Finding Isadora(24)

He obeyed, and Grace sat in the chair across from him. I went over to lean against the counter that divided the kitchen from the dining area.

Gabriel tore off a piece of bread, swiped it into the stew, then popped it into his mouth. “Delicious.” He gave Grace an appreciative smile, then his face took on a serious expression. “Okay, obviously I talked to Jimmy Lee.”

Grace held up a hand in a stop gesture. “Have dinner first. Relax. Then we’ll discuss it.”

I wanted to know everything about this crazy charge against Jimmy Lee, and I knew she did, too. But, after a couple of hours of wine and reminiscing, we’d both convinced ourselves the charge was purely bogus and Gabriel would soon deal with it. The least we could do was let him eat in peace, then we’d deal with the details of getting my father out of jail.

“Thanks.” Gabriel dug in.

Between bites, he chatted easily with Grace about this and that.

Toying with one of my dangly butterfly earrings, I watched him. He talked with animation and ate with gusto. He drank wine with gusto too, and I silently retrieved the wine box and refilled his glass. My feet and legs were tired from standing all day, so I sank into the chair between Gabriel and Grace.

The two of them seemed engrossed in comparing acquaintances, yet I noticed his eyes light on me. More specifically, on my bare shoulder. Quickly I straightened in my chair and shoved my drooping sweater back up to where it belonged. God, the man was already worried I might cheat on Richard, and now I was giving out all the wrong signals.

After he’d finished eating, he pushed his chair back from the table. “That was great.”

For some stupid reason, I wanted to tell him I’d made the salad, but I managed to keep my mouth shut.

“Let’s move into the living room,” Grace said. “It’s more comfortable.”

I sprang up, grabbing my half-full glass of wine and moving ahead of Gabriel to reclaim my corner of the couch, and the one-eyed cat.

Gabriel took the other end of the couch, maintaining a good four-foot distance between us. Grace settled in the easy chair that wasn’t occupied by Jack and Martin, and curled her legs under her. My mother was well-named; every movement had an intrinsic grace that was easy and ineffably female. Though she’d passed sixty a couple of years ago, she was still a beautiful, fit, sensual woman.

Woodstock rose and sauntered down to Gabriel’s end of the couch, stretched, then sprawled across his lap. He stroked her and she began to purr. No wonder. Lucky cat.

“Jimmy Lee says neither of you has ever been charged with arson before,” Gabriel said to Grace, and I forced my attention back to the conversation.

Was it my imagination or did she study him for a moment too long before she answered? Was she, too, distracted by his downright sexiness? “Neither of us has ever been charged with arson,” she confirmed. “Mostly it’s contempt of court for violating injunctions. Obstruction, disturbing the peace, mischief, resisting arrest.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Minor league. No charges for anything as big as arson. Which Jimmy Lee didn’t commit, as I’m sure he told you.”

Gabriel picked up his wine glass from a side table and drained it in one long swallow. Some instinct made me rise and top up my mother’s and my own glasses as well as his. I had a sense something bad was coming. He took another swallow and bit his bottom lip.

I leaned toward him. “Gabriel, what’s going on?”

“The Cosmystiques lab was badly burned. An accelerant was used and then chemicals in the lab exploded, making the situation worse.”

“The animals…” I sighed, not sure whether a quick death by fire was worse or better than the fate they’d suffered at Cosmystiques’ hands.

Gabriel nodded in acknowledgment, then went on. “Arson’s a serious offence. For arson causing damage to someone else’s property, the maximum sentence is fourteen years.”

“Fourteen!” Grace paled, and I swallowed the bitter taste of fear.

“Unfortunately,” he went on, “it’s worse than that. A woman was seriously injured in that fire. A lab tech, putting in some overtime. She’s in the hospital, in critical condition.”

I sucked in a breath as my mother said, “Oh my goddess, the poor woman!”

Gabriel glanced at me, then fixed his gaze on Grace. “Because the woman was there and was injured, Jimmy Lee’s been charged with arson with disregard to human life. The penalty is much more severe.”

“What is it?” I demanded as cold prickles danced over my skin.

“The maximum is life, but that’s very unlikely. Unless the woman dies. In that case the Crown would probably go for the max.”

Grace gasped.

I leapt up and rushed over to grasp her hands, for my own reassurance as much as hers. “It won’t happen. He’s innocent, Grace. Gabriel will get him off.”

“I will,” he said firmly.

I sank down on the floor at my mother’s feet. Woodstock, oblivious to the tension in the room, continued to purr, her contented rumble the only sound in the room for the next few minutes.

Then Grace shook herself. “I’m so sorry for that woman, and her family. But Gabriel, Jimmy Lee really didn’t do it. He was nowhere near Cosmystiques last night. He was here with me, all night long.”

Gabriel nodded. “So he said. But a common law spouse and fellow activist isn’t the most credible alibi. And the cops have evidence. They found his cigarette lighter in the parking lot.”