by Amber Crewes
Jamie wiped his nose on his sleeve. “I didn’t like the guy, but I would never kill anyone,” he said as Jack slipped into the room.
“Karen, Meghan, that’s all the time I can give you,” Jack said. “Chief Nunan is looking for Jamie, and I need to get you two out of here.”
Karen nodded at Jack. “Thanks for letting us see him, dear,” she said, her hand still on Jamie’s back. “I’ve known him forever. Jamie is a good man, and Sandy Bay is lucky to have him.”
Jack smiled weakly at Karen, but placed a pair of handcuffs on Jamie’s hands. “Okay, Jamie,” he said. “Let’s get you back to your cell. Meghan? Would you wait for me in my office? I’ll be down there in a few.”
Ten minutes later, after Karen had bid Meghan farewell, Meghan greeted Jack in his office. “Hey,” she said warmly. “How are you?”
Jack’s face was dark. “I’m tired,” he said. “It’s been a hard day. I didn’t expect this kind of mayhem during my first few days as a detective, and I honestly don’t think Jamie did it.”
Meghan took a long, deep breath. “Okay,” she said slowly. “What makes you think that?”
Jack shrugged. “Gut instinct, although I have to admit the evidence against him is quite compelling. Felix was stabbed to death, but please don’t share that; it isn’t common knowledge yet, and I’ve already bent enough rules for you today.”
Meghan bobbed her head in agreement. “My lips are sealed. So, if the evidence is compelling, what makes you think he didn’t do it?”
“The facts are incriminating, but I don’t think it was Jamie. The coroner’s report states that whoever stabbed Felix was left-handed. Jamie is right-handed, Meghan….”
Meghan’s dark eyes widened. “Then why is he still here, Jack? Why is he still in jail?”
Jack frowned. “It’s complicated,” he admitted. “Chief Nunan has ordered us to hold him until we find a better lead to suggest otherwise. With all of the trouble this has caused, Chief Nunan doesn’t want to cause more of a stir in Sandy Bay, and this is just for the best.”
“So you’re telling me Jamie didn’t do it? You know that for a fact?” Meghan asked, her voice hopeful.
“In my professional opinion, while his clothes and tools were found next to the body, I do not believe Jamie killed Felix.”
Meghan’s shoulders relaxed, but almost immediately, she sighed in frustration. “Jack,” she said. “That’s great and all; Jamie has always been kind to me, but the facts are the facts. His things were next to the body. Jack, if Jamie didn’t kill Felix Butcher, who did?”
8
“BUT I’M JUST NOT READY, Kayley!” Meghan heard Lori shriek. “I’m not ready to talk about selling anymore. My uncle just died.”
Meghan hastened her pace and burst into the tea shop to find Lori and Kayley glaring at each other. She stepped between the two women and held her hands up. “What is going on here?” she asked, seeing the fury in Lori’s eyes.
“She just marched in here and demanded I sell the tea shop today,” Lori said, pointing at Kayley. “I need more time to process everything that’s happened with my uncle, and she won’t leave me alone.”
Kayley snapped her gum and studied Lori’s frustrated face. “Look,” Kayley said to Meghan. “I’ve been in this business awhile. I know what I’m doing. This tea shop’s value is going to plummet if she doesn’t get it together and let me make a deal.
Lori balled her hands into fists. “I just want a few days. That’s all I want. She’s being unreasonable, Meghan.”
Kayley rolled her eyes. “I can’t deal with this child,” she said to Meghan as she gestured dismissively at Lori. “I’ve invested too much time and energy to get a great deal for you. I’m over these little games. I’m sorry your uncle died, but you need to get it together and help me help you.”
Lori’s eyes filled with tears. “Can’t you just give me one more day?”
Kayley huffed, tossing her short, blunt brown bob behind her shoulders. “Fine,” Kayley said, narrowing her eyes at Lori. “One more day, but after that, if you can’t commit to making something work, I’m done.”
Meghan and Lori watched as Kayley adjusted her purse and marched out the front door, and Lori wiped the tears from her cheeks as Meghan pulled her in for a hug. “Hey,” Meghan said softly. “It’s okay. We all need time to grieve, Lori, and if you need time, it’s fine. Kayley is all talk, I can tell.”
Lori shook her head. “No,” she said. “Kayley Kane has always been a no-nonsense lady, but ever since her husband left, she is just mean. She was serious about giving me one more day, I can tell, and if she isn’t helping me sell this place, I don’t know how I’ll get it done.”
Meghan nodded sympathetically. “So you’re still planning to sell?”
Lori smiled softly, her eyes still red. “It’s hard to think about, but now that Felix is gone, I truly have no one in my way. I can sell this place, go to college, and start living the life I’ve always dreamed, Meghan. It’s a hard time, but there is a bright side.”
“Ladies!”
Meghan and Lori turned to see Kirsty Fisher standing in the doorway. Dressed in a matching violet sweater and skirt and wearing a string of pearls around her neck, Kirsty was the epitome of elegance. Meghan was intimidated by Kirsty; while the two women both ran established organizations in Sandy Bay, Kirsty exuded confidence and poise, and Meghan, with her curvy frame and shy spirit, felt dull and childish next to her.
