“Just don’t,” Star said as I waited. “This is not the time.”
“Order’s up, dear,” Bonnie May said as she placed the two slices of pie and espressos on the tray. “And don’t forget to smile. It won’t kill you.”
Maybe not. Although judging by the look on Star’s face, if looks could kill, Bonnie May would be a goner.
I noticed right away that Star wasn’t enjoying working at the Breezy Bean. However, she sucked it up and put on a smile. At least, the best smile she could muster. She needed the money for school, and she was determined to do what it took. I admired her for that.
“Your pies are a hit,” Bonnie May said as she pointed to the display case. “I’ve almost sold them all, again. Keep them coming.”
“That’s wonderful,” I said. I felt relieved to hear something positive. The way things were going lately, it felt good to hear good news for once. “I’ll make a few more, if you want.”
“I’ll take whatever your little hands can make,” she said as she grinned. “I’m glad you’ve set up shop in Grove Park and not downtown. Otherwise, you might put me out of business.”
“That’s the plan eventually, right?” I said jokingly. “This’ll all be mine one day. After you retire, of course.”
Don’t get me wrong, I loved my food truck. But since childhood, aside from being a detective, I dreamed of opening a full-scale bakery downtown. I joked with Bonnie May for months about taking over her lease when she retired. Although judging by her energy and vitality, she might not ever retire.
“Star’s doing a great job, by the way. She’s a bit feisty, but an excellent worker. I might steal her away from you.”
“I’ll bake you all the pies you want, but Star’s mine.”
After her tables were settled, Star walked up to the bar and took a seat beside me.
“So, how’d things go at the jail?” Star asked.
“I talked to Billy Sims, and he swears up and down he’s not the killer.”
“Isn’t that what all murderers say?” Star said sarcastically.
“I can’t explain it, but I have a strange feeling in my gut.”
“They make antacids for that, Kara. Maybe you should take a Tums and let this all go?”
“That’s not what I meant, smarty-pants,” I replied. “I don’t believe he did it. In my mind, something doesn’t add up.”
“Maybe you’re right, but without any additional evidence, all signs point to him.”
“We might be able to change that perception. There might be a way to prove he didn’t do it. He wants me to go by his house and retrieve the quiver of arrows. He claims all ten should be there.”
“You want to go to his sister’s house? Are you insane? That lady is nuts.”
Before I completed my pitch to Star, Bonnie May walked up.
“Do you mind working a few hours extra today, dear?” Bonnie May asked. “If you have plans, I understand.”
“Do you have plans this afternoon?” I asked Star as I held the laughter inside.
“I’d love to, Bonnie May, but I’ll have to decline. I have a prior engagement…apparently,” she replied. She turned around to look at me and rolled her eyes. “I’ll pick you up at 6.”
Chapter 18
Star and I arrived at Trudy’s house around 7 pm that evening. Trudy lived in an older ranch home off Tide Pool Way, which sat five miles south of downtown.
We pulled into the driveway, and I felt shocked.
“It looks like no one’s home or been home in a while.” The grass on the front yard stood up to my knees, with splotches of bare spots and weeds scattered about. Not only that, but trash littered the yard.
“I admire the landscaping choices,” Star said as she walked into the front yard. “The junked-out transmission on the front lawn is an interesting choice. I especially love how it’s being displayed on top of those cinder blocks.”
“Judging by the upkeep of Trudy’s yard, I’m guessing the neighborhood doesn’t have a homeowner’s association.”
“Or…maybe Billy shot them as well.”
I pushed the doorbell button, but I failed to hear the slightest sound. The doorbell appeared broken, so I knocked on the door instead.
Still no answer.
“I guess she’s not home,” Star said as she turned to walk away. “We should go.”
Determined to get answers, I peeked through the window. The house appeared dark. Nothing seemed to be moving around.
Not thinking twice, I stepped off the front steps and walked around the house. Star, who walked back to her car, turned around and noticed. She motioned for me to leave, but realized I had other plans. She ran behind me.
“What are you doing?” she said as she grabbed my arm. “If you aren’t careful, you’re going to get us both shot for trespassing.”
“We will leave in a second, but first I need answers. According to Billy, the quiver of arrows is behind the swing on the back porch. If it’s unlocked, we can take a quick look and be out in a flash,” I said as I pulled the handle on the door to the back porch. “See, it’s unlocked. Besides, Billy told me to look.”
“This isn’t Billy’s house to give permission. It’s his crazy sister’s,” Star said sternly. “You have one minute before I leave, so hurry.”
I hurried into the back porch and rushed towards the wooden bench swing in the back. I looked behind, and sure enough, the quiver stood leaned up against the corner.
I counted out loud. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight.”
I felt a sense of disappointment. I recounted the arrows repeatedly, each time counting only eight. My gut failed me, or so it seemed at the time.
“You have your answer,” Star said as she pointed to her watch. “It’s time to go.”
Before I walked away, I took a picture of the quiver with my cell phone. I hated to do it, but I needed to show the police.
As I opened the door to leave, a loud sound startled me from behind. It took a second, but I recognized the sound. It was the cocking of a shotgun.
