Couples

Chapter 11

Kate has no trouble identifying the supplement and nutritionals department of Wholesome Sustenance. A wall sign visible from every section of the store points shoppers in the direction of high-margin pills and potions.

Rick and Lily are already there, surveying the intriguingly packaged goods. Rick gives Kate a subtle nod but says nothing as she begins to cruise the aisles. Kate's eyes spot a short but thick red braid against the background of a white coat. She's only seeing the back of a woman, but the height fits. A section of chunky chain also peeks from beneath the coat's collar. It's a good bet that it holds the glasses Rob Wheatly described.

Kate stops nearby, inspecting a shelf's contents while letting out a soft but weary sounding moan. The redhead turns around. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help hearing. Are you in pain? The conventional analgesics are in another part of the store, aisle 16."

"None of those would touch what I'm feeling right now," Kate insists. "My doctor said there's a medicine that would help, but even with insurance, there's no way I can afford it. I had to cut my hours at work way back, and I'm barely making it. My aunt told me I should try eating healthy and get some fish oil. She said that cured someone she knows."

"The customers tell me good things about fish oil all the time," the redhead whose nametag reads Lyall, replies. "But it only goes so far. If you tell me a little more, I might be able to suggest something."

"You mean there's another supplement?" Kate asks.

The chain on Lyall's glasses rattles as she shakes her head. "Maybe something else. But I need to know more about what's bothering you. What did your doctor say?"

"He said my problem is some kind of arthritis, but not the kind old people get. I couldn't pronounce it."

Lyall nods her understanding. "I think I can help. What's your name?"

"Kate, Kate Houghton."

"Well, Kate Houghton, I can meet you after work and take you where I can give you the medicine. But I'll need $500 cash for expenses. I use a sterile facility, and I cover the cost of my brother bringing it over from Europe."

Kate grits her teeth. "I can't get $500 today, but I get paid the day after tomorrow. I can cash the check. My apartment building will take a card for rent, and I think I have enough credit left to cover."

"Well, you make sure you can handle that," Lyall urges. "And if you have the money, meet me outside the store two nights from now. I get off at 7:00 p.m., so I can be in front of the pansy display by 7:10. Will that work for you?"

"I think so," Kate agrees. "Thank you so much."

Lyall pats her gently on the arm. "I hate seeing anyone in pain, and I always try to help our customers in any way I can."

A grinning Rick is buckling Lily into her safety seat when Kate meets him at his car. "That was beautiful!" he exclaims. "Lily and I were an aisle over, and I heard everything. You couldn't have set the trap better."

"I almost screwed up and let her make our appointment for tomorrow night," Kate confesses. "But I remembered Alexis's graduation just in time. And this way, I'll have more chance to put everything in place."

"I know you weren't lying about Kate Houghton being your name, just shorting the truth a little, leaving out the Beckett part. But your suspect will have two days to check on Kate Houghton. What if she digs up something you don't want her to find?"

Kate winks. "Not much chance of that. I've been using Kate Houghton as a legend on and off ever since I became a detective. Everything for the identity is in place on the web, and the city issued hardcopy documents like a birth certificate. Lyall can check all she wants. It's just a good thing she didn't recognize me. Some of your fans do, especially since you started writing Nikki Heats."

"Well, hopefully, she doesn't suddenly become a mystery connoisseur, but I don't think the Wholesome Sustenance crowd goes in much for Derrick or Nikki. I didn't get a single one of those, gee-he-looks-familiar stares, all the time I was there. Or maybe I need a new picture for my dust jackets. The one Black Pawn is using now is about five years old."

"Closer to ten," Kate corrects. "But anyway, it all worked out. I'm going to take my unit back to the precinct. I'll meet you at home in time for Alexis's night-before-graduation dinner."

Rick opens his driver's side door. "I'll be waiting with bated breath. Or better still, with hors d'oeuvres."

Rick just manages to get the "Congratulations Alexis" banner up before the teen comes through the door. "I haven't graduated yet, Dad."

"Close enough. Your final grades popped up on my computer this afternoon, and I had to take care of the final bill from Marlowe last week."

"Final bill?" The girl questions. "I thought you paid tuition at the beginning of the semester."

"I did, but there were incidentals, like renting that art collection for your art history class. The parents who pushed for that all had to kick in. For some reason, you had quite a lab glass breakage tab, too."

"Yeah, that was from the time that article came out in The Ledger. I didn't mean to drop those condensers. They just slipped out of my hands."

"I get it," Rick empathizes. "I've had a few things slip out of my hands too, especially when I broke up with… never mind. Everything is all settled – unless something went wrong with your dress."

"The dress is fine, Dad. It's beautiful. Gram said she picked it up for me and was going to bring it home. Where is Gram?"

"She was here. So was Craig. She was, uh, supervising."

Alexis palms her face. "Oh, boy."

"Just so. Well, God bless Craig," Rick adds. "He saw what was happening and suggested they take a walk. I'm liking that man more and more." Rick checks his watch. "Our visitors should be arriving soon. Kate too. I have trays of canapes in the oven. Want to help me set up the table? I can use an extra pair of hands to get the leaves in. We'll need at least three."

"That's going to accommodate a lot of seating," Alexis remarks. "How many people are coming?"

"Everyone we invited, I think, and Lanie has a plus one. Lorne's in town."

Alexis reaches into the hall closet for a table leaf. "Good, I like Dr. Faulkner. He really knows his forensics."

Rick takes the slab of wood and walks it over to the dining area. "I like him too. I don't think we could have broken that crazy case with the deer leather without him and... Oh, no!"

"Oh no, what, Dad?" Alexis demands.

Rick looks down at his shoes. "Um, you remember that huge cloth we had to cover the extended table?"

"The one Gram's last special friend spilled red wine on?"

"The very one. It must have been fortified wine. We couldn't get the stain out. I forgot to replace it, and it's too late to get a new one now."

Alexis plops into a chair. There must be some… ooh, Dad! You remember all those matching table covers you got for the party we had after I won the science fair?"

"Yeah, they're still in the linen closet. But they're too small."

"Not if we use a few together. We can lap them under serving dishes, and they'll look great."

Rick plants an enthusiastic kiss on Alexis's forehead. "The Castle clan brilliance shines as brightly as ever."

"I hope so," Alexis murmurs.