I didn’t dare turn around to look at Bella and her ‘friend.’ It would be too obvious, and judging from the way Bella had been acting around the inn of late, she was already jumpy.
I slurped on my soda straw and pretended to nod at something Gamma was saying.
“Ooh, they look tense. Very, very tense.”
“Yeah?”
“He’s sneering at her.”
“Sneering?”
“Sneering,” Gamma confirmed, keeping a smile on her face. Acting natural. “And it appears she took offense to that. Oh, dear. She’s just poked him in the chest.”
A shout rang out, and, this time, I turned in my seat and looked over. It would make less sense for me to keep staring ahead if I was just an innocent bystander.
Bella leaned forward in her chair, her cheeks flushed, and her index finger poking the criminal, Frederickson, in the chest. He had one eyebrow raised and expression of… what was that? Mocking? Yeah, he was definitely oozing disdain.
“—think that’s what’s going to happen, you’re wrong. I’m done. This is over.”
“Dating?” Gamma asked.
“Don’t think so.”
“Your time is up,” Bella said, and rose from the seat. She stormed from the Hungry Steer. The door slammed and left a wake of quiet from the customers, broken by the music alone.
“Wow. Explosive,” I said.
Frederickson got up, dropped a few dollars onto the table next to his drink, and followed Bella from the restaurant.
“What do you think that was about?” Gamma asked.
“I’m going to find out,” I said and rapped my knuckles on the table.
“But you’ll miss your lunch, dear.”
“I’ll be right back.” I couldn’t sit around just thinking about what had happened. It had seemed so final. Besides, what if Frederickson decided to do something to her? He had a rap sheet that said he didn’t take kindly to intimidation.
I strode from the restaurant and peered up and down the road. Bella stood near the end, next to the bus stop, staring at her phone, her face pale now. She walked one way, paused, and then came back again, shaking her head and muttering under her breath.
“Bella?” I jogged over.
She blinked at me. “Oh. Hi. Um… Charlotte, right?”
“Right.”
“Sorry, I’m just in the middle of—”
“Why were you talking to Jason Frederickson in there?” I asked, deciding to hit hard rather than hold back.
“What? I, uh, well… Um. How do you know who he is?”
“It’s Gossip,” I said, “news travels fast. And rumors abound. He’s a criminal, right? So, what’s going on?”
Bella’s bottom lip trembled, and she bit down on it. “Criminal,” she said. “So you know. Does that mean… does everyone know who he is?”
“Just Georgina and I,” I said. “Do you want to explain?”
Bella released a breath laden with emotion. “I suppose it doesn’t matter if you know, now. It’s too late anyway.”
“Too late for what?”
“I’m going to the police,” Bella said.
“About Fredrickson?”
“Kind of.” She slipped her phone into the pocket of her jeans and checked the street both ways. It was full of parked cars and people walking by or shopping, but no one close enough to overhear us. “I—I did something wrong. I was stealing,” she said, “from the people at the inn. It’s not what you think, OK? I’m not a bad person, I was just desperate for money, that’s all. My grandmother back in Houston is ill and I needed the extra cash. So I hooked up with Frederickson here, a friend of a friend, and he said he could fence what I got.”
My eyes widened. She was the thief? That was why she’d been acting jumpy.
“But how did you get into the rooms?” I asked.
“I have a lock picking set. It’s pretty easy in old places like that. The locks aren’t exactly high-tech,” she said, fishing her cigarettes out of her back pocket and extracting one. She tapped on the end, nervously. “I shouldn’t have done it, but I had to. And there were so many wealthy guests at the inn it was just too good of an opportunity to pass up.”
“What changed?” I asked.
“The murder changed things. There’s more attention on the inn, and I’ve gotten this feeling lately like someone’s been following me. I saw this black car parked near the swimming hole the other day.” She shuddered. “Frederickson’s been getting more demanding too.”
“Demanding how?”
“He wants more than I can give, and he keeps asking for jewelry.”
