Parfaits and Paramours

by Leena Clover

  Jenny was drowsy on the drive back home. She barely paid attention when Adam started talking about Kelly.

  “I think this clears Ada Newbury.”

  “What? What was that?” Jenny asked, snapping awake.

  “Paul Briggs is a more likely suspect.”

  “Who’s Paul Briggs?” Jenny asked, stifling a yawn.

  “Haven’t you heard anything I just said?” Adam asked.

  Jenny admitted she might have dozed off. She blamed it on the excellent meal they had just indulged in.

  “We brought Paul Briggs in for questioning today,” Adam began again. “He says he is Kelly’s ex-boyfriend but I believe they were still seeing each other.”

  “That’s Binkie, right? The guy who was parading as Kelly’s cousin?”

  “You knew about that?” Adam asked.

  “I wasn’t sure until now. Why didn’t Kelly break it off with Brandon if she was still involved with this guy?”

  “It was all part of their plan,” Adam explained. “They were going to dupe Brandon.”

  “How?”

  “He was sketchy about the details. But they were playing a long game. I think Kelly was going to marry Brandon and then divorce him a few days later, getting a big settlement or alimony.”

  “Not very original,” Jenny offered.

  “No,” Adam agreed. “Briggs readily admits he was planning to con Brandon. But he is emphatic about being innocent of Kelly’s murder. First of all, he loved Kelly and he wouldn’t dream of harming her. More importantly though, she was his meal ticket. Their big pay day depended on the success of this plan.”

  “Exactly!” Jenny said eagerly. “But what if Kelly changed her mind?”

  “She got greedy?”

  “Think about it. She came here and saw the Newbury estate. She realized how rich Brandon really was. Why wouldn’t she want it all for herself?”

  “That would leave this Briggs guy in the lurch.”

  “So you can’t rule him out completely.”

  Adam banged his hand on the steering wheel and exclaimed in frustration.

  Jenny patted his arm.

  “Ada’s motive looks really weak now, doesn’t it? Can I tell her she’s in the clear?”

  “Go ahead,” Adam said grudgingly. “I’m going to focus on these three men now. Brandon, Paul and that pool guy.”

  Jenny told Adam about Enrique’s fake alibi.

  “I’m not surprised he lied,” Adam said. “I believe he is capable of doing anything for money.”

  Jenny wasn’t ready for the evening to end. She suggested a walk on the beach and Adam readily agreed. They strolled hand in hand, enjoying the fair weather. Jenny told Adam she was watching Emily the next morning.

  “You don’t mind, do you?” she asked Adam, watching his face for any sign of aggravation.

  “You’re spending a lot of time with Jason,” Adam said woodenly.

  “Jason and I will always be friends,” Jenny said. There was a note of censure in her voice. “Emily’s just a baby, Adam.”

  “Better than traipsing around, getting into trouble,” Adam muttered. He cleared his throat and said meekly, “I didn’t know you liked babies.”

  “Of course I love babies. Who doesn’t? And Emily is such a dear. She hardly ever cries.”

  Adam deftly changed the topic. They had reached an unspoken truce by the time they got back to the house. Jenny spotted Jason’s car in the driveway and rushed in.

  Star was pacing the living room, carrying Emily in her arms. Jason sat in an armchair, looking frazzled. Jenny noticed he was dressed in pajamas.

  “What’s wrong?” she burst out. “Is Emily sick?”

  Star widened her eyes and shook her head, warning Jenny to be quiet.

  Adam had come in after Jenny. He took in the whole scene at a glance. He tipped his head when he caught Jenny’s eye and walked out. Jenny deduced he would catch up with her later.

  Jenny sat down next to Jason, her eyes following her aunt across the room.

  “I’m sorry,” Jason whispered. “She started crying hours ago and just wouldn’t stop. I didn’t know what to do.”

  “I’m glad you came here,” Jenny whispered back. “She’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

  The baby finally fell asleep half an hour later.

  “What if she starts crying again?” Star asked. “Spend the night here. We’ll take good care of this little missy.”

