The Maverick Part 8

THE FOOD, WHICH WAS WHICH WAS deemed safe, they gave to various homeless shelters and kitchens, and decided to leave the cleanup to professionals, as Ca.s.s had suggested. While she was packing a bag to move to Sunny's house for a couple of days, Griff phoned. deemed safe, they gave to various homeless shelters and kitchens, and decided to leave the cleanup to professionals, as Ca.s.s had suggested. While she was packing a bag to move to Sunny's house for a couple of days, Griff phoned.

"Is everything okay?" he asked.

"No. Everything has been chaos here. I'm sorry I forgot to call you." She told him about the break-in and damages to Chili Witches.

"Where are you?" he asked.

"In my apartment."

"I'll be right there."

Before she could say more, he was gone. She locked up, went downstairs and stowed her bag in her car. There were a million and one details to tend to, not the least of which were calling their mom and Aunt Min and telling them about the incident.

"I've been thinking," Sunny said as they stood watching the water being pumped out. "Maybe it would be a good idea to wait a few days before calling Mom and Aunt Min. By next week, everything ought to be back to normal."

"That's a brilliant idea. I'm for it." They grinned at each other. "They're such worriers."

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than Ca.s.s's cell rang. She glanced at the ID screen and frowned. "Who else do we know in France?"

Sunny groaned. "We never have been able to get away with anything."

"Hi, Mom," Ca.s.s said.

"Ca.s.sidy," her mother stated. "What's going on there? Min and I have been worried all day, and n.o.body is answering the phone at Chili Witches. I know something is wrong. Is Sunny sick?"

"No, Mom. Nothing like that. She's fine. In fact, she's standing right here beside me. You want to talk to her?"

Sunny held up her hands and began shaking her head. "You tell her," she whispered.

"Uh, Mom, we've just had a little plumbing problem here, and we're having to close down a couple of days to get it fixed."

"What kind of problem?" her mother asked. "Now, don't beat around the bush, Ca.s.sidy. Tell me all of it."

Ca.s.s rolled her eyes and told her the whole story.

"Oh, my stars and garters! I was afraid something like this would happen. Min and I will be home on the first plane."

"No, no, Mom. Don't cut your stay short. Everything is under control here. Sunny and I can handle things just fine."

Griff arrived while she was trying to placate her mother, and she could only wave to him and mouth, "My mom. Just a minute." "My mom. Just a minute."

He nodded and went to investigate the situation in the cafe-as if he he could do anything that wasn't already being done. By the time she got off the phone and related the conversation to Sunny, Griff was back. could do anything that wasn't already being done. By the time she got off the phone and related the conversation to Sunny, Griff was back.

"Looks like they have everything under control. Any idea who would do such a thing?" he asked.

Ca.s.s shook her head. "Probably the same kind of goofball who set fire to the governor's mansion a while back. The police seem to think it's malicious mischief, since nothing was stolen. Any available cash-and there wasn't much-is in a big wall safe that would take a stick of dynamite or a blowtorch to open."

"Have you ladies had lunch?"

"No," Sunny said. "I haven't even thought about lunch."

Ca.s.s glanced at her watch and was surprised to find it was after two o'clock. "For once I haven't even thought of food."

"How's the restaurant next door?" Griff asked. "Is it open?"

"Hooks is great, but I think we should hang around here for a while," Ca.s.s said.

"You two go ahead," Sunny told them, "and I'll stay here."

"Let's all go," Griff said. "I'll tell the crew where we'll be in case you're needed."

Ca.s.s wasn't sure if she was grateful or irritated with Griff's taking charge, but her stomach was beginning to rumble, so she let it go.

FOSTER OUTDID HIMSELF on their late lunch, and it was delicious. When Griff tried to pay the bill, Sid refused his card. on their late lunch, and it was delicious. When Griff tried to pay the bill, Sid refused his card.

"These girls are like our nieces," he said. "We're devastated about what happened. How long do you think you'll be closed?"

"We're hoping to be open by the weekend," Sunny said. "It depends on how long things take to dry out and how much damage there is to the floor. The company we've called in to restore the place got right on it, so we're hoping the quick response helps."

"Let us know if there's anything we can do," Sid told her.

"Will do. Thanks for the lunch."

"Our pleasure."

After they left, Griff said to Ca.s.s, "You obviously can't stay in your apartment yet. I'd like you to stay at my hotel."

"Thanks, Griff, but I'm staying with Sunny-at least for a couple of days. We have a ton of details to attend to, but I appreciate the offer."

He grinned. "It wasn't totally selfless. How can I help you?"

"There's really not anything you can do at the moment."

"Did you have insurance?"

"Yes, and the rep has already been here. Everything's covered-or at least the majority of the damage. Mostly the whole thing is a big pain in the tokus. Thanks for coming by, Griff." She gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Am I being given my hat?" he asked.

She chuckled. "Not exactly, but Sunny and I have a lot to do. We have to talk to our suppliers and put an ad in the paper and..."

"I got it. Call me if there's anything I can do. I'll talk to you tonight."

"Tomorrow might be better."

He nodded and left.

