going to take me out to lunch later, then we’ll stop by his house for the Mercedes and I’ll drive it back here. In the meantime, I’m going to keep taking his Mazda apart.”
“Why are you taking his new race car apart?”
“He bought it used. I want to go over it thoroughly and make sure it’s not only going to run well on the track but that it’s safe. I’m going to check every line, wire, and bolt.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
He pointed his index finger at me. “I was hoping you’d ask. I could use a donut, a fried cake with chocolate frosting.”
Cory and I had a tight relationship with the bakery down the street. A donut for breakfast one day, a cupcake for lunch the next. I could gain back all my weight loss by just thinking about what I’d consumed from them in the past. Still, a donut did sound good. I could walk down to the bakery and back to offset the calories.
“I’ll go get some.”
Cory gave me two thumbs up. “Thanks.”
I walked out to the reception desk. “Danny, I’m going to the bakery for donuts. What’s your favorite?”
For the first time today, he smiled. “I like powdered with raspberry jelly.”
“Okay. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Cory’s in the garage if you need anything.”
I set off down the sidewalk, walking as briskly as two-inch heel dress boots allowed, enjoying the sun at first. Halfway there, I realized I was in the open air, easy pickings for any sniper who might be watching me. I should have driven.
I walked faster, keeping an eye on all the approaching cars. It would be hard to shoot me from the far lane, wouldn’t it? Who would take the chance at this time of day, with all the other cars and people around? Darn it, did we really need donuts anyway?
By the time I reached the bakery, I’d broken out in a sweat, and not from the weather or my exertion. I could feel my heart pushing against my chest.
My eyes must have looked a little wild, because the clerk hurried to get my donuts and rushed me out the door, right back into the full view of anyone who wanted to kill me.
I walked home on the opposite side of the street, so I could watch the oncoming cars again and glance over my shoulder to make sure no one was sneaking up behind me. In the end, I was side-stepping like a crab.
“Ugh.” I smacked into someone on the sidewalk, knocking the wind out of me.
“Jolene, what’s the matter with you?”
I turned my head to find Celeste Martin glaring at me.
“Sorry, Celeste. I was just … looking over my shoulder.”
She inserted the key in the entrance to Talbots. “Afraid someone’s going to take a shot at you again?”
“How do you know about that?” Ray had promised it wouldn’t be in the news.
“The manager of the P&C goes to my church. It was all he could talk about last night at choir practice.” She held the door to her store open as if waiting for me to follow her inside. I didn’t want to, but then again, maybe I did.
Celeste turned on all the lights and headed to the back of the store. I tagged along behind her, clutching my bag of donuts.
She locked her purse under the counter and turned the key in the cash register. “I wanted to talk to you alone anyway.”
“You did? What about?”
Celeste rested her hands on the counter. “There’s something funny about your friend Leslie.”
“What do you mean?”
She pursed her lips. “Mindy used the restroom at the Coachman when we had lunch there the other day. She noticed the feet in the stall next to her were facing the toilet while the person peed, not away from it like a lady who sits down. Mindy waited by the sinks. Your friend Leslie came out of the stall.”
I didn’t know what to say.
Celeste’s lips compressed into a thin line of distaste. “I swear when she came into the dining room and hugged me, I felt a Willie. A big one.”
Celeste had comparisons too numerous to name, including quite possibly my own father. I only had Ray. I clutched my bag of donuts even tighter, speechless.
She shrugged. “So you knew. You’ve always been open to the alternative lifestyles.”
I could not, would not, discuss this any further. I needed a distraction. “Ah … my tan pants I bought the other day got ruined in