Read Online Murder at the Tremont House (A Blue Plate Cafe Mystery) by Judy Alter - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Judy Alter
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that. “I don’t think she’s grounded, because she doesn’t get Donna’s attention. And I think her head was turned by those trips to Dallas and all the clothes Irv bought her and….”
His hands were on his hips in indignation. “Donna let her lover buy her daughter clothes? What did Tom do?”
“ Let’s not go into all that now. Just trust me. Tom loves his family and wants to keep them together. I think that’s his weak point.”
He turned away abruptly. But the set of his shoulders told me he was angry. “We can’t stand here analyzing. I believe in action. Go back to the café.”
By the time I got there, Donna had gone home—to wait for Ava, according to Marj. But it seemed to me half the town of Wheeler was there, milling about. Nobody was eating, though most held cups of coffee.
“Word got around,” Marj explained, spreading her hands helplessly and then wringing them on her apron. “I made coffee on the house. Hope you don’t mind.”
“ No, good idea. You haven’t seen Tom, have you? He’s supposed to bring Henry and Jess.” I’d no more than spoken than he came through the door, holding Jess in his arms, big as she was, and pushing Henry in front of him. Wordlessly he gave me a huge hug, and I could hardly bear the pain in his eyes. But there was something else there too. Anger. Clear, cold anger.
“ This is Donna’s fault. I blame her completely. And when we find Ava, it’s not over.” This wasn’t Tom, the gentle teddy bear of a man I knew; this was an angry, determined man I barely recognized. And he frightened me a bit.
“ I’ve got to go,” he said. “Try to keep these two calm, though this crowd”—he gestured toward the people milling around—“won’t help. I’m gone.”
And he left, though I had no idea where he ’d gone.
People came in for dinner, but by now word had spread around t own, and inevitably most people stopped at the corner table where I’d put Henry and Jess. Comments ranged from “You poor dears,” to “I know you’re scared,” and “It will all be all right. Ava will come home.”
If she can, I couldn’t help thinking. What if someone snatched her?
Gram spoke at last—did she know I ’d been waiting. “Kate, she’s safe, and she’ll be all right. Take care of her family. You’ll have your chance to take care of Ava.”
Thanks, Gram. And just what do I tell Donna…and Rick…and Tom?
As if on cue, Donna stormed into the café. “She’s not coming home. I know that, and I can’t sit around an empty house by myself waiting. I’ve got to do something.”
I tried to soothe her, imagining what she was going through. If I was so upset, what must the child ’s mother be feeling? In a flash, she told me.
“ I feel betrayed. It’s this town. She got tired of living here and went to find a life for herself. But she’s too young. She just doesn’t know that yet.” And then she said the words I dreaded, “Oh, if only Irv were here.”
“ He’s not,” I said, perhaps too harshly, “and Tom is and he’s worried to death about his daughter.”
“ Well, I am too,” she wailed.
Sure, but you ’re worried about yourself, Donna Bryson!
Tom came in and said almost roughly to Donna, “Come on. Let’s go home and wait. Rick put out an APB so officers all around are on the alert. I described her, gave him a photo and, best as I could remember, told him what she’s wearing.”
“ Why doesn’t he put out an Amber Alert?” Donna complained.
“ Because there’s no proof of abduction. In fact, I don’t think she’s been abducted.”
“ She only had a light denim jacket,” Donna moaned. “She’ll be cold.”
Tom didn ’t even look at her, just took her arm and led her out, saying over his shoulder, “Kate, will you take care of Henry and Jess?”
“ Of course. I think I’ll take them home with me.”
And that ’s what I did, because the constant cloying attention they were getting made them nervous. Jess
His hands were on his hips in indignation. “Donna let her lover buy her daughter clothes? What did Tom do?”
“ Let’s not go into all that now. Just trust me. Tom loves his family and wants to keep them together. I think that’s his weak point.”
He turned away abruptly. But the set of his shoulders told me he was angry. “We can’t stand here analyzing. I believe in action. Go back to the café.”
By the time I got there, Donna had gone home—to wait for Ava, according to Marj. But it seemed to me half the town of Wheeler was there, milling about. Nobody was eating, though most held cups of coffee.
“Word got around,” Marj explained, spreading her hands helplessly and then wringing them on her apron. “I made coffee on the house. Hope you don’t mind.”
“ No, good idea. You haven’t seen Tom, have you? He’s supposed to bring Henry and Jess.” I’d no more than spoken than he came through the door, holding Jess in his arms, big as she was, and pushing Henry in front of him. Wordlessly he gave me a huge hug, and I could hardly bear the pain in his eyes. But there was something else there too. Anger. Clear, cold anger.
“ This is Donna’s fault. I blame her completely. And when we find Ava, it’s not over.” This wasn’t Tom, the gentle teddy bear of a man I knew; this was an angry, determined man I barely recognized. And he frightened me a bit.
“ I’ve got to go,” he said. “Try to keep these two calm, though this crowd”—he gestured toward the people milling around—“won’t help. I’m gone.”
And he left, though I had no idea where he ’d gone.
People came in for dinner, but by now word had spread around t own, and inevitably most people stopped at the corner table where I’d put Henry and Jess. Comments ranged from “You poor dears,” to “I know you’re scared,” and “It will all be all right. Ava will come home.”
If she can, I couldn’t help thinking. What if someone snatched her?
Gram spoke at last—did she know I ’d been waiting. “Kate, she’s safe, and she’ll be all right. Take care of her family. You’ll have your chance to take care of Ava.”
Thanks, Gram. And just what do I tell Donna…and Rick…and Tom?
As if on cue, Donna stormed into the café. “She’s not coming home. I know that, and I can’t sit around an empty house by myself waiting. I’ve got to do something.”
I tried to soothe her, imagining what she was going through. If I was so upset, what must the child ’s mother be feeling? In a flash, she told me.
“ I feel betrayed. It’s this town. She got tired of living here and went to find a life for herself. But she’s too young. She just doesn’t know that yet.” And then she said the words I dreaded, “Oh, if only Irv were here.”
“ He’s not,” I said, perhaps too harshly, “and Tom is and he’s worried to death about his daughter.”
“ Well, I am too,” she wailed.
Sure, but you ’re worried about yourself, Donna Bryson!
Tom came in and said almost roughly to Donna, “Come on. Let’s go home and wait. Rick put out an APB so officers all around are on the alert. I described her, gave him a photo and, best as I could remember, told him what she’s wearing.”
“ Why doesn’t he put out an Amber Alert?” Donna complained.
“ Because there’s no proof of abduction. In fact, I don’t think she’s been abducted.”
“ She only had a light denim jacket,” Donna moaned. “She’ll be cold.”
Tom didn ’t even look at her, just took her arm and led her out, saying over his shoulder, “Kate, will you take care of Henry and Jess?”
“ Of course. I think I’ll take them home with me.”
And that ’s what I did, because the constant cloying attention they were getting made them nervous. Jess
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