by P. Creeden
Emma tried to comfort the woman, but she couldn’t help but feel that the story didn’t quite fit with what she knew about the parking garage. Even though there were curbs near the windows, they weren’t necessarily perfect for tripping and falling over like she said. It would have been difficult to accomplish. Also, the man’s hands looked as though he didn’t struggle when he fell. Did he even try to catch himself? The rough concrete would have left some scarring. And there was one more thing that bothered her about this. “Mrs. Addison, why did you park your car on the fourth floor of the parking garage? It seemed there was plenty of room to park on the ground floor or even the second floor.”
The woman swallowed and shook her head. “My husband always taught me to park as far away from other vehicles as I can. He didn’t want my doors to get dings in them from shopping carts or other car doors, I suppose. Also, I understand that cars get stolen more easily from the lower levels. My husband bought me a BMW Z4 only a month ago. I wanted to prove to him that...” she sniffed. “I could take care of it without him there to nag me about it.”
Emma nodded. It still didn’t seem like it would entirely be reason to want to park on the fourth floor of the garage, but she had never even ridden in an expensive sports car, much less understood what it was like to worry that it might get damaged. “Were you coming to Ti Amo’s for lunch today?”
The woman nodded. “Not that I have much of an appetite now. I always hated to eat alone anyway.”
Macy patted the woman’s hand. “Today, why don’t you celebrate with all of us. We’re having a small gathering on the patio. We’ll try to push aside the bad stuff that happened today and just have a relaxing time with friends. Does that sound good to you?”
The woman smiled, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “That would be lovely.”
They all moved to the outside patio of Ti Amo’s. The restaurant’s concrete patio housed six raised, round cafe tables, and raised stools. They pushed two of the tables together so that they could all sit at one. Franko had shut the patio off for their private party, allowing Emma to let Molly loose in the area which was bordered by a white picket fence topped with white fairy lights, giving the area a romantic glow even in the daytime. Only a few other guests arrived for the small ceremony. But even as she greeted them, Macy was very attentive to both Mrs. Addison, who had begun drinking too much wine, and Emma herself. Once it seemed most of the guests had arrived, Macy came over and smiled at Emma. “Would it be too much to ask that both you and Molly take part in the wedding tomorrow? It’s just a small affair, since we decided to do it on such short notice.”
Emma turned to her. “Why did you both decide suddenly to get married and have a wedding only a week after you told everyone?”
The woman’s almond eyes crinkled in the corners as she shrugged. “When you get to be our age, Emma, you start to feel less like waiting for things. Besides, neither of us wanted a big wedding. We would be happy just saying our vows at town hall in front of the justice of the peace. No need for anything bigger. We chose the location of our first date… and where we have many dates. So, will you consider being a part of the small ceremony?”
Emma nodded. What else could she do? Would she truly even consider saying no? It’s not like she disapproved of their marriage, exactly... she just wasn’t thrilled about her father getting married at all. “I’d love to.”
“Weddings are a beautiful thing,” Mrs. Addison said, coming up with a glass of wine in her hand and setting an arm on each of the other two women’s shoulders. Her words slurred. “Marriage is a beautiful thing. Here’s to yours. I hope yours lasts much longer than mine.”
Chapter Three
Emma stood beside Macy as the preacher stood under the arbor on that bright, sunny afternoon. Macy had taken a moment to change into a lovely, simple white dress with lace about the collar, and she’d brought a similar styled one in baby blue with no lace trim for Emma to wear. Molly had a large ribbon in the same shade of blue tied about her collar. Including Emma, Colby, and Mrs. Addison, only eleven guests attended the small ceremony. That number included Franko who spent much of his time in the back, wiping tears from his eyes and when they both had said their vows, he clapped and cheered, “Bravo!”