  Jason stayed over at Seaview, too tired to argue with Jenny and Star.

  Next morning, Jenny yawned all the way to the Boardwalk Café. She had woken up thrice to change the baby and feed her. A bank of heavy, storm filled clouds hovered over the shore, blotting out any light from the rising sun.

  Jenny baked a few batches of muffins and diced vegetables and ham for western omelets. Two hours later, she finally pulled her apron off and sat down in the kitchen to take a break. Star had arrived an hour earlier.

  Heather Morse walked in, looking for Jenny.

  “Did you know they arrested Binkie?” she asked in a rush.

  “I think they just questioned him.” Jenny told her everything she had learned from Adam.

  “This gets more confusing every day,” Heather groaned. “Are we ever going to find out what happened to Kelly?”

  Jenny didn’t have an answer for that.

  “At least Ada Newbury is not a suspect anymore,” she said. “I want to go and give her the good news.”

  “Lead me on,” Heather said cheerfully. “I’ve finished all my chores for the day.”

  Jenny neglected calling for an appointment. She assembled a big platter of chicken salad sandwiches for lunch and promised her aunt she would be back at the earliest.

  “How can I ever thank you enough?” she asked Star.

  “Stop worrying about me and get out of here,” Star said.

  The two girls set off in Jenny’s car under an overcast sky. Heather regaled Jenny with an account of the tremendous response her shrimp curry was getting on Instagram.

  “People who tried it can’t stop talking about it,” Heather said, smiling broadly. “They want to come back and bring their friends.”

  “It’s a simple recipe, really,” Jenny said modestly.

  “I know what you should do,” Heather said eagerly. “Have cooking sessions. Like those master classes they show on TV. You’ll be sold out.”

  “I suppose it will be good advertising for the café,” Jenny mused. “It’s a great idea, Heather. I’m going to think about it.”

  They stopped at the gates when they reached the Newbury estate. The guards did their thing. Jenny handed over a bag of muffins, raising a smile out of a big, sullen guard.

  Ada Newbury wasn’t too pleased to see them.

  “I have a golf lesson in half an hour,” she said, frowning at her wrist watch. “You should really call before you come.”

  “This won’t take long,” Jenny said, refusing to be affected by Ada’s grumpiness.

  Ada led them into the parlor. Jenny and Heather sat down without an invitation, forcing Ada to take a seat.

  “You’re in the clear, Mrs. Newbury,” Jenny informed Ada. “The police don’t think you had anything to do with Kelly’s death.”

  “I could have told them that,” Ada quipped.

  Jenny hadn’t expected any compliments from Ada. But she couldn’t help being a bit disappointed.

  “So my work here is done?”

  “Do you know who killed that girl?” Ada asked.

  “That hasn’t been determined yet,” Jenny said.

  “I want you to keep looking,” Ada said. “I can pay you anything you want.”

  Jenny herself was curious to find out what had happened to Kelly. She had been thinking of continuing her search anyway.

  “I thought you didn’t like Kelly,” she said. “Why do you care what happened to her?”

  “I didn’t like the girl for a reason,” she said. “She was wrong for my Brandon. I’m sure she
was just taking advantage of him.”

  Jenny knew that was true. She told Ada what they had found out about Kelly.

  “So I’m not senile yet,” Ada said triumphantly. “My instincts do mean something. My poor boy! He’s well rid of this nuisance.”

  Although Jenny thought Ada was being harsh, she couldn’t help but agree with her.

  “How is Brandon doing?” Heather asked.

  “Don’t tell him about this other guy,” Ada warned. “Who knows how he will react.”

  “I think Brandon knew Kelly was involved with someone,” Jenny said.

  “Then why didn’t he boot the girl out of here?” Ada asked, shocked.

  “I guess he loved her too much,” Heather said.

  “Love!” Ada spat. “Love means nothing without honor. Honor and respect. And whatever happened to trust? I couldn’t love a person I don’t trust.”

