by Emmie Lyn
How long before that incident caught up with Hitch?
5
“Harry shot you?” was all I managed to say.
My kitchen door slammed, and I heard footsteps approaching. “What happened to the two of you?” Tilly shouted. “Did you forget about me and my coffee?”
“Does she know?” I whispered to Hitch.
He nodded.
“Oh,” Tilly said after she took one look at what had to be our glum expressions. She set the coffee carafe on my little side table. “Here, I brought some magic to cheer you up.” She pulled Stash out of her pocket. “This little puffball has been sleeping in here since you handed her to me.”
“Poor thing.” I took her in my arms and stroked her soft fur. She rewarded me with a satisfied purr, a magic spell that instantly made me feel better. “She must have been terrified in that big empty abandoned building.”
Stash stood on all fours, arched her back, and jumped off my lap, curling up between Jasper’s big front paws. Jasper sniffed the tiny kitten and wagged her tail, which made Princess Muffin jump out of Hitch’s arm and pounce again.
“Well, look at that—Jasper, the kitten whisperer. Stash and Jasper are best friends already. Jasper can be the nanny in our new Kitty Castle.” From Hitch’s raised eyebrows, I remembered that I hadn’t shared my plan with him yet. “There’s plenty of room for your orchids and my shakes and cakes plus kitties.”
“I’ll get the mugs while you two sort this out.” Tilly snorted on her way to the kitchen. For once, she didn’t add her two cents worth to the conversation.
Hitch leaned back and stretched both arms along the back of the couch. He cocked his head. “Please. Fill me in on this Kitty Castle idea of yours, Sunny. I can’t wait to hear the details.”
I pointed at him. “Not yet, Hitch. First, the rest about you getting shot.” My voice sounded shrill even to my own ears.
Tilly returned with three mugs, setting them down next to the coffee with a thud. “It’s about time you finally told her. Now, help yourselves. I’m Sunny’s neighbor not her maid.”
I loved the no-nonsense way Tilly had about her. Hitch, on the other hand, looked like he felt a little outnumbered. The coffee aroma overwhelmed my already buzzing nerves, so I passed on coffee and only filled two mugs.
Tilly helped herself to one, asking, “Any idea why Harry came to Pineville?”
“I’ve got a theory,” Hitch said, ignoring the other mug of coffee. “When I was working for him, I mentioned Pineville. To my surprise, he said he had a friend who lived here. If he ever left New York, he said he’d look at moving to Pineville. After the shooting, he said he was done with the city. He was ready to find someplace quiet, off the beaten trail, where he could enjoy his plant obsession without the worry of another break-in.”
“Who’s the friend?” Tilly asked, sliding to the edge of her wooden rocker.
“At the time, I didn’t ask him who it was.” Hitch scooped up Princess Muffin and gave me an eyebrow wiggle. “Your turn, Sunny. What’s the name of this piece of fluff?”
He still hadn’t told me much about the shooting, but I’d get it out of him sooner or later. I could play this game, too. “That is the stunning Princess Muffin. Tilly’s friend, Nan, who lives in Glendale brought over a litter of kittens. I had the toughest time picking only one, but Jasper helped. She bonded immediately with this cutie-patootie. Now, no more distractions, Hitch. Back to your story. Why did Harry shoot you?”
Hitch rubbed his arm as his eyes glazed over, obviously going back in time. Princess Muffin provided a calming backdrop of purrs while Hitch transported himself back to the shooting scene in New York City.
“Harry said it was an accident, which tells me that anyone that careless shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a gun.” He picked up the mug of coffee and sipped, still lost in his memory.
He finally continued. “I was on duty the night of the break-in when we heard a noise in Harry’s special plant room just before midnight. I rushed in first since the whole reason I was there was to protect his orchid collection and some centuries old valuable bonsai plant. He claimed it was worth more than I’d ever earn in a lifetime. I had everything under control—the intruder in my crosshairs—but Harry,” Hitch spit out the name angrily, “fired from behind me, hitting my arm. The bone got nicked and the muscle is still weak and sore. The intruder escaped.”
