.” She took a long drink.
“Did he ask anything about the retreat?” Kelly continued. “Or the night Everett died.”
Jennifer nodded slowly. “Yes, he did. I told him that after the campfire, I took a walk alone around the grounds while you and Lisa went back to the cabin.”
Lisa looked pained. “Did he focus on that?”
“No, he simply asked me how long I walked and where and did either of you two see me return.” Jennifer held the mug tightly between her hands. “I told him that I walked for about an hour around the grounds and near the creek, not the ranch house, and you and Kelly were asleep when I returned.”
That meant neither she nor Lisa could corroborate Jennifer’s version of what time she returned. Kelly kept her worries to herself. She knew Peterson would be drawing his own conclusions after speaking with Jennifer. There was nothing any of them could do to help her now. No dancing around, no distractions would keep Peterson from putting Jennifer at the top of his list. She placed her hand on her friend’s arm.
“It’ll be all right, Jen,” she said, trying to calm the worries that must already be forming in Jennifer’s brain. “Peterson is a reasonable man.” She found herself repeating Burt’s line.
Lisa placed her hand on Jennifer’s other arm. “We’re here for you, Jen. All of us are, and so is Dr. Norcross.”
Jennifer looked up and smiled at the two friends across the table. “I know, guys, and believe me, I appreciate it. Even the hovering. Don’t think I didn’t spot you two looking out the window.”
“Busted,” Kelly said in mock irritation. “Man, I’m gonna have to turn in that junior detective badge.”
Pete approached the table then and placed his hand on Jennifer’s shoulder. His face clouded with concern. “It’s okay for you to leave now, Jen. The rush is over. Julie can handle it now.”
Jennifer glanced up at him. “That’s okay, Pete. I can stay and help her.”
He shook his head. “No, no . . . you go ahead and take some time. Drive over to your office, go up into the canyon, go sit by the Poudre. Whatever. Take some time for yourself. It’s a beautiful day.”
“Okay, I’ll go to my office,” Jennifer said with a knowing smile. “The chairs are more comfortable than those rocks beside the river.”
Kelly watched her friend give a goodbye wave and leave the café. Kelly, Lisa, and Pete stared after her, then exchanged a look with each other. Kelly recognized the same worry in their eyes as she felt inside herself.
“Is
that Pete out there in the garden?” Steve asked, peering out the cottage front window. “It’s after five. The café has been closed for hours. What’s he doing out there?”
“He’s pacing,” Kelly said, lacing up her baseball cleats. “He’s been pacing ever since he learned what happened at the retreat.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I wish I were. Eduardo told me that Pete paces two or three times in the morning. And Mimi and I see him pace every afternoon after the customers leave.” She joined Steve by the window. “And now that Peterson has heard Jennifer’s story, she’ll go to the top of his suspect list, and poor Pete will pace himself to death.”
“Damn . . .” Steve said softly.
“My sentiments exactly. I wish I could help him,” Kelly said as she grabbed her spring jacket. Spring nights were chilly once the sun dropped behind the mountains. “Mimi said he confided to her that he has borderline high blood pressure.”
Steve grabbed his jacket and headed out the front door, Kelly following behind. “Not good. All that worrying about Jennifer is probably sending his pressure sky-high.”
“What he needs is some way to channel all that worry into something that would actually help him, like running,” she said as they reached Steve’s big red truck.
Steve clicked the lock and opened the door. “I agree. But Pete’s a workaholic. He’d never take time to work out.”
“Hey, we’re workaholics, too, but we take time to run in the morning.” Suddenly an image flashed before Kelly’s eyes. Pete running beside her along the golf course. An idea wiggled from the back of her mind. “Wait a minute, maybe we can help him.”
“How?” Steve asked as he climbed into the driver’s seat. “Buy him a membership in a health club?”
“Better than that. I can go running with him.”
Steve slammed the door, then started the engine. His window whirred down. “C’mon, we’re gonna be late for practice. Our team is working out on the field next to yours.”
Another idea danced in front of Kelly’s eyes now. “You go on. Tell Megan I’ll be a little late and tell her why. Hand me my glove, willya?” She pointed behind his seat.
“What are you gonna do? Run with Pete now?” he said, handing her the baseman’s glove.
“No time like the present. I’m going to tell Pete I’ll run with him every afternoon. Starting right now.”
Steve grinned as the engine roared into life. “Okaaaay, but if Megan gives first base to someone else, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Hey, it’ll only be a few minutes. It’s a worthy cause,” Kelly said, backing away as Steve drove off.
Heading toward her own car, Kelly popped the trunk and tossed her glove beside the two baseball bats inside. Louisville Sluggers, both. Beside them were bags of soft-balls and baseballs. Always prepared for a pickup game. It was springtime and ball games were in the air. She and her friends had been practicing with their teams for four weeks. The season started this weekend.
She waved to Pete as she headed his way. He was still pacing in the empty café garden. “Hey, Pete, come here. I’ve got something to tell you.” She motioned him over.
Pete strolled across the driveway, his familiar smile in place. Kelly noticed he was already wearing sneakers.
Good
.
“What’s up, Kelly?”
Deciding that a no-nonsense approach would be best, Kelly took his arm. “Follow me, Pete, we’re going to take a little jog around the golf course.”
Pete stopped in his tracks. “What? I don’t have time to jog, Kelly. I’ve got work to do in the kitchen, pies need—”
Kelly urged him forward again, pulling his arm. “You got time to pace, you got time to jog. Besides, jogging is better for you.” She grabbed his arm again and pulled Pete forward once more.
Pete kept resisting, trying to pull away from Kelly’s grip. “C’mon, Kelly, this is silly.” He started laughing.
“I’m not joking, Pete,” Kelly insisted and grabbed his arm with both hands.
A familiar car turned into the driveway at that moment, and Jennifer pulled to a stop beside them. “Where are you taking Pete?” she asked.
“Kelly has this crazy idea she wants to go jogging with me. Don’t you have softball practice or something to go to, Kelly?”
“Yes, I do, but this is more important. We’ve all watched you out here pacing every day. Eduardo says you come out three times every morning.”
“At least,” Jennifer said, looking solemnly at Pete.
“Jogging is better for you than pacing. If you have time to pace, you have time to jog.”
Jennifer looked from Kelly to Pete and back again, then pulled her car into a spot.
“C’mon, Kelly, the team needs you,” Pete teased. “Let me get back to work.” He turned to Jennifer as she approached. “Did you leave something, Jen?”
“No, I was coming back to make sure you weren’t slaving away downstairs making more pies. We’ve got enough already.”
“See?” Kelly insisted, taking Pete’s arm again, glad for Jennifer’s support. “C’mon, Pete, no more excuses.”