by Leena Clover
“What just happened?”
“Dunno,” Otto grumbled.
“Can you play it again, please?”
Otto played the video again twice. It cut off at the same point every time. Anna slammed her fist on the desk in frustration.
“Hey, watch it, sister.”
“Are you sure you don’t have any other tapes of the day?”
“This is not a tape. The camera uploads the video in some cloud and generates a file for each day. Looks like something went wrong that day.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Anna muttered.
“Are we done here?”
Anna forced herself to control her emotions.
“Let’s just see if we can see that van clearly, maybe read the plates or something.”
Anna took some pictures of the screen with her phone. There was something painted on the side but it wasn’t clearly visible.
“Looks like some kind of contractors,” Otto said, pointing to a small word on the screen.
“You can read that?” Anna asked, squinting her eyes.
“Got 20-20 vision. Wanted to be a pilot but didn’t have enough dough to take lessons.”
Anna had never known that little tidbit about Otto. She thanked him for his help and walked out in a daze, staring at her phone screen.
“What are you looking at?” Meg asked when Anna walked into Bayside Books.
Anna told her what she had found. Meg took the phone from her and did some weird things with her fingers.
“I’m trying to magnify the image,” she told Anna. “This says ‘r and Sons’ on the top line. The line below that says ‘fing Contractors’. A lot of the text is cut off, Anna.”
“Fing Contractors? Roofing Contractors!” Anna cried. “I know what that first line must be. Buckner and Sons.”
Meg was looking at her in wonder.
“How did you figure that out, Anna?”
“Tim Buckner was William Parker’s partner. They had a falling out. He has his own business in Blackberry Beach now.”
“Is he one of the suspects on your list?”
Anna nodded. “I need to go talk to him now.”
“Don’t go alone,” Meg said quickly. “Call Mary or Julie or check if Cassie’s back.”
“Cassie won’t be back yet,” Anna said, shaking her head. “I know! Let me call Gino.”
Gino promised to get there in half an hour. Anna waited for him at the corner of the street at the given time. Soon she was bringing him up to speed on what she had done that morning.
“That was brilliant, Anna. How did you connect the dots so soon?”
“Tim Buckner has been on my list of suspects,” Anna replied. “Julie and I were supposed to go and see him but that never happened.”
They reached the town of Blackberry Beach half an hour later and Gino followed the navigation system to the address. Buckner and Sons was a small unit in a strip mall with a large freshly painted sign hanging over their store.
A burly man with a red Mohawk and matching red sideburns that covered half his cheeks looked up when they entered. His piercing green eyes bore into Anna’s, making her shiver. A younger version of the man sat at an adjoining desk, sporting a matching red Mohawk. Anna decided neither color came from a bottle.
“What can I do for you?”
“Are you are the same Tim Buckner who used to work with William Parker?”
“Who’s asking?”
Gino took a step forward and introduced himself.
“I know who you are. I lived in Dolphin Bay all my life. Still live there, in fact. Only reason we had to open a business here is because of that blackguard.”
“But now that William Parker is dead, you can set up shop in Dolphin Bay,” Anna summed up.
“What are you trying to say?” Tim growled.
“What were you doing on the night Parker was killed?” Gino asked.
“You don’t have to tell him nothing, Dad.” The young Mohawk spoke up.
“If you know who I am, you know I still got contacts in the force,” Gino warned. “You can either come clean now or go to the police station.”
“Alright, alright, what do you want?”
“You have a dark colored van, right?” Anna asked. “What was it doing in front of my store on the night of the murder?”
“Van was stolen,” Tim sighed. “Found it a block away from the corner of Ocean and Main a couple of days later.”
“That’s where my store is!” Anna exclaimed. “On the corner of Ocean and Main.”
“Where was it stolen from?” Gino asked sternly.
“Right where we always park it,” Tim replied. “In the lot behind the Yellow Tulip near that dumpster. It’s got all our ladders and stuff, see?”
He gave a lengthy explanation of how it was convenient to keep the van in a central place and drive it to work sites from there rather than take it home every time.
“Where were you when the car was stolen?” Gino wanted to know.
“I was at that fancy resort up on the hill,” Tim said sullenly.
Anna realized they weren’t going to get much more out of Tim. She nodded at Gino and they went out.
“Do you trust him?” Anna asked as Gino drove them home.
“I don’t know, Anna. We need to check his alibi first. I’m also going to talk to Teddy Fowler about this.”
“He didn’t seem like a blues fan to me. What do you think he was doing at the resort?”
Gino burst out laughing.
“You never know, Anna.”
“We are nowhere close to solving this, are we?” Anna asked, her brow settling in a frown.
Chapter 17
Cassie drove to the airport with Bobby, letting him talk.
“This might be a good thing for your career. You are not getting any lead roles. Having a young daughter might make you a candidate for those mother type roles.”
“What? I may be getting old for playing a 20 something. But I’m not playing anyone’s mother.”
“Just sayin’,” Bobby shrugged.
They were both quiet for a while.
“Meg seems like a good kid. And she’s fully grown.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Cassie grumbled. “You sound like my mother, Bobby. Infatuated with Meg.”
