Claire Gulliver #02 - Washington Weirdos Read online

  “Oh, will there be a lot of people staying here then?”

  “I think about twenty. It’s easier to have them stay over a few days than worry about getting some of them home safely.”

  “What MiMi means, Claire, is some of them like to party till dawn, so we may as well give them a bedroom, as they’ll be here anyway.”

  MiMi laughed. “Well, actually some of our friends...”

  “And relatives,” David added.

  “Yes. Some of them don’t know when to stop. But it’s only one weekend. And since it’s the end of the summer, everyone tries to make it last forever.”

  “Ugh! Gramimi, do I have to?” The disgusted look on Amy’s face was comical as she eyed the dish she was being offered.

  MiMi took pity and shook her head. “No, dear. Just eat the other things. The spinach soufflé is a special treat for your Grandpap.”

  “David loves spinach soufflé so this is a sample of what will be on the buffet table on Saturday. I can’t say I’m overly fond of it either, but some people will enjoy it.”

  David helped himself to a liberal amount and Claire was happy to join him, being fond of the dish herself. She was surprised to find herself scarfing down the spinach along with baby lamb chops, tiny roasted potatoes, vegetables and mint sauce. She thought at lunch today she’d never have to eat again and here she was eating as if she was starved. It was a wonderful meal and she told MiMi so.

  MiMi smiled at her praise. “Marilou, our cook, did this. She is a wonder in the kitchen.”

  “You should have been here last night. Cook was off, so MiMi and the girls did dinner. Didn’t you, girls?” David’s face was serious but his eyes gave away his suppressed laughter.

  “It was so good. Gramimi is a great cook, aren’t you, Gramimi?” Amy was serious and JoJo nodded her agreement.

  “Well, I used to think I was.”

  Amy shook her head. “She is!” Amy was emphatic. “You are. We made fish sticks.”

  “And macaroni and cheese,” JoJo added. “It was our best meal yet.”

  The grownups looked at each other and then had to laugh.

  “Gourmet cooking is just in how you look at it,” MiMi explained. “Actually, the fish sticks weren’t bad. Either they’ve improved them or I’ve forgotten how they tasted when I served them to their mother.” She watched Amy struggling with her knife and fork and offered, “Here, dear, let me help you cut that up or you’ll never be able to finish your meal. Cook made your favorite desert.”

  At the end of their meal, the young lady who had been serving them brought in a message for Claire from Jack.

  “I need to call him. And I need to call home and let them know where I am.” She suddenly felt guilty. She hadn’t thought about the store all day.

  “We’ll have our coffee in the solarium because the girls and I are going to play a hot game of Yahtzee. David will be in the library. David, do you want coffee?” At his headshake she went on. “Claire, why don’t you use the phone in that little room off the library and when you’re done you can join us in the solarium. Then we can discuss what you want to do with your day tomorrow? And we may let you play a game of Yahtzee with us.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  He parked his Nova under a streetlight. Even though it was a ’77 and the exterior was appropriately dilapidated for a car that age, the souped up car could outrun most other cars on the road. It was valuable to him. When anyone questioned why he kept it parked in his pricey garage he just said he kept it to remind him of his roots but the truth was he kept it for times like this when his hot Porsche would attract undue attention.

  This was a skuzzy neighborhood, not one he would ordinarily frequent but the bar down the block was perfect for his meeting. He dressed to match the car with old sneakers, worn jeans, a dark tee shirt and a nondescript nylon Windbreaker. He was invisible on these streets but he still kept his eyes open for unpleasant surprises as he quickly moved down the sidewalk. He was street smart even after all these years and he knew enough to stay alert instead of relying too heavily on the protection of the small caliber pistol tucked in his jacket’s pocket.

  Most of the neon sign was burned out, announcing only r’s Bar. The doorway was littered with trash and smelled as if it had been used as a urinal. When he pushed the door open, the dim interior wasn’t any more inviting than the exterior. His eyes roamed the room and saw Tony sitting at a table on the far side, furthest from the bar and the pool table. He indicated to the bartender as he passed he wanted two more, the same as the empty beer bottle sitting in front of Tony, figuring it was the safest drink in this kind of establishment.

