I walked to the kitchen to survey the damage. Looking up, my eyes caught a glimpse of the one that caused this mess, Mr. Whiskers. He sat perched above me, smug and slouched atop the refrigerator. He sat quietly as he licked his paw, acting as if nothing happened.
“You win this one,” I said as I looked up into his eyes.
The cat remained unfazed. He refused to acknowledge my existence, and continued to groom himself on my fridge.
I opened the closet door and reached in to grab the broom. Before wrapping my fingers around the broomstick, the doorbell rang, again. I couldn’t believe it.
I took a deep breath and walked to the door. My heart sank as I stared at the last person I wanted to see. My ex-boyfriend, Dustin. I reluctantly opened the door.
“Kare-bear,” he said as he reached in to give me a hug, but I quickly stepped back in an effort to dodge him.
“Wow, you look…well.”
Most girls try to dress up and look as beautiful as possible around their exes. Some want to make their ex jealous. You know, show them what they’re missing. I, somehow, failed to receive that memo. Judging by the way I looked, I was sure he felt he dodged a bullet.
“What are you doing here, Dustin?” I asked. “This is not a good time.”
“I assumed you didn’t know I was back in town, especially since you haven’t returned any of my calls.”
“I heard you were back, but I’ve been busy with work,” I explained.
“Work? Oh, that’s right. I heard,” he said as he smirked. “How’s your little hobby going? It’s a food stand, right? That’s cute.”
“It’s a food truck, and it’s a career, not a hobby,” I said as I started to feel frustrated. If I’d forgotten for a split second why we broke up, his words brought those reasons back out into the spotlight.
What did Dustin know about money or working hard?
Dustin’s family was well-off, so he’d never held a real job in his life. His parents paid for his college, books, apartment, and anything his heart desired. Although he received a monthly stipend to live on, he blew it in the first week of every month. Instead of swallowing his pride and begging for additional money, he turned to me for help.
My parents made a decent living but couldn’t pay for everything. Thankfully, through hard work and dedication, I earned a full scholarship from undergraduate school through law school. I worked a part-time job to help my parents with my apartment and living expenses. Dustin took full advantage of this.
“My father told me the health inspector shut your business down. That doesn’t seem like a great start. So, why are you kidding yourself? Come back to school and finish your degree. It’s not too late.”
“It’s just a temporary setback,” I explained. I wasn’t fully sure if I was trying to convince him, or myself.
“Like I told you before, I talked to the Dean about your situation. He told me you could re-enroll this fall, and only be one semester behind. I think you should consider it.”
“I don’t want to go back. How many times do I have to explain this to you.”
“Listen, Kara. I didn’t come here to fight. I just wanted you to know I’m here for you if you need me.”
With all the recent events in my life, dealing with an ex-boyfriend sat at the bottom of the list. I broke up with Dustin a few weeks back, after the death of my father. My father’s passing gave me a better perspective on life. Life was too short to waste it being unhappy, which was how I felt with Dustin.
Unfortunately for me, Dustin and I were high school sweethearts that lived in a small town. Everyone seemed to know our business. I couldn’t turn around without someone asking about what happened between Dustin and me.
Before I responded, Dustin’s phone rang. “I have to take this. I’ll see you soon,” he said as I closed the door behind him.
Unbeknownst to Dustin, I’d cracked the window earlier to air the house out. I overheard the beginning of his conversation.
“She’ll crack eventually,” he said as he walked down my driveway. “She’ll come crawling back before I’m through.”
Without hesitation, I walked over and slammed the window shut. At this point, it felt like the worst day ever. At least it felt that way until I received a text.
Ty asked if he could stop by. He said it’d only take a minute.
“Everyone else in the world has stopped by tonight,” I said jokingly. “Why not?”
Ten minutes later, Ty arrived at my doorstep. He took one look at my kitchen and laughed.
“You weren’t kidding, were you?”
“No,” I said as I began to break down into tears. I wasn’t one to usually wear my emotions on my sleeve, but I reached my tipping point. Now I stood there wet, covered with flour, and a crying mess.
Without hesitation, Ty put his arm around me and held me tight. As my head laid against his chest, I began to feel at ease. The tears dried up as I listened to his heart beat.
“Thank you,” I said as I wiped a tear from my cheek. “I needed that.”
“It looks like you need a lot more help than that,” he said as he pointed to the mess in the kitchen. “I have a couple of hours before my date, so I’m yours until then.”
“You really don’t have to,” I replied.
“Nonsense,” he said as he walked over and grabbed a broom. “We can knock this out. We do make a pretty good team after all.”
I smiled. “Yes, we do.”
Ty stuck around and helped clean up. It was amazing how the right person could affect your mood, good or bad. I felt at ease with Ty around.
“All finished,” he said as he tied up the last trash bag. “This place looks good as new. Your mom won’t notice a thing…Well…except that cat perched above your fridge.”
For the last few hours, I’d forgotten about that stinking cat. I had no idea what to do about him. I decided to not worry about it that evening. I’d deal with Star in the morning.
I looked at the clock and noticed the time. Neither Ty nor I realized how late it was. I almost forgot Ty had plans that night.
