Still Life and Death

by Tracy Gardner

  “I know.” Sydney hesitated. “Last Sunday couldn’t be helped. And you and Dad not meeting him before that is completely on me. I could’ve set something up a long time ago.”

  “I don’t recall you ever dating anyone for as long as you’ve been with Finn,” Charlotte mused.

  “He’s not like anyone I’ve ever dated. He’s different.”

  “You’re different with him,” Savanna finally spoke. “You’ve had strong feelings for him since the beginning.”

  Charlotte raised her eyebrows at that. She turned on her stool and faced Sydney. “Let me ask you something. Imagine you tell Finn you’ve made a mistake, and you can’t marry him. He flies out, and maybe you cross paths occasionally when he comes to Carson to visit his brother. Maybe you even remain friends somehow. How does that make you feel?”

  Sydney had begun shaking her head halfway through Charlotte’s hypothetical situation. Her hand was on her middle. “How do I feel imagining that? I feel sick. Everything you just said sounds like a nightmare.” Sydney’s mouth was drawn down in a grimace at the idea.

  Charlotte nodded. “All right. Well, I know how he feels about you. He’s willing to give up part of what makes him love his career because he wants a life here with you. You said he’d stay with that company for a few training assignments? I’d think that might help him adjust to being in one place, wouldn’t it?”

  Sydney nodded. “Probably.”

  “And now we know exactly how you feel about him. So, I don’t see how you can say no. It doesn’t sound like that’d be fair to either of you.”

  “Mom’s right. Your first answer was the right one.”

  Sydney smiled at them. “You’re both right. Okay.”

  Savanna let out a little scream. She grabbed her little sister by the shoulders. “You’re getting married!”

  “I’m getting married!” Sydney laughed. “Thank you. I’m so relieved—thank you for talking that through with me.” She kissed her mom on the cheek.

  Charlotte stood and hugged her. “You have two surprises now for your father.”

  “Oh, boy,” Savanna said. The dogs were circling her legs in the excitement. She bent to hold Fonzie back “Fonzie, give the baby a break! They’re playing so rough.”

  “Take them out in the yard,” Charlotte said. “It’s been a long time since we had a puppy, but I do remember how often they need to go out. Sydney, I don’t want to put a damper on your day, but I hope you have a backup plan for that dog if your dad says no.”

  “Of course.” She carried the puppy through the door to the patio, Savanna and Fonzie following.

  “Of course,” Savanna mimicked quietly. “Mom’s being hardnosed, but you know she’ll come around once Dad agrees.”

  “He’s easy. I can convince him,” Syd bragged.

  “You have about a minute to figure out what you’re going to say.” Harlan turned into the driveway on his motorcycle and parked just past the police cruiser that had accompanied Sydney today. He stopped to talk with the officer sitting behind the wheel and then headed toward them.

  He was accosted by the small yellow fluffball halfway across the grass. He bent to pet the puppy, and she flipped over, baring her belly, her whole body wiggling. Savanna and Sydney giggled, watching. Harlan straightened up and came toward them, laughing as the little dog chased at his heels, barking her cute, high-pitched puppy bark. “Sydney, that officer will be swapped out with an Officer Whitney for the night shift later. Just so you know. And I picked up the alarm system I mentioned for your house and shop. I’ll install it tomorrow. Now, which one of you got a dog?”

  “You did!” Sydney grabbed the pup mid-bark and held her up against her chest, facing Harlan.

  “Funny. No. I think we took that off the table for now.”

  Syd moved closer to her dad and held the puppy out to him. “I’m serious, though, if you could just think about it? Please? She’s the last puppy from the Wilsons’ dog, and they’re moving. She doesn’t really have any options.” The puppy squirmed in Sydney’s grasp, whining.

  Harlan unwillingly took the little dog rather than leave her suspended in the air between them. She wormed her way up toward his neck and licked his chin. He frowned.

  “You and Mom have been talking about getting another dog,” Sydney said. “She’s half Golden Retriever, and they think her dad was some kind of Lab. So she’s a water dog. She’d love your boat,” Syd said, trying her hardest to sell him on the idea.

  “She sure loves you,” Savanna said. “She didn’t act that way with us.”