A memory twigged in the back of my mind. Hadn’t Peggy mentioned her important jewelry box had gone missing? Had Bella taken it? Or had she sold it to Frederickson? I opened my mouth to ask, but Bella had already taken a step away from me.
“I have to go,” she said. “The sooner I get to the police, the sooner I’ll be safe.”
“Safe?”
“From Frederickson. He’s angry with me because I pulled out of the deal. I don’t want to sell him stuff anymore.” Bella skedaddled off and disappeared around the corner, heading in the direction of the police station.
I didn’t bother following her. She’d admitted everything to me out of fear. If she wound up going back to the Gossip Inn, I’d call the cops. Goodness, I’d have to get Gamma to call them and check if she’d turned herself in any way.
Snap out of it, Charlie.
Standing here wasn’t going to achieve anything. But going back to the inn and checking out Bella’s room might. I’d had a feeling about Peggy’s jewelry box after she’d brought it up, and now, I might just have the opportunity to find it.
I strode back to the Hungry Steer, the determination to solve the case and clear my name growing in my chest.
21
“I still think it’s creepy that you have a key to every room,” I said.
Gamma held a thick bronze key in her palm, and her eyes gleamed as brightly as it did. “One must have the keys to the rooms if they’re to be cleaned when the guests are out.”
“And for snooping purposes.”
“And for that.” Gamma inserted the key into the lock and turned it. A light click sounded, she placed her hand on the doorknob and let us into Bella Rodriguez’ room.
From my Intel, Bella had indeed presented at the police station and confessed her sins—and by Intel, I meant that Gamma had called to ask the lead Detective on Pete’s case whether anything had come up. Crowley had been annoyed and refused to answer her questions. He’d even mentioned how nosy everyone in Gossip was compared to Houston—where he’d transferred from—but Gamma hadn’t really been listening to him.
Her ears had been trained on the background noise, and the sounds of Bella sobbing.
“Are you coming?” Gamma asked, from inside the neat room.
“Right. Sorry.” I slipped inside and shut the door carefully, making as little noise as possible.
Bella’s room was themed in shades of lavender and cream, the bedspread on her four-poster decorated with images of lavender sprigs. That was where the pleasantness ended. The room was a serious mess with clothes strewn across the floor, the sheets on the bed tangled, and the cupboard doors thrown open.
“It wasn’t like this last night.” In my defense, I’d been busy with the case this morning. Perhaps, I should’ve come through and cleaned up. Bella had been keeping her ‘do not disturb’ sign on her door handle, though.
Gamma picked her way through the piles of clothing. “We’ll have to be quick,” she said. “The police will come to seize evidence, and if we don’t find it…”
“That’s assuming that Bella didn’t already sell the jewelry box to Frederickson.” And if she had? Well, that would complicate things. Peggy had placed so much importance on the box but had never told us what was inside it. Something worth dying over?
I’d confront Frederickson if that was the case.
“You take that qu
adrant,” Gamma said, gesturing to the bed, the piles of clothing and the armoire against the wall. “I’ll take this one by the window.”
We split up and set to work.
I sifted through the clothing, checked under the bed and lifted the mattress, but there was no jewelry box. There were a few other things, though—silver spoons from the kitchen, a small painting from heaven alone knew where, and a set of ruby red cuff-links. I examined them, shaking my head, then wiped them down with a Kleenex and put them back where I’d found them.
“Clear,” I said.
Gamma straightened, pressing her hands to the small of her back. “There’s nothing this side either,” she said. “Either she’s hidden it or she’s sold it to Frederickson.”
We’d just hit another dead end in the case.
What did we do now?
22
The delicious smells of Lauren’s baking filled the kitchen. She’d decided to make another batch of her famous vanilla cupcakes without my help this time. I would’ve taken offense, but I didn’t blame her. The last time hadn’t exactly gone off without a hitch.
Besides, I had plenty to occupy myself with while I waited for the Monday morning snack to be prepared.
I sat at the rough wooden table in the kitchen, my notepad laid out in front of me, and my suspect list plain as day. Lauren didn’t mind much. Apparently, she was used to Gamma’s inquisitive nature and had figured that it had infected me.
