california christmas dreams (20 page)

Evelyn frowned as she took another French fry from Jake’s plate. “At least we know he’s still interested.”

“This isn’t the right time, Evelyn.” Jake drank another glass of water and then leaned back against the booth. “I just want to go home, get a shower and sleep for twenty-four hours.”

“We all smell of smoke,” Merry said.

Evelyn wrinkled her nose. “You do smell bad.”

John pushed himself heavily to his feet. He tucked his laptop under his arm. “I’ll see you on Monday.”

Merry stood and Evelyn got out and tucked her hand around her father’s arm. She walked out with him without saying goodbye.

“We need to talk,” Jake said.

“The only talking I’m going to do is with my pillow.” Merry smothered a yawn. She looked so tired Jake wanted to hold her.

“I really want to clear something up. I said some things this morning and they didn’t come out right. I want to explain.”

“I’m tired, I’m cranky and I smell. Can we talk tomorrow?”

“Sure.” Jake nodded.

“Come by tomorrow for lunch and we’ll talk. Lunch is on me.” She pushed herself to her feet and started for the door.

Jake flagged Bonnie down. “How much do we owe?” He gestured at the room and the few volunteers still left.

“Your dad already took care of the bill,” she said. “Go home and get some rest. You look beat.” She turned and headed back toward the bar.

Jake rubbed his eyes. They felt gritty with smoke and exhaustion. Then he walked out the door only to find two men in dark suits standing at the curb. They glanced at him as he walked out into the heavy evening air, which still smelled sour with the smoke from all the fires. No breeze freshened the night and the staleness seemed to lay on everything.

“Mr. Walters,” one of the men said.

Jake paused, an eyebrow raised. “Can I help you?”

Each man held up their badge for Jake to see. “I’m Detective Steven Mars and this is my partner, Detective Miles Pederson. We’re with the arson investigations. We’d like to talk to you about the fire.”

Jake nodded. He’d been expecting them.

“We spoke with your father earlier,” Detective Mars said. “We have reason to believe the fire was arson. And the way the fire was started, it was pointed directly at the park. Do you know anyone who would gain from the destruction of the park?”

Jake studied the two men. “Hurt the park? No. As I was reminded today, the park is a Riverside icon. A lot of people showed up to help us fight the fire.”

“Wasn’t the park up for sale earlier this year?”

“Yes, but Dad changed his mind and decided to renovate instead.”

Detective Mars smiled. “My parents took me there when I was a kid and someday, when I have kids, I’m hoping to take them, too.”

“I don’t know what to say, Detectives. I’m baffled. I’m having a hard enough time believing it was arson and that anyone would want to destroy the park.”

“Can you tell us who made the offers on the park?”

“I can’t imagine anyone wanting to get that land so badly they’d be willing to risk hurting people.”

“You’d be surprised at what people will do,” Detective Pederson said. “Trust me, nothing surprises me anymore.”

“The main offer came from Harry Constantine. He has a team of investors who’ve been trying to buy the land for a number of years now. He wants to build a mall. I checked him out because he seemed the most interested, but in reality he’s a vulture. He doesn’t have any money problems, so I don’t think he’d be desperate enough to start fire.

“And then the Kessler Corporation made an offer. They build houses. But this land is zoned for commercial development and getting it changed would take time. I really don’t think they were that interested.” Jake didn’t think they were as interested in the land as they had been in Constantine’s offer. A strong rivalry had existed between the two groups for years.

“I don’t remember the name of the contact, but I have it in my office.” Jake paused to think. “And Kyle Potter Inc. Mr. Potter’s lawyer tendered the offer. My dad and I don’t like the way they do business, so we never followed through on their offer. And there were a few other inquiries, but nothing that interested us.”

Pederson made notes in a small spiral notebook, nodding as he wrote. “Anyone have a personal grudge against your father?”

Jake couldn’t think of one person who would hate his father enough to set fire to the park. “Not that I know of. My father dealt with every complaint personally. I don’t think anyone ever went home angry after a day in the park. I don’t know what else I can tell you, Detectives.”

