“It is. I hope it translates into business for April and Sandy. Look, there’s Rob.” I pointed.
Rob was taking photos of the crowd. Between the overflowing planter boxes and fairy lights twinkling, it looked magical. A waiter stopped by with cheddar cheese puffs. I took one and told Diedra, “These are wonderful; you’ll be sorry if you miss out.”
She ate one, and her eyes closed. “That is so good. I’m glad he walked away, I think I might have stolen the tray from him.”
A woman almost tripped on my foot. “Merry. Thank goodness. I meant to stop by.”
I gasped. “Alex. I’m supposed to stay away from you.”
“Poppycock. You just put nuts in by mistake. You didn’t do it on purpose.”
“I didn’t bake those muffins. You have to believe me.”
She touched my arm. “I believe you, but if it wasn’t a mistake, who gave them to me? And why did they leave a note from you? Do you think they’d try again?” Her gaze skittered. “I think I’ll go home now.” She wove through the tables to the door.
Rob hurried to my side. “Are you okay?”
I stared at Alex’s back. “I wasn’t trying to worry her. I just wanted her to know it wasn’t me. I’m fine. Continue taking your pictures.” He frowned but moved on.
Diedra said, “What happened? I feel like I missed a chapter.”
People rose from one of the tables near us. I claimed a chair and held one out for Diedra. I sat and explained.
“That doesn’t sound good. How would the person have gotten your plate?”
I hung my head. “Who knows? And they still haven’t found the note.”
Diedra raised her champagne glass. “This too shall pass. It’s what I always tell my kids.” She teared up. “And usually it’s true.”
“I’m sorry. This seems trivial compared to what you’ve been through.”
“What happened to Alex could have been much worse. And anyway, what we prayed for happened.”
“What was that?”
“For that man to die.”
My mouth dropped. “You prayed for Richard’s death?”
“Every day.” She flinched. “I know it’s bad of me, but I just couldn’t help it.”
“What about his associates.”
“Them too.” She coughed.
Rob returned. “I think I have enough photos, time for a glass of champagne.” He motioned to a waiter, who was passing out glasses. “Anyone else need one?” Deidra raised her hand. He took two glasses and handed her one.
Diedra rose. “I think I’ll take a stroll and see what the store has.”
I said, “I’ll join you in a minute.”
“Take your time.” She wandered into the shop, champagne glass in hand.
Rob sat in her seat. “You look pale.”
“She said she prayed every day for Richard’s death. Maybe she and her husband figured that prayers weren’t enough and decided to do something about it.”
✽ ✽ ✽
We dropped Diedra off. Rob tried to talk me into going out for dinner, but I had had enough of people for one day. I strode through the back door. “Jenny, we’re home!”
A door slammed, and she ran down the stairs. “I thought you were going out.”
“We decided not to. Rob’s making omelets. Want one?”
“No, I had the leftovers. Thanks.”
“Is that the washing machine running?”
“Yes. Did you need it?”
“No. Just wondered. You don’t normally do the wash.”
Jenny said, “I’ll be upstairs if you need me. I’ve got the timer set, so don’t worry about moving the clothes to the dryer, I’ll handle it.” She dashed out of the kitchen.
Rob laid bacon, eggs, spring onions, and broccoli on the counter. “Do I sense a thaw?”
“You do. An amazing turnaround that started this morning. And now she’s doing the wash. Wonders will never cease.”
The bacon sizzled in the pan. He chopped the broccoli and added it. “Cheese?”
“Yes, I have Swiss.” I took it from the fridge.
There was a rap at the back door. Andy walked in. “Am I intruding?”
“Never. Want a glass of wine or omelet?”
“Can’t stay. Ed’s making shrimp stir fry at home. How he’s in the mood to cook after catering a party, I’ll never know. But since I’m the beneficiary, I’m not going to complain.” He handed me a plate. “I thought we had two, but it turns out it was one.” He bounded out the door.
