Nikki looked at Hayden, and Rich put a protective arm around her. “Tell us there hasn’t been another murder,” he said.
“No, man. I’m only coming for dinner. I was invited.” Poor Robinson probably felt like the angel of death; the sight of him sent people running in fear.
All eyes, including Robinson’s, now turned to Nikki. “Yes, and we’re waiting for one more guest. Oh, look, here she is now.”
Saved by Alyssa and Petie. They came through the door and Alyssa gave Nikki a hug before glancing around. Seeing all of the strange faces looking at him, Petie started to cry. As much as Nikki hated to see a kid crying, she knew that if anything can break up an uncomfortable silence, it’s the universal fuss that swirls around a kid’s tears. Among the oohs and aahs and soothing words being spoken to the toddler, Nikki made her way back into the kitchen and, much to her own chagrin, slammed down a glass of wine. Wrong thing to do maybe, but she was going to have to handle the evening with finesse. She hadn’t exactly planned it out-how everyone would react to one another’s presence-but Hayden was clearly displeased that Robinson was joining them for dinner.
Robinson came into the kitchen a minute later. “What are you up to, Sands? I doubt you’re hoping I’ll convert and join this group.”
“Of course not.” She’d leave the matchmaking part out of it. “I thought maybe if people were in an intimate situation, you could learn more about them.”
“Technically, I shouldn’t be here. I’m the detective on a murder case where I’ve had to question all of these people and none of them is above suspicion yet. Where’s the dog?”
“I put him in the bedroom. With all of these people, I hate to have him running around. Trust me, he prefers it that way.”
“I’m not liking this, Sands.”
“Lighten up. Have a drink.” She handed him a glass of Merlot and spooned out bowls of chili. “Go set these in there for me, please. Oh, wait,” she said. “Did you find a DVD in Mizuki’s stuff?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Duh. I’m wondering if it’s the DVD I told you about. The one Iwao was trying to hand to Alan the other day. I’m thinking there might be something on there to lead to the killer.”
“There was nothing on it, except a Japanese soap opera. My guess is that the geisha brought it to keep herself entertained.”
“Then that’s not it.” Nikki was disappointed, but the odds that Iwao and Alan shared a mutual interest in Japanese soaps was slim to none.
“Probably not, but we haven’t found any other DVDs,” he replied.
“You need to keep looking,” she said.
“You always this bossy?”
She frowned at him and handed over a bowl. “Please. I know there’s something on that DVD. Now take these bowls out.” She took out the macaroni and cheese she’d put together for Petie and called everyone in for dinner.
Robinson started to sit down between her and Simon but she stopped him. “Nope. I sort of have an arrangement. Do you mind sitting over there? And then, Alyssa, how about you next to the detective? I mean Jonah. Right? We can call you Jonah since this is a social affair.” So much for casually seating the guests in their assigned seats.
Simon leaned in and whispered, “Smooth.”
She kicked him under the table.
Eventually everyone was seated exactly where Nikki wanted them.
“This is wonderful,” Alan said, tasting the chili. “And the wine. I don’t drink much wine, but I really like this.” He held up his glass of Merlot.
“I’ll tell Derek. We only produced a few cases of it. I think we have two left. It’s one of our best wines and I thought it would be nice to serve it tonight.”
“We appreciate it and we appreciate everything you’ve done for the group.” Alan paused. “Nikki, I wanted to let you know that after the meditation practice we did today, I decided to wrap up the event tomorrow morning and allow everyone to go home. I’ve already informed the family and I’ll let everyone else know in the morning. Many of the members aren’t getting what they hoped out of this, for obvious reasons, and would prefer to leave. Is that all right with you, Detective?”
Nikki wasn’t surprised to hear that Alan was ending the event early; he had done his best to plow through, but with the occurrence of two murders, he couldn’t very well be expected to continue. Apparently enlightenment could take one only so far. Even Alan. Nikki had certainly done her best, though. And it seemed that she had done her best with Alyssa as well, since her friend was noticeably gazing at the handsome detective.
Jonah nodded his head toward Alan. “That should be fine. But I’d like to be here when everyone is getting ready to go. I need to be sure I have all the information I need. If anything changes by the morning, I’ll let you know.”
Alyssa glanced at Nikki and smiled and winked back. Nikki leaned into Simon. “I may not be smooth but I think I do a good job at matchmaking.”
Petie started to get restless toward the end of the dinner and so everyone moved into the family room to let him run around while Nikki served strawberry tarts. Luckily for her, she had frozen a dozen of them the last time she made them, and therefore, she didn’t have to prep them today like she had the rest of the meal. From the kitchen, she could see Robinson playing on the floor with Petie and Alyssa. Alan was over by the fireplace, talking to Rich and Hayden. Jen and Sierra were outside in the backyard, and Eli and Lulu were visiting with Simon and Marco.
Eli was different. Nikki had failed to get to know him this weekend. He never said much. Even over dinner, he almost seemed like wallpaper rather than a person sitting there. Marco was right-Eli appeared to be walking in his father’s shadow but it overshadowed him so much that he really had no apparent identity of his own. But that didn’t give him a motive to murder Iwao Yamimoto and Mizuki. Nikki mentally crossed him off her list.
She took a good look at the rest of the Sansi family. Lulu, like Eli, kind of hung back in the shadows, but she wasn’t the wallflower her son was. She seemed to play the supporting role to her husband-the good and devoted wife and mother. Nikki could find no motive for her to want to murder anyone either.
What about Hayden? She was practical, in control of much of her father’s business. But Nikki also could not figure Hayden into this murder business. Her arms were wrapped around Rich, who was another elusive one in this crowd of suspects. Had Rich Higgins been flying under the radar? Could he have wanted Iwao dead? Iwao had been trying to get Alan to change publishing houses. Would that make Rich angry enough to murder him? But then why kill Mizuki? No. He didn’t seem to be a likely candidate either.
Then there were Sierra and Jen. Why had Jen left Sierra and why had he returned? Yes, because of his uncle’s murder, but was there something even more sinister there? She didn’t know. Nikki opened up the sliders to take Jen and Sierra their desserts.
“Oh, my gosh, this is wonderful. Thank you,” Sierra said, eyeing the strawberry treat. The light had come back into her cornflower blue eyes. She’d fixed herself up for the evening and was wearing a turquoise sweater and a long denim skirt.
“You’re welcome.”
“Thanks for having me,” Jen said. “Your home is lovely and your food is delicious.”
“I’m pleased you could come. How are you doing with everything? With your uncle’s death and his…”
“Mistress?” Jen asked. Nikki didn’t respond. “Of course Mizuki was his mistress. She had been for many years. I’m fine, I think. There are things, plans that I have to make. My auntie is incapable of that. She’s been hospitalized for years.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Nikki replied.
“It has been hard. I love her very much. I go to visit her often.”
“You’re living in Japan then?”