  The puppy had her nose tucked into Harlan’s neck, her body stretched out along his chest, floppy feet dangling beyond his hand. She’d become instantly calmer when he’d taken her. He looked over his daughters’ heads to the kitchen door, where Charlotte stood.

  “I told them I didn’t think so. It’s your call,” his wife said.

  “Ah, make me the bad guy. Puppies are a lot of work. And we’d have to make sure we have the time to invest.” He looked down at the puppy, not an easy feat with how closely she was snuggled into him. “She’s sweet.”

  Charlotte came over to him and ran a hand over the dog’s fur. “She’s very sweet.” She looked up at her husband. “What do you think?”

  “We did talk about getting a dog who would go on the boat with us. We’ll have to get the dog bed and crate down from the attic. And she’ll need a name.” Harlan exchanged looks with Charlotte. His eyes were bright. “Well. I guess it’s about time.”

  Sydney forcefully hugged her dad. “Thank you. You won’t regret it. I think she’s going to be a good dog.” Harlan hugged her back, and then began to move toward the house. She stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Dad. I need to tell you something, before everyone gets here. I’ll tell them all, but I need you to know first.”

  “Sounds serious.” He glanced at Charlotte, who slipped her arm through his.

  “It is.” Charlotte nodded at Sydney.

  “Dad, Finn asked me to marry him, and I said yes.” She paused, and then barreled forward. “He’s changing his life for me. He’ll be staying in Carson, working for Anderson Memorial, and he’ll go train flight paramedics a few days a month for a big pay bump. And I’m sorry I haven’t made an effort to bring him around, but I promise you’ll like him when you meet him.”

  Savanna realized they were all hanging on Harlan’s reaction; when he passed the puppy to Charlotte and grabbed Sydney in a bear hug, she finally took a breath. Harlan released his daughter and kept his big hands on her upper arms. “I want to meet him soon. This week. He makes you happy? He’s a good man?” He looked over at Savanna for the last query.

  Savanna nodded vehemently. “Yes, he is. He’s a lot like Aidan, Dad. Syd and I figured that out recently.” Finn and Aidan were both similar to Harlan in many ways, too. “You’ll like him.”

  He nodded. “I’d better.” He kissed the top of Sydney’s head. “Honey.”

  She looked up at her father.

  “You’re sure? Finn’s the guy for you?”

  Sydney nodded. “He is the guy. I’m sure. I—Daddy, I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I promise you’ll understand when you meet him.”

  Savanna followed her family into the house and saw her dad swipe at one eye with his thumb, clearing his throat.

  Savanna set an enormous platter of halved wraps in the center of the dining room table next to the steaming baked mac and cheese casserole dish. Everyone was here except Ellie, who was, unfortunately, consumed with her exams. Uncle Max and Uncle Freddie were bringing her home later in the week for the dance recital.

  Sydney stood and made her happy announcement to the family around the table, plus Aidan and Mollie. As she circulated to show off her beautiful, unique engagement ring, Aidan stood.

  “Best news ever,” he said. He hugged her, and she hugged
him back, smiling. “My brother called me this morning before flying out. Sydney, I want you to know, I’ve never seen Finn the way he is now. I know I’m hard on him. But this past year, he’s proven me wrong on multiple counts, and I’m glad. I told him the same. He’s a very lucky guy, and I know he’ll make a good husband to you.”

  Sydney’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you, Aidan. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

  When the sandwiches were gone, Savanna replaced the empty platter with the chocolate cake she’d spent the better part of the afternoon making. She set a fresh pot of coffee and vanilla ice cream out, for those so inclined.

  Uncle Max spoke first, fork in mid-air. “Savanna. Oh, my. This is absolutely scrumptious.”

  “I agree. We’d have moved here years ago if we knew about your Sunday dinners,” Uncle Freddie added.

  Near the sink, Harlan stood up from playing with Fonzie and the new puppy. “These two need some room to run—I’m taking them outside. The pup needs a name, Syd.”

  “She’s your dog; you’ll have to come up with one,” she said, smiling.

  “I’m thinking Daisy,” he said, winking at his youngest daughter. “Come on!” He held the kitchen door open, and the dogs sprinted out.