Chapter 20
Thursday’s work started outside the office. I visited homes and businesses to make sure that the outstanding claims from the storm had been settled and that the work had been completed. Not all agents do this, but I found it helped create stronger bonds. Several customers asked me about Alex; I reassured them I hadn’t baked the muffins, and they seemed to believe me.
My stomach growled. I checked my phone. If I hoofed it, I could have lunch at home and then go to the office. Another rumble and the decision was made. As I drove down my street, Jacob shut his trunk, got in the car, and pulled away from the curb, and I took the spot he vacated.
I ran up the steps and let myself in the front door. Jenny sprawled on the couch, phone in hand. She sat up. “Hi, Mom. I didn’t expect you home this early.”
“Lunch. What was Jacob doing here?”
“He stopped by to drop off an old game I wanted to try.” Her foot tapped.
My gaze wandered about the room. “Where is it?”
“What?” Her foot moved faster.
“The game he dropped off.”
“Oh. I took it up to my room.” She stood. “If that’s the end of twenty questions, I’ll see you later. I had lunch already.” Her ponytail bobbed as she ran up the stairs.
Something wasn’t ringing true. I passed my office door on the way to the kitchen. It was open. Strange. I walked in and did a quick scan. Nothing seemed to be out of place. I shrugged, shut the door behind me, and wandered into the kitchen. Leftover tuna salad or chicken breast? The tuna won. I made a sandwich, poured myself a glass of milk, and sat at the counter.
I took a bite and then pulled over a pad I keep near the phone. Clicking the pen, I started a list of people who might have wanted to harm Alex. It was a short list, headed by the generic “people from before she moved here” to the Greens. I began to doodle. There wasn’t more I could add to the first group, as I didn’t know who she knew before. The Greens. Hmm. Richard had been married to Alex when he killed the Greens’ daughter. Maybe they blamed her. Perhaps they thought that she could have stopped it somehow. I shuddered. Maybe they were going to target all of Richard’s wives. That would put Rob’s mother, Wanda, on their radar.
I finished my sandwich and loaded the dishwasher. Walking out the door, I texted Rob: “Dinner tonight? My house at six?”
“I’ll be there.”
The afternoon was full of spreadsheets, and I was eager to leave at the end of the day. I hurried home. As I passed Alex’s house, I thought I saw her peering out. The curtain swung shut.
My shoulders slumped as I trudged into the kitchen. Alex must be worried, and she’s over there all by herself. Maybe I should have Andy run over and check on her.
The chicken had defrosted in the refrigerator. I cubed it and then made a quick soy marinade. It went back into the fridge, and I poured myself a glass of wine. I sat on the window seat and admired the garden. Alex walked out her door and jumped when Rob’s car pulled in the drive. She rushed back inside.
Rob gave a quick knock and strode through the back door. I greeted him with a kiss. “The strangest thing just happened.”
His eyebrow rose.
“Alex walked out, but when she saw you, she turned tail and went back in.”
“Maybe she forgot something.”
“Maybe she didn’t want you to see her doing whatever she was about to do.”
He poured himself a glass of wine. “Or maybe she’s worried
that someone’s going to try again.”
I shuddered. “I want all this to be over with.”
“It has been busy lately.”
“Let’s sit out back. I’m doing a stir fry, so dinner shouldn’t take long.”
He held the door for me. “What’s new?”
I sat. “It looks like all the storm claims have been handled, so things should calm down at work.”
“That’s good news.”
“It is. And now for troubling news.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing happened. Or at least I hope nothing’s happening. Jacob pulled away from the curb when I came home for lunch today.”
“So?”
“What was he doing here? Jenny knows I don’t like her to have boys over when I’m not home.”
He reached for my hand. “What did she say when you asked her about it?”
“She said he dropped off a game. I would have felt better if I’d seen it.”
His eyebrow rose.
“And my office door was open. I always keep it shut.”
