“Most, thankfully, aren’t doing this move,” Maggie responded. “Planes are constantly flying from here to New York, and the internet is even faster. We’ll figure out how to make things happen here as well as there. It’s just going to take a lot more planning.” Maggie gestured with her fork. “I speak from experience, Evie—relationships can handle a significant amount of travel and still stay bound together. But it’s meals like this, time spent actually together that the phone and texting can’t replicate. I love the work I do, but if it costs me too many evenings with David, it’s asking too much.”
Evie understood where Maggie was coming from, thinking of the recent meal with Rob. “Then I wish you both many more evenings like this one, and I’m glad the two of you are returning to Chicago. I’ve really enjoyed working with David.”
“He’s like you, Evie, he loves solving real-life mysteries. He likes being a cop.”
“A fact I’m grateful for. His input’s been invaluable on my case.”
“You two are getting awfully close to shoptalk,” David cautioned, picking up his plate. “I found ice cream for dessert. Sundae or milk shake? What’s it to be?”
He ended up fixing three milk shakes. “So what’s the biggest, heaviest item I can deal with, Maggie?” he asked as they finished the shakes.
“Greg promised to put the music room equipment together, get it all connected and working properly. You want to tackle setting up the planters and lights for my herb garden? I’m thinking that south wall in the mudroom gets decent sunlight and would be a perfect place for it. It’s also close to the kitchen.”
“I can handle that,” David said.
“The boxes are in the garage,” Maggie told him. “Meanwhile, Evie and I are going to go finish unboxing and hanging the gowns.”
Their evening wrapped up an hour later when David caught Maggie’s yawn. “You’re starting to fade,” he teased, rubbing her back. He’d joined them upstairs when he finished his task and had started unpacking her books. “Those on East Coast time need to call it a day.”
Maggie walked with them to the front door. “Thank you for coming with David, Evie,” she said with a hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“It was nice meeting you, Maggie.” Evie stepped out to the car to give the two a few minutes for a private good-night. She envied them the ease and comfort they had with each other.
David slid into the driver’s seat, started the car.
“You have a very nice girlfriend.”
“Thanks,” David said. “I’ll get a chance to meet Rob tomorrow?”
“And his parents.”
“Don’t fret too much on that score, Evie. They’ll eventually warm to you.” He smiled. “I find you’re hard to resist.”
“Let’s hope that’s not just optimism. Maggie, now—in spite of the commotion from her move—seems ready for tomorrow night.”
“The songs she’s been asked to sing are longtime favorites, so it’s less stressful than working in new material. But she’s very aware the mayor is hosting this, and the room will be filled with society types. She’ll be glad when her part is over.”
“Rob’s going to want to introduce me to several of those people.”
He grinned. “I imagine you’ll survive the evening too, Evie.”
He drove them back to the office park and pulled in beside her car. “If you’re going inside to work, I’ll come in with you.”
Evie considered that, reached for a quarter in the change dish. It was just after nine p.m. so either would work for her. “You call it, we work another hour, otherwise it’s the hotel.”
He nodded. She flipped the quarter and he called “Heads” as it dropped to the floor. He turned on the overhead light so they could see it. “Heads.”
Evie scooped up the quarter, put it back, and pushed open her door. “I don’t mind working at night. I find my ideas are more . . . free form.”
“And I’m willing to put in the hours, because it’s the only way this thing gets finished. With a case like this one, you push until it’s figured out.”
“How very true, David.”
He locked the car, and they headed inside.
Eighteen
Evie had been looking through Jenna’s albums and scrapbooks earlier, particularly at the photos of guys. The materials were still spread across the desk, and she turned her attention to the girls. She’d interviewed most of Jenna’s girlfriends—all those from the group at the concert that night, several more from shared classes. But there were always one or two more who might know something, those on the periphery of her inner circle. Even interviewing the boyfriends of those in that outer circle might lead somewhere useful.