LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Are you all right?” Mason asked. “You looked fierce there for a moment. You reminded me of Lozen.”

      “Lozen?”

      “The female Apache warrior from the 1870s. She was a protector of women and children.”

      “I was thinking about the children, among other things. How do you know about her?”

      “I admire strong women. Had to. I grew up with one—my mother. And I read. Anything I can get my hands on. How about you? Do you find time to read, what with your work and your love of old movies?”

      Before I could answer, three wild creatures lurched into the living room. Lurleen was doing some kind of dance she’d learned in a Zumba class, and Lucie and Jason were mimicking her actions. She motioned to us, and it was clear we were supposed to follow along, snaking our way through the kitchen, out the back porch to the backyard.

      I followed Jason, and Mason followed me. We all stopped and gasped when we saw the yard.

      Lurleen had turned my backyard into a country fair. We started with Pin the Beret on the French Artist and proceeded from there to a bowling contest, which Jason won hands down. The pins were small loaves of French bread, and the ball was a French boule of sourdough. Next came a cabaret in which Lurleen was the star. She sang French tunes, leaving one word blank, which we were to fill in. Lucie caught on quickly and won that game. The piece de résistance was a piñata. As I started to inform Lurleen that a piñata was not French, she shushed me and pointed dramatically at the object dangling from the tree. It was a model of the Eiffel Tower she used as her coat rack, and on this occasion it was filled with candy. One didn’t so much whack at the tower as pluck candy off its many cornices. This we all did with enthusiasm. And then it was time for cake and ice cream.

      We entered the kitchen, sat down at the table, and I lit six candles for Jason.

      “But I’m only five,” Jason said.

      “One to grow on. Now make a wish,” I said.

      Jason’s little face grew serious. I knew what his wish would be. I could have kicked myself.

      “Jason,” Lurleen said. “Your wish must be something for the future. Something you want to do with me or your aunt Ditie. Or perhaps with Detective Garrett.”

      Jason glanced at Mason shyly. “Can I ride in a police car?”

      We all looked relieved.

      “I think that can be arranged,” Mason said.

      I could have kissed him. Instead I kissed Jason.

      We sang “Happy Birthday.” Jason blew out his candles, and we ate ice cream and cake until we groaned. Then it was time for my present. Jason loved the superhero wrapping paper. Inside was the Avengers set, complete with four action figures and a couple of bad guys. He ran off with it to his room and then came running back to get Lucie to play with him. Lurleen ushered us into the living room with cups of coffee, insisting she was going to clean up and wanted no one else in the kitchen.

      Mason and I sat on the couch like two awkward teenagers.

      “I don’t know when I’ve had so much fun,” he said.

      “Me too,” I said. I’m not usually at a loss for words, but I couldn’t think of another thing to say.

      Mason looked at me. “I’m really glad you included me. And when this is all over, I wonder if I might take you out to dinner.”

      I hesitated, and he jumped in.

      “I’m sorry. I know the timing is all wrong. You’re upset about your friend, worried about the children. You probably have a boyfriend. I didn’t even ask. Forget I said anything.”

      “No, I don’t have a boyfriend, and you didn’t say anything wrong. I’d like that. I really would. You have boys but no wife?”

      “My wife died several years ago.”

      “I’m sorry.” I started to say more, but at that instant Jason burst into the living room.

      “See ’tective Garrett, the ’Vengers beat the bad guys.” He carried in his hand the limp figure of an enemy. It looked a lot like an octopus with a human head.

      “Very impressive,” Mason said. “We could use an Avenger or two on our team.” He looked at me. “I guess I better go.”

      I nudged Jason. “Did you thank Detective Garrett for the bat and ball and for coming to your party?”

      “Thank you. Can we play ball again?”

      “I’d like that.” Mason shook Jason’s hand, waved to the rest of us, and left.

      Jason headed back to the bedroom. Lucie stood in the hallway and gave me a funny look.

      “Detective Garrett likes you,” she said.

      I knelt down beside her. “Why do you say that? I’m sure he likes all of us. He’s a nice man.”

      Lucie shook her head. “No, I mean he likes you specially. And you like him, don’t you, Aunt Di?”

      I nodded. “I do like him.” Lucie and I walked over to the sofa and sat down still holding hands.

      “I’m glad. I like him too. The men who came to see my mom pretended to be nice, and then they got mean.”

      “Were there a lot of men like that lately or just the one you told Detective Garrett about?”

      “There were two others. One of them always stayed in the car, so I never saw his face.”

      “Lucie, I have to ask you—why did Jason say his father gave him the Transformer? Have you seen your father lately?”

      Lucie took her hand out of mine and sat very still. “I told you Jason got that part mixed up. I have to go check on him, Aunt Di.” She jumped up and ran into the bedroom. I heard the door close and nothing more.

      So my wonderful Lucie was keeping a secret from me that involved her father. Why? She looked afraid when I asked her about it and when Jason brought it up. Was their dad threatening them? Was he involved with Ellie’s death? Ellie called him a deadbeat and said she hadn’t seen him. Was she lying to me? It wouldn’t have been the first time.

      I walked to the spare bedroom and listened at the door. There was no sound but the murmur of the TV. When I peeked inside I saw Lucie lying on the bed with her arm around Jason. He was asleep. Lucie had her eyes closed and lay very still.

      I let her be.

      Chapter Five

      I closed the door and walked down the hall to the kitchen, searching for Lurleen. The kitchen was spotless. Everything was out of sight—including Lurleen. I found her in the backyard cleaning up. The yard looked like a tornado had touched down.

      “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you for all this,” I said.

      “Entirely my pleasure. You would do the same for me, and I loved every minute.” She stared at me intently. “What’s wrong? I know you’re upset about your friend, but Detective Garrett seems like a very competent man. He’ll find the person who did this. Why do you look so worried? I used to have a boxer, and when he was upset his little forehead would wrinkle, just like yours is now.”

      I smiled and attempted to smooth out one or two wrinkle lines. “It’s not the image I’m going for, but I am worried.”

      “About what, chérie?” Lurleen stopped searching the grass for candy wrappers and stood up to give me her full attention.

      “Lucie isn’t telling us the truth about her father or where Jason got his Transformer.”

      “Hmm,” Lurleen said, one hand on her slender hip. “This deserves some thought—and maybe another piece of cake when I’m done here. You think best while you’re baking.

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