“Thanks, Nick. I appreciate that. Rachel told me you’re taking everyone on a book tour. I’ll sure miss having Rachel here. She’s the best I’ve ever had working for me. I hope she told you I plan on building a nursery here if she’ll stay after the baby’s born.”
Nick smiled at his old friend. He had noticed a strange look on Rachel’s face ever since the police collected the Samoan. Nick hoped to find out what was troubling her other than the encounter. “We’ll be back. I have to keep Rachel busy. You know what they say, ‘idle hands are the devil’s playground’.”
That remark earned him a back of the head slap from Rachel to the amusement of Joe and Gus. “I’ll give you the devil’s playground.”
It was then Dan and Carol came in the café entrance, looking around worriedly. The old couple entered tentatively as if expecting a murder scene. Dan led the way over to their friends. He stooped carefully to pet Deke. “We heard the sirens while we were walking. Were the police here?”
Joe held a chair away from the table for Carol to sit. “Some monster guy came in drunk, and had Rachel and I pinned. Hemingway came in and zapped him. The cops took him away. I’m thinking of closing for the day in celebration of still being alive. Would you folks like something?”
“Help yourself to the appetizers,” Nick said, gesturing at the spread.
Dan picked out a meat and cheese hors d’oeuvre. Rachel poured the couple a cup of coffee as Dan also sat down next to Gus before speaking. “Was it a big guy in a Hawaiian shirt?”
“Yeah, Dan,” Nick replied. “You and Carol ran across him, huh?”
“We saw him on Lighthouse Ave near where we pass on our walk to the Point,” Carol answered. “He was with a young woman. She seemed to be having a heated discussion with him, but he was simply standing there nodding his head.”
Rachel avoided both Nick and Gus’s inquisitive looks. Nick took his cell-phone out, and began going through some pictures rapidly. He stopped at the one he wanted. Nick held the phone so Dan and Carol could see the photo. “Is this the woman he was talking to?”
Dan put on his glasses, peering closer at the screen. “Yep. I think so. What do you think, Hon? Her hair’s a bit different, but I got a good look at her face. I’m pretty certain she’s the one we saw.”
“Dan’s right,” Carol added, meeting Nick’s gaze. “What do you think that means? Do you know her, Nick?”
“We met her in San Francisco the other night. She claimed to be a fan of my novels. I snapped a picture of her, because notoriety is sometimes a bad thing. Rachel and Gus figured she was harmless, but it does seem strange considering this incident. I’m sorry as hell if some goofball I ran across caused this, Joe.”
“Not your fault, Nick,” Joe insisted. “Are you going to mention this woman to the police?”
“I’ll have to give that some thought. What do you think, Rach?”
Rachel scanned the faces of her friends with an uneasy smile, avoiding Nick’s knowing stare. “It could be one of those weird coincidences.”
Nick chuckled. He returned to eating, and passing treats to Deke. The others took their cue from him. After they finished their food and drink in a comfortable silence, Nick stood up. He put a hand on Joe’s shoulders, guiding him away from the table. He shoved five one hundred dollar bills into Joe’s apron pocket. He whispered to the surprised café owner. “That quickie meal was the best, Joe. Take this. Sorry for the trouble. I hope you do close for the day.”
“Thanks, Nick.” Joe accepted the money with a conspiratorial whisper back. “Are the books really selling that well?”
“They sure are. I have a few other investments doing pretty fair too.” Nick patted his shoulder and returned to the table. “Let Gus, Rachel, and I walk you two home. We’ll catch up on local news, and tell you about the book tour we’re going on.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful, Nick,” Carol said, accepting Nick’s help straightening away from the table. “Dan and I would love to hear your plans. We haven’t seen you since before that horrible thing at Jean’s school. How’s your head?”
Nick patted the uncovered healing wound. “All better now. The stitches have fallen out with my peroxide treatments. Come on. Let’s get walkin’. I have news in relation to my character Jed’s life to share. It’s very hush/hush, so don’t reveal what I tell you to anyone.”
“Every cell, El Muerto! Every cell… rotten!” Gus stormed out ahead with Deke.
“Are you provoking Gus with his favorite character again?” Carol slapped Nick’s arm as they followed Gus out. “Shame on you, Nick.”
“What’s with the El Muerto tag?”
“Just Gus trying to get a bite, Dan. Nothing to worry about. He’s less than enthused about my edgy literary additions for his buddy Jed to deal with.”
“What would those edgy additions be, Nick?”