Hilda aimed her bright blue eyes at the porch ceiling. The late-day sunshine glinted off her wire rim bifocals. She gave a slight frown. “No, I can’t recall. There might have been more. Maybe I’ll think of them later. It was a busy day over there.”
Chase scribbled her number on the pad she kept in her apron pocket for Bar None orders. “If you think of anyone else, could you please call me?”
“Of course, dear, although I should tell the police first. That nice Detective Olson did mention that. I think I’ll give him a call right now.”
She rose to go inside.
“Thanks for corralling Quincy,” Chase said.
“Oh, is that his name? What a nice name. I think he’s a little hungry. Maybe you should feed him more.”
“Ms. Bjorn, I’d like to thank you. I’ll tell my workers”—of which she had exactly one at the moment—“to give you a dozen free dessert bars next time you come to the Bar None.”
“How very sweet of you, dearie. I’ll take you up on your offer.”
Hilda went inside and Chase headed back to the shop.
Chase approached her building from the rear, through the parking lot, as usual. Quincy snuggled next to her neck, purring. Those whiskers tickled a bit. She wished she knew what went on in that little brain.
Halfway to the door, Chase stopped. Something was missing. Vi’s bright red Z4 wasn’t there. After depositing the cat in the office with some of her own homemade treats, being sure to firmly close the latch, Chase stuck her head through the doors to the front. There was Vi, smiling and talking people into buying twice what they’d intended. Where was her car?
• • •
The Bar None was closed for Thursday night. Anna had helped tidy the kitchen and Vi had straightened up in front before they left. Chase went to close and lock the back door, wanting to retreat upstairs and cuddle with her guy, Quincy. A silver sports car pulled up, stopping almost upon her, so close she thought it might try to go through the door. It was the last person she wanted to see—Shaun Everly.
He jumped out, but stood leaning on his open car door, not approaching her and not seeming to be a threat, for a change. He wore a nylon jacket, which he might need later in the evening, though the air was warm then. The jacket was cobalt-colored and brought out the color of his gorgeous light blue eyes.
He turned to Chase. “Where is she?” He sounded belligerent. His eyes might be gorgeous, but they were angry right then.
Chase thought she knew who “she” was, but she played dumb just to annoy him.
“Are you looking for someone?” Chase held the doorknob in her hand, standing half in and half out. She could retreat inside quickly if Shaun decided to go after her.
“Vi. Where is she?”
“I have no idea. She’s not here. She left work over half an hour ago.”
He blew a puff of exasperation through his lips. “She asks for a ride, then doesn’t stick around to take it. I’m getting a little fed up with her.”
“Maybe she found out what you’re really like and decided not to have anything to do with you. She’s pretty smart, you know.” She thumbed the doorknob lock on the inside of the door.
“You Minnesota people are the worst! Vi is a tease and a two-timer. That Iversen guy—man, what a temper on him. No wonder someone killed him. I was trying to set up a simple little business transaction, but he dithered around way too long. And you.”
Shaun took a step toward her. Chase tightened her grip on the door latch.
“You’re something, you know that?” His sneer ruined his handsome face.
Chase pressed her lips together and refrained from blurting out the first thing that occurred to her, which was, I know I am, but what are you? In fact, the thought of the childish retort made her smile slightly.
“What’s so funny? Are you hiding her in there?”
“Does she have reason to hide from you, Shaun? What have you done to her?”
“Me? Nothing! It’s her! She stood me up last night, too. Look, I’ll go away and leave you alone if you give me that deposit slip.”
“Gosh, I would if I could. I’m not really sure where it is.”
“Then I’ll just stick around until you find it. I’ll make your life miserable.”
Chase straightened her backbone and stood as tall as she could. “You don’t have any power over me here. Go back to Chicago, where you can wreck other people’s lives.”
“So you admit your life is wrecked?”
“Of course not. You’re an ant to me, a tiny, insignificant ant.” If only that were true. How could this man have the power to make her dread being next to him?
Shaun got back into his car, muttering, “I don’t understand women.”
Chase agreed with that thought completely. She couldn’t keep a grim smile off her face at the thought of Vi dumping Shaun. Maybe she should give her a raise.
Shaun slammed his car door, and roared away. She stepped inside, closed the door, and slipped the chain latch on. It was past time to curl up with Quincy and a book. She would also see if she could find that darned deposit slip. She hadn’t come across it yet after her move.
• • •
On Friday morning, it was almost time for Vi’s break. Chase asked Anna if she could spell Vi. Anna said she’d finished baking for the day, so she’d be glad to. Anna didn’t get out front as often as Chase did, being the main baker, and she welcomed her chances to do so.
When Vi came to the kitchen, she drooped onto a stool. Chase pushed a glass of lemonade in front of her, noting the strain on Vi’s face and the circles under her eyes, poorly disguised by her makeup.
“Vi, I’m worried about you. What’s the matter?”
Vi sat straighter and flashed her saleswoman smile at her boss. “Everything’s fine. Nothing’s the matter. It’s you I should be asking about. I know you hurt your back the other day.”
“Never mind that now. Where’s your car?” The truth was, her back didn’t feel very good at the moment.
The starch went out of Vi and she slumped, bowing her head until it almost touched the lemonade glass. “I . . . lost it.” She sounded forlorn.
“It’s stolen?”
“No. Not stolen. I missed too many payments.”
“Why didn’t you say something? We could have helped you out. A loan, maybe.”
Vi sat silent for a good long while. Then she raised her head and seemed to make up her mind about something.
“Ms. Oliver, you and Anna have given me a loan.”
Chase wrinkled her brow. Had Anna given her money? Then her eyes widened with comprehension. “You’re the one filching cash from the drawer.”
Vi looked down at her lemonade and nodded.
Chase struggled to contain herself. “Why? Why did you do that?” Chase pictured how easy it would be for Vi to stash the money in her huge tote bag that she kept under the counter that held the cash register.
“I needed to pay for things. My car, my apartment, things. Clothes, shoes.”
“You’re buying things you can’t afford. I thought you must have a lot of money from your family, the way you live.”
“No. My family doesn’t give me anything. They don’t have anything to give. I’m making my own way.”
“This isn’t how to do it.”
Chase slid off her stool and went to fetch Anna from the front. There were no customers. “Anna. Please come into the kitchen. I don’t know if I can talk civilly to her.”
“To Vi?”
“Just come back here. I’ll keep an ear peeled for the front door.”
Anna joined Vi at the counter. “What’s going on, Violet?”
Chase didn’t let Vi answer. “She’s the one who has been taking money from the cash register. It’s Vi!”
“I don’t have enough money,” Vi wailed. “I can’t make my car payments. I can’t buy any new clothes. I didn’t know what to do. I was being evicted. I was going to be homeless.”