“I’m sorry to hear that. All the more reason not to go there.” Nick reached for the nuts and popped a cashew in his mouth.
“Why do you think he wants to meet with me?” That was the puzzling thing. What could he possibly want with her?
“He didn’t say. I asked twice, but he danced around the question both times. Just said he thought you were an exceptional young lady. It was definitely odd.”
“Well, I can’t think of any good reason to go. I don’t want to dredge all that up again.”
“I don’t blame you a bit. I’ll send a message letting him know.”
“So, how is everyone else in the office doing? Fill me in.”
There were a few people that Jane had really enjoyed working with. It was a friendly, tight-knit office and was a work hard, play hard environment. They had often gone for drinks after a long day, and at times Jane did miss that camaraderie.
“Well, Ellie just got engaged…” For the next hour, Nick caught her up on all the office, gossip and when the bartender noticed her empty glass and asked if she wanted another, she regretfully declined.
“I’d love to stay longer, but I get up really early these days.”
“That’s right. It will be soon be time to make the donuts,” he teased, referencing the infamous Dunkin’ Donuts commercial.
“It was good seeing you, Nick.” And it was. She was glad that they were all doing well.
Nick put his hand over hers and smiled. It was the look that used to make her melt.
“I’ve missed you. Let’s do this again soon.”
If she wanted to, she could be right back where was with Nick before, Jane realized. The old attraction was obviously still there for him, too. But if she went there, things would just be the same as they were before, and she was quite sure she didn’t want that. No matter how hot and charming he was.
“Have a good night, Nick.”
8
A week later, Jake was no closer to finding Samantha Sellers’ killer. It was Friday morning, a little past nine, and he’d been in the office since six, poring over everything they’d gathered so far. But their evidence folder was thin, very thin. There was no real evidence. The fingerprinting and DNA testing had turned up nothing—which in itself was a bit interesting. It was an extremely clean crime scene.
Whoever had killed Samantha Sellers had either done this before and knew what they were doing, or they were just an impressively prepared beginner, perhaps one with OCD tendencies, because the body and the crime scene were spotless. There wasn’t a single fingerprint anywhere, and the one stray hair they’d found and sent off for DNA testing had belonged to the victim.
Jake had spoken to everyone he could think of who knew the victim—family, friends, enemies. There were plenty of people who didn’t like Samantha. A few even could be considered to have something of a motive for murder, but even then, nothing further was turning up.
There had only been one murder on his watch, and he’d been able to solve it. This one shouldn’t present such difficulties. On the surface, it seemed simple enough. But he knew from years of experience that things were often very different from how they originally appeared. The truth was out there; he just hadn’t dug deep enough. He would find it, though. He always did.
He stood up and stretched. His back was already getting stiff from sitting in the same position too long, hunched over his computer. His stomach rumbled and he remembered that he didn’t stop for his usual bagel on the way in, as it was too early. Maybe he’d run up to Janie Cho’s place and grab a muffin and another cup of coffee. He wouldn’t mind seeing Janie again and if he was going to start questioning everyone again, he might as well start with her.
Besides, he couldn’t officially rule Janie off his potential list of suspects, because she did have both motive and opportunity, given that the body was found at her shop. But, the autopsy results showed that the victim had been killed several hours earlier, which would put the time of death around six a.m. when both of them were starting their days.
Janie would have already been at the shop by then, getting ready to open at seven. Could she have really gone to Samantha’s place, killed her and moved the body all by herself? That wasn’t likely. Samantha was several inches taller and at least thirty pounds heavier than Jane. Even a body the same size or smaller would have been a challenge for her, as there was a reason for the expression, ‘dead weight’. It wasn’t easy to move a dead body.
The only other possibility, if he was seriously considering Janie as a suspect, would be if she had somehow lured Samantha to come to Comfort & Joy and then killed her. That way, she wouldn’t have to move the body. But still, it didn’t really add up. If she did it, why would she leave that cryptic note which only served to tie her into the murder in some way? Though he wouldn’t stop investigating everyone, including Janie, should additional information come his way, non-officially, Jake had ruled her out.
But, he did want to talk to her again, and to run an idea by her.
9
There was a small line when Jake arrived at Comfort & Joy, but it moved along quickly. He couldn’t help but admire Janie as she worked, taking orders and chatting with the customers. She seemed to know them all by name, which meant they were likely regulars. In a short time, she seemed to be building a good business and a loyal clientele. Jake was impressed. When he reached the register, Janie had an automatic smile for him, which turned to surprise when she recognized him.
“Good morning, Jake. Nice to see you again. What can I get for you?” There was no one waiting behind him, so Jake hoped that she might have a few minutes to talk to him.
“I’ll take an onion bagel with cream cheese and a small black coffee, please.”
“Is that to go? Or for here?”
“I’ll have it here.”
Janie filled a cranberry-colored ceramic mug with coffee and slid it towards him. “If you’d like to have a seat, I’ll bring that over to you when it’s ready,” she said.
