Chapter 41
I PULLED INTO one of the dozen free parking spots at the Camino del Mar lot, off Point Lobos Avenue.
It was just after six. There was still a little distance between the Pacific Ocean and the setting sun.
Even with the fog gathering, the view was breathtaking.
And that was saying something for a city full of breathtaking views.
I stepped off the rough asphalt. The rocks and spotty grass gradually led down toward the shoreline.
Few people were brave enough to make the trek all the way to the water.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to go far. About thirty feet down the trail, I spotted Joe sitting in one of two beach chairs situated on a concrete slab.
There was a small canvas camp table between the chairs.
The olive-drab canvas didn’t match the bright blue-and-white Tommy Bahama chairs. It didn’t matter one bit.
I smiled as I picked my way around the rocks toward him. I called out, “Is Julie with Gloria for the evening?” Our beloved across-the-hall neighbor and friend often stepped in as a nanny, and given our work schedules, Gloria Rose was a blessing for us both. Thankfully, Julie adored her too.
“She’s at Claire and Edmond’s, having a playdate with Rosie. We’ll pick her up later.”
Joe had a broad grin on his face. He’d really outdone himself, and he knew it. On the table sat two lobster rolls from my favorite food truck, Coastal Lobster. Billy, the owner, managed to give them a decidedly California twist: avocado slices. A bottle of wine rested between the two paper plates.
I sat down and picked up the bottle of wine. I looked over at Joe and said with a smile. “Old vine Zinfandel.”
Joe said, “I remember you said it was perfect.”
He opened the bottle and filled a glass for me. I took a sip. “Still is.” I leaned over and kissed my husband. It lingered and I reveled in it.
“You lured me here with police work. You said someone called in a tip to the FBI about Nicole Snaff and you’d set up an interview.”
“All true. I set up an appointment for after we’ve finished our meal. He sounds like a kid. Works at a tech repair shop a few miles from here. He wouldn’t say much on the phone. Just that he had proof Nicole was still alive.”
It sounded intriguing. And it aligned with what Allison Weaver at The Brass Ring had told me, that Nicole Snaff was alive and possibly in San Francisco.
But first I wanted to focus on a rare “date” with my thoughtful husband.
We chatted as we nibbled on our lobster rolls. The fog made the breeze off the ocean a little chilly but invigorating at the same time. I hardly noticed the sound of traffic whizzing by on the road above us. The drivers couldn’t see us tucked away down the hill.
Even though we were talking about work, it still felt more like a date. I loved it. I needed it.
We each had a single glass of wine. We didn’t want to do an interview a little tipsy. I’m not saying it has never happened before, but I’m more mature and responsible now. At least that’s what I like to tell myself.
After dinner and some time spent gazing at the ocean, Joe said, “Okay, it’s time to solve a mystery.” He put the cork back in the bottle, gathered our trash and the chairs and the camp table, and we both started trudging up the hill.