“I’m starving,” Ty said as he crashed on the couch beside me. “Want to order a pizza?”
“It’s almost 8 pm. I’m so sorry this took so long.”
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind. I promise.”
“What about your date tonight? I asked. “I’d hate you to miss out on going to dinner with a former Miss University of Florida.”
“I can reschedule,” he said as he flashed that smirk of his. “Besides, I’m a Florida State fan myself.”
Chapter 12
I dragged myself out of bed the next morning, tired and worn out from getting little to no sleep the night before. Most of the night, I’d tossed and turned. I couldn’t shake the image of Margaret Pettyjohn’s murdered corpse out of my head.
Star offered to pick me up on her way to work at the Breezy Bean Café. I wanted to drop off the first three Coconut Crème Confession pies I made for Bonnie May. With my business shut down, I needed every bit of money I could get.
As Star pulled into the driveway, her cat rushed to the front door. It amazed me how animals could sense things like that. It made me wonder if cats were smarter than we gave them credit for.
“Before you say anything, I had no other option,” Star said as she let herself in. Star wasted no time in trying to explain herself.
“I couldn’t hide him in my room, since my parents are allergic to cats. My parents would go into a sneezing fit the moment he crawled through the door.”
“Well, to be honest,” I said, “I was surprised, to say the least.”
Mr. Whiskers wasted no time as he ran over and greeted Star. He purred loudly and began to rub against her leg. There was no doubt he felt happy to see her.
“I’m sure he’s no trouble, right? she asked as she picked the cat up and began to pet him. “You’re a little angel, aren’t you?”
Angel wasn’t the word that came to mind. I wondered wh
ere the devil cat from the night before was. This cat reminded me of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. That cat wore my hide out cleaning up after him last night.
At first, I wanted to vent about the mess the cat made in the kitchen the day prior. My mind changed when I saw the happiness in Star’s eyes as she held Mr. Whiskers. He seemed like a different animal as he purred with each stroke. Plus, I couldn’t stay upset with Star long.
“Ok…” I took a deep breath. “He can stay for now, but it’s only temporary. He needs to be out of here before my mom returns, or she’ll freak out.”
“Are you serious?” Star smiled. “It’s a deal. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
She threw her arms around me and gave me a hug. I hesitated for a moment. Seeing the softer side of Star threw me for a loop.
After letting go, she turned around and opened the door. She reached outside and picked up a bag and a large box.
“These are his things. I have extra food, toys, and a litter box. If you need anything else, let me know.”
I laughed on the inside. At that point, I realized she knew all along I’d say yes. It felt good to think she thought of me as a nice and compassionate person. Either that, or she thought I was a sucker.
“So, what are your plans today?” Star asked.
“I asked Ty to meet us at the Breezy Bean this morning. Maybe the three of us can put our heads together and start brainstorming.”
Star rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“What’s that for?” I asked.
“Kara, are you playing detective, again?” Star asked. “Do you really think that’s a good idea? Didn’t you almost get murdered the last time you pretended to be Nancy Drew?”
“At this point, what choice do I have?” I replied. “The nerve of that man… accusing me of the crime. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
“It’s true. You’re a goody-goody for sure,” Star said as she put Mr. Whiskers in his carrier. “The only crime you’re guilty of is leaving the house with your hair like that.”
“Hey, now,” I said before we both began cracking up.
With three Coconut Crème Confession pies in hand, Star and I arrived at the Breezy Bean Café. Star began her shift at 8 am, so she walked to the back to change into her apron. I placed the pies on the counter and took a seat.
“Those look delicious,” Bonnie May said as she walked up to the counter. “I hope these weren’t too much trouble to make, dear.”
“Not at all,” I grinned as I thought about the crazy events from the night before. “Piece of cake.”
“Well, you look rough, dear. Do you want the usual?” Bonnie May asked as she placed my pies in the refrigerated display behind the counter.
“Yes, but a double shot of espresso, please,” I replied. “I need a lot of caffeine today.”
As I waited for my espresso, I turned around and scoped out the scene around me. The café was about half-full. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Stacy Perkins sitting alone in the corner.
I knew firsthand how devastating it was to lose someone close to you. The death of my father put my life into perspective and changed its course.
“I heard all about what happened at T.J.’s farm yesterday,” Bonnie May said as she placed my espresso in front of me. “Are you ok? I imagine you’re still a little shook up.”
“I’m fine,” I said before taking a much-needed sip. “Although Ms. Pettyjohn and I had our differences, I still feel heartbroken about everything. She didn’t deserve to go out like that.”
“I’m not sure anyone deserves to go out with an arrow through the chest.”
“True,” I said as I nodded in agreement. I tried to imagine what could be worse.
“It’s funny,” Bonnie May replied. “Ever since you returned to Sunny Shores, troubles followed you.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?”
“I’m kidding, dear. Relax,” Bonnie May said as she placed her arm on my shoulder. “Although by the look on your face, I can tell you aren’t about to back away now, are you?”
“I can’t shake the feeling that I need to do something. I can’t explain why.”