“Hmm,” I muttered, tapping the end of my pen on the pad. “Hmm. No. Surely not.”
“You’re talking to yourself again,” Lauren sang, as she stirred her buttercream frosting.
“Thanks.” I’d told her to let me know each time I did it. I’d never done it before, and it was a habit I’d have to rid myself of. I scanned the names and the clues I’d associated with each.
Grayson Tombs—restaurateur. Could have taken offense to Pete’s attempts to muscle in on his turf? Came to the inn to see ‘Lauren.’
Peggy—jewelry box?? Suspect because she’s the spouse, but no solid evidence so far. Very scarce in the inn. What’s going on with her? Police were interested in the box.
Bella Rodriguez—thief. Already in custody. Does she know where the jewelry box is? And if she didn’t take it, who did? Could she still be the murderer? Give herself in so she takes the fall for a lesser crime? Bella and Pete had been meeting at the Hungry Steer?
Jason Frederickson—hardened criminal. No evidence link to the crime scene as of yet. No motive to kill Pete—didn’t even know him? (Unless it was for the jewelry box.) But why?
Harley Davidson—sneaky seeming. Friends with Bella. Could she have known about her friend’s thieving habits? Hung out with Bella at the Hungry Steer a lot. No evidence linking to the crime scene.
Jessie Belle-Blue—cigarette butt linking to back of inn—connected to kitchen and crime scene. Motivation to destroy Gamma’s reputation. Enough to kill a man? Doubtful. No other evidence.
I sighed.
It wasn’t enough. And this jewelry box issue bothered me. It was the fact that Peggy had hinted the cops were interested in it, and that she’d said there was something important inside.
It had to be related to the murder.
If only I could—
“I don’t believe this.” Gamma thundered into the kitchen, her face flush and her short silver-gray hair disheveled. She ran her fingers through it then fisted her hips. “I don’t absolutely believe it for a second.”
“What’s wrong, Georgie?” Lauren asked, setting down her bowl of frosting on the countertop.
“Jessie Belle-Blue,” Gamma hissed. “I know it was her, I just know it was her.”
“What did she do this time?”
Gamma growled under her breath. “She’s sabotaging me again. Or trying to. I won’t let her get away with this.”
“Sabotaged you how?” I asked, flipping my notepad closed and capping my pen.
“It’s the renovations for the museum wing of the inn,” Gamma said. “I booked contractors to start work on my plans today, but they’ve just called me and canceled. Apparently, someone bought them up moments before I sent through my deposit for the work.”
“No,” Lauren gasped.
“Yes,” Gamma said. “And I just know it’s Jessie. She wants to make sure I don’t threaten her cattery.”
“Let me get this straight.” I held up my pen. “Jessie thinks that your kitten adoption center will threaten her paid cattery?”
“Exactly. She knows that more people are becoming socially conscious. Adopt don’t shop. There are already so many cats out there who need a home, and it’s because of Jessie that that’s the case,” she said. “Her cattery is irresponsible.”
“Oh yeah,” Lauren nodded. “There was an expose in the Gossip Rag a few months ago about how she wasn’t getting the cats neutered. I thought for sure she’d get in trouble for it, but it all seemed to blow over.”
“That’s because she’s got everyone in her pocket,” Gamma said. “But not me. I won’t stand for this.” She pressed her finger into her palm. “I did not settle in Gossip to have my hopes and dreams of owning an inn and kitty adoption center crushed.”
“So what are you going to do?” I asked.
Gamma stalled. “I’m not sure. But I’m going to call her and demand she relinquish her clawed grip on my contractors. They’re the best in Gossip. And the only. I need them here to start the renovations. I want to have the center ready in time to accept the shelter’s newest kittens.”
“Do you need help?” I asked.
“No, dear, I can handle Jessie Belle-Blue.”
“Are you sure? The last time things got a little tense.”
“If you think that was bad, you should see them after a cocktail or two at the Bottoms Up Bar,” Lauren said, in a stage whisper.