A photographer snapped photos as candidly as possible throughout the ceremony and the buffet lunch. After a short while, Emma collapsed in one of the raised chairs and let out a deep breath. She was glad the ceremony had been small, after all. The stress of the day was catching up to her and she wasn’t sure she would have been able to handle a larger crowd of people. And Ti Amo’s had been a much better location than she would have thought as well. Colby sat down in the chair next to her as some of the wait staff helped Franko move the tables to the side of the patio so they could have a larger area for a dance floor.
The DJ from Franko’s wait staff played a slow song and the bride and groom began to dance together. At the halfway point in the song, other couples joined them. After a while, Emma’s father offered her his elbow, which she took and together, they danced one round.
Once the dance ended, she gave her father a solid hug and then let him return to his wife. Emma returned to her chair again and took a deep draft of her lemon water. When she pulled the glass from her lips, she met eyes with Colby, who smiled down at her. His cheeks were a bit pink, and Emma realized she’d never been around her crush when he’d been drinking. She blinked at him. “Have you been drinking a lot?”
He frowned. “Actually, no. I’m ashamed to say that I can’t hold my liquor very well, so I almost never do, but Mrs. Addison insisted that I drink a glass of champagne with her.”
Emma peered toward the woman who’d found Macy’s only relative, her younger brother, to dance with. Then she returned her gaze to Colby. “One glass and your nose is turning red?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “It was actually only half a glass.”
Laughter bubbled up from Emma’s chest, and Colby joined her with chuckles of his own. Franko soon brought out a three-tiered wedding cake, and the photographer insisted on getting more pictures of the happy couple along with both Emma and Molly, as bridesmaids and the best man, Colby. Afterward, they cut the cake and Emma helped pass out pieces of it to the guests.
By the time the sun had begun to set upon the river, the party had started to settle down, and Macy and her father prepared their goodbyes. Macy held the small bouquet in her hands and then waved to the few in the crowd and the wait staff. “Any unmarried guests or staff who’d like a chance at catching the bouquet, let’s gather up!”
Only three women stepped forward, Emma not among them. Colby nudged her. “What about you?”
Emma frowned. “Isn’t it bad luck for the maid of honor to catch the bouquet? Something about always being the bridesmaid and never the bride?”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you making that up?”
She widened her eyes innocently and shrugged.
He shook his head and nudged her again. Then he nodded toward where Macy and her father stood. Both of them looked toward her expectantly. Emma sighed. She’d stayed through the whole ceremony, and the reception, and even danced with her father once. Now she just wanted to stay off her sore feet until it was time to go home. This behavior wasn’t much like her. She knew she was normally a much more cheerful person, but for some reason, she couldn’t help but feel down a bit at her father’s wedding. Still, she plastered on a smile and joined the other young women waiting to try to catch the bouquet.
Macy turned about and readied herself to throw as she called out, “One... two... three!” and then threw the flowers toward the sky in a high arc.
A squeal went up in the air as women attempted to jump for the flowers that had veered off to their right. But much to everyone’s surprise, another hand jumped out and captured the flowers... Mrs. Addison. When Macy turned about, she looked a bit confused, as much as many of the others. Mrs. Addison held up the bouquet and cheered. “I guess I wi
n... I wasn’t expecting it so soon after becoming a widow, but I’ll take it.”
Even though there were a few raised eyebrows in the crowd, Macy smiled diplomatically. “Congratulations, Renee!”
Emma blinked, and then she realized that Renee had to have been Mrs. Addison’s first name. Why hadn’t Emma even cared enough to discover for herself? She really did feel as though she were in a bit of a fog. Mrs. Addison waved the bouquet toward the newlywed couple and called out, “Thank you!”
Then the freshly married pair drove off in the sheriff’s SUV, where some of the deputies had placed a “Just Married” sign upon the back and tied the customary cans to. Emma couldn’t help but huff a laugh at it. Her father seemed truly happy, and now he had a woman in his life that made him smile. Emma would get over her feelings of jealousy sooner, rather than later, she determined. As the crowd dispersed, calling taxis or using ride share apps for those who had been drinking, soon the only few who remained were Mrs. Addison, Colby, and Emma.