Jake settled himself at a small table against the wall and glanced around the room while he waited. It was a quarter to ten now, so the place wasn’t as busy as he’d imagined it was earlier. Two young mothers sat sipping lattes in the corner, with their strollers by their sides. There was only one other table of customers.
“Morning, Jake,” Gramps called over to him. Janie’s grandfather was sitting with two of his friends at the center table. Holding court, it looked like, as they’d been chatting with some of the other regulars when Jake had walked in. Their plates were empty, but they were still sipping coffee and Jake guessed they were in no hurry to go anywhere. Jake stood and walked over to say hello.
“Hi, Gramps, Carl, and Eddie. How are you all?” At ninety-two, Gramps was the most senior of the three, but you’d never know it. He still had the energy and sharpness of a much younger man. Jake’s best friend, David, was very close to his grandfather and because of it, Jake had spent a good amount of time with him as well over the years. He had been a key influence in his decision to go into police work.
“Can’t complain. Just had the best blueberry muffin known to man. You tried one of Janie’s muffins yet?”
Jake chuckled. “Not yet, but I have a bagel coming.”
“Well, one of these mornings, get the blueberry muffin. You won’t regret it.” His smile faded as his tone turned more serious. “How’s the investigation going? Any luck finding out who killed Samantha Sellers?”
“Not yet. We will figure it out, though,” he promised.
“You might want to see if Janie can help,” Gramps suggested with a sly smile. “Once you clear her as a suspect, of course.”
“What?” Jake wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly.
“There she is, just ask her.”
Jake walked back to his table, where Janie was setting down a buttered bagel and a side of cream cheese.
“Here you go,” she said.
“Thanks. Do you have a minute to talk?”
Janie looked around the restaurant, which was practically empty now except for Gramps and his buddies. The only other customers, the two young mothers, were wheeling their strollers out the front door.
“Sure, I can sit for a bit.” She pulled out a chair and sat across from him at the small table. Jake sat as well and reached for the cream cheese, spreading it on his bagel as he spoke.
“Your grandfather said I should ask you for your help. What did he mean by that?”
“He shouldn’t have said that.” She spoke quickly and glanced over at her grandfather, who was beaming back at the both of them.
Jake decided to drop that for the time being and to ask his questions. “We haven’t come up with anything promising. No real leads yet, though I’m continuing to talk to people and to circle back to the ones I’ve spoken with to see if there’s anything else they can think of that might be relevant, that they forgot to mention the first time we spoke. So, that’s why I’m here today, besides the fact that I forgot my breakfast on the way in,” he added with a grin.
“You want to know if I remember anything else? Or if anything else has happened?” Janie asked.
That caught Jake’s attention. He hadn’t quite asked that, and something had obviously happened. He just nodded and waited for her to continue.
“I don’t remember anything else. It really was as simple as it seemed. When I took out the trash, there she was. I have no idea how long she was there. It must have been long before I arrived that morning, I would imagine?”
“Autopsy results suggested that she was there for several hours before you found her,” he confirmed.
“It’s just the strangest thing. The door to the shed was unlocked, too. I’m nearly a hundred percent certain that I locked that door the night before. I always lock it.”
“Where do you keep the key?”
“In the kitchen, on a hook by the back door.”
Jake thought for a moment. “So whoever used that key had to come into the store to get it?”
“Yes, and the thought of that is a bit unsettling. There’s no sign of forced entry.”
“You’re sure?”
Janie shot him a scornful look. “Yes, I’m sure, but would you like to take a look?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind. Though I’m sure you’re right on that.” He smiled at her and her look of irritation faded away. “I’m pretty sure the team checked both front and back doors when they were here, but it never hurts to have another look.” He took a big bite of his bagel and then stood up, and Janie led him through the kitchen to the back door. He opened it and jiggled the lock back and forth.
“Looks untouched to me,” he said.
“Like I said, it’s the strangest thing.”
Janie followed him back to his table and once they were settled again, he turned his attention back to his bagel for a moment and then casually asked, “So, was there something else that happened?”
Janie hesitated as if she was debating what to say or how much to share. He noticed her clear eyes cloud over. Something was definitely troubling her.
“Gramps and I took a walk down the road to the Sellers’ bed and breakfast and chatted with Chester, Samantha’s husband.”
“Oh, are you friendly with him?” He’d heard that Samantha was no fan of Janie’s so thought it was interesting that they’d visit her husband.
“Friendly with Chester? No. I hardly know the man. We thought it would be a good idea to talk to him to see if he might make sense as a suspect.”
“You went there to investigate him?” Jake was surprised.
“Yes. The sooner you figure out who killed Samantha Sellers, the sooner my life gets back to normal. I like normal.”
Jake took another bite of his bagel and pushed away his sense of irritation that Janie was interfering with his investigation. In spite of himself, he couldn’t help asking, “So, did you learn anything?”
“Well, there’s no love lost between the two of them. Chester was looking forward to finalizing the divorce. He said the two of them couldn’t work together at all anymore.”
