by Lyndsey Cole
“I heard you were recently employed by Trisha Fitch,” Annie started before taking a big bite of a muffin. Blueberries squirted in her mouth and streusel scattered on the table. She brushed the crumbs off the table. “Oops. These are delicious but they can be a little messy.”
Scarlet reached into the purse she had dumped on the table and handed Annie a dainty handkerchief. “I don’t want this back. It’s something the store was selling. I certainly don’t need any reminders of that,” she paused, “witch.”
Annie wiped the blueberry juice off her chin. “Trisha has a successful business, or so I’ve heard.” She leaned toward Scarlet. “As a matter of fact, I’m wearing one of her first designs for my wedding.” Annie hated the sound of those words but she needed to keep the conversation on Trisha.
Scarlet choked on her bite of raspberry square. “I doubt it’s her design. She couldn’t sketch an A-line skirt if her life depended on it.”
“You’re kidding.” Annie hoped her mock surprise seemed genuine. “I guess she’s managed to fool a lot of people. Does she hire designers and put her label on those products?”
“Something like that. Or she just steals them outright. But you didn’t hear that from me. I don’t need Trisha sicking her people on me. I want to cut my losses and move on.” Scarlet’s legs were crossed and she jiggled her foot rapidly. “Listen, you seem like a nice person, and I get the feeling you’re digging for some dirt on Trisha, but she keeps all her cards close with her husband and her father running the business.”
That comment took Annie by surprise. “Haven’t you heard?”
“Heard what?” Scarlet checked her immaculate nails as if the whole conversation had turned boring.
“Steve, her husband, was murdered last night.”
Scarlet’s mouth dropped open. Her eyes blinked. She uncrossed her legs and leaned over the table. “Murdered?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m the one who discovered the body. Tripped right over it last night during that horrendous storm.” Annie covered the bottom half of her face with her hands. “I almost had a heart attack when I realized what I landed on. Do you have any idea who might want to kill him?”
“Other than Trisha?” She shook her head. “I can’t think of anyone. Her father seemed like an okay guy; her mother always had her head in a book the few times I saw her. Maybe one of Trisha’s loyal employees, which certainly excludes me.” She looked past Annie before making eye contact again. “Steve always seemed to worship the ground she walked on. But between you and me? I don’t think those feelings were mutual.” She paused as if there was more she wanted to say but couldn’t decide if she should lay all her cards on the table. “He did a lot of her dirty work.”
“What do you mean?” Annie asked after finishing her muffin, trying to act casual.
Scarlet looked around the empty deck. “Hiring us young designers, promising all kinds of exposure, then taking our work with no credit given.”
Annie’s pulse jumped. “You had designs that were taken?”
She nodded.
“Recently?”
She nodded again. “That’s why I quit. I thought Steve was going to look out for me. You know, help me up another step in the ladder so someday I could have my own design label. What a sucker I was. He conned me like a naïve star-struck teenager.”
“Where were you last night?”
Scarlet abruptly stood up. “It’s not any of your business. I’ve already said too much. Steve got exactly what he deserved, but now I have no chance of getting my designs back.”
Annie watched as Scarlet walked toward the door. “Wait,” she called to Scarlet’s back. “I might be able to help you.”
“Why would you do that? I’m new in town. You don’t know me.”
Annie waved her back to the table. “Sit down and hear me out. Maybe we can help each other.”
Scarlet returned, but her face showed no expression. She sat.
Annie began, “Here’s the deal. I have a friend who had her designs stolen, too.” She noticed Scarlet’s thin eyebrow tick up. “So she’s in the same boat as you, as far as being a possible suspect. I know she didn’t kill Steve. As a matter of fact, they were friends for years so maybe he was just using my friend like he used you. Anyway, I want to know more about Trish Designs. Who were the designers, besides you, who had designs stolen; what financial shape is the company in; who handles the money—that kind of stuff.” Annie watched Scarlet’s face. A slight, barely noticeable softening around her mouth made Annie continue with one more question. “What do you think?”
Scarlet lowered her eyes and said quietly, “I didn’t kill Steve. I still can’t believe what you told me. I always thought he was the most decent one in that whole company.”