Franko came over to the table. “It was a lovely ceremony. I’m so happy the sheriff chose my humble restaurant for it. Can I call any of you a taxi?”
Emma smiled and shook her head. “I haven’t been drinking.”
“It’s been two hours since my half glass of champagne,” Colby said. “I should be fine.”
Mrs. Addison shook her head adamantly. “I can’t take a taxi and leave my car in the parking garage. My husband would kill me... I need to drive it.”
Colby frowned. “You can’t drive it, Mrs. Addison. You’ve had too much to drink.”
“If you like, Mrs. Addison, I could drive you home in your car, and Colby can pick me up,” Emma offered. Though she was a bit nervous about driving a sports car, Emma felt that it might be the best solution to this problem. The way the woman had behaved earlier, she seemed to seek the company of both Emma and Macy... the females of the group. It made Emma feel that Colby offering to drive would have not been as good an idea.
After lifting an eyebrow at Emma, Mrs. Addison looked her up and down. “You’re the sheriff’s daughter, right?”
Emma nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
The older woman’s face scrunched up like she’d tasted a lemon. “Please don’t call me ma’am. It makes me feel so old. In fact, so does Mrs. Addison. Please call me Renee.”
“All right, Renee. You look really tired and even though it’s not quite nine o’clock yet, it’s been a long day for you, too, right?”
“You got that right,” Renee said and then rubbed her hands over her face. When she looked up again, she nodded and looped her arm into Emma’s. “I’ve been afraid to go home alone, but now that... that man... he’s gone... I guess I can go home now. I’m happy to have you stay with me a short while for company. If you don’t mind, Emma?”
Emma nodded and then asked, “Colby, do you mind taking Molly with you?”
His brows furrowed as he took the leash from her hand. “Sure, I’ll take Molly. I’ve got to stop by my mother’s and pick up Gabby, too. I know where the Addison residence is. I’ll meet you there?”
Renee nodded, and started walking toward the parking garage across the street. “Take your time. I’d rather that Miss Emma stay with me a short while, anyway.”
The crisp, cool night air enveloped them, and Emma rubbed her bare arms, wishing she’d thought to bring a jacket. At that same time as the thought, a jacket draped around her shoulders and the spicy cinnamon and apples scent of Colby Davidson enveloped her. Her heart skipped a beat as she felt his hands on her upper arms. When she met eyes with him in question, he winked at her, causing her breath to hitch. She swallowed down those feelings and drank in the warmth that came from his suit jacket as she pushed her arms through the jacket sleeves. Colby rode up with them in the elevator, and spent some time rolling up the sleeves on the jacket for her so that it didn’t extend two-three inches past her hands. Once they reached the fourth floor of the parking garage, they found the red BMW convertible sitting alone in the light of the moon. Then Emma’s anxiety reared up.
“That’s the car?” she asked, breathlessly. Her heart raced for a whole new reason now.
“Yep, that’s my baby,” Renee said as pressed the unlock button to shut off the alarm and pushed the keys into Emma’s hand. Then she staggered toward the vehicle’s passenger side door.
“You’re doing the right thing by driving Mrs. Addison home. Just take it slow and drive safely, all right?” His brows were still furrowed, and his eyes filled with worry. “If you need anything at all, just call me.”
Emma nodded. “Okay.”
He took a deep breath and held tight to Molly’s leash, giving her the quick command to sit. As Emma got into the red sports car and started to pull away, she peered back at Colby and Molly, watching them in the rear view mirror until they disappeared into the shadows of the parking garage.
Chapter Four
When Emma finally pulled into the grand roundabout in front of the Addison home, she’d only just gotten used to driving the BMW sports car. “This is quite different than driving my little SUV, for sure,” Emma whispered to herself.
Renee had had her eyes shut for most of the drive, after punching in the address for the GPS. It had made Emma believe she’d been asleep most of the trip, so it surprised her when she huffed a laugh. “Just a little, I’m sure.”
