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"Gotta go,” he said. “Can you get a ride?"
"Of course she can,” Co
"Let's talk about what we know,” Robin said, and pulled the yellow tablet and a pen from her purse.
"Terry is following someone,” DeA
"Not following,” Lauren corrected. “He's spying on someone at Carlton 's factory. I take that back. He's spying on the factory. We don't have any evidence he is spying on a particular person."
"Good point,” Harriet said grudgingly. “He was spying on the activity taking place at the factory. Right now, we don't know if there is anything unusual about what's going on there. Just because we don't know about a night shift doesn't mean there isn't one."
"So, that's the first thing we need to figure out,” Robin said. “If Terry is spying on the ordinary operation of a factory, then we have to wonder what he's up to and if he's pla
"He said he was meeting someone there, so we can't really say he was spying on the factory,” DeA
"You're quite the spies,” Aunt Beth said with a laugh. “You've just concluded that after all that following, you really don't know anything."
"We learned that Terry has some interest in Foggy Point Fire Protection and whatever is going on there at night,” Harriet told her.
"At last,” Aunt Beth said. “That is a fact."
"What do we do next?” DeA
"I should be able to find out what's going on at Foggy Point Fire,” Harriet said. “Two of the Willis boys are staying at my house, and Gerry's been coming over to talk with them. They're all trying to sort out what happened with their dad. If Gerry is at my place when I get home, I'll ask him. If not, I can ask him or Carlton tomorrow."
"That'll be a good start,” Robin said.
"Speaking of the Willis boys and the questions about their father,” Co
"Whoa,” Lauren said.
"Could he be her son?” DeA
"If you're asking whether he could be Gerald's son,” Aunt Beth said, “I don't think so. At least, not if he was born after he and Ilsa were married. He was gone not quite twenty years, and Ilsa says they've only been married fifteen. But of course that assumes everyone is telling the truth."
"That's a slippery slope to go down,” Harriet said. “If we're questioning everything, Ilsa and Gerald might have had a relationship before he left. He did travel, didn't he?"
"You all aren't old enough to really know the man. I'd bet my life he wasn't having an affair on Mavis,” Beth said. “Unless Terry is fourteen, he's not Gerard's son. That doesn't preclude the possibility that he's Ilsa's son."
"And that might give him a good motive for killing Gerard,” Harriet suggested. “What would he have against Carlton that would have him sizing up the factory?"
"It's not a perfect theory yet, but it does seem to be a bit of a coincidence that Gerard comes back, followed by Ilsa and then it turns out Terry showed up at the same time,” DeA
"I think you guys are way off track, but let me dig on the internet about Terry,” Lauren said. “I'm not holding out a lot of hope, though. He seems kind of sharp, which means he's probably not using his real name and has probably lied about everything else, too."
"I've got to check up on Carla tomorrow,” Aunt Beth said. “I'll probe a little and see what Terry has disclosed to her. Who knows? He might have told her something useful."
"Call if you get anything,” Lauren said and stood up. “I've got to go.” She pulled a few bills from her purse and left them on the table.
"I better go, too,” Robin said. DeA
The remainder of the group stayed until the nachos were gone.
"I had Lauren swing by my house on our way here so I could get my car,” Je
"Thanks, that would be great,” Harriet said, and Co
With that settled, they left the back room and threaded their way through the dining area.
"Oh, hi,” came Bebe's girlish voice from a booth by the door. “What are you gals doing here?"
"Eating Mexican food,” Harriet replied. “What about you?"
"Me and Carlton are having di
"Are you ladies leaving me?” Jorge said as he set two plates on the table. Each was covered with dark-green torn lettuce pieces with two thin strips of chicken breast laid in a cross through the middle.
"You didn't cook these in oil, did you?” Bebe asked.
"Never,” he said and turned his back to her. He rolled his eyes to the ceiling and mouthed a prayer for salvation. “You need picnic lunches again, you let me know,” he said to the Loose Threads, and went back to his kitchen.
"Is that all you're eating?” Co
" Carlton and I are going to Hawaii in a week and we need to be in swimsuit shape,” she said.
They all knew she'd been born in swimsuit shape- Carlton was the one being whipped into it. It was equally clear, to everyone but Bebe, that no amount of starving and exercising was going to erase his Humpty-Dumpty shape.
"Were you having a picnic in the dark?” Bebe asked.
Co
"We all went up to Miller Hill Park to get mineral water. Nadene at the Beauty Barn told us it would soften our calluses if we soaked our feet in it."
"That's fu
"You're probably not old enough to need the mineral water,” Je
"Hi, ladies,” Carlton said. “Are you here for di
"No, we were just leaving.” Co
"Didn't we want to ask Carlton about what we saw at the factory tonight?” Je
"I want to try Gerry first,” Harriet said. “Somehow, I'd feel more confident in what he said. Not that I have any reason to think Carlton would lie to us."
"I know what you mean,” Co
Chapter 20
Four of the Willis brothers were assembled in Harriet's kitchen when she got home. An empty pizza box full of greasy, wadded-up paper napkins lay discarded on the island bar.
"Hi, guys,” she said as she came through the co
"That cat is a con artist,” Harry said. “Each one of us fed him as we arrived. He's got a great starving cat shtick."
"He does know how to work it,” Harriet agreed and smiled.
"We've found out a few things while you were out,” Ben said.
"You mean James found something out,” Harry corrected.
"Let me put my purse down and get a cup of tea,” Harriet said. “I've learned a few things, too. Or at least, I've learned enough to have a few more questions."
Harry jumped up and put the kettle on. Ben opened the dishwasher and pulled Harriet's newly cleaned mug from the rack. Harriet took an Earl Grey tea bag from a box in the pantry closet. She sat down, and when the water boiled, Ben poured for her then made himself a cup.
"So,” she said as she dunked her bag up and down. “What did you guys learn?"