Barbecue and a Murder

by Kathleen Suzette

  He rolled his eyes. “You already told me you thought there was someone in there and I just saw you walking from the car. Do you think my eyes are bad?”

  I sighed loudly. Cade Starkey was the most attractive and exasperating person I knew. “Fine. I walked over there, but I kept my eyes averted. I don’t want to see something like that.”

  “Did you touch anything?” he asked, opening his car door.

  “No,” I said. “I was just looking around. My nephew said the car belongs to Pamela North. She’s that girl who competes in the beauty pageants.”

  His eyebrows went up, and he got out of the car. “Beauty pageant? Am I supposed to know about this kind of thing?”

  “She’s in the paper all the time,” I said uncrossing my arms and sticking my hands in my pockets. Something about Cade made me fidgety. “Everyone thinks she has a great chance to get into the Miss America contest. Or rather, had. She seemed like a really great person, always volunteering down at the senior center and feeding the homeless during the holidays.”

  “Just because it’s her car, and we still don’t know that it is, doesn’t mean it’s Pamela in there,” he said eyeing the smoking car. “You’re sure there aren’t any other cars in Sparrow like this one?”

  I shrugged and followed him toward the car. “I suppose it could be a summer tourist with a similar car, but this car is well known around town. Pamela’s kind of a big deal around here and most people know who she is. She’s been competing in pageants from just about the day she was born.”

  He nodded. “Well, I hate to see something like this happen to a young person.”

  “If I remember right, she was a year or two ahead of my niece in school. And she was getting ready to go to Boise to compete to be Miss Idaho. If she won that pageant, I think she would have qualified to compete in the Miss America pageant.”

  He stopped in front of me and I had to put on the brakes to keep from running into him. “I don’t want you getting close to the car. You stay back.”

  I sighed loudly and hung back while he continued on to the car. Cade had only lived in Sparrow for a couple of months, and it didn’t surprise me that he didn’t know who Pamela North was.

  The smoke had dwindled down to just a few wisps drifting up from the car now. Cade peered into the driver side window. He produced a pair of rubber gloves from his front jeans pocket and slipped them on, then opened the car door. I looked away as the door swung open, watching him out of the corner of my eye.

  Cade looked into the car and then pulled a phone out of his pocket and made a phone call. He spoke with someone for what seemed like forever, then he ended the call and glanced back in my direction. After a couple of minutes, Cade pushed the door closed and turned around and came back to where I was standing.

  “Well, it definitely looks like a young girl, but her family isn’t going to be able to identify her visually.”

  I shivered. “I wonder if she was drinking and lost control of her car?” I said, keeping my eyes averted. “Or fell asleep at the wheel.” I was grasping at straws here since by now I was sure it wasn’t an accident. Those tree branches didn’t get beneath her car on their own.

  “I kind of doubt it,” he said. “There’s not much damage to the front of the vehicle even though it hit that stand of trees. From the looks of it, the car wasn’t going fast enough to kill the driver and there’s only fire on the inside of the vehicle.”

  I looked at the car again, then look back at Cade, narrowing my eyes. “So, I guess it’s a murder then, isn’t it?”

  “I can smell lighter fluid inside.”

  I gasped. “How horrible,” I said. “Pamela was such a sweet girl. She was popular with a lot of the young kids, and like I said, she was always doing charity work.”

  “That is a shame,” he said, nodding. “But we’ll have to check dental records to make a positive ID.”

  “Did you see there were pine branches stuck beneath the front of the car? Maybe someone was trying to start a fire there.”

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “You contaminated the crime scene, didn’t you?”

  I opened my mouth, then shut it. After a moment I said, “I didn’t contaminate anything. All I did was walk around the car. I saw where some thin branches had been cut from a couple of the trees and then I noticed the branches beneath the car.”

  “That’s it? That’s all you did? Did you touch anything?”

  I looked at him and debated whether to tell him about the bracelet. “There was a tiny bracelet in the pine branches under the car.”

  He sighed and looked up at the sky. “Rainey, please. Can’t you keep out of this?”

  “I put it back. I swear I didn’t touch anything else.” Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut about the bracelet, but I wasn’t sure how much he could tell about what I had done and I didn’t want to incriminate myself.

  “When the uniformed officers get here, I want you to go home with one of them,” he said and strode back toward the car.

  “Can’t I stay here with you while you investigate?” I asked and followed him. As soon as I said it I knew he wouldn’t think it was a good idea and wouldn’t go for it. Cade hated when I investigated murders. He called it interfering, but I looked at it a little more optimistically. I was simply information gathering and trying to help out where I could.

  “You know I’m not going to let you stay here,” he said, crouching in front of the car. “You don’t belong here. Besides that, I’m sure I’ll be here for a lengthy period. I’m going to need to do an investigation and we’ll have to wait on the coroner to come before releasing the body to the morgue.”

  I shivered. “I hate to think of Pamela being down in that cold morgue.”

  “We have to put her somewhere,” he said matter-of-factly and lifted the bracelet by the black leather string. I wished I had thought to handle it that way.