“I’m confused. Were you worried they were fooling around or were you worried they were in your office?”
“Both, I guess.”
“What would they want in your office?”
“I have no idea.” I studied the flowering Jackmanii clematis by the fence. Such pretty purple flowers. Was that a white flower?
Rob snapped his fingers. “We were talking about Jenny and Jacob. What are you looking at?”
“That clematis has purple flowers.”
He turned toward the fence. “It does.”
“What’s that three-quarters of the way up? It’s white; how would my purple clematis start blooming white? Maybe it’s a mutation.”
Rob walked to the trellis. After a moment he said, “Would you get me a tweezer and a plastic bag?”
I leaped up. “It’s not a flower. It’s a piece of paper. Is it the note?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll be right back.” I grabbed the tweezers from the downstairs powder room and baggie from the kitchen. I ran out and handed him the tweezers.
He teased the paper from the clematis. “It must have blown here from next door.”
I opened the baggie, and he dropped the note inside. I sealed it and then held up the baggie. “Rob, it looks like my handwriting.”
“Let’s take it inside.”
I trailed behind him. “Maybe it’s not the note. Maybe it’s something else.”
He carefully flattened the piece of paper through the baggie. It read: “Hope you enjoy the muffins, Merry.”
I sank onto the kitchen stool. “It’s my handwriting. And it references muffins.” I grabbed the antacids. “How?”
Rob rubbed my back. “We’re going to have to give it to Jay.”
My mouth dropped. “But then he’ll think I did it.”
He stared at me.
“You’re right. Momentary lapse. I’ll call him.” I made the call and then sat there, stunned. Rob continued to examine the note.
Fifteen minutes later, Jay walked through the back door. “Where’s the note?”
Rob pointed to the counter.
Jay whistled. “Merry, you told me you hadn’t written this. I’m no handwriting expert, but it looks like yours.”
My head drooped. “It is. I don’t know why it is, but it is.”
“There’s something odd here,” Rob said.
Jay leaned over the counter. “What.”
“See how the bottom edges of the paper are scalloped?”
Jay nodded.
“Now look at the top. It’s a straight edge. It’s almost like someone cut something off.”
I rushed over. “Show me.”
He traced the border.
“I’ll get a blank sheet so we can compare it.” I went into my office, retrieved it, and walked back to the counter. I laid it down next to the one Rob had pulled from the clematis. “You’re right. And the one from the trellis doesn’t have my header.” The blank sheet had Meredith March emblazoned across the top.
“Someone is trying to frame Merry.” Rob tapped the notepaper with the pencil.
✽ ✽ ✽
Jenny seemed almost manic at dinner. She insisted on cleaning up afterward and encouraged Rob and me to have an after-dinner drink in the living room. We complied.
I curled up against Rob on the couch. “Tell me that’s not weird behavior.”
“Maybe she recognizes she was wrong, and she’s trying to make it up to you.”
“Perhaps, but I know my daughter, and I can’t help but think something is going on.” I sighed. “With someone trying to frame me, your mother accused of murder, and Alex’s hospital visit, everything seems to be topsy-turvy.
I was tired, so we had an early evening. I stopped by Jenny’s room on my way to bed and rapped softly. I walked in and sat on the bed. “Wow. It looks so clean in here.”
“Thanks. I thought it needed it.”
“Is there anything you want to tell me?”
She chewed her bottom lip. “Everything’s fine. I’m sorry I was such a pain.”
I hugged her. “I love you. You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“I know.” She hugged me back. “Jacob and I are going to dinner early tomorrow and a movie after, so I won’t be here when you get home from work.”
“Got it.” I rose and went out the door.
“I love you, Mom.”
I blew her a kiss and shut the door behind me. Maybe she is growing up.
✽ ✽ ✽
Friday was crazy, and Rob arrived promptly at six to take me to dinner. We decided on a quick one at the Golden Skillet. I was tired, and all I could think of was taking a long soak in the tub and diving into my book. He dropped me at the house with a lingering kiss and embrace.
