"Maybe she got a new prescription from the pharmacy,” Harriet suggested.
"She doesn't have money, and the thing is, when she's late taking her pill she starts getting weird ideas. And she starts thinking she don't need to take any medicine anymore. Then she gets hyper and-I'm just worried about her. She's a good person, really. She can't help the way she is."
"Well, she's lucky to have a friend like you to worry about her."
Carla's cheeks turned a deeper red, and she busied herself picking up the bolts of fabric.
"These'll be at the front,” she said, and carried them to the cutting table.
Marjory cut the fabric and sent Harriet on her way with promises to see her the next day at Avanell's. Harriet continued down the block, turned the corner and walked another block to Foggy Point Video.
"DeAnn?"
"Oh, hi, Harriet."
"Do you work here? Of course you do. Why else would you be behind the counter? I'm sorry."
"Harriet, it's okay. Why would you know where I work? My family owns this place. I work here part-time."
"I'm sorry. I must seem like a fool. I'm still getting used to being back in Foggy Point. I'm not used to seeing people I know running every other business I go into."
"Well, it has its good points and its bad points. Here everyone knows everyone else's business. Most of the time, anyway-and we protect our own,” DeeAnn added.
"What are people saying about Avanell's murder?"
"So far, no one seems to know much. Tony, the supervisor, fired a girl who had worked there for a while a few days ago, and now she's missing along with the contents of the safe. The police are working on that theory, but I haven't heard anything more."
"So, they think this girl killed Avanell and then robbed the place? Or Avanell caught her in the act? Does that seem possible?"
"It's the only thing they've got, according to my cousin who works in the sheriff's department."
"It's just so sad. Avanell and my aunt Beth were friends for as long as I can remember."
"The community is going to miss Avanell, too. She was a generous benefactor for a lot of civic projects around here."
"Had she donated much lately?” Harriet asked.
"Hmmm. You know, now that you mention it, I don't think she has been involved this year. Of course, we haven't had anything big going on, either. I'm the secretary of the Foggy Point Business Association. Avanell made a substantial donation to the skate park and playground equipment project two years ago. And of course, there are the scholarships, but then I guess she set those up when George died. Why do you ask?"
"I just wondered. My aunt seemed to think she was worried about something, and you know money is always one of those things people worry about."
"I can't imagine Avanell having to think about money. In our business association meetings she seemed pretty sharp where that was concerned. For our projects, she was always getting suppliers to sell us materials at cost, and she got the skate park ramps donated outright. I can't imagine she would be different in her own business."
"It must have been something else, then,” Harriet said, deciding she had learned all DeeAnn could tell her. “I'm starting a new hand-piecing project tonight and was hoping to find a good movie to watch while I do. Something light and fluffy."
She had developed an embarrassing addiction to romance movies. She always cried at the happy endings.
"Follow me.” DeAnn led her in the direction of a sign that read Romantic Comedy.
A half-hour later, Harriet had two comedies and a historical romance in her bag and a week to watch them in.
Dusk had turned into dark while she was in the video store. She knew Foggy Point was safer than Oakland, but she still hurried up the deserted block toward her car.
As she turned the corner she heard a shuffling noise behind her. She sped up, and the sound turned into the distinct rapping of boot heels on pavement. The footsteps sped up as well.
"Hey,” Aiden called. “Wait up.” A strange-looking dog danced around his feet. “Randy, sit,” he said, and the little dog obeyed.
"Aiden,” she said in relief. “You scared me to death."
"I'm sorry. I saw your car parked up by Pins and Needles, and I was on my way to the Rice Bowl when I saw you go into the video store. Randy and I were waiting for you to come out, but she got distracted by a rat back there,” He pointed to a narrow alley. “And you got by us."
"What did you want?"
"I was going to offer a deal I hoped you couldn't refuse."
"I'm listening,” she said, and reminded herself again that Sarah was right, Aiden was way too young for her to be having heart palpitations over.
"Okay.” He nervously rubbed his well-muscled left arm with his right hand. “How about I buy dinner, and then we go back to your place and watch your movies,” he said in a rush.
"You don't even know what movies I have in here,” she said as she held up the bag.
"I don't care. If you like them, I'll like them."
"You mean to tell me you want to sit through an educational video on women and menopause? You are an evolved young man."
"Very funny. I think we both know that isn't what you have in there. For one thing, you're not old enough."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do. My brother Marcel told me you were one class ahead of him in high school. And I do know my mammalian biology. By the way, he had a crush on you back then."
"I was, and I knew that."
"But you were a mysterious older woman who wouldn't give him the time of day?"
"He was a Star Trek geek who went around making secret hand gestures and speaking Klingon to his friends."
"I'd like to think you were saving yourself for his charming younger brother."
"Listen to what you're saying. When I was in high school you were in second grade."
He closed the distance between them, and her breath caught in her throat as he gazed deep into her eyes.
"I'm not in second grade anymore."
He cupped her chin in his hand and brushed his mouth lightly over hers. The touch of his lips shocked her to her core, but she didn't break away.
"You're definitely old enough,” she said when they separated.
"Do I get to come watch movies, then?"
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea,” she said and absently rubbed a finger across her lips.
"If I promise to behave myself?” he asked. “Unless you don't want me to, that is."
"I have a feeling I'm going to live to regret this, but okay. You buy dinner, I'll show movies and we'll see what Fred thinks of Randy."
Dinner turned out to be fast food Chinese take-out. Harriet dropped Aiden and Randy at his apartment so he could get his car then went on up the hill. She carried dinner into the kitchen.
"Fred,” she said. “This could be a big mistake. He's too young, and even if he were old enough, I'm not ready to consider getting involved with anyone. And frankly, Fred, I don't think I ever will be. Your daddy was it for me."
She had filled two bowls with rice and was arranging the beef and broccoli on top when she heard a soft tap on the kitchen door. She opened it, and Randy bounded inside, followed by Aiden.
Randy was similar in size to a beagle, but shaped more like a shoebox. Her head was round and her ears small triangles that looked like they had been glued on as an afterthought. Her color was a tan-and-grey mix that was highlighted with bluish freckles. She jumped up in front of Harriet, and for the first time she noticed the dog's eyes.
They were the same yellow-blue as Aiden's.
She looked at Aiden and then back at Randy.
"That's weird,” she said.