  Heather and Jenny listened to Ada’s tirade with their heads down. They knew she was right this time. Neither of them could say anything to console her.

  Zac Gordon walked into the parlor. Jenny hadn’t known he was around.

  “Zac’s giving me a ride to the club,” Ada said curtly.

  Jenny and Heather thought about the fleet of luxury cars housed in the big garage outside. They couldn’t help but exchange a look.

  What was Zac doing there?

  Zac’s hair was wet and looked like it had been finger combed. He greeted the girls cheerfully.

  “Nothing like a swim to recharge you,” he said. “When are you coming to the club?” he asked Jenny. “I have a long waitlist but I can make an exception for you.”

  “Jenny doesn’t belong to the country club,” Ada said haughtily. “She will need someone to sign her in as a guest.”

  “I told you I can sneak you in,” Zac told Jenny with a wink. “Just say when.”

  Ada was getting impatient.

  “Is it too late for our lesson?” Ada asked Zac apologetically. “These girls turned up without an appointment.”

  “The lesson begins whenever you are ready,” Zac said smoothly, taking Ada’s hand.

  They walked out together, hand in hand. Zac bent down to whisper something in Ada’s ear, making her giggle.

  Jenny and Heather watched them go, feeling bewildered. Ada Newbury never giggled.

  Chapter 15

  The Magnolias sat on the windswept deck of the Boardwalk Café and exclaimed over Jenny’s latest parfait. It was made with strawberry yogurt, macadamia nuts and toasted coconut flakes. There were generous layers of plump, juicy strawberries in between.

  “I’m beginning to take a shine to these,” Betty Sue said, licking her spoon.

  A small storm was brewing and the waves lashed against the shore with more than usual force.

  “We are getting a lot of rain this year,” Star grumbled. “I have hardly ever been out painting.”

  “That’s my fault,” Jenny owned up. “You have been stuck here, helping me out.”

  “Tell us about your trip to Ada’s,” Molly said. “Did she at least thank you for your efforts?”

  “She wants me to keep looking,” Jenny sighed. “I’m not sure if I can help. Every time I think I’m on to something, it turns out to be a dead end.”

  Heather looked up from her phone.

  “Remember what that maid told us about Enrique?”

  “The pool boy?” Molly asked with a hint of mischief. “Are you looking for a chance to meet him again?”

  “He’s barely legal,” Heather sighed. “Just a boy, really.”

  “What about Enrique?” Jenny asked, ignoring their banter.

  “He lied to us about being asleep. The maid saw him walking around.”

  “She might have been mistaken,” Jenny reasoned.

  “Why don’t we ask him outright?”

  Jenny’s face set in a frown.

  “If he lied to us the first time, what makes you think he won’t lie to us again?”

  “Second time’s the charm?” Heather asked hopefully. “Anyway, I fancy a swim. Are you coming?”

  “Isn’t it too cold?” Molly asked.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Heather supplied. “It’s a heated pool.”

  Jenny stole a glance at her aunt. She didn’t want to lean on her aunt and take off again.

  “A swim sounds perfect,” Star said, reading Jenny’s mind. “It will perk you up.”

  “But …” Jenny began.

  “Go! Don’t worry about me.”

  Jenny insisted on helping her aunt get ready for lunch. She stirred a big pot of vegetable barley soup as she made her mint and parsley pesto. She made pesto chicken and sweet pepper sandwiches for the lunch special. An hour later, Star literally pushed her out of the kitchen.

  Heather had gone home to get her swimming things. She stood out on deck, waiting impatiently for Jenny to get going.

  Jenny drove into the hills toward the Newbury estate. The girls took the path that skirted the main house and walked directly to the pool house.

  “How do we get in?” Jenny asked as they stood before the access panel.

  “Enrique will let us in,” Heather shrugged, pushing the button that acted as a doorbell. “Or I will call Brandon and ask for the code.”

  “Maybe we should just go back if Enrique is not here,” Jenny said uncertainly.

  She wasn’t keen on getting an earful from Ada Newbury.

