The tape cut to Diaz interviewing Nicholas in his store. He talked about how personable Bradley was. “But isn’t that the way it works with con men?” Nicholas said. He was angry at being taken in, but not devastated. Diaz had tried to interview Logan coming out of Le Grande Fromage, but he put his hands up, blocking the camera, and hurried away. Diaz filled in why he was in such a hurry.
“A number of the investors told this reporter that they invested with Perkins based on the recommendation of Logan Belmont, a well-respected local real estate broker.”
The tape ended with Diaz talking to the SEC investigator. “We still don’t know the complete scope of the apparent Ponzi scheme. The records are a mess. We’re trying to come up with a complete client list.” He looked into the camera. “We’d like anyone with information to come forward.” A number was flashed on the screen.
The story ended with a live shot of Diaz out front giving a list of tips people should think of before turning over their savings to anyone.
“She ought to add, ‘don’t do it,’” Peter said as if he thought he was being clever. I told him his comment was cold and how bad I felt for the woman who’d lost her life savings. Peter seemed grateful when the kitchen timer went off and ended our skirmish.
Everyone followed me to the kitchen, talking as they went. Peter made a big deal about introducing the woman to Mason. Not a surprise because he liked Mason and thought if I was going to be involved with any man it should be him. He introduced her to Barry, but it was perfunctory. I had finally acknowledged it wasn’t going to get any better between Peter and Barry. No matter what Barry said, I couldn’t ignore the friction. And I thought when you were as old as I was you got to do what you wanted.
Peter had stopped over to introduce Brooklyn to me, which I gathered meant he was serious about her. Though I think he regretted his decision. She was friendly enough, but I couldn’t miss the way she focused on the flour all over my apron or the way she stared at Jeffrey sleeping on the couch with the dogs. I don’t think Samuel and Ryder made the best impression, either. And to finish it off, Holstein jumped in her arms and got fur all over her immaculate suit.
She was still brushing the fur off as they went out the patched-up front door.
The rest of the crowd hung around while I finished making the rolls. And when I finally took them out of the oven and offered samples they all looked at me as if I was some kind of cooking goddess. Since this was just a run-through, I packed up to-go bags of rolls for all of them.
Samuel retired to his room. Ryder’s mother called him and wondered where he was. Jeffrey was still asleep on the couch. Barry and Mason kept standing around. It was pretty obvious what was going on. Neither wanted to leave before the other one. They even offered to help me clean up the kitchen. Like I was going to turn that down.
“Your boss wouldn’t say where you were this afternoon,” Mason said, taking a spray bottle and some paper towels and cleaning up the flour around my mixer. I started to hand wash the mixer bowl and all the spatulas. Barry dried them and put them away. I considered for a moment what to say. Why not throw it out in front of both of them and see what they thought I ought to do with the information?
I went through the whole thing about how I’d begun to think that Bradley might not really be dead. I brought up the watch and seeing it in the car. I didn’t mention the afghan. I was still having a problem figuring out why Bradley would want that anyway.
When I mentioned following Emily and Madison, I saw Barry’s jaw clench. I explained both theories—that Bradley just wanted them to run all over the place or that he’d seen me following them. “I realize the woman who came up to them at the Topanga Mall must have been sent by Bradley,” I said. I hesitated when I got to the second mall. Should I really tell them what happened or just say we followed them to The Grove? It wasn’t the same without explaining about the elf. I mean, he had seen who was passing the message. Hoping for the best, I brought up the elf. I saw Barry’s eyes roll up in his head. Mason skipped past a chuckle and went right to a laugh. “And when we got to The Grove, it was too late. The women didn’t have their packages anymore and Bradley was nowhere to be seen.”
“So?” Barry said.
“So, I’m wondering what I should do with the information. I’m sure those SEC investigators would like to know that Bradley might be alive.”
“Molly, you don’t know for a fact that he’s alive. You didn’t see him. And the description the elf gave you.” Barry shook his head. “Am I seriously considering what a guy dressed as an elf said?” Barry went into his interrogator mode and wanted to know if I’d actually seen Emily with the watch at The Grove. When I said no, he pointed out that since I didn’t see her with it, seeing her without it didn’t necessarily mean anything. “You see my point. If you tell this story to any investigators, they’re just going to stamp you as being a nutcase.” He put a hand on my shoulder and started to repeat his stay-out-of-it speech. “And let’s just say, for argument, Perkins is alive. He’s not going to be hanging around here waiting for you to find him. He’s probably halfway to somewhere already.”
“Where?” I said.
“Someplace where’s he’s not going to get caught.” I wasn’t happy with what Barry said and looked to Mason for his opinion.
A smile lit up Mason’s eyes. “Personally, I like the elf story. But as I said before, I wonder why he’d take a chance on getting caught just to pick up a watch, no matter how valuable it is.”
“There was something else.” I paused, getting ready for their reaction when I told them what the something else was.
“An afghan?” Barry rolled his eyes. He didn’t have to say the kook word, I knew he was thinking it. “A valuable collectable watch, I might buy, but some crocheted blanket. No way would some guy take a chance on getting caught for that. They’ve been giving out big sentences for investment scams. One guy just got a hundred years. Remember what I said about seeming like a nutcase?” Barry shook his head again. Mason swept up the flour from the floor and the kitchen was done, though neither man made a move to leave.
My head was spinning now and I began to doubt myself. Maybe there was another explanation. I just didn’t know what it was. Finally Barry couldn’t stall anymore and woke up Jeffrey. Mason hung back, but Barry grabbed him with his other arm and they all went to the door together. Mason looked over his shoulder and blew me a kiss.
CHAPTER 18
I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT BARRY HAD SAID ABOUT seeming like a nutcase, and even though the SEC guy had urged people with information to come forward, I didn’t. Not that I had time anyway. The next few days went by in a blur of snowflakes and preparations for the So Many Traditions event.
Luckily, CeeCee’s snowflake pattern was simple and I was able to turn them out pretty quickly. My crochet partners came through, too. Sheila stopped by on her break from her receptionist job at the gym and gave me a handful. Eduardo brought in more that he’d made while he was waiting around a commercial shoot he was doing for fat-free sour cream. CeeCee dropped some off as she rushed off to a meeting with her agent. Rhoda sent her husband Harold in with the ones she’d made. Of course Adele insisted she’d done her share and I didn’t even think about Elise. Dinah brought the ones she’d made when she came over to help me starch them all. She’d left the kids at home. “You got a babysitter,” I said.