Turn up the Heat

made his delivery and to wait for him there.
    In a crowded, public place with a host of witnesses.

SEVENTEEN

    “ADE? I’m sorry, but I just looked at the time, and I told Josh I’d meet him over at Simmer,” I lied. “Will you be okay now? We got a lot done, I think.”
    “Absolutely. I’m fine. I feel better having put some of this stuff in place. Thanks for your help.”
    I hugged Adrianna and left her to store her stolen cream pitchers and salt shakers. Lord knew what else she had hidden in those boxes! I ran home to get my car. On the way to the restaurant, I called Josh to see whether Owen had arrived with Simmer’s seafood.
    “Nope. He’s late with his delivery. He was supposed to be here earlier, but he just called and said he’d be here within the hour.”
    I contemplated the idea of warning Josh not to be alone with Owen but decided that there was no way Josh would take me seriously. “I want to talk to him,” I said. “If he gets there before I do, do you think you can stall him for a few minutes?”
    “I guess so, but why don’t you just call him yourself and tell him to wait for you?”
    “Because...” I stammered. “I just don’t want to. You might not want to be alone with him.”
    “Why wouldn’t I—”
    “I’ll be there soon.” I hung up.
    By the time I got to Newbury Street, every legal parking spot was taken. I gave up trolling side streets and parked in an expensive lot. I scurried through tourists and shoppers to reach Simmer’s patio, where I immediately saw Naomi with her boyfriend, Eliot, and a beautiful young woman who was, I assumed, Kevin’s crush, Penelope. The three were seated at one of the outdoor tables. I had forgotten my promise to Naomi to stop by for lunch.
    Naomi’s face lit up when she saw me. “Chloe! I’m so glad you can be with us. We’re having a wonderful lunch, and Josh even worked around my dietary needs to create an incredible salad.” She leapt from her seat to swaddle me in her usual hug. “Obviously you know Eliot, but I’d like you meet Penelope, his assistant at the gallery.”
    “Hi, Eliot. Nice to see you.” I shook his hand. Eliot had the most bulging eyes I’d ever seen. His striking combination of bug eyes and frizzed-out hair evidently struck Naomi and me in rather different ways. In her gushy, New Age fashion, she was crazy about him. Penelope, on the other hand, had no peculiar features and was very pretty by anyone’s standards. Her straight brown hair was parted in the middle and fell softly to her shoulders. “Great to meet you, Penelope.” I smiled at her.
    “You, too. Your boyfriend is an excellent chef. Eliot has brought me here quite a few times, and it’s always been just great.”
    Naomi slipped something into my hand. I looked down to see that she’d given me a sample-size bottle with a label that read Intimate Oil with Nutmeg and Tangerine. I shuddered and dropped the gift into my purse. “Thanks.”
    Blythe appeared at the table to clear the plates. “Hi, Chloe. Josh said you were coming by. You can go right into the kitchen if you’d like.” She turned to her customers. “Can I get you some dessert and coffee?”
    I quickly apologized to Naomi. “I have to go see Josh, but I’ll try to come sit down after.” I rushed off before anyone could protest. I was just about to push open the door to Simmer’s interior when Kevin opened it for me, said hello, and eagerly moved past me to Penelope’s table. For his sake, I hoped that she returned his crush.
    Simmer’s dining room was almost empty. It was nearly three o’clock: the lunch rush was over. When I found Josh in the kitchen, he immediately shot me a quizzical look.
    “What was your phone call all about? Why shouldn’t I be alone with Owen?” Then his mouth dropped open in disbelief. “Chloe, don’t even try to tell me that you think he has something to do with Leandra’s murder!”
    “Okay, just listen! I know it sounds crazy,” I agreed. I pulled Josh into the office, dropped my purse onto a chair, and explained my two theories. Josh dismissed the first one: he thought that it was unlikely that Leandra had known anything about Owen’s lying binge. Then I moved on to the second theory. I began by describing the things that Adrianna had taken from hotels and restaurants, and I went on to point out Owen’s possible motive for killing Leandra: she could have threatened to report Adrianna to Gavin or, worse, to the police. “Owen or