I looked at his arm, covered by a long-sleeve t-shirt and had the horrid thought that maybe today, Harry got exactly what he deserved—a type of justice. But who delivered that death penalty?
“I know what you’re thinking, Sunny,” Hitch said, interrupting my thoughts. “He got what he deserved. Part of me agrees with that, but now I’ll never get closure about why he pulled the trigger when he did.” He drained his mug and lifted one shoulder. “It is what it is. Now, I have to be sure Officer Walker doesn’t figure out how to tie me to Harry’s death.”
“What could he have on you, Hitch?” Tilly asked as if this was one ridiculous worry. “Sure, you were at the auction, but so were about fifty other people, including Sunny and me. Mick would have to find someone who saw you near Harry.”
I was thinking in a different direction. “Who was that intruder? Maybe he or she followed Harry here to Pineville to finish unfinished business.”
“The intruder wore a mask. All I know is the person was shorter than me, maybe five feet seven or eight, wore white sneakers and black clothes. Not much to go on. That person had planned a theft, not murder. And, the white sneakers make me think the person wasn’t a seasoned burglar.”
I stood up and stretched all the kinks out. “That leaves the people at the auction. Where were you standing?” I asked Hitch. “Did you see Harry with anyone?”
He wouldn’t look at me.
“You did see him, didn’t you?”
Hitch nodded and grimaced. “Yeah, I saw him standing next to you. When he was alone, I let him know exactly what I thought of him and told him to get out of town.”
Oh boy, that wasn’t what I wanted to hear. Who else overheard that argument? I wondered.
6
Someone pounded on my front door, and all three of us turned as one. Jasper barked loud enough to rattle the windows. The kitties charged for safety under the couch.
“Who is it?” I asked Tilly who had the best view to the street.
“It looks like a couple of the state policemen that we saw after Harry was killed. Hitch, go in the kitchen. This is Sunny’s house, so they aren’t looking for you. I’ll stay here with Sunny.” She grinned at us. “I’m just a little old lady with no memory and not much common sense.”
I opened the door a crack. “Yes?”
“Ms. Shaw? I’m Detective Marsh and this is Detective Cooper.” They both flipped open their badges for me to see. “Can we come in?”
“As long as you don’t mind my dog.” It was all I could do to hold Jasper from pushing her big head between me and the door opening.
When I pulled the door open far enough for them to come inside, the policemen’s eyes popped open wider than their shiny badges. “A dog?” Detective Marsh squeaked.
Jasper barked, letting them know that’s exactly what she was plus she’d added a little extra warning in her woof.
Detective Cooper walked right in and let Jasper sniff his hand. Great. Now they’d know she was all bark and no bite.
“Sunny, honey. I need help in the bathroom,” Tilly said. When I turned to look at her she had her knees together as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Right now.”
“Uh…” I looked at the detectives. “Sorry. I’ll be right back.”
With Tilly leaning on me, we hobbled down the hall to the bathroom. I slammed the door closed. “What the heck are you doing?”
“Letting them know you have your hands full. They’ll be in and out of your hair in two shakes of a wet towel.”
I flushed the toilet in case they were listening and helped Tilly b
ack to the rocking chair by the front window. She muttered to herself the whole time. It was all I could do to keep from kicking her in the shins to be quiet. I wasn’t sure she was helping at all.
The two detectives stood right inside the door with Jasper sitting watch in front of them.
“We’ll only take a minute of your time, Ms. Shaw,” Detective Cooper said. “Did you know Harry Jenson?”
“No,” I answered.
“But you were seen standing with him and talking to him before the final bid at the Nine Pine Nursery auction. How do you explain that?” He cocked his head and looked down at me.
“Easy. He spoke to me, and I answered. That’s what polite people do in Pineville. Then he walked away.” I stared right at Detective Cooper letting him know he didn’t intimidate me in the least. It would have been intimidating if I actually had something to hide, but I didn’t.
