Things are coming together, even more so in this chapter.

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Chapter 110.

The phone woke us the next morning. Usually, early calls came from the hospital for me, but this one was from a Trenton number.

"Hello?" Jess voice sounded more awake than I was. The smile that spread across her face told me it was good news. "When can we sign the paperwork?" She listened and at the same time motioned for me to hand her the pad and pen that sat on my nightstand. "We'll be there. Thanks, Ricky."

She hung up and the excitement that she'd held back burst from her. "We got it! Collins told Ricky to set up the paperwork and we can sign off on everything late this afternoon. I have to call Nina!" She grabbed her phone again and punched in the number for her sister.

Watching her enthusiasm made me realize how much she wanted this. My own feelings surprised me. Or maybe her excitement was catching.

"This is so great!" She grabbed my hands in hers and started bouncing up and down on the bed.

I had to laugh. "Jess, OK, you're happy. That doesn't mean you have to get silly about it!"

She threw her arms around me. "I just feel soooo good! I can't help it."

I cupped her face with my hands, kissed her lightly, and pulled out of her clutches. "I've gotta get to the hospital." I swung my legs off the bed and stood slowly. "What are you going to do until you and Nina have to meet Ricky?"

"I thought I'd check out that restaurant supply store on Grant, see whether they have any of what we need. It'll save us ordering everything online." Jess got up too.

"They won't have linens already imprinted with your logo."

"No, but there's a place nearby that can do that for us. All we need are the pink napkins and cloths."

"Pink?" I scrunched up my nose. "You're not going to use pink, are you? What's wrong with white?"

"White is too common and it stains faster than anything else. Trust me, this will be great." She smirked. "You haven't even seen the graphics we're using."

I wondered if she wanted my opinion. She and Nina seemed to be sold on what they'd come up with. "Show me."

She found her purse on her night stand and took out a piece of paper. When she unfolded it, I had to laugh. With a company name like The Movable Feast, I'd expected a depiction of a cart on wheels loaded with food. Instead, they'd gone whimsical. The logo looked like a chorus line of chops, potatoes, wedges of cheese, and sausages, walking on legs.

I chuckled. "I still don't understand why pink, though."

"Originally we thought a beige or tan, but the food wouldn't show up as well." She tapped the potatoes.

"Pale yellow might be good. Or a light blue."

Jess tilted her head. "Hmm, we'll think about it." She led the way to the kitchen, dropped some bread in the toaster and poured us each a cup of coffee from the programmable coffeemaker.

I sipped "Did you want me to go with you and Nina this afternoon?"

"I don't think that'll be necessary. Besides, I thought you wanted to arrange to take Julio to see the auto shop."

I nodded. That had been the plan. But ever since Jess and Nina were abducted, I hadn't wanted her out of my sight for long. Still, what could happen while they were visiting the Locarnos' office in Trenton?

"I guess we can meet up afterward."

"Sounds good."

We finished our breakfast, showered and dressed.

"Give me a call when you're finished with Ricky."

She put her arms around my neck and kissed me. "See you later."

I went to the hospital and made my presence known to my team. They sat in the conference room, still pumped about the publication of the article about the study. It wouldn't hurt to have them all in a good mood for a day or two.

"What did Collins decide to do about the property Jess and Nina wanted?" Chase asked.

"They'll be signing the lease this afternoon."

He grinned. "That's good."

"How's the Collins kid?" I asked.

"Stable." Thirteen handed him a readout of the boy's latest counts.

"Then I guess I won't be needed here today."

"You going with the sisters?"

I shook my head. "I've got bigger fish to fry."

Thirteen's eyebrows shot up. "Does Jess know about that?"

My lips quirked. "Absolutely." I handed the paper back to Thirteen, rose and strolled out without another word.

I drove to the apartment building where Julio lived, expecting the young man was home. He was recovered enough to go back to work, but the Melting Pot didn't open until lunchtime. The earliest he'd be going in was ten thirty or eleven.

Julio wasn't alone. Tina sat at the small table, her head bent over a textbook. She looked up when Julio ushered me in and smiled. "Julio's helping me with my math."

"What are you doing here, Doctor?" the young man asked.