“What are you doing snooping around on my back porch?” a voice shouted from behind me.
I put up my hands and turned around, slowly. I probably should have been worried about having a heart attack, since I felt my heart beat out of my chest. But as I stared at a shotgun pointing at me, all the air escaped my lungs. I couldn’t breathe.
“Billy,” I whispered as I tried to catch my breath. “He sent me.”
“What are you talking about? He’s in jail,” she said as she pointed the muzzle of the gun closer to me.
I took a deep breath and began to calmly explain the conversation that took place between her brother and me. As she began to understand, she loosened her grip on the shotgun. Eventually, she put it down and set it to the side.
“So, you’re telling me that you’re trying to help him?” she asked.
“If he is truly innocent, then yes,” I explained. “I can’t stand the thought of someone innocent going to jail, no matter who it is.”
“I’m sorry about having to pull the gun out on you. I’ve had a good number of trespassers and nosy people on my property lately. Including Margaret and her nosy friend,” she said as she looked visibly upset. “Now that I’m here alone, I don’t feel as safe.”
“I hate to say this, Trudy,” I said as I took a deep breath. “The quiver is missing two arrows, so this hurts your brother’s case.”
“Kara, my brother killed no one. I’m sure of it,” Trudy replied as she walked over towards the swing. She examined the quiver as she counted the arrows to herself. “But this doesn’t look good. I can’t keep this from the police and keep a clear conscience. I’ll call the police myself. These were on my property. I need to be the one to do it.”
Trudy picked up her phone and called the Sunny Shores Police Department. After hanging up the phone, Trudy picked up the quiver of arrows and walked us around the house to Star’s car. As Star sat down in the car, I turne
d to Trudy.
“Don’t give up,” I said. “If we find out anything, we’ll let you know.”
“Thanks, but I’m holding my breath.”
Star and I drove away before the police arrived. The last thing we wanted was to be seen at another investigation scene. It seemed suspicious enough. Plus, I couldn’t deal with Detective Beaux.
“Didn’t you find that odd?” Star said as she turned her radio down.
“There wasn’t anything about that situation that was normal, Star.”
“I know that, but she didn’t hesitate one bit in calling the police. She was quick to turn evidence against her brother over to the cops.”
I sat for a second and pondered Star’s point. After I thought it over for a minute, I agreed. Trudy seemed quick to help the case against her brother.
What was she hiding?
“So, what’s next?” Star asked. “Want me to take you home?”
“Not yet. One last stop before then.”
“Where to?” Star asked.
“This is a dirty situation, that’s for sure,” I added. “To get answers, we need to dig up some dirt ourselves. I know just the place. Let’s head to Cookie’s.”
“Good call. Between the two of them, you’d dig up more dirt than at a graveyard,” Star said as she changed directions by making a quick turn. “Do we need an appointment?”
“One step ahead of you, Star. I’ve already set it up.”
“That’s good,” she replied, only slightly paying attention. “You need to do something with that hair of yours.”
“Oh, it’s not for me.” I smiled and said, “You have an appointment at 8 o’clock.”
“Ok,” she said before snapping back to reality. “Wait…what?”
Chapter 19
A mile east of downtown, on Dune Drive, stood Cookie’s Beauty Salon. My mother told me at an early age, if you want to hear the latest town gossip, Cookie’s was the place.
The bell on the door rung as Star and I entered the salon. The space was small, as it was previously her garage. Anyone who entered discovered her rooster obsession. The walls were decorated with porcelain rooster knickknacks and rooster wallpaper from the prior century. It may have been a little tacky, but charming nonetheless.
“Hello, dears,” Cookie said as she met us at the door. “You two have a seat over there, while I finish up with Tara.”
I looked over to my left and glanced her way. Tara sat in the drying chair with her head covered up.
Ms. Tara Holmes was the outspoken and brash widow of the late Barney Holmes. Barney was the owner of the old Sunny Shores orange juice factory. While little remained of the factory, the land itself had been passed on to Tara after his death.
The factory sat on prime ocean front real estate. Investors and various companies tried for years to purchase the land. Unfortunately for Ms. Holmes, the city council refused to allow it to happen. Members of the council believed it to be in the best interest of the town.
“Like I was saying, Tara,” Cookie said as she continued the conversation we’d interrupted, “That’s exactly why those two never married.”
“Hmm,” Tara as she nodded in the chair. “I never thought of it that way, but you’re right. She’d be about as dumb as she looked if she threw away a free payday like that.”
“In the meantime, her no good excuse for an ex-husband is forced to sleep on his sister’s couch. If you ask me, there’s no wonder he did it.”
Star and I looked at each other in unison. You wouldn’t need to be Sherlock Homes or Watson to figure out who they were referring to. I scooted to the edge of my chair, as they had my undivided attention.
“Are you talking about Margaret Pettyjohn?” I asked as I butted in, unapologetically.
“Yep,” Cookie replied. “Neither one of us understood the deal between her and her boyfriend, Perry Butler. Those two were engaged for years, but never tied the knot.”
