at the table. I was so excited this morning, I forgot to whiz.”
Cory and I waited for the hostess to seat the two groups ahead of us. Apparently, everyone in town had decided to have an early lunch. While we waited, I spotted Celeste’s best friend, Mindy something, come out of the ladies’ room. She flew into the dining room so fast that I didn’t get a chance to say “hello.” I feared Celeste might be lurking nearby as well.
The hostess greeted Cory and me. We followed her to a table near the stone fireplace.
“Jolene Asdale.”
I turned to find Celeste and her friend Mindy sitting in a booth. Both wore skirts and blouses I swore had been on the cover of the most recent Talbots’ catalog. Mindy got her hair styled at the same place as Celeste. She even had the same style, although she was a brunette. I wondered if Celeste had to give that her stamp of approval. She’d certainly never given her approval on my marriage to Ray, not when she wanted him for herself. That was why she always called me Jolene Asdale instead of Parker.
Cory continued on to the table while I stopped to thank Celeste for transforming Leslie so beautifully.
Celeste examined my pants and blouse. “I think that blouse was supposed to go with black pants, not tan.”
I resisted the impulse to bump her table and upset her drink into her lap. “I’ll remember that next time. Listen, Leslie looks fabulous. Thanks so much for your help.”
“Ugh, it took a team, Jolene. My dentist opened up at six this morning to work on her.”
“Thank him for me, too. It was worth it. The change in her appearance as well as her confidence is miraculous.”
Celeste tapped her French nails on the table. “She’s an odd one, that’s for sure. In fact—”
I held up my hand and glanced over my shoulder to make sure Leslie wasn’t in hearing distance. “She’s joining Cory and me for lunch. We’re celebrating her makeover.”
She pursed her lips. “Don’t let her overeat. There’s not much room left in those pants.”
I fumbled in my purse for the DMV picture of Maury Boor, pulled it out, and smoothed it on the table. “You two know almost everyone in town. Do either of you know Emerson Maurice Boor, Maury Boor?”
Celeste and Mindy cranked their heads sideways to study his picture. Both shook their heads.
“He’s not too bad to look at.” Celeste leaned back. “Let me guess. He has something to do with Erica’s disappearance.”
“She may be with him. I’m not sure.”
Celeste exchanged a meaningful glance with Mindy. “We’ll keep our eyes open.”
From experience, I knew that was as good as my posting a sentry on every street in Wachobe to keep watch for my sister. Celeste had the whole town and beyond on her friends and family network.
The waitress appeared next to me with their drinks.
I stepped aside to allow her access to the table.
As she passed out their glasses, she glanced down at Maury’s photo on the table. “Hey, that’s a nice picture of Maury.”
I glanced up at her in surprise. “You know him?”
“Sure. He’s our linen rep. You know, the guy who delivers our tablecloths and napkins and uniforms and aprons and stuff. He comes here once a week, usually on Wednesdays.”
I couldn’t believe my good luck. “So you’re saying he’ll be here tomorrow?”
She shrugged. “He should be.” She said Maury worked for a company called In-house Textiles.
I tried not to dance with excitement over the new lead and excused myself to call Ray right away with the news. He didn’t answer. Impatient, I decided that if he didn’t call me back by the time lunch was over, I would call the company and see if I could locate Maury myself.
I joined Cory at our table and filled him in on what I had discovered about Maury.
A minute later Leslie appeared, her lipstick and hair retouched. When she spotted Celeste, she raced across the room, pulled Celeste from her booth, and drew her into an embrace. “You’re the best.”
She released a visibly shaken Celeste. “Look at me.” She twisted from side to side. “I’m a babe.”
Celeste gave her a weak smile. “Yes.”
“I’m going to ask him for a date when he comes to the farm tomorrow. I’ll wear the green and say exactly what you told me to say.” Leslie threw her arms around Celeste again and squeezed her so tight Celeste’s eyes bugged out.