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"We had unfinished business. So, yes, I admit it. We did see each other that day. It had nothing to do with a romantic meeting, nothing at all, believe me."
Steven backed up a little and stared at her. They were in a battle of words and it was hard to tell who would win. "I think you and Frank were still together. You used me. What did you see in him anyway?"
"We had broken up. I didn't lie to you. When we dated he had me fooled. I fell for someone who turned out to be a bad person." Cassie wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. "You and I have more in common than Frank and I ever had. You can trust me."
Steven Landers wasn't who she believed him to be any more than was Frank Duvall. It wasn't a pleasant thought to think about Cassie's bad luck when it came to men. Her choice of a fifty-five year old man was questionable enough. Then she went for someone who had no problem flirting with another woman whenever he felt like it. I wondered how many others he had taken the liberty to kiss while dating Cassie. It was time I drove away and left them to their own problems.
The fact that Frank was in Tommy's Bar told me he liked alcohol. It also told me that he could have taken liquor from Steven's Steakhouse behind the owner's back. If it happened once, it probably happened again.
The triangle between the three was enough to cause an explosive situation from what I just learned.
Chapter Fourteen
After buying Lily's gift, I was satisfied she would like it. I knew she enjoyed dabbling in arts and crafts. The kit I bought her was modestly priced but had a good variety of materials in it.
I headed home. Thor was a dog who had no idea how large he was. I learned early on to brace myself for his greetings. While he played in the snow I went to the cork board. I looked at Cassie's index card and Steven's. If Frank was that upset when Cassie cut off the relationship then both the server and the owner would have motive to get rid of him. It sounded as if Frank didn't like Cassie switching to their boss and had no qualms letting anyone know that. I added Peter D’Arcy to the list.
I called Thor in. I caught him in time to towe
l him off and then I pulled his leash from the hook. "If you were a kid, I can imagine what Christmas would be like for you." I ruffled his short hair the best it could be ruffled. He was impatient while he waited for me to put my coat and gloves on. Once we got to the sidewalk, Thor walked alongside me with no problem. He was a well-trained dog.
My thoughts swerved back to the fact I hadn't told Daniel about the night Steven kissed me. Daniel seemed to accept his friend's habits of flirting with women but I wasn't sure if that included me or not. The conversation I heard between Steven and Cassie was something to think about. Maybe that kid, Jason Miller, had a good point. He had seen more than I had until earlier this afternoon. At the same time, Jason wouldn't want anything more than to redirect attention from him when it came to a murder. I tried to think about ways to prove Jason did it and came up with nothing.
I wondered why Steven went to a bar for a drink when he could have one at his own restaurant. "You leave Roasted Love for lunch sometime," I argued with myself aloud. Thor glanced up and when he realized I wasn't talking to him, he picked up his pace again. We had covered two blocks when we got to the spot where I had the flat tire. The question as to why Steven was on this street that night resurfaced. Two hours ago I witnessed the exchange between him and Cassie and wondered how that had ended.
I did a double-take and stopped Thor when I saw Steven going to the door of a house farther ahead. It shouldn't have been a surprise to me since I'd been thinking about Steven's appearance from nowhere the night of my tire problem. A woman with short black hair answered the door and pulled him inside. Steven Landers was much more than a womanizer. He was a two timer from the looks of things. His accusations against Cassie dwindled.
I steered Thor back around and we retreated. My thoughts came back to Steven. After a while my patience wore thin. I wanted to call Daniel right away. When we got home, Thor was ready for his dinner. I threw a small frozen pizza in the oven for myself.
While I waited for my food, I dialed Daniel. His voice was welcoming. I could tell things were going better at home. I asked him how he and his father were doing.
"We've done a lot of mending," said Daniel. "I don't know why we let things go as far as they did. How is it going for you?"
"For starters, Cassie and Steven are in a relationship for sure." I told him about the conversation between them that I overheard. "I let them know I heard them. They didn't seem upset about that."
"I'm surprised they are an item but it is something Steven would do. It sounds like Frank was a drinker from what you told me," said Daniel. "I wonder how often he went to Tommy's Bar. You may be able to find out something there."
"Do I look like someone who would walk into a bar alone?" I asked.
"I'm sorry, Laila, no, of course not."
"I'm just teasing you. Yeah, I'll make a visit there. I'll go in the daytime, though. I don't want customers to think I'm there to get picked up."
Daniel relaxed and laughed. The buzzer on my oven went off and I took the pizza out with one hand in the oven mitt. While I let it sit for a couple of minutes we discussed my approach to the bartender. I opened a drawer and found my pizza cutter while we talked.
"Daniel, I have something to tell you that happened before you left. I didn't want to ruin your holiday if I thought you would worry."
"Tell me, Laila. You know you can tell me anything."
I told him how Steven had planted the kiss on me the night I met with him. There was a short silence before Daniel spoke again. "I know you didn't ask for it. Steven went too far that time. He knows we are seeing each other."
"I let him know I didn't like it at all. In fact, I reminded him of that very thing. He apologized. But, I can see why he isn't successful in his relationships."
I told Daniel about the night I had the flat tire and how Steven was right behind me.
"At the time I wondered why he was on this street. That is, until this afternoon when I took Thor for his walk." I told Daniel about seeing him going into the house several houses down.
"I thought you said he was seeing Cassie now," said Daniel. "Are you telling me he is seeing two people at once?"
