Jeremy noted that a couple had entered the restaurant and were pointing at Rowenna, huge smiles on their faces. The woman came forward quickly, unwinding the black scarf she’d been wearing around her neck. “Rowenna, you’re home!”
Rowenna stood, hugged the woman, and then embraced the man as he came up behind the woman. Joe Brentwood’s eyes rolled. “The Llewellyns,” he said, shaking his head slightly.
“Eve, Adam, it’s great to see you.” Rowenna turned with a smile on her face to introduce them to Jeremy. “Adam and Eve Llewellyn,” she said.
Jeremy stood, shaking hands as he examined the newcomers. The man was tawny-haired, tall, and perhaps a few years older than Rowenna. The woman was petite, and he thought that her hair had been dyed to its jet-black color. Her eyes were a powdery blue. She was cute rather than pretty, with an engaging smile. “Jeremy Flynn,” he said.
“Hi, wonderful to meet you,” Eve said, pumping his hand.
“A pleasure,” Jeremy said.
“How do you do?” Adam said.
The wife had a more sincere handshake, Jeremy thought.
“Adam and Eve Llewellyn, huh?” he asked.
“Oh, the name is for business,” Adam said.
“Adam and Eve. Catchy,” Jeremy said.
“My name is really Eve, and his really is Adam,” Eve said, grinning. “But Llewellyn is kind of like a stage name. We were the Eidenwiesses.”
“We had it changed legally,” Adam said. “Hey, Joe, how are you?”
“Okay, all things considered,” Joe said, greeting the couple with a nod.
“They’re wiccans, and they run a store specializing in magical items,” Rowenna explained.
The Llewellyns weren’t looking, and Joe rolled his eyes at Jeremy again. So much for Rowenna’s claim that Joe respected any and all religions equally. At least the guy seemed ready to side with him on something, he thought. Good. He would have to use it.
“Oh, Rowenna, we’re so glad you’re home.” Eve was clasping Rowenna’s hands as she glanced over at Jeremy. There was a question in her eyes, even though she spoke casually. “And you’ve come with a friend.”
“Jeremy is a private investigator, and he’s here because he’s working for Brad Johnstone,” Joe said curtly.
“Really?” Adam looked at Jeremy with new interest. “Terrible thing. They were in our shop that day. They seemed to be a really sweet couple. I can’t believe he would have hurt her.” Almost as if to emphasize his words, he cracked the gum he was chewing.
“I can’t believe people are suggesting that he did.” Even as Jeremy heard himself say the words defensively, he knew they were stupid. It was easy to believe; it was even procedure. In cases like this, it was imperative to clear the spouse first.
Joe was looking at him with a hint of dry amusement, apparently glad that he’d so quickly betrayed a weakness.
“So you’ll be investigating her disappearance, too?” Adam asked.
Jeremy nodded.
“So you haven’t found anything, Joe?” Eve asked sadly.
“I’m glad Brad has a friend in his corner,” Adam said when Joe didn’t answer, then looked over at the older man as if afraid he might have offended him.
Joe neatly eliminated that possibility. “I’m an old cop, so I don’t mind any help I can get. If Mr. Flynn can find any information that will help solve this case, I’ll be more than grateful.”
Oddly enough, Jeremy thought that he meant it. He was finding it difficult to get a good reading on the man. He almost missed it when Joe added softly, almost to himself, “And Ro is home now.”
Jeremy glanced at his watch. It was close to time to meet with Brad. “You’ll have to excuse me, but I have an appointment over at the Hawthorne Hotel bar. Nice to meet you,” he told the Llewellyns. “I’ll be seeing you, I’m sure.” He started to reach into his pocket for his wallet.
“Hey, put that away. I can afford to buy you a beer,” Joe said.
“Well, thanks, then. Thanks so much.”
“And I’ll be seeing you,” Joe assured him.
“I’m sure you will,” Jeremy said dryly. “Rowenna…”
“I have to get my things from your car,” she reminded him.
He shook his head. “If it’s all right with you, I’ll come back and get you and drive you out to your place in an hour or so. I’d like to see where you live and get a feel for the area from someone who knows it well.”
“I can take Rowenna home,” Joe said.
“I’m sure you can, but if Rowenna doesn’t mind…?”
She was studying him, he noted, with a slight frown. Had it just been a one-night stand? He didn’t think so. Not with her. He was sure he’d read her right. No doubt she’d dated, had known men over the years, but she’d never let them in, never let them get close.
Rowenna flashed him a quick smile, then turned to Joe. “Actually, it will be easiest if Jeremy gives me a ride. That way we won’t have to bother moving my luggage around.”