Bonnie May laughed. “That’s the little bit of your father in you. You can try to fight it, but you’re too much like him.”
At that moment Ty arrived. He took a seat beside me, while Star walked over and joined us.
“So, what’s this meeting about, Kara? Ty asked before he let out a big yawn. “I’m usually still in bed at this time.”
“Bonnie May, can you hand me that small dry erase board behind you?” I asked as I pointed behind her. Leaning against the wall stood a board with a list of daily specials.
“Sure,” she said as she handed it to me.
I took the napkin from my lap and wiped the board clean. Bonnie May stared in astonishment as I removed everything she wrote. Although once I repeated back everything that was written, she felt at ease. That was one advantage of having a photographic memory.
“Let’s list the suspects,” I said as I opened the dry erase marker. “I’ll go first.”
I scribbled the name of my first suspect. This person appeared the obvious one to me.
Billy Sims – The ex-husband
“I’ve watched enough crime dramas to know the ex-spouse is usually high on the list of suspects,” I said. Being a fan of mysteries, I consumed tons of mystery novels, movies, and television shows.
“Makes sense to me,” Star replied. “I couldn’t stand her the few times I met her. I can’t imagine being married to her.”
“I worked on his tax returns last year,” Ty replied. “I can’t go into details because of client privacy, but he paid a pretty penny out in alimony to Ms. Pettyjohn. Financial stress could have been a motive.”
“My turn,” Star said as she stole the marker from my hands. “If we’re talking about money and financial ruin, Margaret Pettyjohn screwed this person over as well. In fact…”
I stared curiously at the board as Star wrote the name of her suspect, but her body blocked my view. I honestly couldn’t think of another reasonable suspect, so I was anxious to see who she suspected.
“Here’s your killer,” Star said as she revealed the name of her suspect.
Kara Summers
“Real funny, Star,” I said, unamused.
“Lighten up, Kara. You know I’m joking,” Star said as she wiped my name off the board. “No one in their right mind would think it’s you.”
“We can’t forget another obvious suspect,” Bonnie May said with a mischievous smirk on her face. “He shoots arrows and loves to walk around half naked, wearing a diaper.”
I looked at Bonnie May, confused. “Who the heck is that?”
“Sounds like my Uncle Ted,” Star replied.
“Nope,” Bonnie May said as she revealed her suspect.
Cupid
“Come on, really? You too, Bonnie May?” I said as I rolled my eyes.
“My turn,” Ty said as he looked excited. “I’ve got it.”
“Great,” I thought to myself. “I’m sure this’ll be good.”
By now, I realized everyone was in on the joke. At this point, I gave in. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t making light of the situation. But now the only thing I could do was humor them.
Besides, my grandmother always said to not take life so seriously. Maybe that could be applied to death as well.
“This suspect’s primary weapon is a bow. He has long hair, pointy ears, and is Prince of the Woodland Realm,” Ty explained as he wrote the name on the board.
Legolas
We all looked at Ty, confused. He continued to point at the name, somehow thinking we’d suddenly get it.
“Who’s that?” Star asked.
“Legolas…the elf,” he said, disappointed. “You know, from the Lord of the Rings.”
“Such a dork,” Star said before she took off to check on her customers. “I don’t care how many Tinder matches you’ve scored. Y
ou’re still a big nerd.”
I put my hand on his. “Don’t worry Ty, some girls like nerds.”
“With that being said,” Ty replied, “time to head to the office. I’ll call you later, Kara.”
As Ty left the café, Stacy Perkins walked up to the counter. She handed her credit card to Bonnie May to settle up.
“I’m glad everyone seems to be in a chipper mood this morning. It’s almost like one of our own wasn’t murdered last night,” Stacy said as she impatiently tapped her fingers on the counter.
“Stacy, I’m terribly sorry to hear about Margaret. You must be devastated,” Bonnie May said in a comforting voice. “We didn’t mean any disrespect.”
“That’s very sweet of you, Bonnie May. It’s a tragedy, for sure. Margaret appeared tough as nails on the outside, but she was a gentle soul on the inside.”
My curious nature took over as I worked myself into the conversation.
“Where were you last night?” I asked before realizing how harsh my words sounded. I attempted to recover. “Did you get a chance to see her before her death?”
“Margaret and I planned to meet up for drinks after the council meeting was over, but I had to cancel,” she said as she lifted her wrapped up hand. “My carpal tunnel started to act up again, so I went to the urgent care center off US-42.”
“It was a truly heinous accident,” I replied. “My thoughts and prayers are with you.”
“That wasn’t an accident. Not by any means,” she responded. “Someone murdered her in cold blood, and I hope he rots in jail the rest of his life.”
“He?” I asked, stunned by her confident assigning of gender.
“Don’t be naïve, dear, we all know her good-for-nothing ex-husband killed her,” she responded confidently. “He’s so far in debt from her alimony payments that he’d do anything to get out of it. Including telling others he’d have her knocked off one day.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Bonnie May said as she handed Stacy Perkins her credit card receipt to sign. “I’ve heard him say that as well, especially the few times he stumbled into my cafe drunk.”
Coconut Cream Confession Page 5