  I glanced at Cade and then turned away. Cade had asked me out a couple of times and I had turned him down. After promising him I would consider it, he never asked me again, and it seemed like he had been avoiding me the last few weeks. Before he had asked me out, he would stop in frequently at Sam’s Diner where I worked. But ever since my ex-husband showed up in Sparrow, he had made himself scarce.

  Chapter Four

  “I have some news for you,” Mom sang out, coming into the kitchen where I was making tacos for dinner. “Oh yum, we’re having tacos? I could eat tacos every day of the week.”

  “I know, me too,” I said. Tacos were simple and easy. They weren’t the least bit challenging to make, but I loved them. I was in the middle of writing a new cookbook with an Americana theme, and even though tacos were extremely popular in America, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to stick them in the cookbook. I was only using traditional American meals from the past 70 years or so. Maybe the next cookbook would be multi-cultural so I could include recipes I loved that originated from other countries.

  “Aren’t you going to ask me what news I have for you?” she asked, leaning up against the kitchen counter. She had recently had her short brown hair trimmed and highlighted and it made her look younger than her fifty-seven years.

  “I’ll bite,” I said as I placed a white onion on the cutting board.

  “You know that cute cottage we looked at last month? The one that Gordon Pease said he owned?” she asked me with a grin.

  I turned and looked at her. Gordon was in prison and had a grudge against me, so I was pretty sure he wasn’t going to sell me that house. “Yes? What about it?”

  “He lied. He doesn’t own it, and it’s still on the market.”

  “Seriously? That means I still have a chance to buy it?” I wanted to scream. I had fallen in love with that house with its vintage details and fruit trees in the backyard. Gordon had said he owned it and I thought there was no way I would ever get a chance to buy it.

  “Lisa Allen is showing the house, so maybe we should give her a call and put in an offer?” she said, givin
g me a knowing smile.

  I squealed. “Oh my gosh, that would be a dream come true! Really? You think I should?”

  I had been living with my mother for nearly nine months after returning home from New York, and as much as I enjoyed living with her, I wanted a place of my own. This little cottage was perfect with a full-sized basement that could easily be turned into an additional two bedrooms, a bathroom, a laundry room, and still have room for storage. Was it really possible I might be able to buy it?

  “Why not? We could offer a little less than the asking price. It never hurts to offer,” she said, and went to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water.

  “Are you sure you still want to co-sign with me? That’s a huge financial responsibility,” I said, trying not to get too excited. I had never wanted anything more than I wanted that house. I had been going to sleep with that house on my mind every night since I had seen it three weeks earlier. I wasn’t in a place to be able to afford it on my own just then, and without my mother’s help, I wasn’t going to be able to buy it.

  “I want you to have that house. If I can help you out, I will. Besides, you know I expect you to make me dinner every night,” she teased. “You can pay back any money I loan you when you can.”

  “Of course! Thank so much Mom!” I would make her breakfast, lunch, and dinner if I had to. My waitressing job wasn’t going to pay for a house. But I hoped when I published my cookbook, I wouldn’t have to rely on her to help me anymore.

  The doorbell rang and Mom went to answer it. I heard Cade’s voice and turned to look through the kitchen pass-through. He was wearing the clothes he had on this morning and he looked tired.

  Mom led him into the kitchen and when he saw me, he nodded. “I don’t mean to disturb you, Rainey,” he said. “But I thought you would be interested to know that we found Pamela North’s identification in her purse in the car. They’ll have to obtain her dental records to make it official, but it looks like it’s her.”

  I shivered at the thought of what she must look like if her own parents wouldn’t recognize her. “I was afraid of that. Have her parent’s been notified?”

  He nodded. “Her father is away on business, but I spoke with her step-mother. She hadn’t seen Pamela in a couple of days but didn’t report her missing, thinking she was with a friend.”

  “What are you talking about?” Mom asked looking from Cade to me.

  Cade looked at me to explain.

  “I didn’t get a chance to tell you,” I said. “When I took the kids to the river this morning, we came across a car that had been burned. It was Pamela North’s car and I guess she was in it.”

  She gasped. “The beauty queen?”

  I nodded. “It’s really sad.”

  “Wow. That’s the last thing I would expect to hear. Does anyone know what happened?” she asked, turning to Cade.

  He shook his head. “No, I’ve just begun the investigation.”

  “So it’s a murder and not an accident?” she asked. “Who would kill a beauty queen?”

  “We’re treating it as a homicide,” he confirmed. “Did you know Pamela?”

  “No, not really. Her step-mother, Sharon North, used to work for me at the flower shop before she married Edward North. I see her around town from time to time and of course, Pamela is always in the newspaper for winning pageants or for doing volunteer work. I think she liked the attention.”

  “Well, if you hear anything that might be useful in the investigation, you’ll let me know?” he said to her.

  I shot him a look. It almost sounded like he welcomed someone asking around. I had felt nothing but resistance from him on previous murders and it made me wonder.

  “I will,” she said and then turned to me. “The kids were with you? They didn’t see anything, did they?”