“Where were you last night?”
She let out a long sigh. “I’ve been staying at the Heron Inn until I find an apartment. Trisha paid for me to stay there for a week. There really isn’t any reason for me to stay now that I quit working for her, but the inn wouldn’t give her a refund. I’m not planning to leave before the week is up. It’s a beautiful inn, right on the water.” Scarlet’s shoulders relaxed as she talked. She shrugged. “I was in my room. Alone. Reading. No alibi.”
“Don’t worry too much about that, but let me give you some advice. The police chief, Tyler Johnson, will probably question you once he hears you quit your job. And I’m also guessing Trisha will point her crooked finger at you as quickly as she can. Don’t mention anything about your stolen designs.”
“What should I tell him?”
“The truth. Tell him how Trisha treated you, that you got along with Steve, but don’t offer anything he doesn’t specifically ask you about.”
“You believe me?”
“I want to believe you.” Annie stood up. “Here’s my cell phone number.” She handed Scarlet a piece of paper. “Keep in touch.”
Annie watched Scarlet punch the number into her phone as she walked off the deck, letting the scrap of paper fall from her fingers when she was done. Annie waited for her to leave before going into the café. Leona looked like a zombie going through the motions as she flipped grilled sandwiches and got orders ready for her customers.
“Hey, it can’t be that bad,” Annie said as she settled onto one of the stools at the counter.
Leona rested both elbows in front of Annie and supported her head in her hands. “All I’ve heard all morning is—oooh, what a loovely new little shop and aren’t the designs so modern for quaint Catfish Cove,” she repeated in a sappy tone. “It’s enough to make me gag. But, of course, I have to smile and pretend that I agree with the customers instead of telling them all what a stinking fraud the owner is.”
“Forget about that for now. Trisha’s ex-store manager, Scarlet?” Annie whispered.
Leona nodded.
“She’s a designer and had her work stolen, too. I’m thinking that is the sketch pad in the envelope you found. Do you think Steve was planning to expose Trisha? Did he tell you anything about the business when you were talking?”
Leona’s eyes bulged. “He hinted there was a big shake-up coming, but I really didn’t care all that much about Trisha’s stupid business unless it was going to drive her out of Catfish Cove. Thinking back, Steve must have suspected the chance of foul play. I suppose he could have double backed inside and slipped the envelope under the door after I left.”
Annie’s phone beeped with a text message from Camilla. She read it out loud,
“Trisha is telling police that her ex-manager stole her book of dress designs.” Annie stared at Leona. “This can’t be good for Scarlet. Was she lying to me?”
Leona grabbed Annie’s phone and sent a reply: meet us in the ladies room.
Chapter 6
Mia took over at the grill while Leona and Annie charged out to the bathroom in the hallway of the Cove’s Corner building.
Annie rummaged in the closet for the Closed for Cleaning sign, and as soon as the door shu
t behind Camilla, Annie pushed the sign into the hallway and locked the bathroom door with the three women inside. “Now we should have some peace and quiet for a few minutes.”
“We need an update. You’ve been over there for the whole morning. What have you discovered?” Leona asked with fire in her eyes.
Camilla went into one of the stalls. “I actually do have to pee, so hold your horses.” Through the door she added, “I told Ms. Dictator that if I didn’t get a break, I’d be suing her when I got a bladder infection from holding it in all morning.”
Annie leaned on the outside door. “And how’d that go over?”
Camilla flushed. “She didn’t say anything but I could tell she was furious. She had to let me go; it’s the law to give a break.” Camilla kept talking as she washed her hands, primped her hair, and smoothed her bright red dress that hugged all her curves. “All I know so far is the ex-manager quit about a half hour before I bumped into Trisha this morning. She’s fit to be tied and said Scarlet would regret that decision to quit until the day she dies.”
“Interesting choice of words. I wonder if Scarlet is in some kind of danger, too? What about the stolen design book?” Leona prompted. “Did she say anything else about that?”