  He hadn’t even sat down before Tony started explaining, “I tried to call you last night. Where were you?”

  “Yeah? Well, you didn’t try hard enough. It would have been good to have a heads up. When she showed up at the meeting I wasn’t surprised, assuming you hadn’t had a chance to get to her; but when I found out you tried...and failed, I was speechless. How the hell does Tony the Pickman fail to take out a mark – a little old librarian at that?” He shook his head, his eyes boring into Tony’s. “Christ, I thought you were a pro.”

  “Hey, this wasn’t my fault. No, no. It was totally weird. The guy just flew out of the night and bowled me over. Even that wouldn’t have stopped me if the damned knife hadn’t landed right under his hand. And you should have seen him. He was ready; I could see it in his eyes. So I just got out of there. And I left my favorite knife. Shit, it was bad luck.” Tony’s eyes sought his face trying to read his reaction. “I didn’t really expect to be able to do it the first night she arrived. It was just a fluke. I saw her coming out of the hotel alone so I thought I’d go for it.

  “But don’t worry. I’ll do her. It’ll be easy.”

  “No!” The word shot out of his mouth louder than he intended. Looking around he lowered his voice. “No, you can’t do her now. You should have heard them. They have all these theories. They have her tucked away for safekeeping. They’re looking for you. If you had done what you promised, it would be all over with no problem. But now they’re all suspicious and any further attempt would be too obvious. No, I can’t risk jeopardizing the plan now.” He sat back in his chair while the bartender delivered the two bottles and scooped up Tony’s empty.

  “You were lucky. That guy, the one who tackled you?...”

  Tony nodded.

  “...he belongs to the Company. He’s a friend of hers and was trying to catch up with her. He would have chewed you up and spit you out. Those guys look harmless and act deadly.” He nodded, thinking about it. “Yep, it was good you ran. If he caught you Saturday couldn’t happen.

  “Now they have her with them in the big house. They’re waiting to see if any threat develops. No, I think we’ll just leave her there. She’ll give them all something to focus on, another distraction while we move forward with our plans.

  “And who knows, maybe she likes spinach. She’d just be another victim. And, if not, she’ll never know how lucky she was.” His smile was cruel. Claire had caused him so much trouble with her meddling earlier in the year he couldn’t resist the temptation to pay her back for her trouble. “Fair is fair,” he decided. It was his own reward system. But it seemed she lived a charmed life, so for now she was safe.

  “But what about my money?” Tony whined, not knowing enough to leave it alone.

  “You ass,” he hissed. “You blew it. Get it? You don’t get paid for screw ups.”

  Abruptly he changed subjects. “Okay, let’s go over the plans for Saturday one more time.”

  “I got the stuff. Doc Yeoman delivered it yesterday along with detailed instructions. I know how to keep it alive and how to insert it in the food. Don’t worry; this will be a piece of cake.” He chuckled. “I have to hand it to you. What a great idea. No one will ever know it wasn’t accidental. The catering company gets the heat and the target will either be dead or as good as...”

  “What could go wrong?” He i
nterrupted, tired of Tony’s talk, wanting to make sure every detail had been covered. After the aborted incident last spring he didn’t want to take any chance this plan could be botched.

  “Well, if someone reheated the dish after I added the spores they might die, but that’s hardly likely as the heat would overcook the soufflé and ruin it. The real risk is if he doesn’t eat it for some reason.”

  “He’ll eat it. He loves it. That’s why his wife serves it at their parties, just for him. And since it’s not wildly popular we won’t have people dying all over the place. But everyone who eats some will get sick. Some will get deathly sick.” He chuckled. “Well, life’s a bitch!”

  Once more he was grilling Tony. “Okay, what about your gig with the catering company? Is that all set?”

  “Yeah, no problem. My cousin talked to his friend and I’m in.”

