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Cameron’s boyfriend Milton arrived a short time after Danny and the Colonel left. He wrapped her in a loving embrace accompanied by a long hello kiss. Then he held her at arm’s length and gave her the “once-over.”
“Hey, darlin’, you look a little tired. Are you feeling okay?”
She assured him she was fine. “I’ll just get my jacket and we can be on our way. I’ll fill you in on what’s been happening while we’re in the car. I know I asked to go somewhere upscale and active, so what’s on the agenda?”
He smiled at her, then helped her on with her jacket. “Oh, you’ll like this place. It’s new and everyone is talking about it. We have a nine o’clock reservation, so we’ll just about make it.”
“Beverly Hills?”
“Nope, Manhattan Beach. The financial partner is one of your favorites—Van Martin. They only opened a few weeks ago and he’s been at the restaurant every night. His working partner is a young guy he discovered working as a dining room manager right here in Venice. The kid has a personality like a magnet and just the right touch with celebrities. Ha. I say kid, but he’s about thirty-five. To me, that’s a kid. Anyway, Van was a regular at that restaurant and was really impressed. If I gave you the name of the restaurant, you would know in a heartbeat who it is, but I want it to be a surprise. Van has great instincts. I guess he got the idea of teaming up with him to open a place because he was pretty sure it would be fun with good food. You’ll see. People in the business can hang out here without being gawked at. Anyway, with Van’s money and the kid’s personality it can’t miss.”
“Sounds like just the right thing for tonight. So, the only clue is we’ve been to the restaurant where the kid worked. We’ve eaten on Abbot Kinney so many times. I need more.”
Milt answered in a single word. “Nope. My lips are sealed.”
They walked to Milt’s car which was parked behind Cameron’s garage. He opened the door for her with a flourish. A shudder coursed through her body as she slid into the seat. Although the alley behind her house was quiet, with the Shady incident fresh in her mind she felt a little nervous.
“Okay,” Milt said, “You know how hard it is for me to keep any secrets from you. The partner is Jaden from Marco’s.”
She squealed with delight. “Jaden? Oh my God. I love that guy.”
“So does everyone. That’s why Van made him a partner instead of just trying to hire him. Van said Jaden has had so many offers from so many restaurant owners that he wanted to make sure no one would pirate him away. Smart move.”
Milt turned onto Washington, then headed to the 405 Freeway. Traffic had calmed down, so they were able to travel at a reasonable speed. Cameron settled back in the seat and closed her eyes, vowing to tell Milt about the crisis in their neighborhood in a rational way. Not in the disjointed sentences of her earlier conversation with Kate.
He made a little small talk and then asked about what had her looking tired.
“I know you don’t like me being involved in anything dangerous. I swear, I didn’t go looking for this. It just happened.”
The concern in Milt’s voice was obvious. “This? What kind of a this? What happened? Are you alright?”
Struggling to keep her voice level she said, “No. Don’t worry. I’m fine. Just a little exhausted. You know we had the HOA Board meeting last night. Well, Al Shady didn’t show up and his wife was concerned so she left early to check on him. When the meeting was over, we still hadn’t heard anything from either of them. The Colonel brought one of our neighbors to the meeting and we all walked home together. He’s a former FBI guy turned author. Danny Garrett. Ever heard of him?”
“Sure. Good writer. I didn’t know he lived here. Go on.”
“We passed their house and decided to check on them to make sure everything was okay. It wasn’t. The front door was ajar and the place looked like it was ransacked. Both of the Shadys are missing and the cops are on it. Danny is trying to find out what the cops know, and Kate is coming in tomorrow.” She left out the part about the blood.
Trying to sound positive, Cameron said, “So, that’s it.”
“That’s plenty. You will be staying out of it, won’t you? After all, you said the cops are on it.”
“Um, I wish I could say I am, but you know I won’t lie to you. Danny thinks the scene was staged and something isn’t right. Kate said it sounded that way to her, too, but the cops don’t seem to think so. The four of us—the Colonel, Danny, Kate and me—are going to put our heads together tomorrow night. I promise I won’t put myself in danger.”
Milt didn’t say anything for a few minutes. Then he said, “Was Kate coming down anyway, or did you ask her to? And, this Al Shady, does he happen to be a doctor?”
“She actually does have business here. To answer your question, she was planning to come anyway, so now she’s just coming a few days early. And, as a matter of fact, Shady does happen to be a retired doctor. Orthopedist. Why? Did you ever go to him?”
“No, just asking. That’s all. The name sounded familiar. Maybe one of my clients was a patient of his. Shady isn’t a last name you hear that often, so you remember it. Hell of a name for a doctor.” He chuckled. “Like a dentist I had once named Dr. Payne. He was good, but I almost didn’t go to him because of that last name. Fine thing for a dentist to be named Payne. I would have changed it.”
Cameron’s anxiety slowed down and she looked forward to the new restaurant and seeing Jaden. Milt always had the ability to relax her. A few minutes before nine they pulled into the parking lot of Van’s Place. The valet took Milt’s new Ferrari with a promise to treat it like a baby. Tantalizing aromas greeted them as soon as Milt opened the door to the new restaurant. None of the popular contemporary minimalist feeling was in sight. Deep red leather booths surrounded by walnut dividers with leaded glass inserts, patterned carpeting on the floor set the mood of old supper clubs of the fifties or sixties. Sinatra played in the background.
“This is amazing. I didn’t know places like this still existed, unless it’s an old timer like Musso Franks up in Hollywood. What a great place to kick back and relax. I feel like I’ve just entered a time warp. My darling Milt. You always pick the right thing.” A quick glance around the room left no doubt it was filled to capacity. Cameron spotted several familiar faces.
“Anything for you, Sweetie. Good thing I have some influence, because they were booked solid. Van said it’s been like that from the day they opened. That Jaden has quite a following.”
Jaden appeared out of nowhere with a broad smile lighting his boyish face. “Mr. Rosenthal, Miss Harsen, I saw your name on the reservations. So glad to see you.”
His magnetic personality was on full display. Gone was the ponytail he wore at Marco’s even after ponytails were out of style. Instead he sported a shaved head and an Armani suit. A small gold earring added to the look. The boy had grown into a man. His ocean blue eyes twinkled with sincere friendship.
“Follow me. I have one of the best booths in the house for you. Van will be over soon to say hi.” Then he broke the formality and spoke with the excitement of a young man. “I am so jazzed. I never thought I’d be a partner in my own restaurant. Had to share that with you.”
Cameron smiled at him. “Jaden, you are just what the doctor ordered tonight. So happy to see you getting what you deserve.”
In no time a server dressed in black topped by a black floor length apron brought a bottle of excellent wine. “Compliments of Mr. Martin. Welcome to Van’s Place.”