CeeCee let out a little of her trademark tinkly laugh. “Dear, we’re talking about Camille Rhead Katz here. I bet she has somebody to brush her teeth. You do realize how ridiculously wealthy they are. All those years of successful shows—I think Alexander Rhead pays her a salary just for being his daughter.”
Money was a sensitive spot with CeeCee. She had done well over the years and should have been set up, but though her late husband had been a world-class dentist, he’d been an idiot when it came to money. When he died, she found out about all the bad investments. She had lost everything and had to start all over. I knew that was why she was so tense about the contract for Making Amends. She needed the job.
The water taxi left Camille off on a small floating pier that had dinghys tied to it. We had a perfect view of her taking the few steps to the stairway to the pier. We watched her progress as she came closer and closer to us.
“Oh no,” CeeCee said, looking at the chocolate-covered donut in her hand. Suddenly something flew past me and I heard a splash in the water. Personally, I thought CeeCee was going a little overboard with her concern about Camille tattling on her eating of sweets, but I guessed she didn’t want to take any chances. CeeCee put on her theatrical smile as Camille walked across the patio and joined us at the railing.
“Small world, isn’t it?” Camille said.
“Yes, it is,” CeeCee said. “How did you happen to come here today?”
“It was Hunnie’s idea.”
“Whose idea?” I interrupted.
Camille laughed. “My husband’s. That’s my nickname for him. It’s kind of a play on sounds. You know, the endearing term and his nickname sound the same.”
“Oh,” I said, getting it.
“Hunnie’s going to be taking over my father’s position next week. He’s going to be so busy after that. It was such a beautiful day—and we thought it would be nice to have an outing together.”
“You knew we were coming to Catalina, didn’t you?” CeeCee said. Her voice had gotten a little shrill, but she quickly reverted back to her usual sweet tone.
“I might have mentioned it to Hunnie,” Camille said, pouting ever so slightly. “You said it wasn’t a group trip, but I saw Adele and Sheila on the pier in line for a boat ride and you three are here. The only one missing is that girl with the chopped-up haircut.
“You mean Ali? Exactly,” CeeCee said. “If it had been a group trip she would be here.”
Camille turned toward me. “If it isn’t a crochet group trip, then why are you all here?”
CeeCee, Dinah and I looked at each other, and it was clear I was the intended spokesperson. It was also clear by CeeCee’s pointed look, she didn’t want me to tell Camille the truth.
“I’ve always wanted to come to Catalina and we got a deal on the tickets,” I said finally.
Camille’s eyes narrowed then went back to normal. “Now I get it. You came because the tickets were cheaper. My life coach wouldn’t be happy with me for not getting that right away.” She sighed. “I must sound like an idiot. Living the way I have has its own shortcomings. I’ve never had to be concerned with how much anything costs, and so it’s hard for me to understand how the price of something could keep you from doing it. This is why I need this group so much.”
She hugged each of us and gave us air kisses. It was probably her version of sincere.
“Hunnie suggested I invite you on the boat.”
Dinah and I both started to nod, but CeeCee answered a firm “No, thank you” for all of us, saying we’d already made plans for the day.
Camille took out her crochet work. It was clearly the work of someone new at it. The stitches were uneven and she seemed confused about what loop of the stitch to go in, but she was so proud of it, even CeeCee didn’t say anything. She was off to the local craft shop to pick up some special yarn.
When she finally left, CeeCee sighed. “I know she’s spying, but I actually believe she’s serious about wanting to be part of the group. And her life actually has had its share of difficulties.” She went on to tell us that Camille had had a hard time with dating. “I heard she always had to be concerned about whether someone was really interested in her or just getting close to her father and all his money and power.”
“What about Hunnie?” I said, trying not to choke on the homophone.
“He was already working for her father—a line producer or something. I think Alexander is the one who introduced them. And now, they’re referred to as one of Hollywood’s enduring couples.” CeeCee finished and then shuddered. “This was a day to get away from them. Thank heavens I stopped you before you accepted the invitation to go on their boat.”
“I thought it was a good idea,” Dinah said. “It’s not every day I get asked aboard a luxury boat like that. I wonder if they would have let us look around.”
“Shouldn’t you two be spending your time thinking about Mary Beth Wells’s secret?” CeeCee said. “And I can’t believe that was the best you could do about why we came here. Because we got a deal on the tickets.”
I shrugged off the criticism. “What’s the difference? She went for it.”
CeeCee glanced in the direction Camille had gone and sighed with relief. “I’d love to help work on the mystery of the filet panels, but between waiting to hear what’s going on with my contract and Camille’s showing up, I need a little pampering. I’m off to the country club. I want to check out their spa services.”
CHAPTER 11
“IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S JUST YOU AND ME AGAIN,” I said. Dinah and I finally went back to our table, rolling our eyes about CeeCee’s plans and Camille’s quest to get in touch with her inner regular. “Do you think we should tell her if she wants to be like us, she ought to leave the yacht at home?” Dinah joked.
I reached for my drink, then I made a face. “I think this is yours,” I said, trading cups with Dinah.
“How’d that happen?” She looked at the table perplexed and then, seeing which tote bag was hanging on the back of which chair, realized we’d gone back to opposite sides of the table.
“Now what?” Dinah asked after we’d finished our drinks and the now-tepid French toast.
“Now we go house hunting,” I said with a smile. Thanks to Miss Information Adele, I already knew the only mode of transportation available was a rental golf cart. Golf carts were what most everybody used to get around. The number of cars allowed on the island was very limited. And likely to become even more so since no one could bring one car over unless two people got rid of theirs. Adele said there was a ten-year waiting list.
We found the stand that rented the small vehicles and got one for two hours, which we were assured was plenty of time to cover all of Avalon with time for stops. I considered showing the crocheted house to the rental guy, but I was afraid it would make us seem a little weird.
Dinah offered to drive so I could keep my eyes on the houses. After a few false starts, she got the hang of it and soon we were motoring down the street. The area just behind the business street was called the Flats. We drove through it checking out the houses. They were so close together, you could lend your neighbor a roll of paper towels without going outside. But none of them had the odd shape of the house in the panel.
Beyond the Flats, a few streets were closed to rental golf carts, so we walked those but again came up empty. We got back into our open-air vehicle and followed the route on the map the rental guy had given us. When we reached the top of the town, we stopped by the roadside and checked out the view. From here we could look down on rooftops and out into the water. But we saw nothing close to the house we were seeking.