In Motion

"You haven't answered my question," Lauren said as she pushed open the door to the Home Keepers front office.

Paul was a step behind. "What?" He shot Stephanie a sharp look causing the young woman to shrink back behind the shelter of her desk.

"Noah. Is he any good at the job?"

A shrug. "What does it matter. You said I had to hire him no matter what."

Lauren turned to face the man and stood her ground. "I had seen far too many good applicants being passed by. What am I supposed to think?"

"You're quick to be on a first name basis." Paul glowered.

Anger flushed the woman's pale features. "I'm the owner of this company. It's important to get to know my employees. Know that they are capable of."

"You think he can do my job? You looking to replace me?" He scoffed and picked up a stack of mail from the in box and started flipping through envelopes.

Snatching the mail from his grip, she said, "I hadn't considered it. Yet." Her shoulders slumped as she retreated a step toward the white door. "I have worked tirelessly to convince Mrs. Greenblatt that nothing is amiss. We cannot afford upset clients." Turning her back on him, she pulled the door open and headed to the back of the shop. Paul right behind her, slamming the door shut.

The fear having bled away, Stephanie strained to hear as the voices beyond the door seemed to rise. Creeping from behind her desk, she carefully cracked the door and listened.

"You can't fire me," Paul said from within Lauren's office. "You try to oust me and I'll ruin you."

"Let me go." More muffled words.

Stephanie had never heard Lauren's voice so tense. She opened the door a little wider and tried to look down the corridor, but saw no one except that Lauren's office door was open.

Paul stepped into the corridor. Stephanie was quick to push the door closed and darted back behind her desk. She shook when the door to the back banged loudly.

After a time, Lauren appeared in the doorway. She was holding her wrist, but Stephanie could clearly see the dark blush on her arm. There was a slight tremble in her voice. "Have we gotten the ad pricing?"

"Not yet," Stephanie replied. "Is everything all right?"

"Of course." She paused. "Call Mrs. Brewer and schedule an estimate. She has some damaged windows that are leaking. Make sure that new hire accompanies Paul."

Rose cut a perfect wedge into the still warm golden crust and then lifted out a rich pink, fruit filled slice of strawberry rhubarb.

Parker brightened as the piece was placed on the dish in front of her. She grabbed a fork, but waited until Rose had her own piece of pie and was ready to dig in.

Cutting into the dessert, Parker took the bite and savored the fruity sweetness. "Good," she slurred as she went for another piece. She couldn't remember the last time she had a piece of pie, at least not good piece of pie. Eliot could cook. Could he make pies like this?

Rose smiled between bites as she studied Parker. "You know, I'm a thief too—not jewelry mind you—and I certainly didn't keep what I took."

Parker looked at her.

Rose thought about it for several moments. "It was a hat."

"A hat?" Parker never thought of a hat worth stealing except when she was using it as a quick disguise. She leaned forward and looked conspiratorially at the older woman. "Were you hiding from the police?"

"Oh no! That would be like wearing a pink elephant on your head."

Parker nodded even though she had no idea what that meant.

Tapping the flowery vinyl table cloth, Rose explained, "It was a horrible hat. Priscilla would wear it every Sunday to church. Woe to whomever got caught behind her. You couldn't see the preacher, the choir, or the organ player. Nothing. She refused to remove that thing with its yellow flowers. And if the petals fell off, she would buy more fake flowers and stuff in it. Well, one day, she took it off to fix her hair, so I grabbed it and ran!"

The thief beamed, though she would have just disappeared into the nearest vent shaft.

"It was such a windy day that when I got out in front of the church, the wind stole it from me and that horrible hat just flew away!" Rose laughed at her tale and then reached out and took Parker by the hand, causing the younger woman to freeze. Rose was always touching her. Putting a hand on her shoulder and taking her hand.

It was strange, but kind of nice too.

The older woman stared at Parker for a long time. "I have complete confidence in you and your friends. I'm not worried or afraid. So far, the Home Keepers have been good to me. Veronica, my helper has done my grocery shopping, Cora has helped me with cleaning around the house. Someone is coming to fix those broken windows in the bedroom. Maybe I was wrong and there isn't a conspiracy." Her shoulders slumped. "Bernard's health had really failed toward the end. I know that."

Parker thought of her attempt at blending into a jury trial and how that was supposed to be normal. That's what Hardison called it anyway, but it wasn't. "There's always a conspiracy," she said. Glancing about the kitchen, Parker scanned for some hidden device that she had not planted.

"You're too young to be that cynical." Rose patted Parker's hand. "I told them you were just visiting from school. They might get suspicious if you keep hanging around."

Rose was right and Parker knew that Nate would say the same thing if she had her earbud in. She liked being around Rose, but nodded in understanding.

Tightening her grip on Parker's hand, Rose spoke in a reassuring voice. "I've been on my own for nearly thirty years since my husband died. I've done pretty good taking care of myself even if they don't let me drive anymore."

"Do you really have a granddaughter named Megan?"

"Yes, she's about your age. I also have two grandsons, Bobby and Aaron. Bobby's in the Army and Aaron is a Marine. Bobby even has twin daughters. I'm a great grandma!" Rose got up and went to the table that had the picture of Parker posing as her granddaughter. She slid open the drawer and pulled out a real framed picture.

Parker peeked around Rose's shoulder and saw the image of the two men in uniform and a young woman. There was also a picture of one of the men with a woman and two identical babies dressed in frilly pink dresses. "Do you miss them?"

Rose smiled, but it wasn't the friendly one she was always giving Parker. There was something very sad about it. "Very much." She glanced away and then looked back with that happy smile again. "Your pie is getting cold, dear. You need to eat up. You need a little meat on those bones."

Parker frowned and looked back at the pie. She hadn't tasted any meat.