  When Mollie and Nolan made motions to follow, Aidan stood, excusing himself. “I’ll go help Harlan keep an eye on them.” He looked down at Savanna, a hand on her shoulder. “All right?”

  She squeezed his hand. “Thanks.” She loved that he was going to hang out with her dad.

  At the far end of the table, Uncle Freddie, Uncle Max, and Travis were engrossed in conversation about Freddie’s Detroit project last year for the Modern Art Museum renovation. Uncle Max was detailing the botanical gardens he’d devised for the building’s two courtyards, which led seamlessly into Travis asking if Max had any time to consult on a lakefront hotel his civil engineering firm was working on.

  Savanna joined her mom and sisters at the opposite end of the table.

  “I was sure I’d just dreamed the crash,” Sydney said. “I wish I’d gotten out front fast enough to see who did it.”

  “Nick is sure this is all the same person,” Savanna said. “Whoever killed Libby is not happy with us poking around. I can’t help thinking it was a warning to you. Or us.”

  Skylar nodded. “I don’t like how close to home this has gotten. What’s next? Your house?” she asked Savanna. “Mine? The Blakes and Anthony and Rachel Kent and even that tap instructor Marcus can see when we’re getting together and exactly how often we go talk to Nick at the precinct. We’re making the killer nervous.”

  “Which is a terrible thing to do!” Charlotte said, looking at each of them in turn. “Please, can’t you three step back and let the detective wrap this up?”

  “We mostly are now,” Savanna said in their defense. “But there are things he wouldn’t have been able to learn without our help. All three of us.”

  Charlotte sighed. “I’d feel better if each of you had a police officer with you until this is over. I might call him and tell him that myself.”

  “Mom,” Skylar said. “Let me do that. It’s a good idea if we’re really thinking Sydney’s window is a warning. I’ll call him tonight. We’ve got to stay safe—I’ve got kids in the house and Savanna’s house is so secluded. We’re all easy targets.”

  Charlotte squeezed Skylar’s hand. “Thank you. If he won’t do it, let us know. Your dad will talk to him.”

  That elicited chuckles from the sisters. “Don’t sic Dad on him,” Savanna said. “He doesn’t deserve it. Listen, I dug up some things in public records through my friend Yvonne.” Her mind raced; was it plausible the information she’d taken from Libby’s file cabinet could also be a matter of public record? She hoped she wouldn’t be getting Yvonne in trouble.

  “What kind of details? What did you two find?” Sydney asked.

  Skylar chimed in. “Did Nick say whether he ever talked to Fivell at the bank?”

  “I’m not sure,” Savanna said. “But I found the complaint of tax fraud filed against the dance school by Libby and Anthony Kent. That was what I called you about, Skylar, to ask about the lawsuit the Blakes were threatening against the Kents. It would’ve been for defamation of character or something like that, I think. I passed that all on to Nick. He was going to talk to Jillian Black at your firm about it.”

  “Wait a minute.” Charlotte spoke. “What are you saying? The Blakes were going to sue the Kents? Why did the Kents accuse Priscilla and Dylan of tax fraud?” She shook her head. “I know things had been ugly between the two businesses for years, but not at that level. I’d thought it was all petty complaints over signs and things like that.”

  “That’s what I thought too,” Savanna said.

  “About Libby’s window, and now Sydney’s,” their mother continued. “Has Detective Jordan entertained the idea that Anthony did it himself?”

  “Why would he do that to his own window?”

  “To deflect guilt? If he thought Detective Jordan was leaning toward him as the killer, his own shop window being smashed in certainly takes the focus off him,” Charlotte said.

  “And if Anthony did kill Libby for the life insurance money, he’d be scrambling to lead the police to arrest someone who isn’t him,” Skylar added. “He can’t collect on the policy until he’s completely cleared as a suspect.” She stood with Hannah and began pacing; the baby was fussy and rubbing her eyes.

  Savanna spoke. “We know Anthony was stressed about money. I’d heard through the grapevine that his meltdown in the bank that day was because his investment account was nearly gone. He was worried about the flower shop’s mortgage payments and Rachel’s tuition,” she said, summing up the letter to his financial advisor.

