by Leena Clover
“You’re saying he took his own life?”
“That’s right,” Todd said. “I have to go now.”
He stood up and gave a whoop before jumping into the water. Jenny stepped back just in time to avoid getting wet.
“What do you think?” Jason asked.
He was naked from the waist up, wearing his trousers. He looked at her quizzically as he toweled his head dry. Jenny tried not to stare at him.
“He didn’t say much. He thinks Asher committed suicide.”
Jason let out a snort.
“He’s messing with you. Everyone knows what happened to Asher.”
“He doesn’t have an alibi.”
“Let’s discuss this later,” Jason said. “It’s time to go in.”
Jenny followed Jason into the house. She waited outside a dressing room for him. He led her to a big room which was obviously the library. Like every other room in the house, it was lavishly decorated. Wooden bookshelves soared from floor to ceiling, stacked with a variety of books. A large rectangular table graced the center of the room, surrounded by chairs upholstered in green leather.
Walt, Emma and Heidi were already seated at the table. A tea had been laid out with three tiered stands of sandwiches and cakes. A maid wheeled Linda into the room.
Todd walked in with Dawn, followed by Maria and Paul.
“I think we are ready to begin,” Jason said, nodding at everyone.
Chapter 13
Jenny sat out on the deck with a tall frosty glass of coffee in front of her. She had started churning out her own version of frappes and the tourists were lapping them up. She had never allowed herself the indulgence, until now.
She had sent Petunia home early for a change. The mercury had crossed the hundred degree mark and it had taken a toll on the older lady. The café was closed for the day but some people lingered on the deck, enjoying the ocean view. Jenny didn’t mind them. She had work to do.
She pulled out a writing pad from her bag, along with some colored pens and sticky notes. She started noting down everything she knew about Asher Cohen and his life. She had her big epiphany an hour later.
She had been focusing on his life in Pelican Cove and his family. What if what happened to him was connected to his past? The past he didn’t like to talk about?
She needed her laptop for any more research. It was time to head home. She walked to Williams Seafood Market. It was her turn to pick up fresh fish for their dinner. Chris was at the checkout desk as usual. He perked up when he saw Jenny.
“What’s good today?” she asked him.
“Soft shell crabs are in season. They are really easy to cook. Just dredge them in some seasoned flour and fry them.”
Jenny knew her son Nick hadn’t tried them yet. They were a local delicacy in the Chesapeake area so she decided to try out some recipes using them.
“Give me half a dozen of those,” she nodded. “A pound of jumbo shrimp and four fillets of sea bass, please.”
“You expecting some company?” Chris asked casually as he packed her purchases.
“Never hurts to have extra,” she said. “Nick might come in tomorrow.”
She rubbed the tiny golden charm around her neck, deciding she needed to talk to her son that night.
“How’s Heather? Getting ready for her big date?”
Jenny felt uncomfortable talking about it.
“She told you about Duster, huh?”
Chris shrugged noncommittally. His lips stretched into a terse smile.
“She wants to sow her wild oats, let her.”
“Are you really fine with this?” Jenny asked with concern. “You don’t need to put up a show for me, Chris. We are friends too. You can tell me anything.”
“I’m trying to keep it together,” he admitted. “What choice do I have?”
“Don’t you want to try dating someone else?”
Chris Williams shook his head.
“Heather has always been the only one for me. There’s not a single doubt in my mind.”
“Bravo!” Jenny applauded. “You’re the bigger person, then.”
“I don’t care about that,” Chris told her. “Let her have her way.”
Jenny walked home, thinking about how she would cook the soft shell crabs. Star and Jimmy Parsons were sitting out on the porch. Jimmy looked a bit pale. Jenny wondered what was wrong with him. He even looked like he had lost some weight.
Jenny cooked dinner and spent some time with her aunt and Jimmy.
“I need to check on something,” she told them after the dishes had been cleared. “You will have to excuse me.”
“Jimmy and I are going to watch an old movie,” Star said. “Don’t mind us.”
Jenny went to her room and hooked up her laptop. She began running some basic searches about the war. She put special emphasis on Germany before and during the war. The stories she read brought tears to her eyes. Finally, she could take it no more. She flung the laptop aside and rushed outside. She needed some air.
“Going for a walk?” Star called out. “Don’t stay out too long.”
Star always said that to her, just like she had when Jenny was a teenager. It was something they joked about often. Jenny couldn’t summon a smile. She waved at her aunt and shut the door of the tiny cottage.
Roses bloomed at Seaview, perfuming the air with their heady fragrance. The lights came on when Jenny neared the big three storey house. She stared up at it, unable to believe it belonged to her. She wondered how long it would be before she could move in.
Terrible images flashed before Jenny’s eyes as she walked on the beach. She shivered as she tried to assimilate everything she had just read. She barely noticed when a hairy body came bounding toward her and almost struck her down.
“Tank,” she said weakly.
The yellow Labrador ran in circles around her, his tail wagging frantically. Adam Hopkins walked up, leaning heavily on his stick. Jenny noticed he was back to using his stick a lot again. She refrained from asking if he had had a relapse.
