Solvang
Part 6
gagengirl entertainment
I tapped twice on the top of the Dr. Pepper can before opening it. Taking two big sips first, I set it on the counter and started putting lunches together. Cottage cheese, an apple, and celery sticks for Etta. Bologna with ketchup sandwich, grapes, and baby carrots for Rafe.
Their lunches were done when Pablo entered the kitchen. “You’re up early.”
I nodded. I couldn’t sleep. “I expect this morning will be a little more hectic.”
“So what are your plans for today?”
“Get the kids to school. Get Avianna off to work. And resume my search for Chef.”
He pulled me into his arms. “Be careful, okay?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
“If he is hiding from whoever took the dogs from Avianna’s place…”
“I know. But I have to find him if I want to find the dogs.”
He held me tight. “But this is starting to feel more dangerous than…”
I gave him a hug before pulling away. “We live in Solvang. Not that crimes don’t happen here…”
“Like stealing a dog?”
I ignored him. “I lived in Los Angeles for the first twenty-five years of my life. And the last five of those I was on my own. I can take care of myself.”
“You had your brother.”
“He was off burning bridges most of the time. I was on my own. Let’s not talk about him right now.” I shook my head, trying to stay focused. “It’s Thursday. The kids have early dismissal at one o’clock. Do you think you can pick them up?”
Pablo looked at me, worry creeping in. “I can. I can bring them to The Elskede after school’s out.”
If they were together, I wouldn’t have to worry about them as much. It worked perfectly. I gulped down the rest of the soda, knowing I’d regret it later. “Can you help me get them moving before you leave?”
He nodded. “Of course. I’ll get them up and you can let the dogs out.”
Letting the dogs out into the backyard, I stepped out with them. I didn’t want to leave them out alone, just in case whoever took the dogs decided to come after mine. About ten minutes later, I stepped back in with them and found Rafe, Etta, and Avianna sitting at the breakfast bar. They were eating breakfast. Was that oatmeal? It sure looked like it.
Pablo was at the stove scooping the last of it into a bowl that he handed me. “Breakfast?”
“Thank you.” I stood while I ate, surprised the kids were eating it without complaining. Then I realized Pablo made it. That was why they were quiet.
Etta finished her breakfast first. “I’m still thinking about it, in case you were wondering.” She left to finish getting ready for school.
Rafe rolled his eyes at her statement and focused on his breakfast.
I glanced at the clock. “You have about ten minutes before we need to leave.”
Rafe finished eating and remained at the counter. “What’s going on?” He pointed at Avianna. “Why is she here?”
“Rafe, that’s not very nice.”
Pablo intervened. “She had a bad day and needed a friend. You understand how that feels, don’t you?”
He slowly pulled himself to his feet. “Yes. But I think there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“You’re nine. Of course there are things we don’t tell you.” Pablo shook his head. “Get going.”
Rafe rolled his eyes before finally heading down to his room to finish getting ready.
Avianna pushed her empty bowl away and buried her face in her arms, mumbling something I didn’t understand. Then, she picked her head up and looked at us. “I guess I should head back to my place and get ready for work.”
“Can you stay until I get back?”
She nodded. “Sure. I can stay here.” She smiled. I guessed she felt safer in our home.
About half an hour later, I was sitting down at the breakfast bar with her. The kids were at school and Pablo was on his way to The Elskede. “If you want, you can get ready here.” We were the same height, but I was probably about twenty pounds heavier. My clothes would be loose on her.
“But my clothes are back at my place.”
“You could borrow a shirt, a pair of pants.”
She nodded. “I’d appreciate that.”
“I just have one request. Do you have a key to Chef’s apartment?”
“Do you think I didn’t already look for him there?”
“I’m sure you did. But you were looking for him. I’m looking for a clue as to where he might have gone.”
“Remind me before I leave.”
After she left, I took a quick shower and squeezed into another pair of jeans. I wasn’t sure what I wanted rubbing against my new tattoo, so I chose a white tank top and one of Pablo’s shirts to wear over it. My shoulder was a little tender, but I had to ignore it.
Avianna had left the key to Pablo’s apartment on the kitchen counter, so I made sure to grab it before leaving. It took me about ten minutes to drive to his apartment, find a place to park, and let myself in.
I half expected to find him hiding in his apartment. But of course he wasn’t there. I took a quick look around, making certain no one was there. Certain of that, I searched his small living room for the menus. Then, I searched the small bedroom.