GRIFF GRIPPED THE WHEEL of his rental car a little too tightly as he drove back to his hotel. Ever since he learned about the damage to Chili Witches, he'd had a niggling feeling about it. This smelled of Walt, one of Griff's partners. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe this was a coincidence, but he wouldn't put it past the guy. Walt was a brilliant businessman, but he was impatient and impulsive. And a master of dirty tricks. His partners wanted that property yesterday. Griff had asked them repeatedly to be patient and let him handle things his way. of his rental car a little too tightly as he drove back to his hotel. Ever since he learned about the damage to Chili Witches, he'd had a niggling feeling about it. This smelled of Walt, one of Griff's partners. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe this was a coincidence, but he wouldn't put it past the guy. Walt was a brilliant businessman, but he was impatient and impulsive. And a master of dirty tricks. His partners wanted that property yesterday. Griff had asked them repeatedly to be patient and let him handle things his way.

As soon as he got to his hotel, he whipped out his phone and punched the speed dial. Walt answered immediately.

"Walt, did you have anything to do with Chili Witches flooding?"

He chuckled. "Me? Now would I do something so appalling?"

"h.e.l.l, yes. In a heartbeat. Back off, Walt."

Chapter Nine.

Ca.s.s was bone tired when she drove to Sunny's house that evening; she literally ached and her head felt as if dirt daubers were building nests inside. She pulled into the driveway behind her sister, who trudged toward the door as if she could barely put one foot in front of the other. With the stress and the mess and the mountain of things to do, it had been a killer of a day. Ca.s.s hauled her bag from the trunk and trudged inside in the same manner.

They both headed straight for the couch, plopped down and rested heir heads against the cus.h.i.+oned back. Leo, Sunny's German shepherd, joined them, nuzzling against Sunny's leg.

"I may die," Ca.s.s said.

"Please don't," Sunny said, absently stroking Leo's head. "I'm too tired to plan your funeral."

Ca.s.s laughed, then they both got the giggles. The giggles turned into tears. They held each other and wept from exhaustion and despair.

After they had a good cry, Sunny wiped her nose and said, "Do you ever wonder exactly why we do this?"

"What? Cry? I think it's supposed to release some sort of chemicals to make you feel better." Ca.s.s fished a tissue from her purse and blew her nose.

"No, I mean why are we working so hard to keep Chili Witches going? Sometimes I feel the cafe has become the center of my life. How did Mom and Aunt Min do it for all those years?"

"Beats me. I suppose because they loved the place. I never figured I'd end up running it, but let me tell you, it's better than being a lawyer in New York. Do you hate managing the cafe?"

"No, I don't hate it. In fact, most of the time I enjoy it, but the hours are hard-and will be harder after Ben and I get married. There's Jay to think of, and I'd like to have children someday. I don't want to raise them in a playpen in the office or put them in day care and only see them half the week."

"We were lucky to have Aunt Min and Mom when we were growing up. It was like having two mothers," Ca.s.s said, "but don't count on me to babysit. Aunt Min I ain't."

"You don't want children?" Sunny asked.

"Do you see me as the domestic type?"

"I don't know. Maybe. We're a lot alike, and I can feel the ticking biological clock everybody's always talking about."

Ca.s.s rolled her eyes. "The only clock I feel ticking is the one signaling dinnertime, but I'm too tired to eat, much less cook."

"I hear that."

The doorbell rang.

"I wonder who that could be?" Sunny glanced over her shoulder. "Want to get the door?"

"Moi? Surely you jest. n.o.body knows I'm here, and I wouldn't get up and go to the door for the Publisher's Clearing House prize van." Surely you jest. n.o.body knows I'm here, and I wouldn't get up and go to the door for the Publisher's Clearing House prize van."

Sunny groaned and heaved herself from the couch. "Whoever it is better not be selling magazines."

It was Ben McKee with food his sister had sent over. "I'm not staying," Ca.s.s heard him say. "I know you must be tired, and Jay's waiting in the car. I'll call later. Or better, you call me when it's convenient."

Sunny came back with a big bag, which she deposited on the coffee table. "I'll get plates and forks while I'm up. Check out the contents."

Ca.s.s was just opening the sack when the doorbell rang again.

"Your turn," Sunny called from the kitchen.

Ca.s.s muttered a few choice words and plodded to the door. A deliveryman stood on the porch, a large bag stamped with the logo of her favorite Italian restaurant in each hand.

"Ca.s.sidy Outlaw?" he asked.

"That's me."

"These are for you from Mr. Mitch.e.l.l." He handed her the fancy, handled bags. "No tip necessary. Have a good evening."

She closed the door with her b.u.t.t as Sunny asked, "Who was that?"

"Another care package. This one from Griff."

"Did you invite him in?"

"The deliveryman? Nope. Not my type. He had a nose ring."

"Oh, well, add it to the bounty on the coffee table, and we'll have a buffet. What do you want to drink?"

"I think there's a bottle of wine in one of these bags," Ca.s.s said. "Bring gla.s.ses and a corkscrew."

Her cell phone rang as she was unloading all the sacks of food. Griff.

"Hi," she said. "Thanks for the food. It just arrived."

"Good. I wanted to check. I would have delivered it myself, but I doubted you were up to company tonight. I hope you enjoy it. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Not that I can think of, but I appreciate the offer."