"I thought you might like to come with me. I have to bring my car into the shop for some work, and I'll need a ride afterward."

Julio's forehead puckered. "Don't you have to be at the hospital?"

"We diagnosed our patient, so I can take an hour or so off."

"Well, I have to be at the restaurant in..." He consulted his watch. "...forty-five minutes."

"Call your boss and tell him you'll be a little late. You can even tell him you're helping me."

"Why can't Jess go with you?"

"She and her sister are going to Trenton to sign a lease on some office space." I didn't have to tell them that they were going to Tina's brother's office.

Julio shook his head. "I still don't understand why you're asking me of all people."

"You worked at the shop, didn't you? I want to make sure they're not doing something to my car that they shouldn't, and they don't charge me more than they should."

"Oh, Julio, why don't you do it?" Tina asked.

He rubbed his eyes. "OK, I'll call Mr. Bertoli. Depending on what he says, I'll decide."

"Fair enough."

I watched him call his boss. We could only hear his side of the conversation, but basically he repeated what I'd told him to say.

He smiled at me. "Bertoli was only too happy to have me do whatever I had to help you. You must have made quite an impression on him. He's usually pretty demanding that we put in our hours."

"Well, then, let's be on our way."

"First I have to finish helping Tina with her math."

"It's OK. I think I've got it now." She smiled at him. "Go with Dr. House." She packed up her books and left with us.

Julio followed me to the customizing shop. I parked in what was becoming my spot, and he parked next to me.

"It's been a long time since I was here," he said.

I hoped he'd soon realize it hadn't been that long after all. We walked to the office. The salesman I'd talked to previously wasn't there. That was good, it would make what I was about to do easier. The young man who approached us was tall with blond hair and blue eyes. I hadn't seen him before. "I was in yesterday and spoke to Sal. I don't see him." I made a show of looking around the office, partly to cover the fact that Julio was looking around at the salesmen and the photos on the wall.

"It's his day off."

"Darn." I slapped my left knee, hoping I wasn't laying it on too thick. "Well we were talking about changing out the engine on my car, maybe some other things."

Dollar signs lit up in his eyes. "Maybe I can help you instead. What was the name again?"

I hadn't given it to Sal, so there couldn't be a record of what we'd discussed. "Names House."

The young man sat down at a desk and typed something in. His eyes narrowed and he shook his head. "There's no order here." Suddenly he smiled. I guess he realized that if Sal hadn't recorded anything, the sale could be his.

Julio came over and tapped my arm. "I think I'll go out back and see if I see anyone I know from when I worked here."

"You worked here?" the young man asked.

"Yeah. I left several months ago."

One of the men I'd met on my first trip remembered Julio, but the staff at this place seemed to turn over frequently. "Sure, go ahead." Maybe being in the shop would jog his memory, not of when he'd worked there but of when he, Jess and Nina were held by their abductors.

"And while he's renewing acquaintances, perhaps I can write up your order. Name's Pat by the way. Pat Dolan."

I sat down across from him. "So, what do you suggest I do?" I wanted to keep him talking as long as possible to give Julio more time in the shop.

Dolan went on and on about souped up engines and oversized tires.

"What about he fuel economy on one of those? Do I have to change the exhaust system, too?" I pretended to be adding up the cost in my head.

Dolan assured me that whatever had to be done would be included in the package he was putting together for me. His patter was slick, and I could see he was an effective salesman. But when I saw Julio returning, I cut him off.

"So what's all this gonna cost me?"

He quoted an astronomical price. I didn't have to feign shock. The rude sound I made with my lips must have clued him in that he'd gone too far. "Well, we can cut out some of the unnecessary stuff and get the price down."

"I'll have to think about it." I rose, making a show of using my cane. "Guess I'll have to come back again after I think this over." I called to Julio. "We're outta here."

As we left the office, he asked, "Aren't you going to leave your car?"

"Not at these prices," I said loudly.

Before we got into our cars for the drive home, Julio eagerly told me, "There's something familiar about that shop, and I don't think it's from when I worked here before. They've changed some things around, but there's an odor. I could swear it smells just like the place I was held with Jess and Nina."