  “We are here for a swim,” Heather said stoutly. “Just relax, Jenny. Don’t worry about that old trout.”

  “Hush Heather,” Jenny warned, looking over her shoulder.

  She admitted to herself that she was jittery. She didn’t know why.

  Enrique ambled out of the pool house and grinned when he saw them. He punched in the code to unlock the gate. Heather rushed in, waving cheerfully at Enrique.

  “Great day for a swim, huh?”

  Five minutes later, Heather and Jenny were swimming laps in the pool. Enrique sat in a chair on the patio, looking bored.

  “What’s he doing, watching us like a creep?” Heather wondered.

  “He doubles as a lifeguard,” Jenny reminded her. “He’s just doing his job.”

  She swam a few laps and decided she was sadly out of shape. The girls floated on a couple of rafts for some time and finally climbed out of the pool.

  “We should do that more often,” Heather said eagerly. “I feel so energized.”

  Enrique got to his feet and beckoned them inside. He pointed to an array of soda cans in the refrigerator. Jenny and Heather both chose one.

  “Are you a habitual liar?” Jenny asked casually. “Or do you just have a bad memory?”

  “What?” Enrique asked, looking cool as a cucumber.

  Heather joined in.

  “You told us you were drunk and asleep the night Kelly died. But you were seen walking on the beach that night.”

  “That’s not all,” Jenny added. “You talked to Kelly. I think you had a fight with her.”

  “I never met Kelly that night,” Enrique stressed. “I don’t know where you are getting your information. But someone’s obviously leading you on.”

  “How do we know you are not the one doing that?”

  Enrique shrugged.

  “What can you do? You just have to trust me.”

  “We don’t really know you,” Heather said, crushing her soda can. “Why should we believe you?”

  Enrique muttered an oath.

  “Believe me or don’t believe me. I don’t care. I have to go now.”

  He buttoned his shirt and strode out of the pool complex, acting as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

  “He’s just putting on an act,” Jenny said, her hands on her hips. “I’m sure he’s lying to us.”

  “Have the police talked to him yet?” Heather asked. “What do they say?”

  “I don’t know,” Jenny replied. “I can ask Adam.”

  Jenny didn’t get a chance to talk to Adam until later that evenin
g. She had invited him home for dinner.

  “What’s on your mind?” Adam asked as she served him a big steak of fish.

  “Enrique,” Jenny admitted. “What do you think about him?”

  “Do we have to talk about this now?” Adam grumbled. “Can’t we have a single meal without you trying to pump me for information?”

  Jenny apologized. She knew Adam would clam up if he was angry. She didn’t broach the subject again until they were sitting out on the patio. The big stone fountain gurgled merrily and Adam sat with an arm around her shoulder. The storm had moved past Pelican Cove and a bright moon shone in a clear sky.

  “We questioned that pool boy,” Adam volunteered. “He doesn’t have a strong alibi. But he doesn’t have a motive either. He has nothing to gain by harming Kelly.”

  “I think he’s hiding something,” Jenny insisted.

  They talked about their kids after that. Adam wanted to know if the kids were coming to Pelican Cove for the spring festival. Jenny didn’t know but hoped the kids would turn up for the special weekend. She was looking forward to spending more time with her son.

  Jenny got to work at the café the next morning with a firm resolve to stay put. Heather had offered to come and help. Jenny convinced her aunt to take the day off.

  It was a Friday and the weekend tourists were beginning to flock to town. A group of suburban moms about Jenny’s age occupied a big table. They gushed over Jenny’s parfaits and asked for the recipe. Jenny was making shrimp po’boys for lunch.

  Adam Hopkins rushed into the café around noon, looking for Jenny. His face was brimming with impatience as he waited out on the deck.

  “What is it?” Jenny asked, hurrying out to talk to him.

  “You were right about the boy,” Adam gushed. “I don’t know how you do it, Jenny.”

  “Did he confess?” Jenny asked with bated breath.

  “No such thing,” Adam said, shaking his head. “I couldn’t stop thinking about him so I ordered my men to search the pool house.”