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AnnaLise was taking in the mostly full tables. 'How does―'
    'Oh, don't worry,' Tucker said hurriedly, looking a little hurt. 'I checked with Mama
     to make sure she was down with it. Besides, Torch isn't a coffee shop, it's a coffee house
. The "cool, man" kind, like with Dobie Gillis.'
    And Maynard G. Krebs, which explained the sparse facial hair on the guy who looked
     more like a young Will Smith than Bob Denver. 'There's no way you could have seen The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
. That was more Daisy's generation.'
    'Excuse me,' Daisy protested. 'Only if I watched TV practically in utero
. That was late 1950s, I think.'
    ''59 to '62,' Tucker said. 'It was based on a collection of short stories.'
    'By Max Shulman,' AnnaLise said, getting in another shot for the written word. 'But
     how did you ever see it, Tucker?'
    'DVD,' Tucker said. 'If you want, I can lend them to you.'
    'I'd love
that,' Daisy jumped in. She'd wandered over to the stage and was tapping on Tucker's
     bongo with a fingernail.
    'Great. I'll bring volume one tonight.' Tucker turned his boyish charm on AnnaLise.
     'Torch is premiering a tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein, featuring our very own
     chanteuse. Can you make it? I'll even waive the cover charge.'
    It was a thoughtful, showman-style invitation and any other time AnnaLise would have
     jumped at the chance. But tonight was Frat Pack Night. You just didn't miss that,
     show tunes or not.
    'I'd love to, but I have a date with some old friends.' She turned to Daisy. 'Maybe
     my mother...'
    'Oh, she'll be here,' Tucker said.
    'I certainly will.' Daisy let the drum go silent. 'I haven't missed an opening yet.'
    AnnaLise was grateful to hear that she'd found a place to socialize so close to home.
     As in downstairs. Especially since daughter was abandoning mother on the first of
     three nights home. In order to be back at work on Wednesday, as AnnaLise had promised,
     she'd need to be on the road very early on Tuesday.
    'Cool,' Tucker said. 'Hey, can I get either of you an espresso?'
    Daisy declined on the basis of having drunk nearly a pot of coffee at Mama's, but
     AnnaLise quickly accepted. 'I'd love a large decaf, non-fat, no-foam latte. With a
     sugar substitute.'
    'Coming right up,' Tucker said, turning to a woman who had just appeared behind the
     granite-topped counter. 'Sue, one large "what's-the-point", please.'
    Daisy laughed and gave Tucker a hug. 'Isn't he just adorable, AnnaLise?'
    'He is that,' AnnaLise said, and meant it.
    As they left the store with her latte, AnnaLise felt completely relaxed for the first
     time since Mama's call about the blood drive.
    Daisy seemed as sharp as ever. And if that weren't enough, Tucker was an absolute
     gem — almost like AnnaLise had a younger brother living at home to keep an eye on
     things — and her mother obviously enjoyed having him there. All was right with the
     world again.
    As AnnaLise rounded the corner onto Second Street, her cellphone rang. She started
     to hand Daisy her latte, but the older woman was lagging a bit so AnnaLise set the
     drink on a window ledge and went handbag-diving.
    When she finally came up with the phone it was blinking 'one missed call'. AnnaLise's
     options were 'view' or 'ignore'. She chose the former and a display came up 'Ben's
     cell'. She snapped the phone closed and shoved it back into her purse.
    'Sorry, Daisy. I should have just ignored it.' Picking up her latte, AnnaLise looked
     around.
    No Mother Griggs in sight.
    AnnaLise retraced her steps around the corner and onto Main Street. Daisy was back
     in front of the coffeehouse/nightclub, one eye pressed to a sidelight like it was
     the viewing end of a telescope.
    'What's up?' AnnaLise called. 'Is Tucker waxing dirty again?'
    Daisy turned, a horrified expression on her face. 'AnnaLise, quick,' she whispered.
     'Tell your father to call the police. Some crazy bearded man with a drum has broken
     into our market.'

Chapter Five
    'So what did you do?' Sheree