Cassie pulled up in the departure zone of the airport and Bobby jumped out. He grabbed his bag from the back seat and blew Cassie a kiss.
“Keep your cool, babe. Talk soon.”
Cassie pulled out before the traffic cop standing on the pavement could yell at her to move. She had a long drive ahead of her and a lot on her mind. She dialed Gino from the car. She wanted to know if he had made any progress on her request. She got his voicemail and hung up without leaving a message. Anna was meeting her at the Tipsy Whale for lunch. Cassie expected she would bring Meg along.
Anna was sitting at a window booth inside the pub, alone. She raised a hand when she saw Cassie.
“Where’s Meg?”
“She’s at the store, working. I can bring her a sandwich when we leave.”
“What have you been up to, Mom?” Cassie asked. “Have you talked to Gino lately?”
“I just met him.”
Anna told Cassie about going to meet Tim Buckner.
“Do you remember seeing him at the resort? Tall, burly guy with bright red hair? Kind of hard to miss.”
“I don’t remember. But that doesn’t mean anything. You heard Ashley sing. I was completely engrossed in her performance. Then there was Teddy and his wife. I wasn’t exactly checking out the other guests.”
“Tim Buckner says he’s lived in town all his life. But I don’t remember coming across him.”
“Clearly, you don’t move in the same circles, Mom.”
“There have to be people in town who know about him. I wonder if Murphy will know.”
She glanced at the pub owner laughing heartily with some guests.
“He has a small business,
right?” Cassie mused. “And he places ads in the Yellow Pages or the newspaper? What about someone at the Chronicle?”
“That’s a brilliant idea, Cassie. You know who’s the editor of the Chronicle? Ian Samuels, your old English teacher.”
“Mr. Samuels from high school?” Cassie laughed. “Really? I’d forgotten about him.”
“Why don’t you go revive your acquaintance?” Anna asked with a gleam in her eyes. “I hear he loves to gossip.”
“Soon as we finish lunch,” Cassie promised.
They ordered the special as usual. It was a fried fish sandwich made with beer battered cod sprinkled with vinegar and a creamy dill sauce. Cassie swooned over the sweet potato fries it was served with.
“I’m heading back to the store,” Anna said after they sat back with a satisfied smile on their faces. “Do you want me to show you where the Chronicle is?”
“I can find it, Mom.” Cassie pulled up a map on her phone.
“Give my regards to Ian,” Anna said as they walked out of the Tipsy Whale.
Cassie didn’t have far to go. The Dolphin Bay Chronicle offices were situated a couple of blocks off Main Street. Cassie decided to work off her lunch and started walking.
A short, plump man with a shiny bald head and grey hair growing out of his ears cried in delight when Cassie walked into his office.
“Is that you, Cassie Butler?” He took off his glasses and peered at her.
“Mr. Samuels!” Cassie gave him a hug. “What are you doing here?”
“The Chronicle was floundering after the old editor died. They offered me this position. Retirement wasn’t going too well for me. I was just bored, you know. So I took up this job.”
Mr. Samuels told her how he had watched every movie she had been in several times.
“You got me started, Mr. Samuels,” Cassie reminisced. “Remember that production of Romeo and Juliet in middle school?”
“You were the best Juliet I ever came across as a drama coach,” Ian Samuels said. “You were barely 14 at that time. Always knew you would make me proud.”
Ian rang for coffee and finally turned to business.
“What brings you here, child?”
“A man was found dead in my mother’s bookstore.”
“I know about William Parker. The Chronicle reported it, of course.”
“The police suspect Mom so …”
“Anna? She’d never hurt a fly.”
Cassie wondered how Ian Samuels hadn’t heard the rumors the mayor was spreading about her mother. Maybe he was just being polite.
“Mom’s trying to figure out what might have happened. I’m helping her.”
“Your mother’s a smart cookie. Didn’t she find out what happened to that poor college girl?”
Cassie nodded.
“We came across someone called Tim Buckner. It seems he used to be the dead guy’s partner. Have you ever heard of him?”
“Have I? William Parker and Tim Buckner were partners for years. They had a good thing going with clients in and around Dolphin Bay. Tim was grooming his son to take over when he retired. Then something went wrong.”
“What happened?”
“Some money was found missing from their company. William was accused of embezzlement. He pointed the finger at Tim. Tim maintained he was innocent. There was a big scandal.”
“When did this happen?” Cassie asked.
“A couple of years ago as far as I remember. Tim finally got out of the business. He and his son started their own gig in Blackberry Beach.”
“Did he go quietly?”
“Tim Buckner is many things but he’s not quiet. He has a mean temper, Cassie. Rumor is he made all kinds of threats against William when he left.”
“So would you say he had a motive?”
Ian’s look said it all.
“Why wait two years to kill him though?”
“Maybe he was waiting for the right chance?” Ian quizzed. “Thanks for bringing this to me, Cassie. I had forgotten all about Tim Buckner.”
“Do you really believe he’s guilty?”
“I believe he’s capable. I might spin that into a story.”
“It was great catching up with you, Mr. Samuels. Did you know Mom is opening a café in town? You should come to the grand opening. Consider this an official invitation.”
