Cherry Two

Part 18

Chapter 16

They stayed at the Bay Park Hotel on Munras Avenue, only minutes by car from the small Pebble Beach cemetery that had sent chills up Calley's spine. Alain still intended to place a fresh wreath on his aunt's grave before returning to LA. Sonia would appreciate the gesture and probably ask if it had been done.

During the drive back from Salinas police headquarters Calley had gone quiet and brooding, hardly uttering a word to Alain. He took her directly to the hotel's Crazy Horse Restaurant where they ate lunch, again in relative silence. Only after coffee had been served did she begin to communicate.

Calley stirred the latte with slow deliberation, hardly looking into Alain's face. "Did I embarrass you in there with that detective?"

Alain gave a shrug. "You want answers to questions that may not have answers—at least not the kind you want to hear. Like the detective said, 'there's nothing left to solve.' Virtually all the people Mom and Calley knew have moved away from this area. At some point you must accept Aunt Calley's murder has become history."

That prompted a fast reaction from the girl. "But there is an answer. I know there is," she snapped while dropping the spoon. "Can't you feel it?"

He stared back into her flaring face. "Calley... what is it I'm supposed to feel? Ever since the cemetery you've changed. Try to tell me what happened in that place."

Again her eyes turned downcast. "You'll think I'm stupid. I felt it before... in England. She pulled me here for a reason. Every time I looked at Dad's photographs I could feel Calley reaching out—begging for someone to try."

"Try what? Calley... make sense." Apprehension elevated Alain's voice.

The teenager got up quickly and walked away from table to the picture window that looked out on Carmel Bay. Alain gestured to the concerned waiter that everything was fine then went over to where Calley stood in dire frustration. He placed an arm around her shoulder.

"Calley spoke to me. He's here, Alain—the man that killed her is here somewhere," she said between emotional gasps. "They're all wrong—your father, the detectives, the lawyers—all of them, WRONG."

Other patrons started to turn in their seats to look at the emotional girl.

"Okay, calm down. Come on back to the table. We can talk about it quietly."

She turned. "You do think I'm a stupid, immature little bitch, don't you?"

He drew her tighter. "I think you're the most attractive girl I have ever seen. And it's not just me. You don't look exactly like Calley, but it's damn close. With everyone so overwhelmed by the likeness it must seem as if you've... become her in some way."

Seated again, Calley tried to laugh between sips of coffee. "Well I'll be off home in ten more days. Bet that will be a big relief to all concerned."

Alain looked at her through serious, half-closed eyes. "Why would I want to see you gone? You're quirky, funny, impressionable, and so very sexy. I want to see all of you I can."

She bit down on her lower lip. "But you don't want to have me? Why else would you book us separate rooms? When I came on to you at the beach something made you stop." Her face began to redden slightly. "I felt attracted to you the first day. Of course you're a man. I know I'm still fifteen. What did your brother call it—jailbait or something?"

Alain laughed. "No, that was me. Kent spends all his days trying to get girls out of their bikinis and into bed—any age girls. You blew him off. Now it's sour grapes time."