“Hey, Jenny,” he greeted her. “You look a bit preoccupied.”
“I’ve been thinking,” she nodded.
She felt a lump in her throat and couldn’t continue. Would Adam believe her theory? Would anyone?
A pair of strong arms came around her and held her close.
“What’s the matter?” Adam asked, alarmed. “Something wrong? Is Nick alright?”
She pulled herself together.
“Nick must be fine. In fact, I need to call him tonight. Thanks for reminding me.”
“You’re working too hard,” Adam noted. “What about the kids Petunia hired to help you out? Haven’t you put them to work yet?”
“Those kids are helping a lot,” Jenny said. “I’m fine. It’s just…”
“Just what?”
Jenny patted Tank and scratched him below his ears. He whimpered and nuzzled her. Adam took the hint and said nothing. They walked on for some time and turned around.
“How’s the investigation going?” Adam asked her.
Jenny’s face finally broke into a smile.
“I should ask you that.”
“You know I can’t tell you anything,” Adam said. “But nothing’s stopping you from sharing your thoughts.”
“You just want to pick my brain so you can take all the credit.”
“Correct,” Adam said.
They both laughed at that.
“I may be on to something,” Jenny admitted. “But I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”
“Jason told me you were present at the reading of the will.”
“I was. But if my latest theory means anything, we won’t have to worry about the will.”
“Now you’ve done it,” Adam groaned. “I’m going to stay up all night thinking about that.”
“I thought you stay up thinking about me,” Jenny teased.
“That too,” Adam said, giving her a scorching look.
They sat
in the sand with Seaview at their back and the ocean before them. The whitecaps sparkled in the dark and the gently lapping waves of the low tide finally relaxed Jenny. They talked about every topic on earth for what seemed like hours. Jenny had never felt closer to Adam.
Jimmy Parsons came out on the porch, followed by Star. He swooped down for a quick kiss. Jenny saw Star pat him on the back and wondered what was going on between the older couple.
“Are you ready to come in, Jenny?” Star called out.
Adam stood up.
“Duty starts at 7 AM tomorrow. I know your day begins much before that.”
Tank stood up reluctantly and they walked slowly away from Jenny.
Star had put the kettle on in the kitchen.
“I could use some herbal tea,” she told Jenny. “I’m too wound up.”
“What’s wrong?” Jenny asked with concern. “Is it Jimmy? You seem to be getting along fine.”
“Jimmy joined a support group,” she said. “He’s trying to stop drinking.”
“That’s wonderful!” Jenny exclaimed. “Did you ask him to do it?”
Star shook her head.
“He’s tried it before. Obviously, it didn’t work. I didn’t want to pressure him.”
“So he’s doing it on his own?” Jenny smiled. “That’s good. It means he’s motivated.”
“It’s hard on him,” Star explained. “He’s going through withdrawal. He won’t talk about it but I can see the signs.”
“Your support means a lot to him, I’m sure.”
Star was feeling emotional. Jenny talked to her for some time, trying to distract her. The phone rang. It was Nick, Jenny’s son.
“When are you getting here?” she burst out. “Rumor is you are spending the weekend in Pelican Cove.”
“That’s right, Mom. I should be there by ten. Depends on how soon I start from here. The twins and I are taking a boat out.”
“I was thinking, maybe we could do something together?”
She talked to Nick for a while and gave him all her typical motherly instructions. Her eyes closed before her head hit the pillow.
Captain Charlie was first in line at the café the next morning.
“Linda said you are looking into who killed Asher,” he said, picking up his coffee. “I know you’ll do a better job than the cops, just like last time.”
Jenny blushed at the praise, then remembered something Captain Charlie had said to her.
“How well did you know Asher, Captain Charlie?”
“He was always around, ever since I was a little boy.”
“Did you ever hang out with him?”
Captain Charlie nodded.
“Took him deep sea fishing in the season. I know all the good spots, see? He owned a couple of boats but he wanted me to take them out.”
“Can you tell me something about him?”
“Wasn’t much of a talker,” Captain Charlie grumbled. “Stuck to the same routine year after year. Talked about his kids a lot though. Wanted them to come visit more often.”
“Did he tell a lot of war stories?”
“No Sir! Any talk of war was off limits. I asked him about his ocean crossing once. Didn’t go down too well.”
“Must be a painful subject,” Jenny murmured.
“You’re right, Jenny. Talking about it would only bring it all back. And I’m sure he didn’t want that.”
Nick rushed in at 9:30 and swept Jenny into a hug.
“How’d you get here so early? I told you not to speed, Nicky!”
“Relax, Mom,” he said, picking up a hot muffin off a tray. “It’s just a three hour drive. I started early.”
“What are your plans? I don’t suppose you’re going to spend the day talking to your mother?”
“The twins are waiting outside,” he said. “Can you pack some lunch for us, please? We can have dinner together, promise! Adam and the twins will come too.”
Nick gave her a Cliff Notes version of how he was faring at his internship. He grabbed the lunch basket Jenny handed over and rushed out.
