Horace pointed. “Look at those rubber mats. And a cup holder. I could use a few things for my car—”

“Not now!” his father snapped.

Poor Cleo, Regan thought. These two are her front men? No wonder she’s not returning their calls.

They continued around the side of the house. Straight back was the garage, to the right the pool house. They walked toward Nora and Edna, who were sitting in the gazebo overlooking the pool.

“The first time I saw The Sound of Music, I told my husband I had to have a gazebo,” Edna was saying to Nora. “We went out and bought one the next day.”

“I remember that story,” Nora said politely.

Edna giggled. “What Karen probably never told you is that she used to come out here and dance around and sing that ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’ song. You know the one that I mean?”

Karen would kill you if she heard this, Nora thought as she nodded. “Of course! It was a great scene in the movie. The oldest Von Trapp daughter and her boyfriend are singing to each other in the gazebo, then it starts to rain …”

“Exactly! Karen was so cute, dancing and singing, wishing that one day she’d have a boyfriend who would sing to her like that, who wanted to take care of her.” Edna then rolled her eyes. “So who’s the first boy she brings back here? A kid named Fish. Suited his personality. Believe me, there was no singing. Oh, here comes Regan …”

Edna stood as Regan approached, followed by two men who were lagging behind. They don’t look so suave, Edna thought, but it’s always nice to have male company.

Ronnie Flake eyed the sparkling blue pool, a beach ball floating whimsically on its surface. His jaw tightened as he took in the lush greenery, the brightly colored flowers, the beautiful backyard that would look better when all the junk and shoppers were cleared out.

“Cleo could never have afforded to stay here if it weren’t for you, Pops,” Horace whispered. “She didn’t have two nickels to rub together when you met her.”

“I know it. Your mother and I didn’t go on vacation this year to save a few dollars. She would have liked coming down here for the day.” He shook his head. “She would have liked to sit in that outside thing like those two ladies, and have her beer.”

“That’s a gazebo,” Horace informed him.

“Who do we have here?” Edna called as the two men walked around the diving board.

“Let me introduce the Flakes,” Regan said. “Ronald and his son, Horace. Ronald is Cleo’s agent.”

“You’re Cleo’s agent?” Edna repeated, as she shook his hand. Was he here to collect Cleo’s things? she wondered nervously. Too late. Her stuff is all gone.

“Yes, I am her agent. I must have a talk with you.”