They walked into the kitchen. Ben motioned toward the table. “Have a seat. I’ll be right out.”
Ben was back in less than five minutes. Amazing how fast Bellini could change without Lane in the closet with him. Mick shook his head. “I got the impression that there’s some tension between you and Lila Crane.”
“Tension. Can I tell you something Mickey? I went out with her a couple of times in May. Just before Lane and I got together. She seems to be pissed that I quit returning her calls, even more pissed that it’s because of Lane. You should have seen her executing the search warrant. I walked into Lane’s bed room and found Lila going through Lane’s night stand. Not the way a cop would search it, the way a jealous woman would go through it. And to top everything off, she was really there to look for a set of golf clubs.” Ben shook his head. “I’ll be honest, I don’t know what to do about her. I just hope that Lane and I can ride out the investigation and that afterward we never have to see her again.”
“Yeah, talk is she has a temper and holds a grudge. Glad I’m not in your shoes.” Well, at least in his shoes as far as Lila was concerned. He’d gladly step into Bellini’s shoes if he got Lane in the process. “Look, I won’t keep you. You said you were only home to change.”
“I’m heading over to Lane’s for dinner. I think we still owe you one. I know she won’t mind if you come along. But I can call her and check.” Ben held his phone up. Mick remembered being in Lane’s kitchen. He was there questioning her the day after she found a body in a movie theater. That day, she’d choked on her Diet Dr. Pepper and spewed it out all over him. It was a mess, but still better than the night she found the body, she’d had a headache and had projectile vomited all over him.
“Sure, I’d enjoy that.” Lane wasn’t a suspect in his murder investigation any more, but Lila Crane had Bellini and maybe Lane in her sights. He didn’t mind sticking close to Lane Parker at all. While he didn’t want to see her hurt, he wanted to be sure he was well positioned to pick up the pieces when the inevitable happened.
“Hey, Red. I found Mickey in the driveway, and I’m bringing him over for dinner. Sure I know, but it’ll be all right. Are you sure I can’t stop and pick up anything on my way?”
“Okay. Love you. See you soon.”
Ben looked at Mick. “No problem. You know the way. I’ll see you there.”
Chapter 22
Another dinner guest
Ben had brought Mick for dinner. It was just left overs, but Ben had assured her it would be all right. After all, it wasn’t like she was entertaining royalty or anything. Last month, during the Gardner investigation, she’d had several lunches with Mick. He was a few years older than she was. He was a widower whose wife had died a few years ago from brain cancer. When they met, she herself was experiencing some hellacious headaches and Mick had told her about Gloria.
~~~~~
Mick had grown up with his wife. Gloria was two years younger than Mick and she’d been his kid sister’s best friend. But, the summer he finished his freshman year at college, he answered the door and there she stood, with a knock out figure stuffed into a red bikini top and daisy duke shorts, wearing contacts behind her Foster Grants, her blond hair hanging loosely just below her shoulders, dangling a set of car keys and asking if his sister was home. Luckily for him, his sister breezed by him and went out the door. Gloria turned around, pulled her sunglasses down her nose and winked at him. “Welcome home, Mickey.” she’d said as she turned and walked toward her car. They’d gotten married just two weeks after she graduated from high school. They’d been married for over 20 years.
Then Gloria had started having severe headaches and according to Mick, she’d ignored them for too long and by the time he convinced her to go to the doctor, the cancer was inoperable. She’d been dead for four years and Lane could tell by the way Mick talked about her that he still missed her.
~~~~~
Lane imagined that in 20 years of marriage Mick had eaten more than one dinner of left overs.
Jamie was sitting at the breakfast bar and she handed him plates and silverware for four.
“Who’s coming?” He hadn’t gotten much from Lane’s side of the phone call.
“Ben’s bringing Detective McGuire. I think you met him at my birthday party. He’s the one I called yesterday to help Ben.”
Jamie took the plates and the silverware and was setting the table as Ben came through the garage. He had an older guy with him, and while his Mom thought they may have met at her birthday party last month, he didn’t look at all familiar to Jamie.
“Mick, it’s good to see you under ordinary circumstances. Did Ben tell you I was cleaning out the refrigerator?” She laughed. “I’m afraid we’re just having left overs.”
God she was beautiful. And her laugh was like angels singing. He shook his head. “He didn’t say a word, but I’d have come anyway.” Hell yes, he’d have come. He’d have come to eat sand, just to be able to look at her.
“You two may have met last month, but to be sure. Mick, this is my son Jamie. Jamie this is Detective Mick McGuire.”
Jamie reached out to shake Mick’s hand. He didn’t like the way the guy looked at his mom.
“It’s nice to meet you, Detective.”
“Nice meeting you. And please call me Mick.”
“All right, Mick. What can I get you to drink? We have Coke, Diet Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper, with caffeine and without, iced tea, coffee, water, wine, and beer.”
“That’s quite a list. What would you recommend?”
“Mom makes a pretty good un-sweet iced tea.”
“So,” Mick looked at Lane. “Where do you want me?”
“You can sit in Jess’s place. Ben, will you show him?”
Jamie got glasses and began filling them with ice. If Ben wasn’t going to put this guy in his place, he’d have to. “Dad, the usual for you?”
“Yeah, Bambino.”
“Mom, caffeine free DDP for you?”
“Yes, thanks. Here, use this glass,” she said, handing Jamie the glass she’d been drinking from. She handed the platters and bowls to Ben to set on the table.
There was meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, steamed asparagus, corn, pot roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, and fried chicken. It looked to Mick like there was enough food to feed a small army.
Lane sat down and reached to take Ben’s and Jamie’s hands. Ben and Jamie reached to take Mick’s hands. And Jamie began saying grace. “Lord, we thank you for this food and ask you to bless it and all of the hands who brought it to our table. We ask you to bless our family and our guest. We pray that Jess does well on her audition tomorrow so that she can get back soon and we can have the wedding. In Jesus’ name we pray.”
Jamie hoped his prayer wasn’t rude, but he really, really didn’t like the way this Mick guy was looking at his mother.
Jamie’s prayer made Ben remember his conversation with Jess. He had until Saturday to figure out something.
Lane began passing food around the table in a clockwise pattern. “Help yourself, Mick.”
Mick had thought it looked like a lot of food until Jamie started piling things on his plate.
“Hey, Bambino. Are you ready for the game tomorrow?” Ben looked at Mick. “Jamie plays football for Rockhurst.”
Football. That explained it. His son Shane had played football and during the season, he remembered Gloria saying she couldn’t keep enough food in the house.
Mick listened as Bellini and the Parkers talked about their day. He had forgotten how much he enjoyed the family dinners with Gloria and the kids. Like Lane, Mick had three children and like Lane he had two boys and a girl. His oldest, Michael, was expecting his first child. By Christmas, Mick would be a grandfather. He didn’t have much to add to the conversation. It didn’t seem like either Lane or Ben wanted to discuss the events from yesterday in front of the kid.