I recognized Esther from the trouble Rose had at the movies when a corpse showed up at her dog grooming salon, Pawfectly Groomed. She pointed her finger at Vivian. “She’s a murderer. How could you let her in here with the rest of us?”
I heard the front door open. When I turned to look, it was Logan. I turned back to Esther.
“I know you really love the sugar cookies. Why don’t I get a dozen together for you? On the house. I needed to close up here anyway.” Sure enough, the clock on the wall began to chime on the hour.
Esther still had a sour look on her face. “I suppose that’s agreeable, but you should be careful of the company you keep.”
I boxed up some sugar cookies and sent her on her way. I locked the door behind the counter before turning back to my friends.
“That was a very long day,” I said as I collapsed into a chair.
“Let me go make a fresh pot of coffee,” said Logan. He ducked behind the counter to brew some coffee. He poured it and passed the mugs around. He stood behind me with his hand resting on the back of my chair as we regrouped.
The comfortable way he strolled behind the counter and made a fresh brew warmed me up more than just the bean water. He was percolating inside me, I figured, because this little act felt so...intimate. I giggled inwardly and realized how much better his choice of skirting boundaries - making coffee - was better than mine - breaking and entering.
“I don’t think we can have something like what happened with Esther happen again,” I said.
Logan’s arm brushed up against me, and I felt electricity dance across my skin. I tried to not show it on my face, but I wanted to swoon. I couldn’t wait for this investigation to be over and to focus on spending time with him. Outside of this high pressure holiday of doom.
Stella pulled me out of my focus on Logan. “Well, who are our suspects now?” she asked.
I thought about it for a moment. “I think there’s a reason we can’t get into the basement of the senior center. And we know who’s blocking access to that.”
Logan pulled a chair up next to me and sat down. “You think it’s Agnes?”
“Right now, she’s the most likely suspect, don’t you agree?”
Logan scratched at the five o’clock shadow that had begun to form along his jaw. “I suppose you’re right about that. We need access to that basement, but I don’t have the warrant yet.”
“I can go by myself again,” I said. “I know to be more careful. Or maybe Scooter or Masie...”
Logan took off his badge and tossed it onto the counter. “I’ll go with you,” he said. “I’ll be acting in an unofficial capacity, but at least this way I can protect you.”
My eyes got wide, and I was taken aback by the act. Logan without his police duties was something I had been looking forward to.
I rested my hand on his chest where his badge once was. “I could get used to this,” I said. His chest felt warm and strong beneath my hand.
“Could get used to what?” he asked. “My firm pecs?” Woof!
Vivian and Stella tried and failed to stifle their giggles.
“No,” I exclaimed, taking my hand away. “You without your badge.”
“I bet the other thing isn’t bad either,” said Vivian.
I tried to ignore the others as a blush crept across my cheeks. I tried to settle the butterflies in my stomach. We had more serious work to attend to.
We needed to get back into the senior center and find out what was in that box once and for all.
Chapter 25
Agnes' personal assistant, Zinnia, stood in front of the office door with her arms crossed over her chest, refusing to let us by. Her lips were pinched together in a thin line and her eyes were narrowed.
“I’m not here in an official capacity. I don’t even know where my badge is, right at the moment.” Logan patted his hands over his pants pockets and across his chest, as though he’d misplaced something.
“I don’t care what capacity you’re in, neither of you can come in here.” Zinnia rolled her eyes and made a shooing motion with her hands, as if that would be enough to make us turn and walk away.
“Now, what kind of welcome is that? Coco, here, is looking for a lovely place for her dear elderly gram to live. It seems there’s a vacancy, am I right? What would Agnes say if she knew you were scaring away potential business?” Logan asked. He angled his head admonishingly.
Zinnia scrunched her brows together in contemplation. She frowned before blowing out a breath. She finally muttered, “Fine, you can go in.”
“Thank you.” I grinned unabashedly at Logan.
“I wasn’t about to miss out on watching you work your magic.” He waggled his brows up and down. I swatted his arm playfully.
Agnes was seated behind her desk when we entered the office. “How did you two get in here?” She demanded, bolting upright.
Logan leaned back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest one ankle crossed over the other. The perfect picture of calm, composed, and uninterested.
“You killed Franklin, and then, you tried to drown me in the cellar.” I jammed a finger in her direction, not bothering with small talk.
“What are you talking about? I’m horrified you would even think such a thing. Someone tried to drown you in the cellar?” She gasped.
“Don’t act like you’re innocent,” I said.
“Give me a little credit. It’s one thing for a guy to overdose and die on the front lawn. It’s something else, entirely, to have someone drown in the cellar. That’s just bad publicity.” She huffed, as if that was the most exasperating thing she’d ever heard. Flopping down in her seat, she began flipping through a folder atop the desk.
“It might be bad publicity, but that doesn’t change the fact that you had motive. You’ve been getting Clive in to talk to Franklin. With his involvement in Las Vegas and a lot of gangsters through the years, Clive’s tell-all was going to be a name maker.”
Agnes' eyes grew wide and her face paled. “How do you even know about that?”