Detective Mars handed him a business card. “If you think of anything else, please let us know.”

“What did you find that made you think it was arson?” Jake asked.

“We found a crude incendiary device. It’s at the lab now for analysis.”

“Thank you, Detectives. If I remember anything, I’ll let you know. Do you have any suspects?”

“It’s too early in the investigation to have any solid information. We’re still gathering facts.”

* * *

Merry stepped out of the shower. The sun shone in her bathroom window, which was cracked open to let out the steam. This was her third shower, and she imagined she still smelled like smoke. She dried her hair and pulled a strand to her nose to sniff, satisfied that the smell of smoke was finally gone.

She dressed in her best jeans and red silk blouse. She checked her makeup. Everything was perfect. She wanted to look hot, but not as if she’d put a lot of work into it. She was just heading into the kitchen when the doorbell rang. She opened it, expecting Jake, only to find two strange men standing on her front porch looking very grave.

“Miss Alcott,” one of the men said. “I’m Detective Steven Mars and this is Detective Miles Pederson. May we speak to you about the fire yesterday at the park?”

She stood aside to let them in. “I was just about to make coffee. Would you like some?”

They followed her to the kitchen.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
Why were they questioning her? She went through the motions of making coffee, and when it was dripping into the carafe, she turned and tried to smile.

“I remember you,” Miles Pederson said.
“Maddie’s Mad World.
My sister never missed an episode.”

Merry smiled. There were times when being recognized didn’t make her feel good. This was one of those times. She poured coffee in mugs to hide the trembling in her hands.

“I had fun on the show,” Merry said as she handed a mug to each detective. She sat down at the kitchen table and sipped her own coffee.

“I worked at Glendale,” Detective Pederson said, “when Maddie and you were caught joyriding in that stolen car.”

Merry covered her face. Great, the worst moment of her life and this cop had to remember it. “I was fifteen and I didn’t know it was stolen.” What were they saying? Did they suspect her of setting the fire because she’d been caught in a stolen car with Maddie driving? She’d been in a world of hurt after that incident. Her mother and father had grounded her for two months and made her donate her pay from one episode to charity. And here she was hoping she’d finally lived it down.

The detective laughed. “Yeah, you shocked the hell out of me and my partner. We thought you were the ultimate good girl.”

“And you are remembering the worst incident of my life while I’ve been trying to forget it.”

He chuckled again. “I can understand that.” His demeanor changed. “So about the fire yesterday...”

“Mr. Walters talked to me and said you thought it was arson. I didn’t have anything to do with it. I was here with Jake when Mr. Walters called.” Actually, she was home, and Jake had been sitting in his car in the driveway while she fumed. Just when she was starting to really like him.

“We’re just gathering information,” Detective Mars said. “You make good coffee. Care to give some pointers to my wife?”

Merry offered hopefully, “It’s Starbucks Sumatra French press.”

The detective nodded. “Do you know anyone who might have a reason to torch the park?”

She sipped her coffee, giving herself time to think. Jake hadn’t been happy about his father’s decision to not sell, but he would never set fire to the park. He respected his father too much. “No, not really. I’ve only worked there a few months.”

“We heard that Jake Walters wasn’t happy with his father’s decision to renovate the park.”

“In the beginning. Jake wanted his father to retire and take life easy, but the park means everything to Mr. Walters. Jake would never do anything to harm him. He respects his father and his father’s decisions.”

Detective Mars nodded. “But still, a guy’s got to be a little worried that that money pit will dip into his inheritance.”

“I will be the first to say that Jake wants to know where every penny goes, and I have to give him three good reasons why it went there, but he didn’t start the fire.”

“People do things for reasons you’ll never understand.”

“There you’re wrong. I worked with Maddie Jefferson. I worked in the entertainment business long enough. I can smell crazy. Jake Walters is as steady as a rock. And trust me, he may disagree with his father, but he would do nothing to hurt him. And frankly, I don’t know anyone at the park who would, either. Mr. Walters is loved by everyone. Whoever set the fire had to be someone from the outside.”

