Caspersen Beach by Janet Heijens

Author:Janet Heijens [Heijens, Janet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dudley Court Press
Published: 2021-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Cate, 2017

Downtown Sarasota buzzed. Artists from all over the country came for the annual Fall Art Festival on Main Street. The smell of grilled onions and sausage drifted from the food vendor’s booths. People jammed the sidewalks, sweating under the glaring September sun. Some clutched bubble-wrapped artwork under their arms while most browsed the artist’s exhibits empty-handed. I sat sipping iced tea at an outdoor cafe while waiting for Geri.

A flash of pink caught my eye. Looking up I saw the detective towering over me, her lips painted to match her tight-fitting t-shirt. She took a seat and peered over the top of her mirrored sunglasses. “You picked a helluva time to come downtown.”

“I forgot about the Festival.”

She caught the attention of a waitress who struggled under the burden of a tray loaded with dirty dishes. “Bring me some sweet tea, will ya? And a glass of extra ice on the side.”

The waitress glanced over her shoulder, a weary expression on her face. Her eyes opened wide at the sight of the gold badge hanging on a lanyard around Geri’s neck. “Oh hey, Detective. Give me a sec. I’ll be right with you.”

I looked at Geri in wonder. “I sat here for twenty minutes before she gave me a second look.”

The waitress returned with Geri’s tea and two menus. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Detective. The boss said to tell you lunch is on the house.”

Geri gave her a tight smile. “Thanks but no thanks. What do you recommend today?”

“The salmon quiche is fresh. I’d stay away from the tomato flatbread.”

“I’ll take the quiche. What about you, Cate?”

“Make it two. And please bring me another unsweetened iced tea when you come back.”

I smiled as the girl ran off. “Do you get this kind of service all over town?”

“Only when they see the badge.” She glanced at the steady stream of people passing by. “Actually, this is one of my favorite places for lunch. It’s usually a quiet spot but with all this going on …” She waved her hand at the crowd of people. “After lunch we should probably go back to my office.”

I nodded agreement. Discussing a case in public, especially one as politically charged as this one, was not a good idea. The waitress came back with our lunch and two sweating glasses of tea filled to the brim.

The quiche was delicious, filled with chunks of flaky salmon. As I took a second bite, I noticed an emaciated lady dressed in rags staring at me. I felt uncomfortable, torn between offering her something to eat or ignoring her. Before I could make up my mind she shuffled across the street, heading for a trash can on the sidewalk. Bending down, she fished out the rumpled pages of the Sarasota Herald Tribune. Weaving her head from side to side, she tucked the paper under her arm and melted into the crowd.

Geri caught me looking. “We call her Crazy Betty. I have no idea what her real name is. Every now and then she wanders into a shop and makes a nuisance of herself.

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