The tall, stately house was one of the bigger ones Emma had seen in Ridgeway. It compared to the mansion she’d been in over the Valentine’s holiday. Someone had been meticulous about the landscaping, and everything seemed to come together and converge on the top of the roundabout driveway, nearest the house. As the car came to a stop, Renee sat up straighter, her eyes red and bleary. Emma and Renee each hopped out of the car and then Emma let the alarm system blink to on. Afterward she offered the keys back to their rightful owner.
Renee nodded as she accepted them, and then they stood on the doorstep of the house, waiting for the elder woman to decide which key it was that fit into her front door again. Once she found it, she blinked up at Emma. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like something to eat, too?”
It was Emma’s turn to huff a laugh. “We just came from that buffet at Ti Amo’s. I’m pretty sure I’m good until at least morning, if not lunch time tomorrow.”
She giggled, covering her mouth and acting like they’d shared a secret together. Then Renee finally unlocked the door and pushed the door open. They stepped inside a grand foyer decorated with red carpet and white accents, the light playing in tiny rainbows off the crystal chandelier overhead. Twin staircases curved upward to the second floor. That’s when Emma realized that what had appeared to be a three-story house only had two, with excessively high ceilings on both floors. If her father had been there, he would have whistled. As it were, Emma kept her mouth shut. She suddenly felt overwhelmingly out of place and wished she’d had Molly with her. It would have helped calm her nerves to run her fingers through the Saint Bernard’s thick fur. If she doubted for a moment that the dog wasn’t already providing her with therapy and support, this moment of need proved to Emma that Molly was.
“I think I’ll hop in the shower. Make yourself at home, look around if you like. Eat anything you find in the kitchen if you change your mind about food.” Renee waved her hand dismissively toward the general area of where Emma assumed the kitchen might be. “But please stay until I’m back out of the shower if the young deputy shows up. I’d hate to come out to an empty house.”
Emma nodded. “Of course.”
Renee made her way up the stairs, while Emma explored the first floor. Stainless steel appliances filled the kitchen and gave the impression that the kitchen belonged in a four-star restaurant instead of someone’s home. She explored the immaculate dining area and living room, finding each room well-kept and seemingly unlived-in. Until she reached the study. Though the window had been shuttered, the glass from the shattered window still remained on the floor. The shelves beside the window were lined with b
ooks and the safe hidden behind a sliding door remained open. On the desk, a brandy bottle stood, uncorked, while the glass lay on its side, the contents staining the blotter. The chair behind the desk lay on the burgundy rug which still sported a tell-tale dark spot. Blood. Since the night of the robbery and murder of Mr. Addison, the room had been untouched.
For a long moment, Emma just stood in the doorway and surveyed the scene. The coppery-metallic smell of blood intermingled with the lingering odor of acrid cigar smoke. No crime scene tape hindered her from entering the room, so tentatively, she took a step in. She imagined a moment the scene of the crime. According to the report that she’d read, Mr. Addison had been sitting at the desk in his study, as he often did, smoking a cigar and drinking brandy after dinner. The robber had entered the room through the door, apparently, after disabling the alarm system. The robber stabbed Mr. Addison, causing him to cry out. That sound had brought both the butler and Mrs. Addison... Renee... to the doorway. There were further sounds of struggle, and the butler rushed to get the phone while Renee opened the door to the study, just in time to see the culprit crash a large tome through the window and jump out into the night air.
Some things about the story struck Emma as odd. Why would Mrs. Addison be the one to enter the room first if there was obvious signs of struggle? Wouldn’t the butler have done it? Why did no one have the phone on them already, upon hearing the first outcry of Mr. Addison? She stepped toward the window, glass crunching between her shoes and the carpeting. The shutters had a latch inside, and she pushed them open. The study was at ground level. It wouldn’t take much for a person to hop on the ledge and jump to the other side. The bushes below the window were less than knee high. She looked up and found the bright light of the roundabout making her shade her eyes from it so that she could see.