  “Well, we do have a problem, thanks to your botched attack on Ms. Gulliver. She’s going to be there, and her friend, so don’t let them see you.”

  “Don’t worry I’m strictly kitchen help. We come through the back door, work in the kitchen and leave the same way. No way anyone at that party will even know I’m there. We’re set.”

  He nodded his head. “Well,” He got to his feet, reaching into his jeans pocket he pulled out a few bills and tossed them on the table, “just make sure nothing goes wrong on Saturday and you’ll get your money. All of it! Screw up again and you won’t need money. Understand?” And he walked out without looking back.

  * * *

  David looked up from his reading when MiMi and Claire entered the library. “All quiet in the nursery?”

  “Amy was out like a light. That’s one good thing about all her energy; it does wear her out.”

  “Can I get you ladies a nightcap?” David was the consummate host.

  “Please,” MiMi said gratefully, sitting in a comfortable chair while Tuffy collapsed at her feet, his chin resting on her foot. “A little brandy, I think. What about you, Claire?”

  “If you still have some of that white wine I had earlier I wouldn’t mind another glass, although frankly I don’t think I need anything to help me sleep tonight.”

  “I talked to Jack after you did, Claire,” David told her as he handed her the delicate wine glass.

  She nodded. He had told her he would call David.

  “They still haven’t gotten anything from the prints and, in fact, Jack feels they may not, as the one good print was smudged. So, since they don’t really believe in coincidence, they have decided they need to consider this as a threat to you.” He looked at her. “Not good news for you, huh?

  “Jack will be assigned as advisory and will coordinate the efforts to keep you safe. Jack and Wiley will be out here tomorrow afternoon to meet with Charlie. They want to look around the premises to make sure the house and grounds are secure. And then they will want to meet with us all to make sure we know the plan.

  “So I suggested they stay for dinner.” He looked at his wife for confirmation.

  “Of course. Good idea!” MiMi took the news of guests for dinner calmly.

  “And I asked Neil to drive me home so he could be here too. I really feel he needs to be kept in the loop on this one.”

  MiMi nodded. “I’ll have the girls fed early so we can talk freely. I don’t want to worry them.”

  MiMi turned her attention to Claire. “Did you get all your calling done, dear?”

  Claire nodded. “Yes, thank you so much. Everything at the store is fine. Thank goodness I have Mrs. B to watch over everything. She never has any problems or, if she does, she just solves them somehow.”

  “I admire you so much for running your own business. It must take a lot of courage, say nothing about effort, to make a success of a little store. I don’t know how you can compete with the Barnes and Nobles or Borders Books.” MiMi shook her head. “And nowadays everyone is buying on the web too. It wears me out just thinking about it.”

  Claire laughed. “Remember, it’s just a little store. While there are as many tasks to be done as in a big store, they are all done on a much smaller scale. And of course, that’s why I choose to specialize. We only do travel books, so it’s easier to compete. The big stores have a few rows of travel books, where I have a whole store of them. And everyone who works for me quickly becomes a travel expert, after being exposed to the lecturers and the customers, who love to talk about their adventures. And customers like to come in and look through the books in our comfortable ell before they select the ones they want. So, you see, we add value to the purchases.”

  “Well, your Mrs. B sounds wonderful. The key to any business is the staff and obviously you have a good one.”

  Claire agreed. When she had received the invitation from the Lickmans to come to D.C. her immediate reaction was that she couldn’t possibly. She had only just returned from Lucy Springer’s Untour, and it seemed impossible to turn around and leave again. However, Mrs. B was adamant Claire should accept the invitation, so much so, that Claire accused her of trying to get her out of her way. But, because she really wanted to go, she had let herself be persuaded. So here she was in D.C. and, after being here only two days, she was the cause of all kinds of trouble for the Lickmans in spite of their assurance that she was not a problem.

  “Do you ladies mind if I turn on the news?” David switched on the television just in time to get the weather. “Well, Claire, I guess our usual weather is going to be back tomorrow. You’ll get a taste of our famous H’s, heat and humidity.” He turned his attention to his wife. “What do you have planned?”