The Magnolias sailed in after that. Heather was wearing a new yellow frock with white daisies on it. Molly was dressed in lime green Capri pants and a white sleeveless top. She looked a bit awkward in her new clothes.
“How do we look?” Heather asked as she pirouetted before Jenny.
Jenny slapped her forehead as her mouth dropped open.
“That’s right! You’re going to meet Buster.”
“Duster, Jenny!” Heather said with a pout. “We are all set to go to their beach house.”
“You’ll be careful, won’t you?” she asked, looking uncertainly at Molly.
“Yes, Mother, we will!” Heather teased.
“I don’t feel so good,” Molly stuttered. “Maybe you should go on your own, Heather.”
“No way,” Heather warned. “You promised, Molly.”
“Are you sure they are expecting me?”
“Duster’s cousin is an English professor in a community college up north. You’ll get along just fine.”
Molly relaxed visibly at the mention of a professor.
“Let’s go then,” she said. “We don’t want to be late.”
“Can we have two iced coffees to go please?” Heather asked.
“What about Betty Sue?” Jenny asked.
“She thinks I am taking Molly shopping.”
“You need to come clean,” Jenny warned. “You’re not a teenager, Heather.”
“My grandma will never get behind this,” Heather said emphatically. “I don’t have a choice.”
“Don’t do anything rash, okay?”
“Says the woman who’s dating two guys at once,” Heather shot back.
Chapter 14
“Are there many Jewish people in Pelican Cove?” Jenny asked Betty Sue Morse, placing a tall glass of iced coffee before her.
Betty Sue dropped her knitting and cursed out loud.
“Huh, what?”
“You know the Cohens are Jewish, right?” Jenny asked. “How many other Jewish families do we have in Pelican Cove?”
“Not too many,” Betty Sue told her. “Why?”
“I have a hunch.”
“Does it have anything to do with Asher?” Betty Sue asked.
“I think so,” Jenny said. “Can you give me some information about these people? Where can I find them?”
Molly looked up from the book she had been reading.
“My mother knows a Jewish family. They moved here around the same time my Grandma did.”
“That’s all?” Jenny asked.
“There’s a lack of new blood in Pelican Cove,” Betty Sue lamented. “The refugees came here after the great storm of 1962. Hardly any new families have come here since then. Kids grow up and move to the city. Very few come back like my Heather did.”
“Towns up north have larger Jewish communities,” Star explained. “They have a synagogue too. We don’t.”
“What’s with the sudden interest in Jewish people, Jenny?” Heather asked.
“I want to know more about their life here,” Jenny said. “I’m especially interested in talking to families of Holocaust survivors.”
“I see where you’re going with this,” Star said thoughtfully, “but I’m not sure why.”
“Like I said,” Jenny said casually, “it’s just a hunch.”
Adam Hopkins came into the café at noon. He ordered the lunch special and sat at a table out on the deck.
“Slacking off?” Jenny asked him.
Adam rarely took time off for lunch.
“I’m not getting anywhere with this Cohen murder. I thought a change of scene might give me some new ideas.”
“Why don’t you talk to me?” Jenny quipped. “I may have a couple of thoughts on the subject.”
“I like to proceed in a methodical manner, Jenny. I am in the process of verifying everyone’s alibis.”
“Don’t forget to look for a motive,” Jenny tease
d.
Molly called in with some information about the Jewish family her mother knew. She promised to go with Jenny to meet them.
Jenny, Molly and Heather gathered at the Rusty Anchor later that evening.
“What’s all this about?” Heather asked. “Why did you want to meet these people?”
“I was surprised at the questions you asked them,” Molly said.
“No one talks about Asher’s life before he came to Pelican Cove. But I think it could have a connection with what happened to him. I want to find out more about his prior life.”
“Did talking to my mother’s friends help?” Molly asked.
“I didn’t want to miss that,” Heather complained. “Why didn’t you take me along?”
“We can tell you about it now,” Molly consoled her.
Eddie Cotton came over with their drinks.
“One of my best customer’s gone sober,” he whined. “At least I still got him.”
Jenny looked at where he was pointing. Hans Geller was seated at the bar, nursing a beer. He looked a bit worse for wear.
“You were saying?” Heather prodded her.
“I didn’t find out much,” she said glumly. “The people we met are the only Jewish family in Pelican Cove other than the Cohens. Another couple moved a few miles north to a town that has a synagogue. Asher Cohen wasn’t very religious, it seems. He didn’t really hang out with other Jewish folks.”
“You think he was trying to hide his Jewish heritage?” Heather asked.
Jenny thought for a while.
“Hard to say, Heather. Some people are just not devout.”
“Were these people Holocaust Survivors too?”
“No. Their grandparents came to America at the turn of the twentieth century.”
“What difference does it make?” Molly asked.
“I have this theory…” Jenny hesitated.
“Spit it out,” Heather said. “What’s with all the suspense.”
“What if Asher was targeted because he was a Jew?”
“You mean this was a hate crime?” Molly asked. “What made you think of that?”
“It’s been known to happen,” Jenny said meekly. “Hate crimes have been on the rise since the last couple of years. I read about it online.”