“Was Perry afraid of commitment?” I asked.
“Surprisingly, no. It’s quite the contrary,” Tara quipped. “Unlike most men I know, Perry wasn’t afraid of commitment. She’s the one who dragged her feet.”
“Wouldn’t Perry get frustrated after a while?” Star said. “It’s like my brother says…Poop or get off the pot.” Although she didn’t say poop.
“Language, young lady,” Tara said as both Cookie and I snickered.
Star presented a good point. If Perry wanted to get married, what caused Margaret to object? Would he not be upset after all these years?
“Don’t feel too bad for Perry, because he’s not quite a saint himself. A little bird once told me he had another woman to occupy his time,” Cookie said. “Like they say, when the cat’s away, the mice will play.”
“You think Margaret’s boyfriend cheated on her?” I asked.
“You know I’m not one to gossip, but yes. I’m sure of it,” Tara replied. “I guess after waiting for so long, his heart changed.”
“Do you know who the woman is?” I asked, hoping to learn her identity.
Both Tara and Cookie shook their heads. Neither one knew or admitted knowing the identity of Perry’s side piece.
“Whoever it was, they kept a tight lid on their affair. Those two must have handled their affairs outside the city limits, which is smart. Don’t pee where you eat is what I always say,” Cookie said as she turned the empty chair around to Star’s direction. “Ok Star, you’re up.”
“Umm…you know, I just remembered,” Star said as she jumped out of her chair. “I promised my brother I’d lizard sit for him. Maybe next time.”
As Star walked out the door, I turned to Cookie and said, “I’m so sorry. We’ll take a raincheck.”
“Anytime, girls,” Cookie replied.
Once we pulled out of the parking lot, the cogs in my brain started to spin. The case took a sharp left turn when we learned Margaret’s boyfriend had another lover. I added this woman to the list of possible suspects. One problem remained. Neither Star nor I knew the identity of Perry’s other woman.
“It’s too bad we couldn’t get the name of the woman,” Star said we drove down the street. “She might have been a legitimate suspect.”
I thought about what Cookie said, and one line stood out. If they conducted their affairs outside the city limits, one place crossed my mind. If you were going to perform a seedy deed, then you needed a seedy place to perform those deeds. I knew just the place.
Chapter 20
The Cozy Cove Inn was a roadside motel that was built in the 1960s. It was located ten miles north of Sunny Shores on State Highway 41. The inn was close to being at the half-way point between Parrot Bay and Sunny Shores.
The Cozy Cove Inn was your typical roadside motor inn. There was nothing fancy about it. The only amenities on the ground were a dirty ice machine, a vending machine that I was sure served snacks that had been discontinued for years, and a pool that was an unusual shade of green.
As with many things, people’s tastes changed over the years. When developers began to build nicer hotels and resorts, the popularity of these roadside motels declined. By the 2000s, the majority of these motels had closed down for good.
Even though the Cozy Cove Inn had survived, it remained a shell of its former self. Instead of being booked by families traveling on vacation, it was mainly used for unethical local rendezvous. One could only imagine the number of divorces and illegitimate children that were produced between those paper-thin walls.
We arrived at the hotel and parked under the glowing red vacancy sign. I looked around and noticed only a few cars in the parking lot, none of which I recognized.
Star and I walked into the main office. The bells on the door jingled as we walked inside, alerting the owner we’d arrived. The door behind the front desk opened, and an older gentleman walked out to greet us. I recognized him right away.
Sonny Pines owned and operated the Cozy Cove Inn. I didn’t know much about him, but he gave me the creeps.
/> “You ladies need a room for tonight?” he asked as he grinned. “Or just for an hour.”
“What?” I asked. His perverted comments caught me by surprise.
“Eww,” Star replied. “Are you kidding?”
“It’s not my place to judge, ladies,” he replied. “I see all types of couples here.”
“We don’t need a room,” I said. “We were hoping you could answer a few questions for us?”
“What kind of questions?”
“We were hoping you could help us identify someone,” I explained. “Do you know a man by the name of Perry Butler?”
“Perry Butler…” he repeated. “Sounds familiar, but it’s hard to place a name without a face. Do you have a picture of him?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Wait a minute,” Star said. “Let me see your phone, Kara.”
I handed her my phone, not knowing what she was up to. She pulled up Instagram and searched his name. Sure enough, she retrieved his account.
“This is him,” she said as she flashed the photo in front of Sonny. She turned to me and whispered. “This dude is vain as heck. He has over a thousand pictures posted. He really loves to show himself off.”
“Does he have a ton of followers or something?” I asked, curious as to why he’d post so many things.
“Nope, only seventy-five…now seventy-six.”
“Did he just gain one?” I asked.
Star grinned. “Yeah…I added you.”
Sonny waited a few seconds before responding as he stared at the photo. “Now that you mention it, I’ve seen him here a few times. Usually with this other lady,” he replied.
I grabbed the phone from Star. I began to flip through the pictures until I found one with him and Margaret.
“Was this the woman?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think that’s her.”
“Can you describe the woman? Do you have any old surveillance video?”
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