It took the old girl a while to get to the door. She didn’t move verywell, which was why Des hadn’t tried pressing a kitten on her-she was too likely to trip over it and fall. She was a slender, frail thing with Q-Tip hair, partial to pastel-colored pantsuits. Today she was pretty in pink. The scent of Miss Barker’s heavy, fruity perfume wafted out of the doorway with her. She wore so much of it that Des got lightheaded if she went inside the house.
“Sure, it’s those darned kids,” she responded promptly after Des had explained the purpose of her visit. “They all come tearing around that corner too fast. Especially at night. I hear their tires screeching when I’m lying here in my bed. I’m afraid of what’ll happen, dear, I don’t mind saying. One of those fool boys is going to smash right into the side of my bedroom some night. The explosion will kill me dead in my bed. Incinerate me sure as I’m standing-”
“This would have happened within the past hour, Miss Barker,” Des said, trying to rein her in.
“We ought to have a speed bump out there to slow those boys down, but do you think they listen to me at town hall? I’ve only been paying property taxes here since 1946, never missed a single payment.”
“Miss Barker, did you hear any screeching tires within the past hour?”
“Why, yes, right in the middle of All My Children, which I don’t know why I still watch. Loyalty, I guess. Not a very popular virtue anymore, is it?”
“Did you see what type of vehicle it was?”
“I absolutely did not see anyone,” Miss Barker said with a sudden flash of indignation. “So, naturally, I would not have the slightest idea what type of vehicle it was. How could I?”
Des peered at her in surprise. This was a lady who always butted in, never out. Why the dumb act? First Nema Acar, now her. What was this? “Well, did it sound more like a car or a truck?”
“More like a car,” she replied after a moment’s hesitation. “The pickups have those huge tires now with the big treads that make so much noise. Why do they need such huge tires? My daddy drove a truck his whole life, never a single accident, and his tires were justnormal, proper tires.” Miss Barker paused, her pale pink tongue flicking across her thin, dry lips. “But I really couldn’t say anything for sure.”
Des didn’t press her any further. Just thanked Miss Barker for her time and started back toward her cruiser, puzzled and frustrated. So much so that she could feel the beginnings of a deep blue funkadelic haze coming over her.
My job is pointless and stupid. My entire existence is pointless and stupid. I am wasting my life.
She knew the real reason why she was feeling this way. Sure she did. But knowing why didn’t make her feel one bit better.
She got back in her ride and cranked up the air conditioner and sat there glowering through her windshield at the huge old sycamore that grew in Miss Barker’s front yard. It was so splendid and lovely that it actually seemed to be mocking her with its presence. Either that or she was going totally nutso. She lunged for her cell phone and called her short-relief man. Whenever she needed a save, she reached out for him. As his phone rang, Des sat there wondering what would happen to her if Mitch Berger were not in her life right now. She would go right down the drain, that’s what.
But he must never know this-he thinks I’m the one who has it all together.
His phone machine answered. She waited, waited, waited for the beep and said, “Hi, it’s me.”
And he picked up. “I’m here,” he said hurriedly. “I’ve just been getting a gazillion calls from the media about Tito.”
“They’re making a big deal out of it?”
“Big doesn’t begin to describe it. Brokaw’s people called me for a quote.”
“How’s your jaw?”
“Actually, it feels very similar to that molar implant I had done last year. The only difference is that was administered by a board-certified oral surgeon.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better I just met some huge fans of yours.”
“Oh, yeah, who?”
“The Acars, Nuri and Nema.” Total silence from his end. “She said you’re just about her best customer.”
“Well, sure,” Mitch said slowly. “I fill up my truck there all the time.”
“You are so busted, boyfriend.”
“Busted,” he confessed guiltily. “I throw myself on your mercy, Des. You must be so disappointed in me.”
“No, baby, I’m not,” she said, easing up off of the gas pedal. Because he could be so much worse. He could be Brandon. “You’re my boy. All I want is you, no matter what size you are-large, extra-large, jumbo, economy…”
“Okay, you made your point, Master Sergeant. I’ll tell you one thing-I’m going to get Nema for this.”
“Cut her a little slack. She’s had herself a bad day.” Des told him what had happened to their window.
“Oh my God, that’s awful. Truly detestable. You wouldn’t think.. .”
“You wouldn’t think what?”
“Nothing. I was just about to say ‘You wouldn’t think something like this could happen here,’ but I stopped myself because any time something bad happens in a small town the bystanders always say ‘This is more the kind of thing you’d expect to happen in New York City.’ And, as a New Yorker, I always get hopping mad. Things like this go on everywhere, because there are total assholes everywhere. Will you catch who did it?”
“That’s up to Hate Crimes, but if I had to guess I’d say yeah.”
“They’re a smart crew?”
“They are, plus the people who go in for these types of crimes tend to be genuinely stupid. Real, I think Nema knew more about it than she was letting on.”
“Why would she hold out on you?”
“Because her husband told her to.”
“You don’t like him, do you? You think he’s oleaginous.”
“Damn, is it that obvious?”
“Only to me, girlfriend.” From the first day they met Mitch been able to read her mind. Des had never understood how. “I’m glad you called-I was just going to call you and tell you to press your white flannels.”
“You just said what?”
“We’ve been invited to the highly exclusive Dorset Beach Club for dinner tonight, lovey,” he said, putting on his best Locust Valley Lockjaw. Which was not good at all. It traveled by way of Canarsie, where his parents were from. “Esme told Dodge what happened between Tito and me. Dodge thought if he got all of us together for a cookout and a swim it would help chill things out.”
“And Tito’s down with this?”
“Esme said she’d get him there. Dodge is inviting the rest of the Mesmers so as to defuse any possible tension.”
“The Mesmers?”
“That’s the name of our walking club.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“They don’t know it either. I’m bringing corn. Will and Donna are bringing everything else. You like them, right?”
She did like Donna. Will was polite but a bit reserved. Some of the locals were like that. Hell, most of the locals were like that.
“Jeff will be there, too.”
Jeff Wachtell she could live without. Des thought he was a whiner, plus he walked like a duck. “I thought you didn’t like to socialize with movie people.”
“That’s absolutely true. But under the circumstances I think this is something I need to do. Tito and Esme are going to be around for a while. I don’t want to get into a fight with this guy every time I try to go to the store.”
Which was why Des had wanted to march the actor straight to Westbrook in handcuffs. But she held her tongue. They’d been over this already.
“So are you game? I was kidding about the white flannels-it’s casual.”
“Thanks, baby, but I don’t think I’m up for that tonight.”
“You’re still mad that I didn’t press charges against him, is that it?”
“No, no. It’s not about you. I need to draw tonight, that’s all.”