Finding no sign of the menus, I was disappointed. I was so certain I’d find them. I took a step back and inspected the room as if I were describing it in a story. Chef’s burnt orange couch overwhelmed the living room. His cheap walnut-colored coffee table was mostly bare, except for the pictures of him and Avianna…
It took me a minute to realize the pictures weren’t of him and Avianna. The girl was shorter, with curly dark brown hair like Chef. The girl had to be a relative. A sister? How did we not know he had a sister? She was younger than him, probably college-age…
I pulled out my phone with a theory and googled UCSB tuition. The odd amount he had tried to get from Tania and Jorge plus the amount Avianna had given him added up about to the cost of one semester or trimester or quarter or whatever they wanted to call it. He borrowed money to pay for his sister’s education.
But who did he borrow it from?
And how did we not know he had a sister?
And why didn’t he ask me for the money? I would have helped.
With the new information, I searched his place for a college schedule. There was a good chance he’d have a copy of his sister’s schedule if he was paying for it. And I was right. It was in the drawer of his nightstand.
I snapped a photo of it with my phone and left it where it was. Putting my phone away, I could breathe a little. He didn’t borrow the money for anything illegal.
I locked his apartment on my way out.
“Ms. Michaels?”
I froze as my heartbeat sped up. Solvang was a small town. I didn’t know everyone, but it was hard to go around unnoticed for too long. I slowly turned around, hoping it wasn’t a Sheriff’s Deputy. It was worse.
He was about six-four, by my guess. His blonde hair had a military-style cut, but I knew he wasn’t military. His blue eyes shot ice into my heart. Gus Hobbs.
I tried to slow my breathing so I wouldn’t panic. “I think you have me mistaken. I’m Mrs. Hoffman.”
He smiled at me. “I know who you are. Felicia Michaels. Felicity Hoffman. I don’t know why you also changed your first name when you got married.”
Swallowing hard, I focused on my breathing, which seemed to keep my heart from jumping out of my chest. “Okay, so you know who I am. But I don’t know…”
“You want to know how I can tell you’re lying?”
I shook my head, feeling like it was about to explode. My ears were ringing and I thought I was about to faint.
“My boss would like a word with you.”
Just breathe, I tried to tell myself. Just…
I couldn’t tell how much time had passed between the moment I blacked out and the moment I woke up in the backseat of an SUV. It was comfy, but I knew it was an illusion. I tried to sit up but my head warned me not to. I checked the time on my watch and was surprised to find only a couple minutes had passed.
Then I noticed the door was open. I tried again to sit up and found Gus Hobbs standing by the door. He handed me a bottle of water.
“What’s in this?”
“Water. Are you okay? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?”
I took the water and took a sip. It tasted like normal water. Hoping he hadn’t slipped anything in it, I took a few long chugs of it. It had been over nine years since my last panic attack. I just needed a few minutes.
“Do you need sugar? Are you diabetic?”
I shook my head. “I’m okay.”
“Are you up for a drive?”
“Umm…” I didn’t think I really had an option.
“You can rest in the backseat if you’d like. It’s a short drive and I can bring you back here.”
“Okay?” I buckled my seatbelt as he closed the door. It was definitely not the reaction I was expecting from the notorious Gus Hobbs.
He was a known enforcer or fixer. And I was a passenger in his backseat. Still feeling dizzy, I rested my head in my hands during the drive. I was on my way to a meeting with his boss.
His boss was Pearl Tarkey. She had been married to Howard Tarkey, a notorious con artist. He had managed to con his way out of three convictions and two additional indictments.
I knew from various articles written about him that he had grown up in Buellton. And after conning his way out of that last conviction, Howard and Pearl moved out of Los Angeles. They settled down in Solvang. He died of a heart attack a year later.
After his death, and about a month after I’d moved to Solvang to marry Pablo, I had been asked to write a screenplay about him. The studio wanted a script about his last trial and how he had managed to escape conviction. I had interviewed one of the FBI agents who had worked the case. I tried to interview Pearl Tarkey, but she denied my request. So, the script was very one-sided. It opened number one at the box office and earned the actor who played the FBI agent multiple nominations.
Pearl Tarkey couldn’t have been happy with the way her husband had been portrayed. After his death, she lived a relatively quiet life. But she was known to be an unlicensed loan officer.
That’s when it hit me. Chef borrowed the money from Pearl Tarkey. If I got out of this meeting without injury, I was going to kill him myself when I found him.
