Pumpkin Roll (37 page)

Chapter 32

I know,” they heard a woman say. “I just need to get it out of my car—calm down.” Sadie was all but convinced it was Gabrielle’s voice and could hardly breathe.

“We’re so totally behind schedule,” said a monotone voice that did not match the urgency his words seemed to reflect. Sadie pegged the voice as belonging to Hansel, the man Sadie had spoken to when she’d called the gallery on Tuesday.

A little beep of a keyless entry sounded before Gabrielle spoke. “It’s not my fault,” she said. “You know that.” A car door, or maybe the trunk of a car, opened. “I’m doing the very best that I can.”

“I know,” Hansel continued. “But I hate falling behind.”

“You and me both,” Gabrielle said. Sadie could hear the fatigue in her voice. “See, it’s right here. We’re good.”

“Thank goodness,” Hansel said.

The door or trunk slammed, and Gabrielle’s steps could be heard hurrying back toward the building. A minute later the door hinges creaked closed. Sadie and Jane both remained totally still and silent for at least thirty seconds.

“She didn’t lock the car,” Jane said, stepping around Sadie and into full view without even checking to see if someone was there. Sadie was more cautious, peering around the side of the Dumpster before daring to come out of hiding completely. By the time she emerged, Jane had almost reached the black Audi parked opposite the gallery’s door. Sadie hurried to catch up, looking around to see if anyone was watching. The back lot wasn’t particularly isolated, but they seemed to be alone at the moment.

“What did you say?” Sadie asked when she reached Jane, who was appraising the car.

“She used her keyless entry to unlock the car, but she didn’t lock it back up. I didn’t hear the beep, did you?”

Sadie thought back, but it was hard to remember since she had been paralyzed with fear. “I don’t remember hearing it,” she admitted.

“Well, the woman is an idiot to leave her car unlocked in the city. And what’s she doing driving to work anyway when she lives four blocks away?”

“I don’t think we should break into her car,” Sadie said.

Jane looked at her, then grabbed the door handle and pulled. In an instant Sadie was reminded of another time she’d done the same thing and set off a car alarm. She closed her eyes and braced herself, but heard nothing. By the time she dared open her eyes, Jane was leaning halfway into the car, rifling through the middle console. Sadie swallowed and looked around, hoping they were still alone. She sidled over to Jane as though maybe she could block her from view if someone showed up.

“Her car is immaculate,” Jane said, standing and going to the back doors. “But if I’d hauled paint and played some elaborate hoax on someone, I’d get my car detailed too.”

There was nothing in the backseat, Sadie could see that, and Jane didn’t waste much time on it. Sadie felt like her head was about to explode from her growing anxiety. Jane shut the back door and popped the trunk before shutting the driver’s door.

“What a jerk,” Jane said.

Sadie joined Jane by the trunk and saw a black duffel bag sitting inside. Jane had unzipped the bag and was sifting through the contents, which seemed to be an eclectic collection of clothing. “How much do you want to bet this is a bag she’s packed for her sister and not taken to the hospital yet.”

Sadie shook her head. The clothes certainly weren’t Gabrielle’s.

“Hey,” Jane suddenly said, her hand stopping in the bag. She withdrew a small round container, like something face powder would be held in. She lifted it up for Sadie to see, and as soon as Sadie recognized what it was, she straightened.

“Stage makeup?” she asked.

“I guess,” Jane said, turning it in her fingers. “I wonder what it’s for.”

“I know exactly what it’s for,” Sadie said, glancing at the gallery door. “The face Pete and I saw in the window. It was white—ghostly.”

“Ah,” Jane said, tossing the container into the air and catching it with a satisfied grin on her face. “Strike two for Ms. Art Gallery director.”

“What’s it doing in Mrs. Wapple’s bag, though?” Sadie asked. “Seems like a strange hiding place.”

“Except who would think to search the bag she’s taking to her sister in the hospital?”

“Why not just throw it away?” Sadie said. She’d never quite understood why people kept evidence around.

“Maybe she secretly wants to get caught.”

A car drove into the lot, and Sadie and Jane both instinctively ducked their heads. The car moved a good hundred yards down the lot before stopping. The driver quickly got out and disappeared through the back door of one of the other shops without looking their way.

“We need to get out of here,” Sadie said. She hurried away from the car, and Jane joined her, but a few steps later, when they had almost reached the Dumpster again, she realized she hadn’t heard the trunk close. She looked back to see that it was still open, like a giant maw on a sleek black beast. “Shouldn’t we close that?” she asked.

“What for?” Jane challenged, taking the lead, which Sadie followed. “Why not give
her
something to figure out for a change?” She smiled at Sadie as she reached the walkway that would take them back to the T.

Sadie didn’t argue, but she didn’t like the idea of playing games. Still, she wasn’t about to go back and shut it herself. As they crossed Newbury Street and continued toward the Back Bay station, Sadie imagined Gabrielle’s reaction when she came outside and found the trunk open.

“Did you keep the makeup?” Sadie asked, her breath coming in short bursts due to the Jane’s quick pace. Jane reached into her pocket and pulled out the container just enough for Sadie to see.

