“Good grief. What you don’t get tangled in. I had so hoped for a nice romance for you.”
“I’ll admit Jake was looking better and better, but the house is on fire, and I think it’s arson, and there’s an illegal weapons business, the old lady isn’t in her right mind, and everybody lies.”
“Fiona, they aren’t with you, are they?”
I hesitated. “Well, yes.”
“Have you called the police?”
“No, I don’t want to get tied up in all that.” I was beginning to sound like Jake.
“You may already be. You could get booked on aiding and abetting. Remember, the bad guys always get to the damsel before the story ends.”
I gulped, and I’m sure Olympia heard it over the phone. “Don’t say that. Now I’m worried.”
“You should be worried. What if hunky is one of the bad guys?”
* * * * *
I was shaken by what she had suggested, I guess because I had my own doubts. But Jake a bad guy? Was that why he never leveled with me about what was going on? Maybe he wasn’t a cowboy from Oregon.
There was a tap at the door.
“Who is it?”
Jake stuck his head in. “Fiona,” he said. “We need to talk.”
I turned away. “No more talking. I’m through talking.”
He came up behind me and stood so close I could feel his body heat.
“Fiona.”
I didn’t say anything.
“I’m not good at words. You’re making this difficult. I don’t want you to think that I’m being some kind of jerk.”
He must have heard my doubts. Had he been listening to my phone conversation?
“You have to believe me. I’m not part of this.”
I turned to study his face.
“I have to get away from them, too. I didn’t know about all this before I said I’d help Opal. I thought. .” He didn’t finish. The dejected look on his face almost made me repent. Almost.
I stepped around him, trying to get closer to the door. “I can’t help you, Jake. You’re a big boy. I’m ready to leave. I’ll get a coat.”
I searched in the closet and grabbed a hooded red wool jacket so I wouldn’t freeze to death on the trip. It would be spring in Australia, but you never knew. I was hoping to get the Jesse James gang out of my condo before they did something weird, like tie me up. Or worse.
I started for the door but Jake caught my arm and stopped me. I froze. This was it. He was going to bind me hand and foot and leave me to starve to death in my own bedroom. I wondered if Olympia would figure it out and come to my rescue. She was good at plot.
“Fiona.”
“Jake, please.” I tried to wrestle out of his grip but he held fast.
“I want to go to Australia with you.”
“Sorry, the invitation is off. You have to take care of Opal. You don’t want her ending up in jail.”
“I’ll see that Opal gets to Oregon. Cody can take care of the rest. You’ve got to help me.”
With that I exploded. “What’s with everyone associated with this family needing help? What happened to psychotherapists? I’m through helping anyone. I’m helping Fiona disappear.” I stopped for one instant and looked into his big brown eyes. Big mistake.
He said, “Okay, I don’t need help. But. .”
Our eyes held. I knew I shouldn’t have looked into his. Gigantic mistake. I waited to hear what else he had to say.
He tried to pull me closer, but I pushed away. What a time to get romantic.
“But what?” I said.
“I like you.”
He wasn’t much on words, was he? I hoped he hadn’t in mind to kiss me.
Backing away I said, “Jake, you appear to be a nice guy. I’m sorry you’re caught up in such a bizarre family. Look me up when it’s over. Maybe we can go from there. You have my number.”
I picked up my carry on, slung the coat over my shoulder, and left the room. At least he hadn’t tied me up. Olympia would be disappointed that I had passed on a romantic scene with a hunky bad guy.
In the living room, Opal was still in the boa outfit sitting with Cody on the couch deep in conversation. They looked like they were dressed for a Halloween party.
“Have you called the police?” I said.
They shook their heads in time like synchronized clappers in a bell.
“I’ll call you a cab. You can take it from there.”
“No, wait, Fiona,” said Cody.
“Wait? Wait? For what? For the end of the world? Albert’s mansion is in flames, and you sit there like it’s nothing. I got a life to live. I’m asking you kindly to leave.”
Cody got up, looking absolutely ridiculous in the pink sweat suit. “My friends are coming to pick us up.”
This was going from bad to worse. “I hope they aren’t the ones you owe money.”
Cody did a good imitation of looking like he didn’t understand English.
“It is perfectly clear to me that you must owe money and that the men who keep company at your place are trying to collect.” Well, it wasn’t that clear to me, but it seemed like a respectable hunch given the circumstances.
“I don’t owe money. They’re bringing me decent clothes and a car. Opal and I will go to Albert’s place and see what’s to be done. We’ll be out of your life.”
“Praise all the saints and angels.”
I noticed he hadn’t included Jake in that scenario.
“When are they coming? I have to leave.”
“Within the hour.”
“You can wait in the lobby for them.”
“I can’t go out like this.”
“Stop stalling, Cody. I’ve had enough.”
“What if I say I’m staying?”
I was afraid of this. I wondered if Jake was going to be on my side if we got into a standoff. I should have been nicer to him. I should have kissed him. I looked out the window, considering my options, which weren’t many. The rain had stopped. The sky was overcast. The gray, dreary world matched my mood. How did I get stuck with this odd assortment of humanity? I’d have to retire from interior design if I kept getting clients like these. How was I going to get rid of this crew?
A spectacular idea came to me. It was something Olympia had said once about plot. When the plot is floundering, kill someone. The problem was that I didn’t have a gun and that was another of those acts that carried a jail sentence. Knives were an option but I had never been good at carving a roast. I couldn’t kill anyone, so who was I kidding?
The phone rang as I was mulling over the possibilities. I looked at caller ID and didn’t recognize the number. I debated if I should answer. Given my current predicament it might be an improvement.
“Hello,” I said.
“Miss Marlowe?” a familiar voice said.
“Yes?”
“This is Hudson.”
“How are you?” I wanted to blurt out, I’m so glad to hear your voice and I’m so glad you are alive, but I held back, playing it cool.
“I’m quite fine. There’s been a fire at the Lodge house. I called to let you know. I didn’t know if I’d catch you at home. I’m so glad I did. Is Opal with you? Is she all right? Has she heard about the fire?”
“Yes,” I said, not turning around to see who might be listening.
“Is something wrong, Miss Marlowe?”
“Yes.”
The doorbell rang. Cody jumped up to answer it before I could. I didn’t want to hang up on Hudson. In the commotion made by Cody’s answering the door, I said to Hudson, “I need help now. Cody is holding me hostage. Send help.”
“Where are you?”
I gave him the address and hung up, still watching the door. I caught sight of a fedora and, could it be? A woman. Cody stepped outside and closed the door. I hadn’t got a good look, it all happened so fast but she looked like the Liz Taylor double from the party. What was she doing here? It was everything I could do not to follow Cody. Maybe Opal knew her.