Authors: Meg Benjamin
Toleffson shook his head. “He’s being a hardass. Maybe he still thinks he’ll manage to get back here and grab it. Do we know for sure whatever he was searching for was in this stuff? Did he look at it?”
Nando shrugged. “He didn’t look through it, but he had Allie open the bag and tell him what was inside, and he looked satisfied when she did.” His jaw tightened as he remembered.
Smug son of a bitch.
Toleffson sighed. “I’ve been picking through this junk for a couple of hours now, and I still don’t see what he was after.”
Nando sorted idly through the rubber bands and postage stamps. “Most of these are out of date. You got some twenty-nine centers here.”
“Anything look rare and valuable? Worth coming back for?”
Nando shook his head. “I remember most of these stamps, and I ain’t that old.” He picked up the legal pads, stacking them at the side of the table. “Let me clear away some of the stuff that can’t be what he was after so we can look at the rest of it. I mean, no way I can see legal pads being worth all that much, even if they were antique which these aren’t.”
Toleffson watched him for a moment then shook each pad carefully, fluttering the pages. “And nothing’s hidden in here.”
Nando made a new pile of stationery and envelopes, checking each to make sure they were empty. “This stationery was printed up after Brody took off, so it can’t be anything.”
The chief squinted at the rubber bands and paper clips. “Those can probably go. Unless he melted down something valuable and made it into a paperclip.”
Nando stared down at the paperclips for a moment, then stepped over to the file cabinet, removing a calendar in a magnetized plastic frame. He held the back of the calendar over the paper clips, then watched them all attach themselves to the magnet. “Looks like run-of-the-mill paperclips to me.”
“Right.”
Toleffson sorted through the ancient computer disks. “Most of these are fiscal year data, assuming the labels are right. I don’t know where we’d find a computer drive that would run these disks anyway.”
“What about the thumb drive?”
The chief shook his head. “It’s mine. I checked it, but nothing on it is earlier than last year.”
Nando nudged a stray penny with his finger. “These coins yours too, Chief?”
Toleffson shrugged. “Most of them. If I’ve got extra change in my pocket after lunch, sometimes I toss it in there.”
“I do that too. Get rid of the small stuff.” He studied the spill of coins on the table. Pennies, nickels, dimes, a couple of quarters. He leaned closer, sorting swiftly through them.
“See anything?” Toleffson leaned down next to him.
“I’m not sure.” He stared at the coins spread out in front of him, copper, silver, some dull, some bright.
“That’s a strange-looking quarter,” the chief murmured.
They both leaned closer. The coin was dull silver. It seemed smaller than the other quarters, more worn.
Toleffson placed his index finger on it, pulling it apart from the others so that he could study it. “Seated Liberty instead of George Washington,” he said, staring down at the coin. “That makes it nineteenth century, I think.”
Nando squinted at the somewhat worn image. “Worth anything?”
“Bound to be, but I don’t know how much.” Toleffson picked up the coin, peering at the date. “1878.”
“So do you think this is it? Is this what he wanted?”
“Could be.” The chief studied it again. “It’s the first thing we’ve found that makes any sense. When he asked Allie to tell him what was in the bag, did she mention the coins?”
Nando closed his eyes, trying to remember. “Yeah. I’m pretty sure she did—along with everything else.”
Toleffson nodded slowly. “So there’s a chance that this is it. Maybe a very good chance.” He picked up one of the envelopes and dropped the coin inside.
“It fits with Brody, sort of. He had a thing for valuable historic stuff, judging from the map he tried to steal from Dub Tyler.”
“Which means he might have stolen this too.” Toleffson blew out a breath. “If he did, there might be a police report somewhere.”
“He stole a valuable coin and then tossed it in his desk?” Nando shook his head. “Why would he do that?”
“Best place to hide it, in a way.” Toleffson leaned back in his chair. “Safe deposit boxes can be opened with a court order, plus they’re not great if you need to get at something quick. Houses and vehicles can be searched. But who looks through the junk in a desk drawer?”
“He outsmarted himself again. He couldn’t get the map from Docia and he couldn’t get the coin this time.”
“So maybe when his luck ran out after he ran away, he decided to come back here and pick this up. Commit some petty burglaries to make us think this was just one more in a string. Then take his coin and head for the hills again.”
“And it might have worked except for Helen.”
Toleffson shrugged. “I’d like to say we’d have caught him anyway, but who knows? Right now I’ve got to get home and change for Allie’s wedding, but I might make a couple of calls before I go. You going to be at the wedding too?” He raised an eyebrow at Nando.
He gave him a dry grin. “Wouldn’t miss it. The reception anyway.”
Kit stood in the back of the room at the event center, studying the decorations. She still didn’t think much of them, but the place smelled great and the swags of lavender and silver chiffon looked elegant along the sides. The chairs were already filled for the most part. The people on the groom’s side were almost all from Konigsburg, with a couple of women who must have been relatives, given their unfortunate resemblance to Wonder. The bride’s side had a full complement of Maldonados, all of them grinning and waving at Kit whenever they caught her eye. There were also three or four faces she recognized from the Food Network and Bravo, along with a lot of other people who looked like they spent time in kitchens. Kit blew out a quick breath, hoping that Joe had the food under control. He’d have a lot of people eating his stuff who knew the difference between morels and baby bellas.
“Catarina?”
Kit jumped, swiveling to stare behind her. Her father was standing in the doorway. “Your mother’s looking for you.”
“Oh.” She rubbed a hand across the back of her neck. “I’ll see if I can find her in a few minutes. I need to make sure the bridesmaids and groomsmen get set up.”
He nodded slowly. “Alicia said you were the one who’d designed the wedding for her. Probably wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t stepped in when you think how long she’s been stalling.”