I trudged up the stairs and ran the bath. Feeling the need for some pampering, I added the lavender bath salts Patty had given me. After swirling the water a few times, I climbed in. My back slid down to a comfortable recline, and I wet the washcloth and draped it over my face—finally the me time I needed. As I tried to relax, something kept nagging at me just out of reach. Why had Jenny been so nice lately? And why had she seemed so nervous last night? And why was her room so clean?
I jumped out of the tub, wrapped a towel around me, and ran down the stairs into my office. I bent over the safe, turned the dial, and opened it. I yanked out the red file. One passport. Mine.
I ran to the phone. Thank goodness I had photocopied the ticket Drew sent. I reached an automated recording and punched in the flight number. “Flight 4099 departed on time to London at five o’clock.”
I fell into the chair. She went to London to meet Drew.
✽ ✽ ✽
I texted Rob and then ran upstairs to change. It seemed like he arrived within minutes of the text. I paced the kitchen. “I knew something was off. If I hadn’t been so distracted with Alex, I would have figured it out sooner.” I kicked one of the chairs. “I can’t believe she lied to me. I’m going to kill her.”
Rob held out a chair. “Merry, sit. You’re beet red. Having a heart attack won’t solve anything.”
“I can’t sit. I need to book a ticket on the next flight to London.”
“You don’t even know where they are staying.”
I glared at him. “If that kid ever wants to come back here, she better answer the flaming text I sent.”
He opened my iPad. “All right, but I’m going with you.”
There was a knock at the door, and Jay walked in. “Meredith March, I’m arresting you for the attempted murder of Alex Danford.”
Chapter 21
The cot in the county jail was murder on my back. The décor was that special kind of prison gray, and the bathroom was quite public. I paced the cell, and mid-morning my lawyer sprung me. She cautioned, “I got them to set bail; promise me you’ll stay away from Ms. Danford.”
“You don’
t need to worry about that; I’m catching the next flight to London.”
“No, you’re not.”
“My daughter is on her own, and she was supposed to have landed there—” I checked my watch—“early this morning. Trust me; I’m getting on a plane.”
“Merry, you had to surrender your passport as a condition of making bail.”
I felt faint. “What am I going to do?” I turned on my heel, walked out the courthouse door, and into the police station next door. I knocked at Jay’s door.
“Come in.”
I opened the door and strode to his desk. “Jay, you know I didn’t do this.”
“Merry, if it had been up to me, I wouldn’t have charged you. The new District Attorney is trying to make a name for himself.”
I sank into a chair. “It’s the absolute worst time for this. Jenny flew to London. She’s meeting Drew there.”
His eyes widened. “Ex-husband Drew? The one the FBI is looking for?”
“The only ex I have.”
“Where is he staying in London?”
My phone binged. Jenny’s text read: “Know you’re mad but had to do this. Can reach me by phone. Address follows.”
I handed the phone to Jay. “At least she told me where she was.”
He made a note of the address. “I’m sorry, Merry. I know it’s difficult, but there is nothing I can do now.”
There was a knock at the door.
“Come.”
Rob rushed in. “I have a ticket. My flight leaves in three hours.” He stood over Jay. “You’re not detaining her, are you? I need a ride to the airport.”
“No. She’s free to go, and you are too.”
I tore out of the station. Rob raced after me. “Merry, wait up.”
“How is this happening?”
He wrapped me in his arms. “I’ll bring her back safe and sound. Trust me.”
“What kind of mother am I?” I mumbled into his chest.
“The best. And now we need to go if I’m going to make my plane. I’ll drive to the airport, and you can bring the car back.”
As I brooded in the passenger seat, the ride to the airport seemed to take forever. Rob pulled up to the curb and jumped out. He grabbed his carry-on from the trunk, came to my door, and pulled it open. “Merry, you can’t sit here. It’s busy.”
Murder So Deadly Page 19
