CHAPTER

sixteen

ACCORDING TO PRINCIPAL Lewis, Scott Reed’s hotel was located down the street from the school. It took me a quick Google search to map out the directions to Angelic Suites.

I arrived to find a three-story taupe building. It reminded me more of an office building than a hotel.

Inside, the lobby felt tiny. I only had to walk a few feet from the entrance before running smack dab into the front counter. A middle-aged man stood behind it. He wore a fraying white dress shirt with its sleeves rolled up. And no wonder because it didn’t feel like the AC worked in here. The whirring ceiling fans above made half-hearted turns to push around the warm air.

The man smiled at me and said, “Welcome to my wonderful hotel, the Angelic Suites. Are you here to check in?”

I shook my head. “I’m trying to find one of your guests, Mr. Scott Reed.”

“Yes, a fine gentleman. I know all my guests by name. Unfortunately, he’s stepped out. Would you care to leave him a message?”

He pushed some stationery across the counter toward me. A simple notepad with the hotel name printed in golden script and an accompanying cartoon cherub.

The owner positioned a ballpoint pen on top of the pad. What should I write to Helen’s father? I’d never actually met him except for seeing him across the schoolyard yelling at the principal, and that didn’t quite count. Besides, I couldn’t give him a note asking for details about his daughter’s funeral service.

I returned the paper and pen. “Do you know when Mr. Reed will return?”

The owner spread his hands in the air. “I’m sorry, miss, but he didn’t say.”

“It’s just that I need to speak with him about something important.” I drummed my fingers against the counter. “I had hoped to see him before he left the country.”

The owner blinked at me. “You’ll definitely have another chance. He’s already paid for the entire month, a discounted rate. And, of course, he’ll be at the upcoming crafts convention.”

“Excuse me?”

The owner reached under the counter and gave me a glossy flyer. It outlined the details of the event, to be held in a few days’ time at the hotel. The convention would feature a bazaar of international handmade goods.

“Did Mr. Reed say he’ll be attending?”

“Oh, yes. He’s going to sell his merchandise at one of the booths.”

“Excellent.” I made sure to put the date and time on my phone’s calendar app, paired with an alert, to remind me of the event.


After picking up Marshmallow and Nimbus from home, I arrived at Hollywoof late. Thankfully, I’d left Nicola a set of spare keys for emergency’s sake, and she’d already opened up the shop.

I had just settled the cats in their usual sunny spot when I saw my sister in the shadows of the interior hallway.

I turned to Nicola, who sat behind the cash register, flipping through an Us Weekly magazine. “Did you let Alice in?”

“Yep. Found your sister pacing outside the front of the store.” She returned to studying her celebrity gossip.

Alice made her way over and grasped my hands in hers. “Please let me stay, Mimi. I’ve already cleaned the grooming tables with disinfecting wipes. I can be helpful here.”

“You want to work at Hollywoof for the day?” I scrunched my nose at her nice blouse and slacks, but I also took in her bright eyes and eager look.

“Yes, please,” she said. “It’s so weird not being able to teach and having to stay home. I can’t stand just sitting around, especially knowing why I’m not at work.”

Marshmallow curled into an even tighter spiral in his sunny spot. “Mmm, lounging around all day sounds like the good life.”

Ten minutes later, a woman with big hair that fanned around her face walked in with her Afghan hound. She approached the register and said, “I want to drop Belle off for a co-wash. Do you do those at your salon?”

Nicola snuck a puzzled glance at me, but I hadn’t understood the lady, either.

I introduced myself as the owner of Hollywoof and asked the customer, “How can we help you exactly?”

“Belle needs a wash,” the woman said. “A no-poo.”

I stifled a giggle.

She continued, “Conditioner only.”

I nodded. “Ah, I see. A co-wash.”

The woman touched her own voluminous hair. “It works wonders on my tresses.”

“Why, of course we can do it.”

“Perfect. I have my own hair appointment soon, so I’ll get going. Toodles,” the woman said and handed over Belle’s leash.

After the woman left, Nicola gestured to the price chart. “What should I charge her? We don’t even have that service listed.”

“Call it a wash-and-dry. It’s about the same amount of work—minus the shampoo.” I took Belle to the back room, and Alice followed me.

While we filled the industrial-size sink with water, my sister and I chatted.

“Must be nice being your own boss,” Alice said over the gushing noise of the faucet. “Always coming in—or not—whenever you want.”

“Very funny,” I said. “For your information, I went to see Principal Lewis this morning.”

Her eyes sought mine. “To find out about the funeral? When is it?”

I turned off the water and checked its temperature. “Not sure. I need to touch base with Mr. Reed directly to get the info.”

Alice helped me place Belle in the warm water. I made sure to cover the dog’s ear canals with cotton as a precaution.

As I lathered Belle with an oatmeal coat conditioner, I asked, “Can you tell me about the dynamics between Jessie and Helen?”

“What do you want to know?” Alice made sure I conditioned every inch of Belle’s fur.

“Seems like Jessie and Helen were pitted against each other for the Teacher of the Year Award. No ill will there?”

Alice cocked her head at me. “Who makes a fuss over a plaque and getting your name plastered on the school’s bulletin board?”

“Not everyone’s like you.” Turning on the spray nozzle, I started rinsing off Belle. “Do you know that Jessie’s license plate translates to ‘Number 1 Teacher’?”

“She does like being the center of attention,” Alice said. “Jessie still tells people about being voted prom queen in high school.”

I murmured, “She must have a competitive streak.”

“I think she liked standing out in her small town.” Alice named some tiny place in Central California I’d seen maybe once on a map.

“Big fish in a little pond.”

“Right. She said she came to L.A. for better opportunities.”

We carried Belle, who’d started shivering, to the metal table and hooked up her leash. Then I used the high-velocity dryer to finish grooming the pooch and warm her up.

I brushed her long fur until it shone. “Not too shabby, if I say so myself.”

“She looks beautiful.” Alice stroked Belle. “Like she’s ready for a night on the town.”

“Speaking of which, have you started planning the Ultimate Date Night for Ma and Dad?”

“Uh-huh. Just this morning, I called Roti Palace to check their prices.”

“Great.” I unhooked Belle from the table. “And how are we going to make their schedules mesh?”

“I’m on it,” Alice said, as we returned to the main room. “Dad’s always back by dinner, so I just need to convince Ma not to go to mah jong club that evening.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it all under control, but let me know if you need any help.” Similar to me, Alice liked handling tasks on her own—sometimes to her detriment—but at least I’d put out an offer of assistance.