AFTER CATCHING UP with a backlog of orders, Benno looked around the room and caught Martha and Brickman at a table for two. He couldn’t resist approaching and giving them a hard time.
“I didn’t know you two were an item.”
“You have a problem with that?” Brickman asked.
Benno looked directly at Martha who wasn’t dressed with her usual panache. The biker’s jacket was in direct contrast to her strapless dress.
“No problem,” he answered. “Not as long as it doesn’t interfere with your work... and judgement.”
Martha’s face grew red and pinched looking. “How dare you imply–”
”I’m not implying anything. I’m saying I don’t believe you’d attach yourself to a man of little means.” He gave the lawman a searching look. “No offense, Brickman, but you have to admit your date has a prime motive for murder, and therefore a motive for cozying up with the law.”
“That’s enough, DeMartino,” Brickman growled.
Benno backed off. “I can take a hint. You two enjoy your evening now.”
“Brick, I told you this was a bad idea,” Martha said in a low tone. “I want out of here.”
Benno eyed Sydney’s corner table and was surprised to see it occupied by a couple of locals. He’d glanced her way often enough while working, but hadn’t noticed she was gone until now. His gaze skimmed the rest of the room. No Sydney. She wasn’t at the bar talking to Poppy, either. His barmaid was alone, flipping a couple of burgers on the grill.
Approaching Poppy, he asked, “Have you seen Sydney?”
“She’s not here. Couldn’t stand your singing, I guess.”
Worry made him ignore her teasing. “And you just let her leave?”
Poppy seemed startled. “I didn’t know I was supposed to be her jailer.”
“Where did she go?”
“How am I supposed to know? She left right after Martha Lord waltzed in here with Brick. Boy, I wonder what he wants with a tramp like her.” She flashed the couple in question a resentful look. “Stupid question,” she muttered.
Not about to get involved in a conversation about Poppy’s ex-husband, Benno said, “Hold down the fort for a while, would you? I have to go after Sydney before she gets herself into trouble.”
“Oh, no, you’re not leaving me to run this place by myself again.”
“You’re terrific,” he assured her, already on his way. “We’ll talk raise tomorrow.”
“A major raise,” Poppy added loudly.
As he dashed to the door, Benno almost ran into Martha.
“Watch where you’re going,” she said, jumping back.
Benno circled her and kept going. Before exiting, he glanced over his shoulder and realized Martha was staring after him. And Brickman was nowhere in sight. Had she been listening to his conversation with Poppy? Even if she had, Martha couldn’t possibly know where he thought Sydney had gone.
He raced down to the corner where he’d left his Thunderbird. The full moon was bright in a cloudless sky, the rising winds the only indication the weather might turn during the night. Getting into his car, Benno hoped against hope that Sydney hadn’t gone back to the Lord house.
He checked his cottage first, calling her name and checking every room. No Sydney. The Lord house was a safe bet. He couldn’t understand why she would go there alone. Surely she recognized the possible danger.
Afraid he was already too late, he gunned the accelerator and turned the Thunderbird toward the house on the cliff.