He turned to Liza. “And you, miss, do you have your funds in a high-yield checking or savings account?”
Shay and Liza looked at one another and laughed.
“You’ll get used to it, honey,” Shay told Liza. “It’s just part of who he is. Money is his life.”
Liza sighed and lifted another roll from the basket. “Hey, I’m all over making more money. I need tons of investment advice because when it comes to that topic, I’m pretty well lost.”
“Most people are,” Don agreed, nodding sagely. “Some of us just understand it, while others don’t. I’ll give you my card and if you ever have any questions you can just call or email me.”
Shay glanced at Liza and a special message of contentment passed between them.
“Thank you, Don. I will definitely take you up on that offer.”
“Oh my gosh, anybody need anything?” Shay asked, as if suddenly remembering that she was the hostess.
“You’ve already made my day, Shay, honey.” Liza sighed. “This is soo good. I’m going to get unbelievably fat if I continue to hang out with you.”
Don and Greg laughed as Shay blushed with delight.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“So, she told you about what happened to her?” Don studied Liza.
Shay had firmly negated Liza’s offer of help loading the dishwasher and shooed her from the kitchen. When Liza persisted, that fragile temper flared so Liza had retreated to the safety of the sofa.
Liza focused on Don, relieved that the subject was out in the open at last. “Yes, she has. We were talking about it before you guys arrived.”
He took a deep gulp of cold scotch. Moisture glistened on the glass as light found it. Liza knew he was wrestling with his loyalty to Shay. Wondering how much he should say. And, as could be predicted, loyalty won out.
“So you understand my concern for her well-being.” His gaze found hers and locked fiercely. “I need you to be careful with her. She’s more precious and much more fragile than you realize.”
Liza glanced away from his intensity, her eyes settling on Shay, who was in the kitchen with Greg, oblivious to Liza’s interest. They were intently discussing a china plate Greg was turning in his hands.
Liza turned back to Don. “You know, we haven’t known each other very long but I have to say, there’s no one more precious to me than Shay,” she stated firmly. “I’ll do everything in my power to protect her and make her life a happy one. You don’t need to worry.”
Don eyed Liza a long time as if judging her merit. She stared back evenly. Finally, he nodded, clearly impressed by her dedication. “It looks like I might not have to.”
He clasped her hand briefly, letting go when Shay and Greg entered the room.
“Dishwasher’s all loaded and fine china washed,” Shay said cheerily, taking a seat in the armchair across from Liza.
“This looks way too serious,” Greg intoned, seating himself next to Don on the sofa and pressing close, eyes bright. He slipped off his loafers and tucked his feet under his body as he perched next to Don. “What’s all this about?”
Shay smiled, but her eyes were worried as they passed rapidly from Liza to Don and back again.
Don laughed, trying to put Shay at ease. “Relax, you two. Nothing too earth-shattering. Liza was just singing Shay’s praises.”
He addressed Shay. “I think she’s smitten with you.”
Shay turned to Liza as she settled more comfortably into the armchair. “Oh, really. Is there something you want to tell me, El?”
Liza chuckled, embarrassed. She lifted her glass and held its coolness to her lips.
Shay was thrust forcefully back to the early morning hours when Liza had wakened her by decorating her body with ice cubes and proceeding to lick the spaces in between until each cube had melted into a puddle of lukewarm water. The coolness of the ice and the wet heat of Liza’s tongue had torn at Shay’s senses like hurricane winds. She realized suddenly that she wasn’t breathing and that her body ached for Liza.
She took a deep, shuddering breath. “Well, I guess not.”
Liza smiled and Don cleared his throat. Clearly, he had sensed the sensual energy between the two women. “So, what’s this about a homeless party tonight?”
Relieved by the change of subject, Liza explained about Ro and Kim and the work they’d been doing for Maypearl.
“That’s admirable,” he said when she finished. “You don’t see a lot of that type of dedication these days, especially among young people.”
“Hey, the young are often the very first to step up,” Shay countered. “Although I have to admit I haven’t been as involved as I’d like.”
“Ummhmm,” Don said with a raised eyebrow. “My point.”
“Are we invited?” Greg asked. “I’d love to go just to see what they’re doing.”
