“Wild theories? I’m just thinking about the possibilities. Isn’t that what you’re always telling me? Look at situations from multiple angles?” I glared at my arroz con leche ice candy as if it were the ice pop’s fault Amir was being condescending.
“Yes, so that you don’t get hung up on one idea. I gave you information that hints at just one possibility. Do you know if Sana has an alibi for the time of Rob’s death?”
I scowled. “I don’t even know his time of death, so how would I know who does or doesn’t have an alibi?”
“What time did you find his body?”
“Around one in the afternoon.”
“Witnesses at the bar report him leaving alone a little after midnight, and the coroner’s report puts his death shortly after that.”
“Why do people remember the time he left so clearly?” Elena asked, wiping up the drips Amir and I were leaving behind, then handed me a kulfi ice candy to enjoy as well. I smiled my thanks at her.
“After the fight with Bernadette, people were watching him to see if anything else interesting would happen.”
“And did it?” Adeena asked. She handed her brother a wet napkin to clean his hands and raised her eyebrows at the mess he’d made.
He smiled sheepishly and cleaned up after himself before nodding. “Valerie and Sana were there, too. After Bernadette left, a drunk Valerie chewed him out. Something about not wanting a repeat of last time. He laughed and she threw a drink in his face.” He let out an unamused laugh. “That seemed to happen to him a lot.”
“It must feel so satisfying. I’ve always wanted to do that.” I grinned before remembering I threw a pot of hot coffee in someone’s face to save my life a few months ago. The image became a lot less amusing then.
I took a few deep breaths to steady myself. “What happened after that?”
“The bartender kicked Valerie out and Sana left with her. Not sure about anything else.”
I eyed him. “You sure know a lot about this case for someone who’s not involved.”
“Excuse me, I need to go wash my hands.” He walked away and Adeena and I followed him to the sink behind the counter. Elena stayed out of it, either because she didn’t know him well enough to hound him or because she was way better at minding her own business than me and Adeena.
“Amir. What are you not telling us?” I gasped, like the melodramatic person I was. “Has Bernadette been charged? Are you officially representing her?”
“She hasn’t been charged. But it seems things have progressed enough that Detective Park advised her to officially seek legal counsel.” Amir dried his hands on a dish towel and looked over at me. “Look, I know the other night didn’t end well, but if you care about your cousin, it doesn’t matter who’s right. She needs your help, whether she admits it or not.”
Excuse me? It didn’t matter who was right?! In what world?
As I formulated a way to tell him just how very, very wrong he was, Adeena stepped in. “Lila, I don’t know what happened, but he’s got a point. Don’t look at me like that, Amir Bhai. You have, on occasion, been correct about things. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
Amir covered up his smile and turned to pour himself a glass of water. I crossed my arms. “You can say that because you weren’t there. Bernadette said that I was making the case all about me.”
Adeena made a noise in her throat, her But was she wrong though? noise that I was very familiar with, so I said, “And they insulted my mom.”
Adeena stopped making that noise and straightened up. “Oh, so Bernadette wants to fight. That’s what you’re telling me.”
Elena finally joined in the conversation. “I don’t know what’s going on, but if someone’s talking about your mom and we need to throw hands, I’m in. You don’t mess with the ancestors.”
I probably shouldn’t have been so happy that my best friends were threatening my cousin with bodily harm, but just knowing they had my back filled me up with the warm fuzzies. “Aww, thanks, you two. Bernadette would absolutely destroy me in a physical fight, but good to know I have seconds if it ever comes down to a duel.”
I briefly filled them in on what had happened at dinner and Elena gasped. “She is totally your Aaron Burr! Super jealous of you and blaming anything that goes wrong in her life on you.”
Adeena laughed. “And Lila as Hamilton totally works, because she’s also a workaholic who’s full of herself, strings people along, and thinks she can only make it on her own.” She grinned, nodding her head. “I’m really into this comparison. Babe, let’s watch Hamilton again later tonight so we can continue making fun of Lila and Bernadette.”
“OK, but then you have to watch Hadestown with me and learn ‘Wait for Me’ for our next karaoke night.”
Adeena shook her head. “You and your musicals. Fine, but you have to bring home mushroom quesadillas and those awesome beans from El Gato Negro next time you’re there. And you still owe me a mezcal cocktail for the menu, so I’m expecting a tasting soon.”
“It’s a date, mi amor.” Elena gave her a quick kiss that managed to linger just long enough to make my heart twinge.
I didn’t appreciate all their jabs, but they were so freakin’ cute together. Why didn’t I have someone to watch musicals with and supply me with tasty Mexican food and cocktails? I glanced over at Amir, who was watching his sister and her girlfriend with the saddest expression on his face.
Ah. Right.
I cleared my throat. “So, uh, what do you all think my next move should be? I need to talk to Bernadette, obviously. I wonder if I can get the Calendar Crew together without Lola Flor throwing them out of our house.”
Amir looked at his watch. “It’s almost closing time for Auntie, right? Maybe if you get them all together at the restaurant after your customers are gone, Grandma Flor would be more interested in their money than being petty.”
If he thought my grandmother kicking Ninang June out of our house was pettier than the disrespect Ninang June showed our family, then he did not need to be at this dinner. Adeena met my eyes and the line connecting us, the understanding that flowed between our gazes, gave me the support I needed.
“I’ll contact the aunties and Bernadette. Tita Rosie’s Kitchen doesn’t close for another hour, so that should be plenty of notice.” I drew my shoulders back and gestured Amir toward the door. “Anyway, we have some work to do here. Thanks for the update.”
Taking his cue, Amir picked up his briefcase and headed to the door. “The ice candies were great. Can’t wait to try yours, Lila. Stay out of trouble, you three.”
Elena wrinkled her nose, but waited till he was gone before speaking. “Lila, I know that man is fine as hell,” she glanced at Adeena to say, “Sorry, babe,” before turning her attention back to me, “but you can do better. Every time he opens his mouth, he sounds like the precursor to a ‘Why are men’ meme.”