“Oh well, I was glad to help.” Kit licked her lips, surprised at how nervous she felt all of a sudden. “So how’s South Padre?”
Her father shrugged. “Seems fine. Your mother’s happy. She’s got the grandkids to spoil. You should come visit.”
She smiled. “I’ll try to when I get a spare weekend.”
“So you’re working here now?” He gestured back up the hill toward the inn.
She nodded. “I’m managing the restaurant. It’s been…interesting.”
“Kind of different from San Antonio, I guess.”
Kit took a breath. “Yeah, very. The restaurant was floundering when I got here, although they have a wonderful chef. It’s doing better now, but we’re still not out of the woods.”
His forehead furrowed slightly. “What was the problem?”
“Inexperienced staff and not enough of it. Problems with figuring out who was in charge of what. And they hadn’t computerized the reservations yet.”
“And you had to take care of all that?” He frowned. “Sounds like a lot of work.”
“It was. I’m still working on the staff issues. But we’re doing better than we did before.” She gave him a tentative smile. “Between my coursework at UTSA and a lifetime of watching how a really good restaurant functions, I figured out what they needed pretty quickly. Thanks for teaching me the right way to run a restaurant, Papi. It’s been a lifesaver.”
Her father stared at her for a long moment, then he swallowed hard. “You always were a good student, Catarina. So are you happy here?”
She sighed. “Overall, yes I am. I’m learning a lot, Papi.”
He gave her a slightly crafty smile. “Lots of restaurants in South Padre, you know. Places you could work if you wanted to try somewhere else. In fact—” her father leaned forward, “—there’s this little taqueria down near the beach. Just a counter and a few tables. Great location. I’ve been talking to the manager. I could see maybe a Mexican seafood grill. Fish tacos. Snapper Vera Cruz. Camarones Diablo. That kind of stuff.”
Kit blinked. “You’re opening another restaurant?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. Thinking about it. I mean, a man can only play so much golf, Catarina.”
“Oh, Papi.” She shook her head. “You’re hopeless. Have you mentioned this to Mami?”
“Not yet. Have to work out the details. I could use a good manager.” His smile widened. “Interested?”
She shook her head again. “I’m committed here. They need me. And you need to break the news to Mami before you go any further.”
Her father rubbed his chin. “Good idea. I’ll wait until she’s all teary over Alicia, give her a couple of glasses of champagne. Keep it in mind,
chica.
I meant what I said.”
Kit felt the familiar prickling of tears. “
Gracias, Papi.”
“De nada, querida.”
“Antonio,” Allie’s voice sounded from down the hall, slightly tinged with panic. “Where are you?”
Her father gave her a dry smile. “Time to go get the bride ready for her long walk. I’ll talk to you later,
chica.
”
“Right.” Kit turned toward the sound of feet as the bridesmaids and groomsmen trooped her way.
The three Toleffson wives who were bridesmaids seemed to shimmer in the late afternoon light, their dresses glistening around them like jewels. Their husbands stood beside them, looking like tuxedo-clad lumberjacks. They also looked as if they’d all prefer to be doing other things with their brides that evening rather than standing around the event center in formal clothes.
Pete Toleffson squinted toward the room, running a finger around the collar of his tuxedo shirt. “We got a full house?”
“Looks like it.” Kit fluffed Janie’s skirt where it had gotten slightly crushed, then helped Jess smooth the ribbons on her bouquet.
“Wonder looks like he’s going to pass out,” Lars Toleffson muttered.
“He wouldn’t dare.” Janie peered toward the front of the room. “He’s not going to give Allie any excuse to postpone the wedding again.”
Kit glanced toward where the groom stood with the judge who was going to conduct the ceremony. Wonder looked more pale than she’d ever seen him look before, and considering that he was already one of the palest men she knew, that was saying something. Cal Toleffson, his best man, was standing close enough to catch him if worse came to worst. Of course, Kit reflected, if Wonder really did faint, the worst for him would be the merciless ribbing he’d take about it after the ceremony was over, assuming he could be revived for long enough to repeat his vows.
She heard a step behind her and saw Allie and Docia walk into the hall, along with her father. Allie held tightly onto her brother’s arm as she chewed on her lower lip. Kit’s father gave his baby sister a slightly patronizing smile. He had, after all, been married for over thirty years now.
Kit took a quick breath. “Ready?”
Allie nodded. She looked gorgeous in her soft flowing jersey, a circlet of white roses in her short dark hair. She also looked almost as nervous as Wonder. Papi smiled down at her, then glanced at Kit, his gaze suddenly bright again.
No, no, no. No tears, damn it. I don’t have time.
Kit turned back toward the room and raised her hand to the string quartet at the front. The Toleffsons, male and female, began to proceed down the aisle to the strains of Vivaldi. Docia winked at her, fluffing out her matron of honor bouquet. “Courage, kid,” she whispered. “It’s almost over.”
It’s almost over.
Unexpectedly, Kit’s eyes pricked with tears again. The wedding had taken up a lot of her waking energy for the last few weeks. She had no idea what would take its place.
Maybe Nando.
She pushed that thought ruthlessly from her mind. Maybe later. Or maybe not.
One problem at a time, Catarina.
Docia paced decorously down the aisle by herself, grinning widely. Aunt Allie and Papi stepped forward as Docia reached the front of the room. Papi glanced Kit’s way again just for a moment, his eyes warm, and then they began their own procession. The audience stood as they walked down the aisle, and Kit smiled. Allie really did look lovely. And the wedding really was going to take place.
And that was all she was going to think about. For now.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nando had juggled a lot of schedules to do it, but he got to the Woodrose around seven. Theoretically, he was still on duty until six, but he’d talked Delaney into starting his shift early so he could change and get to the inn. He hadn’t been able to make it for the ceremony, but he could at least make it to the reception.