“What exactly did he say to you?”
I put my finger over my lips like I had to think long and hard about that. “Well, not much really. He said he was hoping to buy Nine Pine Nursery, but I beat his bid.”
Princess Muffin, curious now that the barking had stopped, jumped on Jasper’s tail, distracting me from the seriousness of the situation.
Tilly said, “Do I know you two handsome men? Would you like to come back for dinner? You could bring me some nice Chinese take-out.”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. What’s your name?” Detective Cooper asked.
“Tilly. It’s my nickname. I never liked my real name much.” She continued to rock like a maniac.
“And were you at the auction this morning?”
“The auction. Was I, Sunny?”
“Yes, Tilly. You came with Jasper, remember?”
Tilly’s eyes lit up. “That’s right. That nice man Harry told me I have pretty eyes.” Tilly fluttered her eyelashes at the detectives. “Don’t I, Detective?”
I almost threw up.
Detective Marsh jabbed Detective Cooper in the side. “Thanks for your time, ladies.” Then Detective Marsh handed me his card. “If you remember anything else, please give me a call. Anything at all, you never know what could be important.”
They turned to leave but apparently Tilly hadn’t finished having fun with them.
“Wait. I just remembered something. That man you just asked about? I think I might have seen him talking to Maxine Salter.”
“Did you or didn’t you?” Detective Marsh asked with more than a touch of irritation in his voice.
“Yes, I did. I’m sure of it.” Tilly tapped her head. “This old memory isn’t what it used to be, but I know Maxine and she had on her I-mean-business outfit of hot pink with her purple hat. When she wears that, you can be sure that she’s out and about ready to accomplish something. She had that poor man almost backed into the woods at the edge of the parking lot. I don’t know if they were talking or arguing but there was a lot of finger pointing going on. Does that help?” She even fluttered her eyelashes again.
“It might. Thank you again. We’ll let ourselves out.” Detective Marsh opened the door and was out before Tilly had a chance to come up with any more of her observations.
The police car hadn’t even driven off when Hitch came out of the kitchen. “Did you just make that up, Tilly?”
“Of course not. Maxine definitely had on her hot pink outfit and that hideous purple hat she always wears for important occasions.” She leaned close to the window and waved.
I couldn’t believe it!
“What about the other part? You didn’t tell us that before,” Hitch said. “Was she really arguing with Harry?”
“I didn’t tell you because you never asked me what I saw. Not like those two handsome detectives did. Yes. Maxine was talking to Harry at the edge of the parking lot. I might have exaggerated a bit about the finger waving part, but I don’t think they’ll arrest me for that.”
Hitch shook his head. I wasn’t sure if he was about to laugh or walk out. He didn’t do either. Instead, he sat down and finished his coffee.
“What on earth does Maxine have to do with this Harry guy?” I was beginning to feel like this whole tangled mess was connected somehow but I couldn’t see any logical explanation.
“Maxine is the president of the orchid society here in Pineville,” Hitch said. “With Harry’s orchid collection, it makes perfect sense that he would talk to her.”
“Don’t forget, Maxine was the first one to find his body,” Tilly said, so excited she was bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“You think she killed him?”
“I don’t know but I’ll put money down that she knows something,” Tilly said, ready to charge forward after information.
I agreed, but what did Maxine know?
7
“Slow down a minute, you two,” Hitch said, pulling the emergency brake on our rush to the front door. “We need a plan. If we all go charging over to Maxine’s house, she’ll be suspicious. I think I should go since I have orchid collecting in common with her.”
“And, you worked for Harry, so you have that in common, too,” I said. “Although, you might not want to play that card yet.”
“Whatever,” Tilly said with a flap of her hand. “I’m taking my coffee carafe back to my house while you two do your little dance around the suspect pole.”
I looked at Hitch and raised my eyebrows. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I whispered.
He shrugged.
Tilly opened the door. “Well, look at who just showed up at my house for a visit.”