“Hi, Kirsty,” Meghan said, plastering a smile on her face. “What are you doing here?”
Kirsty pursed her lips and reached for Lori, wrapping her toned, tanned arms around her. “I heard about the tragedy with your uncle and wanted to offer my condolences in person,” Kirsty explained, delicately hugging Lori. “What a terrible thing. A murder. What a scandal!”
Meghan stifled an unkind thought as Kirsty gave Lori a pitying look; Kirsty’s ex-husband had recently been found guilty in a murder scandal, and Meghan thought it was ironic that Kirsty was bringing up Felix’s murder to Lori.
“Anyway, I just thought I would pop by. I saw Kayley Kane storm out of here. She’s in some trouble, you know. Well, I shouldn’t say anything, but as the President of the Parent Teacher Organization at Sandy Bay Preparatory Academy, she’s been giving me a little headache lately.”
Meghan raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, Kirsty?”
Kirsty leaned in. “Well, a little bird told me that Ms. Kayley Kane is several months late on the tuition payments for her children. Several months! Can you imagine?”
Meghan wrinkled her nose. “What does that matter, Kirsty?”
Kirsty shook her head. “It doesn’t, I guess. I was just not surprised to see her leaving here in a fussy way. She’s a snippy one, that Kayley Kane. She’s always been so pushy. Anyway, Lori, I’m sorry for your loss. Meghan, nice seeing you.”
Kirsty kissed Meghan and Lori on both cheeks before turning on her heel and strutting out of the tea shop. Lori leaned against the counter and wiped her brow. “That Kirsty Fisher stresses me out,” Lori said quietly. “I am spent, Meghan. Spent! I can’t take one more stressful thing.”
“Lori.”
Meghan and Lori gasped in unison as Kayley marched back into the tea shop.
“Look, I thought about what you said,” Kayley said. “I brought you the paperwork for the tea shop sale, but I’m willing to give you another week or so, if you need it. This has been a difficult time for you, and I’m sorry I was so rude.”
Lori smiled as Kayley handed her a file of documents. “Thank you, Kayley. I’ll do my best to get things in order and make it easy for you to help me sell this place. You’ve been a big help. Thank you so much.”
Kayley nodded curtly, shooting Meghan a business-like smile. “Of course. Just be in touch, okay?”
Kayley said goodbye and walked out of the tea shop. Lori grinned. “That made my day!” Lori exclaimed as she hugged the file to her chest. “A little more time is just what I
need.”
Meghan’s heart was beating rapidly in her chest, and she felt her body grow cold as she recounted Lori’s second interaction with Kayley a few moments ago. Kayley had handed Lori the file with her left hand.
9
“COME ON, PUPS! Fiesta, Siesta, let’s go!” Meghan called to her beloved twin dogs as she attached their leashes to their collars. “It’s a gorgeous day, and we have business to attend to!”
Meghan guided the dogs down the stairs and outside, breathing in the thick, salty air. “Ahhh,” Meghan said to herself as she strolled toward downtown Sandy Bay. “What a nice day it has been.”
Siesta and Fiesta walked in unison alongside Meghan. It was only steps to the city center, and Meghan reviewed her mission in her head. She could not shake the image of Kayley Kane handing Lori the paperwork with her left hand, and from what Jack had told her, the autopsy report stated that Felix’s killer had to have been left-handed! Meghan needed to find out where Kayley was the night of the murder, and she was determined to get the answers she needed.
“Here, my babies!” Meghan said to the dogs as they arrived outside of Kayley’s office. Meghan tied their leashes to a bike rack, straightened her hair, and marched into the office with her head held high. Meghan was greeted by a petite, curly-haired young woman sitting at a thin wooden desk.
“Hello! What can I do for you today?”
Meghan smiled warmly. “I’m looking for Kayley. Is she in?”
The curly-haired woman bit her bottom lip. “Did you have an appointment with her? Ms. Kane is currently out of town and unavailable.”
Meghan cocked her head to the side. “Out of town, huh? Do you know when she’ll be back?”
The woman shook her head. “I don’t think she said. She left in somewhat of a hurry, but I can take a message for you.”
Meghan waved her hand in front of her chest. “No,” she said casually. “That’s fine, I’ll just catch her some other time.”
Fifteen minutes later, Meghan, Fiesta, and Siesta were sitting in Jack’s office at the police station. Meghan had rushed to the station to share the news with Jack, and she was relieved that he was available to see her immediately.
“You’re telling me that Kayley Kane, someone who is very invested in the sale of that tea shop, is not only left-handed, but that she’s skipped town?” Jack asked, his brows raised.
Meghan nodded emphatically. “Yes! Jack, I think it’s her. I think she did it. I’ve heard she really needs that money, and Felix was standing in the way of her big sale.”
Jack whistled. “Well, Ms. Truman,” he said playfully. “You may have solved another case for this tired old detective. Look at you!”
Meghan smiled. “It’s the least I can do,” she said. “The sooner this is all over with, the better for Lori.”
Jack agreed. “I’ll have my team out to search for Kayley ASAP. In the meantime, you lay low, okay?”