“You wanted a piece of the glory, but then poor Franklin got cold feet. Perhaps, you felt threatened. You couldn’t let him ruin your big opportunity. If he was out of the way, Clive could run the story without his consent.”
“For your information, Clive came by just yesterday. He’s pulling the plug on the story. I can’t believe you would think I’m a killer.” She narrowed her eyes, first at me, then at Logan.
“Don’t forget about the watchdog,” Logan added.
“Observing, remember?” I shot him a glare.
“Right, sorry.” He held his hands, palms out, in front of him.
“Your personal assistant out there acts like a warden. Hindering police investigations. Monitoring who comes and goes, like there’s something to hide. Did she help you do it?” I asked accusingly.
“I like to run a tight ship. That doesn’t mean anything. It certainly doesn’t make me a murderer,” Agnes said, exasperation coating her words.
“You were snooping around Franklin’s cottage after he died. Maybe, you were trying to get rid of evidence? Did you leave something there after you drugged him?” I asked.
She stared at me in shock. “You’re out of your mind.”
“Not to mention, you’re power hungry. You make up all these ridiculous rules for the residents to follow. No alcohol, come on. Let these people enjoy their last years, for crying out loud.”
“I like things to run smoothly. That isn’t a crime. I can’t be responsible for a bunch of drunk old loons running around my community.”
“Not to mention, you have perfect access to the cellar. You would know where the lights are, where the broken water faucet is and how to lock it from the outside, so I would be trapped,” I pointed out.
“I would never do that,” she cried. She ran both hands across her face, erratically rubbing at her eyes and cheeks.
“Where were you at the time of Franklin’s death?” I demanded, refusing t
o let up.
She stared at me for a brief moment before her shoulders sagged, and she dropped her face into her hands. She mumbled something unintelligible.
“Excuse me.”
She looked up at me, eyes glistening and sighed. “I was with Warner Abernathy.”
“Warner Abernathy? As in hotel manager, Warner Abernathy?” I couldn’t mask the shock in my voice. I looked at Logan for confirmation, positive that I’d misheard her. He shrugged, like it was no big deal.
“Yes, that Warner Abernathy. It isn’t as though there is more than one here in town,” Agnes answered.
“What, exactly, were you doing with Warner Abernathy?” I wondered.
“I’m sure you don’t want all the details.” She put entirely too much emphasis on the word all.
I swallowed down my shock, unsuccessfully. “So, you and Warner, then, huh?”
“We’ve been having an affair for a little while, now. Not many people know about it. Warner is quite the gentleman.” Her voice softened.
“I never would have guessed. I don’t mean to offend. You just don’t really seem like Warner’s type. I always figured he’d be with someone rich and snooty.”
Agnes glared at me. Logan choked on a laugh.
“We’ll have to check your story with Warner, of course. If there’s a possibility he won’t corroborate, it would be best for you to tell us now,” I warned her.
“Of course he will,” she insisted. The look on her face was triumphant.
Chapter 26
As it turned out, we didn’t have to go very far to get Warner to corroborate Agnes' story.
There was a knock at the door, and Zinnia strode in. She glanced hesitantly at Logan and me before turning her attention to Agnes. “Miss Lovelace, your special appointment has arrived.”
A tall, regal looking figure followed her through the door. He set a weary gaze on me. His eyes darted between Logan and myself a few times. Stepping over to Agnes, he put a protective arm around her. She melted into his side.
“Is there a problem here, officer?” Warner asked, directing his question toward Logan in an attempt to leave me out of the conversation. He’d never cared much for me.
“No problem at all.” Logan pushed off the wall and stepped forward. “Coco and I were having an enlightening little chat with Agnes, here. She was just telling us the two of you have been seeing each other for a while, now. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that is correct. We’ve become quite close over the last several months,” Warner answered, lightly squeezing Agnes' arm. She grinned up at him like a school girl in love.
“That’s great. It’s always nice when you find someone special to spend time with.” Logan sent a sheepish grin my way.
I rolled my eyes at him.
“Agnes tells us that she was with you the night Franklin was murdered. Can you verify her story?” Logan asked.
Warner glanced down at Agnes, lovingly. “Yes. We shared a lovely meal in my home, watched a classical movie on the television, and then...” Warner’s eyes skipped from mine to Logan’s.
“Well, a gentleman never kisses and tells. I’m sure you understand, Officer Owensby.” Warner raised his eyebrows, expectantly.
“Oh, dear Lord,” I groaned, unable to stop the words before they catapulted from my lips.
Warner shot a disgusted glare my way. “If you don’t have any further questions, Agnes and I have a reservation to show up for.”
“Nothing further. Thank you for your cooperation. If I have any further questions, I know how to contact you.” Logan nodded.
Warner ushered Agnes from the room without another word.
“I believe it’s time for the two of you to leave,” Zinnia hissed.
“Right-o. Coco, after you.” Logan swept a hand towards the door.
I stepped past Zinnia, chin up, eyes forward. She would not have the satisfaction of seeing me defeated. Logan followed me out. We made it to the parking lot before either of us spoke.
“Looks like we’re back to square one,” Logan said.
“I really dislike square one,” I pouted, leaning against Logan’s car. He leaned next to me, one arm resting on the hood.