“Maxine?” both Hitch and I blurted out.
“No. She’d rather die than set foot in the same room with me. My friend from Misty Harbor, Sue Ellen Baer is walking to my front door. And, it looks like she has a handsome man with her. Toodle-oo you two. I’ve got to meet that hunk on her arm.”
I grabbed Hitch’s arm, the good one, and pulled him outside. “We have to stay with Tilly before she does something impulsive like barge in on Maxine and accuse her of murder.”
Jasper trotted along with us, but the kittens watched from the windowsill.
Tilly jogged across the street and hollered, “Sue Ellen!” She waved her arms to get her friend’s attention, in case the screech wasn’t enough.
Sue Ellen, dressed in a red flowery dress, turned and a big grin spread across her face. She waved. “I was afraid I wouldn’t find you here. Is this a bad time for a visit, Tilly?”
“Not at all.” “Who’s your handsome friend?”
The man smiled and stuck his hand out. “Conrad Coleman. Pleased to meet you. Sue Ellen has told me so much about her beautiful friend.” Conrad kissed Tilly’s outstretched hand.
“Oh, please,” she giggled. Even from half-way across the street, I saw pink travel straight up her neck to the tips of her ears.
When Hitch and I caught up, I offered my hand in a no-nonsense manner. “Sunny Shaw, Tilly’s neighbor, and this is my friend, Ty Hitchner.”
Conrad shook my hand. No kiss, thank goodness. Then, after a slight pause, he shook Hitch’s hand.
Sue Ellen leaned close to Tilly and whispered like they were a couple of teenagers discussing some sort of naughty deed. “I heard there’s been some excitement in your town. If I know you, Tilly Morris, you’ll have more details than anyone else.”
“Well, maybe a few more.” Tilly looked up and down the street.
Was she checking that the coast was clear?
She wrapped her arm around Sue Ellen’s shoulders. “Let’s go inside. We’ve already had a visit from the state police and there’s no sense in rousing their suspicion from a gathering out here.”
“Oh, you make this sound so cloak and dagger-like. Are you involved?” Sue Ellen giggled as Tilly led her inside.
“After you,” Hitch said and took up the rear behind Conrad and me.
“So,” Tilly said, unloading her carafe on me to deal with. “What brings you to Pineville, Sue Ellen? I hope it’s not just the murder.”
I glanced at Tilly’s answering machine. The tell-tale red light flashed so I hit the play button. Sue Ellen’s voice rang out. “Coming with my friend, Conrad, who has some business to take care of in Pineville. Hope to see you, too, my dear.”
Sue Ellen held her hands out. “And, here we are. Conrad’s the contractor I told you about. You said you wanted to do a bathroom remodel. He’d love to take a look and give you a quote.
While Tilly and Sue Ellen chatted, Hitch pulled me aside. “Listen, Sunny. This is a good time for us to get out of here and visit Maxine. What do you think?”
“You want me to come with you?”
“I think it’s less intimidating if we go together as a couple of friends looking for some orchid info. I mean, we’ve got the old nursery now, so we can use that as a starting point.”
“Okay. I like it. How about Jasper? Bring her or leave her here with Tilly?”
“Leave her here.”
I nodded. “Hey, Tilly? Since your friends are here, Hitch and I are going to do some business planning. We can catch up with you later.”
A flash of something—annoyance?—passed over her face. She hated being left out, but she couldn’t very well abandon her friend who’d just shown up out of the blue.
“Before you go,” Tilly said, “Sue Ellen says Conrad is one of the best contractors around. Keep him in mind when you make your plans for your remodeling.”
Conrad smiled broadly and handed me his business card. “Yes, please give me a call. From the little bit I’ve already heard, I’d be honored to have the chance to help you transform that old nursery into a shiny new business.”
I slipped his card into my pocket. “Of course. We’d love to hear your thoughts once we have more details hammered out. Right, Hitch?”
“Sure,” he said with little enthusiasm. Whatever. It was a business decision we both had to make together.