“Absolutely,” Liza said. “We’re always looking for helping hands. Tonight is the first night they serve Thanksgiving dinner. They serve it every day now until actual Turkey Day.”
“Doesn’t that use a lot of resources? That’s...” he paused to calculate, “nine dinners.”
“True,” Liza agreed, “but they always have a truckload of turkeys donated by Doc King, so they might as well use them.”
“Don’t forget the vegetables you donate,” Shay reminded her. “El is real big into donations,” she told Greg.
“Meadows is, you mean. Everything I do, I do through them. I may be changing that in the future, though.”
Shay tilted her head to one side. “What do you mean?”
Liza blushed, reluctant to brag about her green thumb. “Well, I’ve got a little garden behind the house and it’s doing well. Really well. I think my future donations, at least locally, can come from there. Needs to come from there.”
“What are you growing?” Greg asked curiously. “Isn’t it too hot to grow stuff here?”
“Oh no, it’s very temperate. Remember, we’re on the Gulf here so that moderates the heat. This time of year is the best season before the higher heat of summer.”
“She must grow everything. Carol, over at the local animal shelter, told me that her donations help keep the homeless shelter operating under budget
and
the animal shelter too. Carol says they wouldn’t make it without her help.”
“Meadows’ help,” Liza reminded her gently. She checked her watch. “Well, if we’re going to help out, we’d better go now. It’s getting late and they’ll be serving soon.”
After several minutes of gathering essential items, the four waited while Shay securely locked the house. Walking to the cars, Don laughed. “Well, it’s easy to see which car we’ll be taking.”
Shay laughed and slipped her arm through Liza’s. “Well, we could go in the Bug. Anyone have a shoehorn?”
“Or you guys could ride on the back of my pickup,” Liza offered, trying to be serious.
“Just get in,” Don said, opening the back door of the Camry.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
An inordinate number of cars and trucks filled the asphalt parking lot of Recognition Baptist, and Liza wondered if there was a service inside. She wouldn’t have been surprised. Recognition was the only Baptist church between Maypearl and Fairhope and had a busy, active congregation.
“Do we need to be quiet?” Greg asked in a whisper as they paused outside the church.
“No, we’re not going through the church. The mission is this way,” Liza directed, leading the others around to the basement entrance along the northern side of the church. A bank of spicy-scented holy basil on one side and sweet jasmine on the other welcomed them inside.
“Smells heavenly,” Don said, brushing the bushes as he strode the narrow sidewalk.
“I think that’s the idea,” said Shay, chuckling and nudging him.
“Behave, you two.” Liza chided, smiling as she opened the heavy metal doors.
Inside the party was in full swing. Festive music sounded from a small portable CD player just outside the kitchen doors. The homeless, mission guests and the staff milled about the large dining hall. The smell of roast turkey and fresh rolls wafted through the room.
“This is wonderful,” Shay said. “You mean all these people can stay here if they need to?”
Liza nodded as she led the way to a punchbowl- and cookie-laden table. “Absolutely. The whole back area over there is divided into two big dorm-like rooms that can house twenty people each.”
“Are they usually full?” Greg asked. He was glancing around the dining hall trying to imagine the full footprint of the mission.
“I can’t even believe I’m eating this after that dinner you served,” Liza muttered, chewing a peanut butter cookie. “Usually, Greg, but it’s such a transient population that it fluctuates. Sometimes two people, sometimes thirty. When there’s a cold snap, it fills pretty fast.”
“And don’t forget the people who just come in to clean up or get a meal,” Rosemary added, coming up behind them. Kim was at her side and both wore Pilgrim hats.
Liza laughed. “Don’t y’all look cute.”
“Every day,” Kim answered smugly, “but I thought you knew that.”
Rosemary drew Shay into a quick bear hug, and Liza hastened to introduce Don and Greg.
“Sorry we can’t stay and visit guys,” Kim said, “but we’re going to start serving.”
“We’re here to help,” Greg told her. “Just tell us what to do.”
As Rosemary gratefully pulled Don, Greg and Shay behind the serving area and gave them direction, Liza studied the room. More than thirty people crowded the brightly decorated dining room. Most had already found seats at the hodgepodge of donated tables while others milled about looking for seats. Though she spied and waved to locals such as Doc and Paula King, Doc Huffner and the Jacksons, she didn’t see Arlie and Mindy. She hadn’t talked to either of them since that day at the Java Cup and was worried about the outcome of their difficult confrontation.