Solvang
Part 6
gagengirl entertainment
I tapped twice on the top of the Dr. Pepper can before opening it. Taking two big sips first, I set it on the counter and started putting lunches together. Cottage cheese, an apple, and celery sticks for Etta. Bologna with ketchup sandwich, grapes, and baby carrots for Rafe.
Their lunches were done when Pablo entered the kitchen. “You’re up early.”
I nodded. I couldn’t sleep. “I expect this morning will be a little more hectic.”
“So what are your plans for today?”
“Get the kids to school. Get Avianna off to work. And resume my search for Chef.”
He pulled me into his arms. “Be careful, okay?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
“If he is hiding from whoever took the dogs from Avianna’s place…”
“I know. But I have to find him if I want to find the dogs.”
He held me tight. “But this is starting to feel more dangerous than…”
I gave him a hug before pulling away. “We live in Solvang. Not that crimes don’t happen here…”
“Like stealing a dog?”
I ignored him. “I lived in Los Angeles for the first twenty-five years of my life. And the last five of those I was on my own. I can take care of myself.”
“You had your brother.”
“He was off burning bridges most of the time. I was on my own. Let’s not talk about him right now.” I shook my head, trying to stay focused. “It’s Thursday. The kids have early dismissal at one o’clock. Do you think you can pick them up?”
Pablo looked at me, worry creeping in. “I can. I can bring them to The Elskede after school’s out.”
If they were together, I wouldn’t have to worry about them as much. It worked perfectly. I gulped down the rest of the soda, knowing I’d regret it later. “Can you help me get them moving before you leave?”
He nodded. “Of course. I’ll get them up and you can let the dogs out.”
Letting the dogs out into the backyard, I stepped out with them. I didn’t want to leave them out alone, just in case whoever took the dogs decided to come after mine. About ten minutes later, I stepped back in with them and found Rafe, Etta, and Avianna sitting at the breakfast bar. They were eating breakfast. Was that oatmeal? It sure looked like it.
Pablo was at the stove scooping the last of it into a bowl that he handed me. “Breakfast?”
“Thank you.” I stood while I ate, surprised the kids were eating it without complaining. Then I realized Pablo made it. That was why they were quiet.
Etta finished her breakfast first. “I’m still thinking about it, in case you were wondering.” She left to finish getting ready for school.
Rafe rolled his eyes at her statement and focused on his breakfast.
I glanced at the clock. “You have about ten minutes before we need to leave.”
Rafe finished eating and remained at the counter. “What’s going on?” He pointed at Avianna. “Why is she here?”
“Rafe, that’s not very nice.”
Pablo intervened. “She had a bad day and needed a friend. You understand how that feels, don’t you?”
He slowly pulled himself to his feet. “Yes. But I think there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“You’re nine. Of course there are things we don’t tell you.” Pablo shook his head. “Get going.”
Rafe rolled his eyes before finally heading down to his room to finish getting ready.
Avianna pushed her empty bowl away and buried her face in her arms, mumbling something I didn’t understand. Then, she picked her head up and looked at us. “I guess I should head back to my place and get ready for work.”
“Can you stay until I get back?”
She nodded. “Sure. I can stay here.” She smiled. I guessed she felt safer in our home.
About half an hour later, I was sitting down at the breakfast bar with her. The kids were at school and Pablo was on his way to The Elskede. “If you want, you can get ready here.” We were the same height, but I was probably about twenty pounds heavier. My clothes would be loose on her.
“But my clothes are back at my place.”
“You could borrow a shirt, a pair of pants.”
She nodded. “I’d appreciate that.”
“I just have one request. Do you have a key to Chef’s apartment?”
“Do you think I didn’t already look for him there?”
“I’m sure you did. But you were looking for him. I’m looking for a clue as to where he might have gone.”
“Remind me before I leave.”
After she left, I took a quick shower and squeezed into another pair of jeans. I wasn’t sure what I wanted rubbing against my new tattoo, so I chose a white tank top and one of Pablo’s shirts to wear over it. My shoulder was a little tender, but I had to ignore it.
Avianna had left the key to Pablo’s apartment on the kitchen counter, so I made sure to grab it before leaving. It took me about ten minutes to drive to his apartment, find a place to park, and let myself in.
I half expected to find him hiding in his apartment. But of course he wasn’t there. I took a quick look around, making certain no one was there. Certain of that, I searched his small living room for the menus. Then, I searched the small bedroom.