Meghan nodded. “I will,” she assured Jack.
As Meghan and the dogs walked home, Meghan struggled to keep the dogs on the sidewalk; Fiesta and Siesta were growing larger and larger each day, and they practically dragged Meghan along with them.
“Relax, pups!” Meghan hissed to the dogs as they pulled her forward. “Slow down!”
Siesta and Fiesta did not listen, and before Meghan could properly scold them, their leashes flew out of her hands.
“Fiesta! Siesta!” Meghan called as both dogs ran away from her. Meghan felt the hot tug of dread fill her stomach, and she took off running behind the dogs. “Come back, Fiesta! Come back, Siesta! Come back right now!”
Meghan could not keep up with the dogs, and they disappeared from her sight. She could, however, still hear their loud barks, and she ran in the direction of their familiar yelps.
“Pups!” Meghan yelled. “Pups!”
Meghan turned a corner and found Becky, Felix’s wife, snuggling the dogs. They were licking her face, and Becky giggled as Siesta burrowed into her lap.
“Fiesta! Siesta!” Meghan said in relief.
“These sweet babies found me,” Becky said, smiling at Meghan. “Sounds like they gave you a little scare.”
“They did,” Meghan agreed. “They’re getting too big for me, and I couldn’t keep hold of them.”
Becky laughed. “This is the best thing to happen to me in months. I love dogs, and children, and anything little and sweet, really, but Felix never let me have them. Dogs and children, that is.”
Meghan saw the sadness in Becky’s eyes. “I’m sorry about your husband,” she said. “I can’t imagine what a shock it must be for you.”
Becky nodded. “It’s been hard,” she said, burying her face in Fiesta’s soft curls. “Felix was all I had. We were going to have a nice life here, too. He was going to run that tea shop, and I was going to finally stay in one place. We’ve been traveling around doing business for years, and all I wanted was to settle down here in Sandy Bay. Felix grew up here, you know, and he always talked about how pretty it was. I just wish he could enjoy it like I am….”
Meghan felt her heart drop. Becky looked so lost and alone, and while Felix had caused quite a stir in town, now, Becky seemed harmless.
“Well, thanks for letting me love on your babies,” Becky said wistfully as Meghan collected Fiesta and Siesta’s leashes. “This made my day. Truly.”
Meghan smiled at Becky. “Hey, what are you doing right now?”
Becky sighed. “Well, between running back and forth from my motel to the police station to help with the investigation, I haven’t been doing much of anything. I haven’t felt too welcomed here in Sandy Bay; you small town folks really stay close with your own, and I’m on the outside with this terrible murder.”
Meghan tucked a loose hair behind her ear and reached a hand out to Becky. “Well, I’m not a small town gal,” she said kindly. “I moved here from LA a few months ago, and I know what it feels like to be by yourself in a new place. Becky, how would you like to come chat over tea and treats with me at my bakery? You look like you could use something to sweeten your day, and I would love to have you.”
Becky’s face brightened. “That would be so nice,” she said, smiling softly at Meghan. “Now that would make my day.”
10
“THIS IS SUCH A NICE PLACE you have here,” Becky said as she sipped her earl grey tea. “I’m so sorry that Felix and I came in here and caused such a ruckus. I hate trouble, but Felix seems--seemed--to be drawn to it. I’m so sorry.”
Meghan shook her head. “Don’t you worry about it,” she said gently. “It’s all okay. Now, try a bite of this. This is one of our newest treats. These donuts were made by your niece, Lori. She’s quite a good baker, and I’ve loved having her here.”
Becky bit into the donut and shrieked. “This is wonderful! Oh my goodness!”
Meghan laughed. “I think that’s just what you needed.”
Becky nodded in agreement. “I think it was too. It’s been a hard time, Meghan. The last few years….well, life with Felix was never easy. We were so young when we got married, and looking back, we really never knew each other at all. He only really cared about his business, not me, and there were so many things that I never got to do. We just traveled around the country starting and failing businesses.”
Meghan frowned. “That must have been so hard,” she said softly. “What a difficult way to live.”
Becky shook her head. “It was worth it when we were young,” she said. “Felix was a hard man to love, but we had something huge in common.”
“What was that?”
“Flowers,” Becky dreamily replied. “He and I just loved flowers. We lived on a little plot of land outside of Montana for a year when we first married, and we grew the most beautiful garden together. We had gardenias, and sunflowers, and petunias that were the color of a Mediterranean sunset. Our garden was the most magical place I had ever seen.”
Meghan smiled. “That does sound wonderful.”
Beck
y looked down at her cup of tea. “It was wonderful, but it was over too quickly,” she said. “Felix had a business idea, and even though I begged him to stay in Montana, with our beautiful garden, he refused. We moved to the middle of Sacramento, to a terrible little apartment in the middle of the city, and our garden was only a memory.”
Meghan shook her head, studying Becky’s face. “That’s awful, Becky.”
Becky sighed. “It was my fault for following him around. I had just hoped so badly that I could have a normal life here, with a normal job, like a teacher or something. With Felix gone, I just don’t know what I’m going to do.”