  I shook my head. “Natalie and I could barely see the top of her head, but I didn’t let the kids get close.”

  “I don’t want to take up any more of your time,” Cade said, looking at me and sounding far more formal than was necessary. “I just thought I’d stop by and let you know what I found out.”

  “Cade, why don’t you stay for dinner?” Mom offered. “You don’t want to miss Rainey’s tacos. I guarantee you’ll love them.”

  “Thank you,” he said with a smile, “but I have other plans this evening.”

  My heart sank. Did he have plans that involved a woman? Maybe that was why he hadn’t asked me out again. I shook off the thought and reminded myself that I had no need of a relationship.

  “Okay, suit yourself. But you’re missing out,” Mom said.

  “Thank you, I do appreciate it, but I’ve got to get going,” he said smiling at her again and turned to leave.

  I laid down the knife I had been using to chop the onion and followed Cade out to the front porch, closing the front door behind us.

  “So, Cade,” I said before he could get off the front porch. “Dumb question, but are you sure there’s no way it could be anything other than a murder?”

  He turned back toward me. “I think you already know the answer to that. The pine branches beneath the car had superficial burn marks and the smell of lighter fluid in the vehicle. I guess whoever did it didn’t realize green pine branches are difficult to burn.”

  “What about the bracelet?” I asked, leaning against the porch railing. “It looked like something a child would own.”

  “That is still to be determined,” he said.

  I shook my head and shivered. “I hate to hear something that terrible happened to someone so young. I don’t know what this world is coming to.”

  “Me either,” he said gazing at me and pausing for a moment before continuing. “I know you never expected to hear this from me, but I was wondering if maybe you could ask around and see if you could find out something about the murder.”

  I looked at him, eyebrows raised. “You actually want me to investigate?”

  “Now, hold on,” he said, holding one hand up toward me. “I didn’t say investigate. I don’t want you getting into trouble. But, I figure with your nieces and nephews you probably know quite a few young people and if anyone knows something about this, it’s probably one of them. This is completely unofficial, so you can’t tell people that I’ve asked you to ask around. Do you think you can stay out of trouble?”

  “I’ll certainly give it my best shot,” I said, grinning at him. “Like my mom said, Pamela’s stepmother worked for her at the flower shop before she married Edward North. I think it was probably around fifteen years ago if I remember right. Maybe I can go by the North’s house and talk to Sharon and see if she’ll tell me anything useful.”

  He nodded hesitantly. “Now, I want you to be careful how you’re asking questions. I don’t want anyone to think they’re being accused of something.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Don’t worry Cade, I’m not going to accuse anybody of anything.”

  He smirked at me. “Like you didn’t accuse Fred Schumer of anything?”

  I put my hands on my hips and narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s not my fault if he practically had guilty stamped on his forehead.” Fred Schumer may not have been guilty of murder, but I was pretty sure he would be found guilty of something at some point in his life. There was just something about him.

  “As long as we understand each other,” he said mildly. “I have to get going now, it’s been a long day.”

  “Why don’t you stay for dinner?” The words were out of my mouth before I thought them through. I had been swearing up and down that I had no need for a relationship and here I was, opening my mouth and inviting him to dinner. He had already turned my mother down. What was I thinking?

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m beat. I’m going to go home and take a shower, then I have some personal business to take care of. Thanks for helping me out with the investigation,” he said and turned and headed down the steps. He stopped at the bottom and turned back toward me. “You’ll keep this between the two of
us, right?”

  I nodded. “Of course.”

  “Good,” he said and headed to his car.

  I watched him go, surprised at the disappointment I felt because he wasn’t staying for dinner. And surprised at the prickly feeling on my scalp at the mention of personal business. I had the feeling his personal business was with a woman.

  Chapter Five

  I baked up a batch of peach muffins and drove them over to Sharon North’s house. I couldn’t imagine what Pamela’s father and stepmother must be going through and I tried to think of things to say to them. The truth was, there was nothing that could be said to comfort someone that has lost a loved one, especially a child.

  I parked across the street and looked up at the North’s house. Edward North had done well for himself. I had heard he owned several businesses out of state. Some people said he was a very successful stock market investor. By the look of the house, both might be true. The house was probably one of the largest in Sparrow and it was situated with all the other old mansions that were built in the late 1800s. Back then Sparrow had been a gold rush town, and these old houses were a testament to the success of their former owners with their carved wood details both inside and out, spacious rooms, and grand charm of another era. If I had to guess, I would imagine this house was at least 6,000 square feet.

  I got out of my car and headed to the front door, the small basket of muffins on my arm. The door swung open before I had a chance to knock, and I nearly jumped. Sharon North looked the part of the wealthy housewife with her blond hair professionally teased and streaked. That was no supermarket box color. And even at 9:30 in the morning, she was dressed to the nines in a low-cut black silk blouse, leopard print skirt, and matching spikey leopard print heels. Large gold hoop earrings hung from her lobes and her nails were long, manicured, and painted dark red.

  She smiled when she saw me. “Well Rainey, it’s been a long time. How’s your mom? And your sister?”