  “It’s a good theory,” Sydney agreed. “But Savvy, did you tell Nick about Marcus living in the building and his black eye right after Libby’s body was found?”

  She nodded. “I did. He had access, living there, and if Rachel told him about the policy, he’d know that if he could somehow frame her father for murder, the money would all go to her—to the two of them, he was probably thinking. It’s pretty apparent the Kents did not like Marcus Valentine. My guess is the feeling was mutual.”

  “Is that why Rachel got called in for questioning?” Uncle Max asked, moving over to Skylar and joining the conversation. He held his arms out for the baby. “Give her to me.”

  She handed a cranky, sleepy Hannah to him. He cradled her, lightly patting her back, and made a slight side-to-side swaying motion. The baby instantly quieted, her eyelids drooping.

  “Like magic,” Skylar marveled.

  “Yes,” Savanna said, answering Max’s question. “Nick talked to Rachel because he’s looking closely at Valentine. Rachel is Valentine’s alibi, which Nick considered iffy. But Rachel truly didn’t seem to know about the life insurance policy.”

  Charlotte stood and began clearing dishes, carrying them to the sink. Harlan got up and helped.

  “There’s one more thing,” Savanna said. “If we’re thinking the murderer smashed the window for the same reason they killed Libby, then maybe the Blakes make the most sense. Revenge over the tax fraud claim, or more likely, because they’d tried to buy the flower shop twice in the last six years, and Libby was the reason the sale didn’t go through.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Everyone in the room was now tuned in to Savanna, including Uncle Freddie and Travis, who’d only been half listening before.

  Savanna continued. “I talked to my real estate agent at Carson Community Homes. Mike was the one who wrote the purchase agreement. Libby’s Blooms was never on the market, but that didn’t stop Dylan and Priscilla from making an offer on it. The latest instance was two years ago. Mike said he sat down with Dylan Blake and Anthony Kent to go over paperwork. It’s only missing Libby’s signature. With all the bad
blood between them, I didn’t quite believe Anthony would’ve signed, but the Blakes’ offer was way over market value. Mike said it was ridiculously generous. A follow-up meeting was set to include Libby, but it never happened. He never learned why, just that the Kents weren’t selling.”

  “Would the Blakes kill Libby to get the shop?” Sydney asked the room.

  “And the parking?” Savanna added.

  Sydney looked at Charlotte. “Mom? You’ve known all of them longer than all of us.”

  Charlotte frowned, considering, a plate in each hand. “I’m sorry. I can’t get this to make sense, the idea that Priscilla getting more parking space for her dance school was worth Libby’s life. I honestly cannot imagine Anthony as a murderer, or Rachel. I don’t know this Marcus Valentine, but he sounds young and in love with Rachel. Killing his girlfriend’s mother for money, even if it was for the two of them, is extreme.”

  Savanna sighed and nodded. “I know.”

  “I know that isn’t helpful. I’m sorry,” Charlotte repeated. She set the plates down and moved closer to the group at the table. “Honestly, I don’t like any of you being involved in this. I’m also not thrilled about my brother-in-law risking his life working in this environment—I can’t imagine you’re comfortable with this, either?” She appealed to Freddie, who was already nodding.

  “Max,” Freddie said, moving to stand beside him and resting a hand on his shoulder, “you’d told me about the window, but it seems like there’s a dangerous undercurrent of continued risk. I’d feel better if you’d take some time off. Just until this all gets settled.”

  Max looked up at his husband. “I’ll think about it. I don’t mean to worry you. But that would leave the shop with no one, and it’d be quite unfair to Anthony and Rachel. Not to mention the plants. That shop was Libby’s life.” He took Freddie’s hand and held it between his. “I haven’t felt unsafe for a moment, I promise you.”

  Savanna couldn’t help feeling responsible for at least some of the worry in the room. “Listen, I’m pretty sure this will all be wrapped up in a couple of days. I have a plan I’m going to talk to Nick about tomorrow. I think it’ll help flush out the guilty party. And all it involves is having a cup of coffee. Detective Jordan will be right there with me. You can’t get safer than that. And,” she added, “I’ll go into the precinct through the rear entrance tomorrow to present my plan. I never have to hit Main Street. No one will know I’m going to talk to him.”