“Don’t be cheeky, dear.” But Gamma blushed slightly. “No, no. I’m not going to do anything rash, but I will be coming up with a plan of my own. Just you wait and see, Jessie Belle-Blue won’t know what’s hit her.” And then she swept from the kitchen, a bounce in her step.
“Uh oh. Georgina’s on a roll again,” Lauren said. “You haven’t seen it yet, Charlie, but she really is a force to be reckoned with. I’d suggest you let her do what she needs to do. It’s better to let these things run their course.”
“Right.” But I wasn’t so sure again. This was another clue that perhaps Jessie wasn’t as innocent as I’d thought. Then again, stealing someone’s appointment wasn’t nearly as bad as murdering a man to seek revenge.
But we didn’t know what poison had been used. It hadn’t been anything in the kitchen. But it could have been something else?
My eyes widened. Jessie had been hanging around outside the Shroom Shed the other day when I’d gone in.
“Come help me over here, Charlie. These cupcakes are ready for their frosting.” Lauren swept a clean teaspoon through the frosting and tasted it. “Mmm, delish.”
“Lauren.” I walked over to help her. She handed me a frosting spatula. “Are there any poisonous mushrooms growing in the Shroom Shed?”
“Poisonous mushrooms?” Lauren’s brow wrinkled. “No, of course not. We’d have no use for them in the inn.”
“Are you sure about that?” I asked.
“Absolutely. Georgina wouldn’t allow it.”
“Are you the one who tends to the shrooms?” I asked.
“No, no, Georgie does that.” Lauren beamed at me. “She’s got a real taste for horticulture. You’ve seen the garden and the greenhouse, right? That’s all her work. Georgie loves her pet projects.”
“Right.” I set to work with the frosting spatula, suspicion taking hold. If Gamma had been growing the mushrooms, there was no guarantee that they weren’t poisonous. She might’ve decided she wanted a special type of poison for a weapon.
I made a mental note to ask Gamma later. These cupcakes wouldn’t ice themselves.
23
The inn�
�s dining room bubbled with chatter during the cupcake snack break. The guests gossiped shamelessly about the breaking news of the day. Bella Rodriguez had been arrested. She was the thief!
I would’ve loved to have taken credit for that, but I hadn’t done much except suspect. And confront. And maybe we’d tailed her a bit, but still, I’d had no proof of her misdeeds until she’d admitted it to me.
There wasn’t much new to pick up on in the dining area, so I retired to the kitchen again and sat down, this time with a cupcake instead of my notepad. Lauren had done the same but was paging through the Gossip Rag, and Gamma was still missing.
The theory went that she’d rushed off to find Jessie Belle-Blue and given her a piece of her mind. That or to catch her in the act with the contractors at the cattery. If they were there, I could only imagine the carnage—Gamma wouldn’t get violent, but the catfight would be real.
It was only a shame I had to miss it.
I scooped frosting off the top of the cupcake and deposited it into my mouth, greedily. The vanilla flavor was sinfully sweet, but I adored it. I was terrible with cupcakes—if I didn’t watch out, I’d be the size of a house before they caught Kyle.
“Oh my heavens,” Lauren said, pressing her hands flat to the newspaper and leaning in. “Oh, my heavens.”
‘What is it?” I asked, around a mouthful of frosting. I swallowed. “What?”
Lauren shook her head, staring at the page.
“Lauren?”
“The news. I can barely believe it,” Lauren said. “They’ve got a sale on baking goods down at the Cake Warehouse.”
I exhaled, slowly. “Oh. That’s great.” For a second there, I’d been sure that she was about to break some horrible news to me. Another murder, perhaps. Or someone had gone missing or…
“That’s interesting,” Lauren said. “Apparently the police are talking to Grayson Tombs.”
“What?” I dropped a glob of frosting onto the tabletop. “Can I see that?”
“Sure.” She spun the paper around and slid it toward me. It smeared the frosting across the table, but I wasn’t too worried about that.
Mission Inn-possible 01 - Vanilla Vendetta Page 10