“Liza, you okay?” Rosemary asked, coming to stand next to her. She studied the room as if wondering what had snared her friend’s interest.
“Have you heard from Arlie and Mindy?” Liza asked thoughtfully.
Rosemary frowned at her. “No, I called to say hi earlier in the week but didn’t get an answer so I just left a message. Should I have?”
Liza sighed. “No, just haven’t heard anything lately.”
“I’m sure they’re fine. Maybe they went over to Seminole to visit Min’s mom.”
“You’re probably right,” Liza said, smiling to put Ro at ease.
Rosemary sensed that Liza was troubled, however. “You know, you could call. I’m sure they have their cell phones with them.”
Liza nodded. “You’re right. I may do that. Have you seen Chris? I need to ask her something.”
Rosemary nodded. “She and Tommy were here, but she said she had to do something for the shelter so they took off just a few minutes ago. They’re trying to get a place here in town so if you hear of anything, let me know.”
“Sure, will do.”
The two made their way toward the serving area so they could help dish up food onto plates for the people seated at the tables. A tribe of teen volunteers stood ready, awaiting plates so they could serve as wait staff.
“So, what’s the latest?” Rosemary asked, glancing sideways at Liza.
Liza grinned and blushed. “She’s fantastic. I can’t believe my luck stumbling onto her the way I did.”
Yeah,” Rosemary agreed dryly. “Trampling my girlfriends is always the way I like to trap ’em.”
“Whoa, what’s going on over there?” Liza said, taking Rosemary’s arm, halting their progress. She was looking at the food service bar where Don and Greg, behind it, were arguing heatedly. Liza couldn’t hear what they were saying because the whole argument was
sotto voce
and just between the two men, but it was clear something was amiss.
“Should we intervene?” Rosemary asked cautiously.
Liza glanced toward Shay, standing ready over by the green vegetable station, and found her oblivious to her friends’ distress. “I don’t think so, not without Shay’s involvement. I know you’re worried about the servers but they don’t seem affected.”
As they watched, however, it became a moot point as both men abruptly ceased arguing and quietly resumed dishing up mashed potatoes and gravy onto the line of plates conveyed along the counter.
Rosemary and Liza looked at one another. They shrugged and donned the aprons awaiting them behind the serving area.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“Listen, guys, we need to talk.”
Don’s voice arrested them as they entered a darkened house still fragrant with good cooking smells. Shay glanced at Don in surprise as she pressed the door closed and engaged all the locks.
He took Shay’s hand and led her to the sofa. He took both hands and sat her gently down and then motioned for Liza to sit on the other side. Liza switched on a nearby lamp and sat. Greg stood nearby, face ashen, and Liza had a sudden sinking feeling in her stomach.
“I have some bad news,” he began gently. “But I don’t want you to get too crazy about this. We will deal with it. I don’t want you to worry.”
Shay’s eyes grew wide and her breathing rate increased. “What is it?”
“Rachel, Dr. Frye, is dead. She’s been murdered.”
Shay gasped. “How? When? How could this happen?”
Don held Shay’s hands more firmly as his large eyes filled with unshed tears. “Two weeks ago; someone broke into her office and stole some of her files.”
Liza stood suddenly and moved to the bar. She poured several fingers of straight, single-malt scotch and brought it to Shay. Loosening her hands from Don’s, Liza pressed the glass into one. “Drink this, Shay. Now!”
Don’s wet eyes connected gratefully with Liza’s as Shay did as she was told. She shivered once, as the scotch went down, then spoke quietly. “She’s the only other person I gave the new address to. My file’s missing, isn’t it?” She leveled her gaze on Don, daring him to lie.
Don sighed, his eyes tortured. “Yes,” he whispered. “Yes.”
Shay studied him a long time, her thoughts going back to that first time they’d met. How he had helped her, cuddling her into a blanket and into his arms like a loving father.
“There’s more, isn’t there?” she said finally. She lifted the glass to her lips and took another, deeper drink. Liza laid one hand on Shay’s shoulder, as if bracing her.