“Maybe, it really was an accident. For the amount of liquor that was in Franklin’s system, he had to have been pretty wasted. Perhaps, he took too many drugs, not realizing what he was doing. It happens.”
Logan brushed a stray hair behind my ear.
“I don’t believe it.”
He started to protest, but I put a hand over his lips to stop him.
“I’m fully aware that alcohol and drugs can be a toxic combination. But if that were the case, why would someone try to drown me? If it was truly an accident, there’s no reason for someone to try to get rid of me for digging around, because there would be nothing to find.”
“Either way, we don’t have any more leads to go on,” said Logan, opening the car door for me to get in.
Logan took me back to the bakery to get my car. “I’m going to head back to the station and see if I can come up with anything useful.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He leaned across the car and placed a soft kiss on my cheek. I hurried away without looking back.
Masie and Scooter were in the kitchen cleaning up the mess from the chaotic day. Rose sat at my station, flipping through the latest edition of Fondant Monthly.
“So, that was a bust. Turns out Agnes was with Warner Abernathy when Franklin was killed.” A shudder raked up my spine and my lip curled.
“Agnes and Warner?” Rose asked.
“Eww,” Masie grimaced.
“Hey, everybody deserves to be loved,” Scooter said.
The three of us turned to stare at him.
“Well, it’s true,” he insisted.
I shook my head. “Anyhoo, why don’t you two head out. Thanks for the hard work today. I don’t know how I would keep this place running without you.”
“You wouldn’t.” Masie said nonchalantly, a grin spreading across her lips.
“Take tomorrow off to relax. I’m sure it’ll be a slow day. Everyone is bound to be in a sugary love coma.”
“Thanks, Coco,” said Scooter, as he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
Masie and Rose followed, each giving me a quick hug.
“See you later,” they said in unison, as I flipped off the lights and locked the door.
Back at my apartment, I pulled open a can of cat food and scooped it into a bowl. I set the bowl on the kitchen floor and tossed the can in the recycle when the phone rang.
“Coco, Stella’s missing,” Vivian’s hysterical voice screeched through the receiver, before I could even say hello.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“She wasn’t satisfied that the killer hasn’t been found, yet, and she went out to investigate on her own. Now she’s disappeared,” Vivian sobbed.
“Maybe she just isn’t finished. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.” I tried to reassure her.
“It’s been hours, and she’s not answering her phone. She always answers her phone, even if it’s just to swear at whoever is on the other end. Something has happened, I just know it has. You have to find her, Coco. Please.” I heard the fear in her voice.
“I’ll be right there.” The murderer must have gotten to her. Which meant that Stella must have been on the right track. I didn’t say this out loud, not wanting to send Vivian into another round of hysterics. Instead, I hung up and dialed Logan.
Chapter 27
I hung up with Vivian, my heart beating a mile a minute, as I grabbed my car keys dialing Logan’s number at the same time. Thank goodness, I had him on speed dial because the way my hands were shaking, I would have misdialed a million times otherwise. Rushing out the door, I climbed into the car, waiting impatiently as the phone rang on the other end. “Pick up, pick up, pick up,” I muttered, holding the phone to my ear with one hand, as I backed down the driveway with the
other.
“What’s up?” Logan said, finally answering the phone on the fifth ring.
“Stella’s gone out into the retirement village to do more snooping. Vivian says she’s not answering her phone. I think the killer has her.” I gave him a short version of the story. “We need to hurry, Logan, before it’s too late.”
“I’m on the way. I’m in that area, so it shouldn’t take me long.” He paused, and I could hear him getting into his cruiser. “Do not go in there alone, Coco. Wait for me,” he warned.
“Sure, just hurry,” I said, disconnecting the call before he could say he didn’t believe me. The radio in the car was blaring as I drove towards the retirement village, but I didn’t have time to turn it down. “Don’t be Cruel” started playing on the town’s local radio station, and my foot pressed the gas pedal harder, as it came to me. “I know where Stella’s going to be,” I muttered, taking one hand off the wheel to face palm my forehead. “How could you not have known, Coco. It was so obvious.”
I quickly left a message for Logan letting him know where we could find Stella, then pressing the gas pedal even harder, sped towards the retirement village to save my old friend.
Squinting as I pulled up to the gates of the village, I sighed, before putting the car in park and getting out. The cold February wind reminded me that I forgot to put on my coat before rushing out of the house. “What are you doing here?” I asked, seeing Vivian, Red, and Henry waiting for me, jumping up and down to keep the cold at bay.
“You really should have on a coat, dear,” Vivian said nodding to my bare arms.
“I know.” I shivered, rubbing my arms with my hands. “But, still, what are you doing here?”
“Well, we came to help, dear.” Vivian said, putting on her best old lady with a patient voice, something we all know she never possessed and never would.
“You need to stay here.” I said, reaching out to pat her arm. “This could be dangerous and there’s no telling what we will find on the other side of that gate.”
Pushing her hand off, Vivian placed her hands on her hips, all pretense of being a fragile senior citizen gone. “Girl, don’t treat me like I’m old and senile. That’s my friend in there.”
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