“I only wish we could see the expression on her face when she realizes it’s gone,” Jane said with a grin. They reached the stairs leading to the T station, and Jane returned the makeup to her pocket. They kept up the pace until they were sitting on the train heading back to Forest Hills. Sadie looked at her watch. It was 3:30.

“Mr. Forsberk will be home in an hour,” Sadie said, moving ahead. “I think he’s still worth looking into, even if things are pointing to Gabrielle right now. We’ll just have to keep it short so I don’t miss my appointment at the police station.”

“Sure,” Jane said with a nod. “I’m cool with that.”

“And,” Sadie said, her stomach tightening again, “I need to talk to Pete’s daughter-in-law, assuming she’s at the house. She’s had time to settle in, and it’s only going to get harder if I avoid the inevitable.”

Chapter 33

It still amazed Sadie how fast the T moved. They were back at the Forest Hills station within twenty minutes. Both she and Jane had parked their cars there, and they were discussing whether to drive together and leave one car at the lot, or drive separately when Sadie’s phone rang. She dug it out of her purse, wondering if it was Pete, or maybe Grace from Wick’d Which. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she saw that it was Gabrielle.

“What?” Jane said, turning to face Sadie while people streamed past them.

“It’s Gabrielle,” Sadie said as the phone rang for a third time. She considered not answering, but only for a moment. Sadie swallowed and answered the phone before the call went to voice mail. “This is Sadie,” she said carefully.

Jane folded her arms over her chest, her already sharp features even edgier with the stern expression on her face.

“It’s Gabrielle. I need to talk to you.”

Sadie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, and she looked at Jane. Did Gabrielle know they’d been in the car? Or was she calling about something else? “Okay,” Sadie said. “When? Now?”

“Not now,” Gabrielle said as though Sadie should know that. “I have a reception in three hours that I have spent months preparing for and am now scrambling to make work.”

“I’m sorry,” Sadie said, and she was. “Can I help?” It was an automatic offer for Sadie; she always helped.

“Not hardly,” Gabrielle said. “There’s a café on Belvidere, or just off it, called Germaine’s. Meet me there at nine thirty.”

“Nine thirty?” Sadie repeated, scrambling in her purse for paper and a pen as Gabrielle rattled off the directions to the café. She found a receipt and bent over to use her thigh as a writing surface as she scribbled down the time and the directions. “It’s called Germaine’s?”

“Yes,” Gabrielle said, sounding exasperated. “I’ll come as soon as the reception ends. I’ll be alone, and I expect you to be alone as well. I don’t want to make a big production about this.”

“Can I ask what it’s about?”

“You said you wanted to help us,” Gabrielle said. She hung up before Sadie had a chance to prod for more details. Sadie returned the phone to her purse as she smoothed out the receipt and reviewed the details.

“You’re not meeting with her,” Jane said as though it were fact.

“It’s a public place,” Sadie said.

Jane looked completely exasperated. “Are you kidding?”

“I’ll be okay,” she said. “I can’t miss the chance to get a face-to-face with her. You have to appreciate the opportunity to get that kind of interview.” She hoped appealing to Jane’s journalistic instincts would put them on the same page. Every other meeting with Gabrielle had been complicated, a one-on-one was Sadie’s best chance to figure out this woman. That Gabrielle had said she wanted help with something could either be a clever ruse or a humble request. Sadie was willing to risk it.

Jane shook her head. “I’ll sneak into one of the other tables then so I can keep an eye on you. Make sure nothing happens that shouldn’t.”

“No,” Sadie said. “I’m not going to take any chances of losing another opportunity with her. I’ll go alone.” Besides, as wonderfully helpful as Jane was, her strong opinions on what to do and how to do it were a little frustrating.

Jane clenched her jaw, and Sadie braced herself for further argument but Jane just nodded. “I’m driving,” she said, turning back to the parking lot.

“Me too,” Sadie countered, causing Jane to look at her with an annoyed expression. If she was trying to bully Sadie, it wasn’t going to work. “It makes sense for us to each have our own car now that we know we’ll be going separate directions at some point.”

Jane didn’t seem to like that but after a moment she nodded and continued toward her car, while Sadie headed to her rental car, which blended in with all the other vehicles in the lot.

A few minutes later, Sadie pulled up in front of Heather and Jared’s house. Jane pulled up behind her, parking alongside the curb. Sadie took a breath, noting the ghost decoration was back on the front door—she really hated that thing. She saw a red head bound past the living room window, proof that the family was indeed home. She was not looking forward to this meeting, but she grabbed her purse with the bag she’d gotten from the metaphysical store and hoped this would go well.

“Do you mind waiting here?” Sadie asked after stopping at Jane’s window en route to the door.

“Ah, I don’t get to listen to you get chewed out by the mama bear?” Jane asked, grinning widely, apparently recovered from their earlier tension. Sadie was glad Jane was over their disagreement, but she didn’t smile because the comment wasn’t funny. She was scared to death of facing Pete’s daughter-in-law, but she had to get the whoopie pies and she needed to make peace.