“Like who?”

“I wouldn’t know how to find out. I’ve never played a detective. Though there was an episode on
Maddie’s Mad World
where I had to find out who had stolen the school hamster.” She’d loved that episode. Maddie had been in the hospital after having her tonsils removed and Merry had gotten to be the star. The script had been rewritten for her, and she’d loved that fact that for once she was the center of attention.

“Thank you,” Detective Pederson said, closing his notebook and tucking it away inside his jacket pocket. “We appreciate your time. If we have any further questions, we’ll be in contact. If you remember anything, here’s my card.”

She took the business card. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help.”

“Actually, you were very helpful,” Detective Pederson said. Then he cleared his throat and looked a bit uncomfortable. “Could I ask you for your autograph? My sister will be thrilled.”

“Of course,” she replied, getting up. “And your sister’s name is...?”

“Susan Fields,” he supplied.

She went into the office where she kept a few photos for the times when someone actually asked her for one. She signed her name with a flourish and added
to Susan
at the top. Usually people asked her if she could get them Maddie’s autograph.

She walked the detectives to the front door and then stood in the living room to watch them drive off. She turned to head back into the kitchen, but another car, a black Cadillac Escalade, turned into her driveway and parked. Daryl Wicks stepped out and her eyebrows went up in surprise. He held a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a box in the other. What did he want?

Merry met Daryl at the door, opening it just as his finger was poised to ring the doorbell.

“Daryl, what brings you here?”

He smiled at her. “May I come in?”

She glanced down the street and tried not to look too worried. “I’m expecting someone.”

“This will only take a moment. I brought you flowers.” He handed her the bouquet. “And candy.” He looked a little uncertain over the candy as he handed her the box, as though it was a bit much.

She took the box. She was never one to turn down chocolate. She glanced at the box. Lenoux of Beverly Hills was emblazoned across the gold foil of the lid. Wow, this chocolate was five hundred dollars a pound. Even when she could afford it, she didn’t spend so much on candy. But she could feel the tender chocolates calling her name. She was so going to be alone with this box tonight.

“Thank you.”

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you after Friday night.” He walked into the house, looking around curiously.

Yeah, right,
she thought. She was the one who got away and he was remembering the rejection. “Thank you for the flowers and the candy, but you shouldn’t have. Why are you here?”

“Seeing you Friday night got me thinking about the old days.”

She laughed. “You make it sound like we grew up in the Middle Ages.”

“In the entertainment industry, it kind of was.” He looked thoughtful. “Back in those days, I could sing what I wanted to sing, be who I wanted to be. No one had any expectations of me.”

She tilted her head up at him. “You’ve been at the top of an industry that spits out new people every three months. And you’ve managed to remain on top for a long time.”

“I give people what they want. Not necessarily what I want.”

She sighed. She could see he wasn’t ready to leave. “Do you want some coffee?”

“Thank you. I would.”

She led the way to the kitchen. “So what are you saying exactly?” She poured coffee into a clean mug and handed it to him.

“Back then, I was the person I wanted to be.”

A jerk, she thought. “Are you feeling sorry for yourself?” And here she was thinking he was still interested in her; in reality he was thinking about himself.

“No. That would be ridiculous.” He walked around her large, open kitchen looking at the decor. “I’m feeling nostalgic.”

“So you bring me beautiful flowers and expensive chocolate because you’re feeling nostalgic?”

He shrugged. “I kind of feel like I didn’t apologize to you for the way I acted.”

“You wrote a song about me.”

“You’re still not impressed with me, are you?”

She laughed. The doorbell rang again. Jake! She didn’t want to deal with him. She opened the door, aware of Daryl standing behind her.

“Jake,” she said brightly. “Hi. I meant to call you, because Daryl is taking me out to lunch.”

“Excuse me?”

“What?” Daryl said. “Yeah, right. We have reservations at The Ivy.”

Jake scowled, staring hard at Daryl. “Really. The Ivy?”

“Yeah,” Merry said, suddenly not sure she was doing the right thing.

“I didn’t know you wanted to be seen.”