“Anna’s café is the talk of the town. We will do a story on it once it’s up and running.”
Cassie got up to leave.
“Here’s a thought, Cassie. William Parker’s lawyer should have details about this feud between him and Tim. Why don’t you go see him? He might know if anyone else had a problem with William. He wasn’t very well liked, to be honest.”
“That’s a great idea, Mr. Samuels.”
Cassie thanked him and walked out of the Chronicle, happy she had some new information for Anna. She debated going to the bookstore. The thought of running into Meg held her back.
Cassie walked to the parking lot and got into her car. The beat up old Mercedes started after half a dozen tries. Cassie decided to go for a drive. A few minutes later, she realized where she was when a sign for Daisy Hollow Farms appeared on her left. On an impulse, she swung onto a dirt road.
Daisy Hollow Farms was a bustling operation, much larger and organized than what she remembered. She had come there twenty years ago on one fateful rainy afternoon. Had she been wrong to break up with Dylan all those years ago? But she was just a hurt and confused teenager. What did she know?
The object of her reverie stepped out of a barn, dressed in faded overalls. He waved at her and walked over, a wide grin on his face.
“Hello Princess! Lost your way?”
“I was in the area and I thought I might see what the fuss is about. Mom goes on and on about how fancy this place is now.”
“Nothing fancy as you can see,” Dylan said, waving an arm around. “Just working the land like my ancestors did.” He sobered as he looked at Cassie. “It’s a far cry from Hollywood.”
“So does one get a tour?” Cassie asked, stepping out of the car.
Dylan gave an exaggerated bow and offered her his arm. Cassie ignored him and started walking toward a field planted with strawberries. A bushel of strawberries lay in the path. Cassie took a couple of the juicy, red fruits and popped one in her mouth. She closed her eyes to savor the sweet flavor.
Dylan showed her where they processed the milk and made cheese. A woman came over with a brown paper bag bursting with strawberries.
“Take these to Anna,” Dylan said.
Cassie started to open her bag to pay him.
“On the house, Princess!”
“Do you have to call me that?” Cassie fumed.
“There was a time when you liked it,” Dylan said, lowering his voice to a whisper.
“Times change, Dylan,” Cassie snapped.
“You know that new girl who’s working for Anna?” Dylan asked casually as he walked her back to her car.
Cassie tried to hide the sudden shiver that ran through her.
“She reminds me of you.”
Chapter 18
Anna lifted the lid off the pan and breathed in the heady aroma of herbs and spices. She hoped Gino liked Thai food.
Cassie came in, looking tired but pleased with herself.
“Something smells awesome, Mom.”
“Dinner in half an hour. If you want to take a shower, now’s the time.”
Cassie nodded and hurried into her room.
Anna began setting the table, wondering what Meg was doing that evening. She had hesitated over inviting her along with Gino but Meg had made it easy for her, saying she wanted to make some phone calls back home. Maybe she missed her parents. Anna hoped she would get an opportunity to thank them sometime for taking such good care of Meg.
The doorbell rang and Anna scrambled to check herself in the hall mirror before answering the door. Gino stood outside, holding a bunch of daisies in his hand. He handed them to A
nna.
“These are lovely, Gino. Thanks so much.”
“How are you, Anna?” Gino asked, following her into the kitchen.
“I’m doing fine,” Anna assured him. “Didn’t we meet just a few hours ago?”
“Feels much longer than that,” Gino murmured in her ear, making her blush.
Cassie joined them, greeting Gino with a knowing smile on her face.
“What have you cooked, Anna. Smells like lemongrass.”
“I’m impressed,” Anna replied. “I made red curry salmon poached in coconut milk. There’s pineapple fried rice to go with it.”
“Sounds delicious,” Gino said, patting his stomach. “Let’s eat already.”
“Did you meet Ian Samuels?” Anna asked Cassie as they began eating.
“Meeting Mr. Samuels was a really great idea, Mom.”
She told them about her conversation with the Chronicle editor.
“We need to find out more about this lawyer he mentioned and go talk to him.”
“He must have used one of the lawyers in town,” Anna mused. “Maybe Tim Buckner will tell us who this lawyer is.”
“You think so?” Cassie asked. “Why would he help us?”
“If he’s innocent, he will be eager to get a clean chit. Especially if he wants to start doing business in Dolphin Bay again.”
They all took second helpings of the salmon. Anna was secretly glad she had made extra.
“This pineapple fried rice hits the spot, Anna,” Gino praised. “It goes really well with that hot curry sauce.”
“I took a cooking class when we were in Thailand.”
“You’re quite the traveler, aren’t you?” Gino said in wonder. “I knew you had been to Europe, but all the way to Thailand? That’s something.”
“Cassie was shooting one of her films over there,” Anna explained. “She sent us tickets. It was a wonderful trip. So anyway, a local woman was offering cooking classes in Chiang Mai. John loved spicy food so he urged me to take this class.”
“You still miss him, don’t you?” Gino asked.
Anna nodded.
“I don’t think I will ever stop loving him.”
“Of course you won’t,” Gino said gently. “I think you are more fortunate than most, to have found this kind of love in your lifetime.”