Finding no sign of the menus, I was disappointed. I was so certain I’d find them. I took a step back and inspected the room as if I were describing it in a story. Chef’s burnt orange couch overwhelmed the living room. His cheap walnut-colored coffee table was mostly bare, except for the pictures of him and Avianna…
It took me a minute to realize the pictures weren’t of him and Avianna. The girl was shorter, with curly dark brown hair like Chef. The girl had to be a relative. A sister? How did we not know he had a sister? She was younger than him, probably college-age…
I pulled out my phone with a theory and googled UCSB tuition. The odd amount he had tried to get from Tania and Jorge plus the amount Avianna had given him added up about to the cost of one semester or trimester or quarter or whatever they wanted to call it. He borrowed money to pay for his sister’s education.
But who did he borrow it from?
And how did we not know he had a sister?
And why didn’t he ask me for the money? I would have helped.
With the new information, I searched his place for a college schedule. There was a good chance he’d have a copy of his sister’s schedule if he was paying for it. And I was right. It was in the drawer of his nightstand.
I snapped a photo of it with my phone and left it where it was. Putting my phone away, I could breathe a little. He didn’t borrow the money for anything illegal.
I locked his apartment on my way out.
“Ms. Michaels?”
I froze as my heartbeat sped up. Solvang was a small town. I didn’t know everyone, but it was hard to go around unnoticed for too long. I slowly turned around, hoping it wasn’t a Sheriff’s Deputy. It was worse.
He was about six-four, by my guess. His blonde hair had a military-style cut, but I knew he wasn’t military. His blue eyes shot ice into my heart. Gus Hobbs.
I tried to slow my breathing so I wouldn’t panic. “I think you have me mistaken. I’m Mrs. Hoffman.”
He smiled at me. “I know who you are. Felicia Michaels. Felicity Hoffman. I don’t know why you also changed your first name when you got married.”
Swallowing hard, I focused on my breathing, which seemed to keep my heart from jumping out of my chest. “Okay, so you know who I am. But I don’t know…”
“You want to know how I can tell you’re lying?”
I shook my head, feeling like it was about to explode. My ears were ringing and I thought I was about to faint.
“My boss would like a word with you.”
Just breathe, I tried to tell myself. Just…
I couldn’t tell how much time had passed between the moment I blacked out and the moment I woke up in the backseat of an SUV. It was comfy, but I knew it was an illusion. I tried to sit up but my head warned me not to. I checked the time on my watch and was surprised to find only a couple minutes had passed.
Then I noticed the door was open. I tried again to sit up and found Gus Hobbs standing by the door. He handed me a bottle of water.
“What’s in this?”
“Water. Are you okay? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?”
I took the water and took a sip. It tasted like normal water. Hoping he hadn’t slipped anything in it, I took a few long chugs of it. It had been over nine years since my last panic attack. I just needed a few minutes.
“Do you need sugar? Are you diabetic?”
I shook my head. “I’m okay.”
“Are you up for a drive?”
“Umm…” I didn’t think I really had an option.
“You can rest in the backseat if you’d like. It’s a short drive and I can bring you back here.”
“Okay?” I buckled my seatbelt as he closed the door. It was definitely not the reaction I was expecting from the notorious Gus Hobbs.
He was a known enforcer or fixer. And I was a passenger in his backseat. Still feeling dizzy, I rested my head in my hands during the drive. I was on my way to a meeting with his boss.
His boss was Pearl Tarkey. She had been married to Howard Tarkey, a notorious con artist. He had managed to con his way out of three convictions and two additional indictments.
I knew from various articles written about him that he had grown up in Buellton. And after conning his way out of that last conviction, Howard and Pearl moved out of Los Angeles. They settled down in Solvang. He died of a heart attack a year later.
After his death, and about a month after I’d moved to Solvang to marry Pablo, I had been asked to write a screenplay about him. The studio wanted a script about his last trial and how he had managed to escape conviction. I had interviewed one of the FBI agents who had worked the case. I tried to interview Pearl Tarkey, but she denied my request. So, the script was very one-sided. It opened number one at the box office and earned the actor who played the FBI agent multiple nominations.
Pearl Tarkey couldn’t have been happy with the way her husband had been portrayed. After his death, she lived a relatively quiet life. But she was known to be an unlicensed loan officer.
That’s when it hit me. Chef borrowed the money from Pearl Tarkey. If I got out of this meeting without injury, I was going to kill him myself when I found him.