“So, do you think that gives him a motive?” Jake had talked to Chester, too, and was curious to hear Janie’s impression of him.
Janie sighed. “Technically, I suppose it does. Now everything is his. But I really don’t think he did it. He seemed more than happy to give her the bed and breakfast and focus his attention elsewhere. He has a construction company. I think the restaurant was more her baby than his.”
“That’s what I thought as well when I talked to him, and it seems like he may have an alibi. His sister said that he stayed at her house that night. He was doing some work for her and then had dinner and drinks and didn’t want to drive.
Janie fiddled with a napkin on the table and looked as though she still had something that she was debating sharing.
“So, was that what your grandfather was referring to? When he said I should ask for your help?”
Janie sighed. “Probably. He thinks it would be good for me to help investigate. I’m not so sure I agree with him.”
“Why’s that?” Jake was curious. She didn’t seem at all eager to get involved.
“I put all that behind me when I left the law firm. Or at least I thought I did.” She bit her lower lip and glanced around the room.
“What is it?”
“I had a strange phone call yesterday, from someone I used to work with. I went to meet up with him for a drink last night. You’re familiar with the Alex Drummond case?”
Jake nodded and said, “That tech executive who was convicted of three murders?”
“Yes. We were defending one of his employees, who was initially implicated in the murders. I was the lead investigator for the defense. What we uncovered didn’t bode well for Mr. Drummond.”
“Your client got off completely, if I recall?”
“Yes, he was totally innocent. Drummond had done a clever job of framing him and he almost got away with it.”
“So, how does this involve you now? Has there been a new development with his case or appeal? He is appealing, I assume.”
“Yes, he’s appealing. I don’t think he has anything that will help him, though.” Janie paused then and then continued. “He tried to kill me while I was doing the investigation. Not him personally, but someone he hired. I’m lucky to be alive. It’s the reason why I left the law firm and why I had nightmares for months after, until he was finally convicted.”
“So, that’s why you’re here?” Jake understood, more than she realized. It was why he’d left Boston as well, to take a post in Waverly where the pace was different. He’d burned out in Boston, working homicide and being involved in one murder case after another. It took a toll on him. Though as dangerous as the work was, he’d never come as close to being killed as Janie had.
“Yes, it’s why I’m here. I miss the work at times, but not enough to go back. I thought that’s what Nick wanted to talk about at first. Either that or us getting back together.” She smiled at that and then laughed nervously. “It wasn’t either of those things, though. Nick had been summoned to see Drummond and he asked Nick to arrange a meeting with me.”
“He wants to meet with you? I hope you said no.” Jake tensed at the idea, feeling protective on Janie’s behalf. He wouldn’t want anyone that he knew to be too close to a monster like that.
“I did. I wasn’t too keen on the idea myself.”
“Do you have any idea why he wanted to meet with you?”
“None at all. And I have to admit, I’m curious. But not enough to go meet with him. I just don’t think I’m ready for that. I’m not sure if I ever will be. It’s kind of funny, though. My nightmares started up again about a week ago.”
“Really? That is odd.” Jake found it interesting, too. It made him wonder if there was something she knew, or at least her subconscious did.
“So you can understand why I’m hesitant to get involved, as tempting as it is?” Janie asked as she stoo
d up to head back to the kitchen.
“I do. If you do decide to scratch that itch and ask around some, keep me posted. I’ll check in again next week.”
Janie smiled. “Well, when you do, I look forward to hearing what you’ve discovered.”
10
Gramps and his buddies were getting ready to leave as Janie walked back towards the kitchen.
“You two go on ahead. I need to talk to Janie,” Gramps said as she reached their table.
Gramps was still seated, so Jane pulled out a chair and joined him.
“Where are you off to today?” she asked. Her grandfather had a much busier social life than she did, it seemed.
“Going to head home for a little bit now, check on the cats.” When her grandmother passed a few years back, Gramps had a rough first year and decided to adopt two kittens. He’d quickly grown to love the companionship of Moe and Larry and they’d helped add life to a painfully empty home.
“The bereavement group meets at three and then we’ll probably be going out to dinner at the 99 after, like we usually do.”
Janie smiled. The bereavement group had been a godsend for Gramps. He’d resisted going at first. The idea of sitting around talking to other people who had recently lost loved ones seemed depressing and intimidating, even. But he went, and once he got to know the people, he found that it helped so much to talk about how he was feeling.
Most people stayed in groups like that for a short while, but Gramps helped turn it into more of a social group, and once they all felt better, they started making a routine of going out to an early dinner after the meeting. Janie had once asked him why he kept going and he’d said that now that he was better, he could help make the new people who joined feel welcome and let them know that he’d gone through a similar struggle.
“Is Judy going?” Gramps had recently become friendly with one of the women in the group and they’d gone out a few times, though Gramps was always quick to say they were just friends. He seemed to have a lot of women friends.
Motive Page 3
