Breathe
Robyn stood in her shop, a fine layer of sawdust covering her, the redwood burl salad bowl in her hands smooth from her sanding. She compared it to the other bowls she had been finishing, making sure they presented as a set. Ideally, she could group the five bowls with a larger serving bowl.
Some mineral spirits and a rag brought out the wood’s intricate swirling patterns. Though she had no regrets about not taking her stock down to the San Francisco Art Exhibition, Grace’s description of the work she had seen there made her regret not going to see it for herself. Occasionally, she perused the local shops that sold elegant redwood products, but mostly she kept to her own booth at the fair, content that she always did the best work she could.
She set down the bowl and sat quietly, wondering if Grace was busy or angry or simply finished with her. After the last quartet rehearsal, she had hoped to intercept her on her way out and was surprised when a woman she didn’t recognize walked out with the other violinist and violist. The look on Jen’s face told her everything she needed to know. The quartet had lost Grace because of Robyn. She wondered if it was permanent or temporary but did not want to invite more of Jen’s judgment by asking.
That night, she had left another message on Grace’s phone. She hoped Grace was well and asked if they could talk. Three days had passed. A week and a half in all since their last contact. Grace’s silence frustrated Robyn. It felt juvenile to sit wondering what was going on in Grace’s head, but she did not want to intrude, hoping that it just meant that Grace needed space. She chose to interpret the quiet as meaning there was still a remnant of hope for them.
Pleased with her progress for the day, she tucked the finished bowls on a shelf and covered them with a soft towel. She heard steps outside the shop, and she felt a rush in her chest remembering how Grace had once found her there. Disappointment swept through her when she turned to find Sergio instead. Fog had blown in from the bay softening the afternoon light and chilling the air.
“I thought you’d want to know that those idiots Barb fired got picked up.”
Slowly, Robyn swept dust off her forearms. “Picked up by the police?”
“Sherriff. They broke into a place down on the waterfront in King Salmon.”
“Where did you hear this?”
“They called Barbara to tell her they’d recovered her video camera. It has the theater information etched into the side, so they couldn’t pawn it.”
“This just happened?” Robyn asked, her heart rate picking up. Sergio had told her he’d seen Tyler with the group at the theater around the time when things were going missing. Tyler was smart enough not to get himself tangled up with them, wasn’t he?
“Barbara was still talking to them when I left. I just caught the beginning of the conversation and thought you’d want to know.” He looked past her into the shop. “Tyler’s not around?”
Robyn closed her eyes, praying that he was at home with Grace. She hadn’t seen him all day. “No. I was hoping he was doing some prep work for the greenhouse. I’ll give him a call. Thanks, Sergio.”
“No problem.”
Robyn pulled out her cell and called Tyler. No answer. She tapped the phone on her thigh, not wanting to call Grace. Swallowing her discomfort, she hit send on Grace’s number, swearing under her breath when it went to voice mail. “Grace, I’m looking for Tyler. Would you just let me know if he’s with you? I’d really appreciate it.”
She was both relieved and annoyed when her phone rang a couple minutes later since it confirmed that Grace was specifically avoiding her call. To let her know that she wasn’t just angling to talk to Grace herself, she launched right into her concern about Tyler. “Sergio just told me that those guys he saw Tyler with in the theater are being held at the sheriff’s office. I’d like to think that Tyler’s smarter than getting himself involved in a burglary, but I haven’t seen him, and he’s not answering his cell.”
She heard Grace take a deep breath. “I’m still at work, so I don’t know if he’s home. Let me call the sheriff’s office and see if they’re holding him.”
“Thanks.”
“Why are you thanking me for checking on my brother?”
“I thought you’d call me when you know. I was thanking you in advance for keeping me in the loop.”
“I’ll call you when I have more information,” she said in her crisp professional voice.
Robyn hit end but couldn’t stop worrying about Tyler so easily. She locked her shop and jogged to the house, grabbing her keys, wallet and a ball cap. By the time Grace called back, she was halfway to Grace’s place. She clicked the phone to speaker. “Is he there?”
“They wouldn’t tell me anything. The guys they have are all in processing.”
“Hang on. I’m almost at your place.” She drove in silence wondering what Grace was thinking and how they had reached a place that felt so awkward. She put the truck in neutral, set the brake and grabbed her phone. At the front door she knocked and waited. She knocked again. “Grace, he’s not answering. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Now what?”
“I’m going to the sheriff’s office. Do you want me to swing by for you?”
“I’ll be on the street.”
“Bring the number you called.” Robyn whipped through the back streets to campus. As she pulled up, she stretched across the cab and rolled down the window. “Can you drive a stick?”
Grace threw up her hands in exasperation. “Of course.”
“Good. Come around.” Parked, she scooted across the cab. “Take the 101 to Eureka. I’ll direct you once we get past the safety corridor.” She punched in the number Grace had handed her and interrupted the man who answered the line. “Is Lieutenant Matute in?” Robyn demanded.
Grace looked at Robyn, confused.
Tipping the receiver above her head, she said. “We go back.”
“Lieutenant Matute here.”
“James, it’s Robyn Landy.”
“Landy! I heard you retired. How the hell are you?”
“I’d love to catch up with you, but I’m calling for a favor first. I hear you picked up a crew of young men today. I’m worried a friend of mine is caught up with them, and I can’t get in touch with him. I’m wondering if you’ve got him there.”
“How’d you hear about it?”
“Your guys called HSU about stolen cameras.”
“Ah, yes. The stuff that we found in one suspect’s car. I had the deputy call Barbara to see if they were really authorized to have them. Give me a minute to see if we’ve got your friend. Name?”
“Tyler Warren.”
“Let me get the deputy to check.”
Robyn relaxed into the seat. “They’re checking,” she said to Grace.
“You’re amazing. Just like that they’ll check for you?”
“We worked some disasters together,” Robyn said. She looked out the window at the row of eucalyptus trees between the highway and the bay. Listening for James’s voice, she tried to keep herself in the present instead of thinking of the cases they had faced together.
“Robyn, he’s not here, but we’re working on it.”
“What do you mean you’re working on it?”
“Is there any way you could come in?”
“We’re en route, just a few minutes out. Why?”
“I’ll update you when you get here.”
“What is it?” Grace asked when Robyn ended the call.
“I don’t know. Something’s up because my friend asked if we could come in. Tyler’s not there, but he said they’re working on it.” She tapped her cell against the palm of her hand.
“Why does he want you?”
“I have no idea. You know as much as I do.”
“Thank you for your help,” Grace said. “I’m still mad at you, though.”
“I gathered.” The silence between them felt heavy. “Jen is gone.”
“Gone? What?”
“She’s still renting the studio space, but she moved out of the room.”
“Her choice or yours?”
“I know it would sound better if it had been my idea, but it was her choice. I don’t know if that makes a difference. Take a right up here and go three blocks. I haven’t listed it. I wanted to talk to you first.”
“How about we get to the station and deal with one thing at a time,” Grace said, evading Robyn’s offering.
Robyn didn’t expect one roommate moving out to solve everything, but she had certainly thought that her news would elicit more of a response. She sensed a longer talk coming. Sometimes the lesbian need to talk everything out ad nauseam wiped her out.