  “Not much, but the girls and I are taking Claire down to Aldo’s on the dock for lunch.”

  “And JoJo wants to show me her swimming, so we’re going in the pool when we get back.” Claire contributed, “I thought I might take a walk around in the morning, if that’s all right.”

  “Good idea. Just go out through the solarium and leave the door open. Don’t worry if Tuffy insists on joining you. He knows his way around and won’t stray.”

  “Well, I think it’s my bedtime. I’d just like to tell you both once again how thrilled I am with my watch.” She twisted her arm so the light bounced off it. “And how kind you are to invite me out to your house. I’m really enjoying myself. And the girls are wonderful.”

  “We’re glad to have you. I hope you sleep well. Just make yourself at home.”

  “Night.” David’s reply was brief, his attention on CNN.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The solarium was deserted when Claire helped herself to juice and coffee. But when she headed for the door leading to the flag-stoned terrace, Tuffy miraculously appeared, dancing with enthusiasm at the prospect of going outside.

  “You want to go with me?” That was a stupid question, she thought, watching his pointy tail twirl so hard his whole rear end shook.

  Claire didn’t quite know how to treat a dog, especially this dog, who seemed to be a valued member of the Lickman family. She had never had a dog, or any pet for that matter, only Theroux, the cat, which came to live at the store. Theroux wasn’t a pet. She lived there at her choice; she allowed herself to be petted on occasion, but disdained any further attempt at intimacy. And she ruled over the bookstore as a queen did her empire.

  “Well, come along,” she told him as she headed toward the water and the boat dock she had seen from her bedroom window. He trotted beside her, seemingly as happy as she was to be out on such a nice morning before the promised heat of the day arrived. The dock was sizeable, stretching out into deep water in the little cove. It was much bigger than needed for the three boats tied there invitingly. There was a small rowboat, a snazzy looking ski boat and a small catamaran which seemed to provide a little something for everyone. The cove itself had a sandy beach stretching out from the dock on one side, while the other side was rocky, perfect for searching for sea creatures.

  Tuffy tore off barking sharply. Claire jumped, startled, but then had to laugh when she saw he was only g
uarding his turf from a seagull trying to rest on the dock. She turned and walked along the rocky side of the cove to the formal garden she could see ahead, laid out from the rocks to the house and the trees along the far edge of the property.

  Tuffy caught up with her, then scampered ahead to enter a gravel path leading into the gardens, disappearing once more.

  The path meandered past a pond, some statues and a nook with a bench inviting her to sit. She didn’t succumb to the temptation forging on in her quest to explore but promising she would return later to enjoy that spot. The summer blooms were dying back at the same time fall flowers were starting to bloom. While she was not a gardener she recognized a great deal of planning and work had gone into making this garden so delightful. When she followed the path behind a high hedge she found Tuffy again. The dog was wiggling at the feet of a man stooped over to fondle his ears.

  “Good morning,” she said taking in the vegetable garden, planted attractively just outside a door leading into the house. She guessed it must lead into the kitchen area.

  “Hello.” He straightened. “Is Tuffy taking you for a walk?”

  She laughed. “How did you know?” She walked forward her hand held out. “I’m Claire Gulliver and I’m staying with the Lickmans for a few days.”

  He pulled the gardening glove off his hand before grasping hers. “I’m Percy Imamura. I take care of the grounds. We’re getting a head start for Saturday. This place takes a lot of work.”

  “I believe that. But it’s beautiful. Do you do all this?”

  He was a short, stocky man of Japanese ancestry, not fat, but a sturdy square shape. His face gave no hint of his age but his manners were that of a mature man. “No, I have several sons and nephews who do the work.” His eyes twinkled with good humor. “But I usually come to the Lickmans’ at least once a week. I like to make sure it remains a showplace.” Then he smiled somewhat sheepishly. “And, I admit, I like to get my hands in the dirt a bit.”