Camilla touched up her lipstick and blotted her lips with the same handkerchief design that Scarlet gave Annie earlier. She looked at Leona and Annie in the mirror. “All I heard is what I already texted to you. I think that’s her payback plan: implicate Scarlet as the thief which would turn her into a murder suspect. That poor girl doesn’t know what she’s in for. I think Trisha is used to getting what she wants.”
“Not this time.” Annie paced in the bathroom. “I had a long talk with Scarlet, and I’d put money on her story over Trisha’s as far as who stole what from whom. Jason has the envelope with the design pad that Leona found this morning. I bet it’s Scarlet’s designs and Trisha doesn’t know we have it.”
Camilla did a little pirouette. “How do you like this outfit? It’s a nice perk at least. Probably the only one. I’ve got to get back to my undercover position before Trisha sends her security guard to hunt me down.”
Annie grabbed Camilla’s arm and stopped her from leaving. “Security guard? You need to do your flirty thing with him. Get him talking. Find out what he knows.”
Camilla put one hand on her hip and gestured with the other. “Already a step ahead of you, dear. I’m sure he has noticed me by now.” She tossed her head from side to side and ran her fingers through her short blond hair. “Red is definitely my color; makes me stand out like a bright shiny object.” Camilla grinned and winked before she left.
“Camilla is enjoying this way too much,” Annie said, sounding worried. “She can completely misjudge people. I hope she doesn’t get herself into trouble.”
“Don’t worry about her. She puts on a good dumb act,” Leona made finger quotes around those last two words, “and with the exception of her choice of men in her love life, she is the opposite of dumb.” Leona pulled the door open. “I have to get back to the café. Maybe you should peek into the dress shop. Check it out. See what we’re up against.”
“I’m glad you suggested that, Leona. I was afraid you’d never talk to me again if I set foot in Trisha’s den.”
“Well, this morning that would have been my reaction. If we have any chance of beating her at her own game, we need to know as much as possible about her activities. Don’t forget, I used to be very good friends with Trisha, before she double crossed me, and I know all her worst characteristics.”
Annie made a quick stop in the café for a bag of blueberry muffins. The sweet treats usually came in handy as a gift or, she admitted to herself, a bribe.
Her next stop was Dazzle Design. Annie never felt more out of place in her life. The music, glitz, and mirrors overwhelmed her. And the store was packed. At the least, maybe some of these customers would spend money at the café, too.
Or not, she admitted to herself, since they all looked like tall blond weeds who, most likely, never ate anything more than a glass of water and a piece of celery.
“Helloo Annie.” Trisha’s syrupy sweet voice blindsided her. “I wasn’t sure if Leona would allow you inside my shop.” Trisha forced a giggle as she elbowed Annie in the side as if they were sharing a clever joke. “Are you all set with your wedding gown? I could give you a good deal on one of my designs.”
“That’s such a generous offer. Actually, I’ll be wearing one of Leona’s designs. It’s an older style but I’m particularly fond of it.” Annie smiled but it was one of those smiles that went only as far as the edges of her lips and it didn’t extend to her whole face. A fake smile which she hoped Trisha would understand and know exactly whose side Annie was on. She put her hand on Trisha’s arm and tilted her head. “I’m so sorry about Steve. It was such a terrible shock for me last night. I can’t imagine how you are coping,” she paused, “and continuing with the opening.”
The pasted-on smile across Trisha’s face was instantly replaced with a sad expression. “I’m sure it was just dreadful for you. I have no idea what Steve was doing over at your house. Did the two of you talk? I know he had a chat with Leona yesterday. I didn’t know they had stayed close.” Her eyebrows rose curiously.
Annie smelled a bit of fear behind Trisha’s words as she fished for information. “And you are still here at your shop,” Annie stated in a low voice. “It must be terribly difficult for you.” Annie wanted to bring the conversation back to Steve’s death.
“You can’t imagine.” Trisha wiped at her eye but Annie suspected there were no tears seeping out. “Steve was so instrumental in getting this shop off the ground, I decided it had to go forward. For him.”
Out of the corner of Annie’s eye, she noticed a muscular, handsome man walk into the stop. He was dressed stylishly but without consciously drawing attention to himself. Trisha gave him a quick nod and he moved off to one corner of the store.
“I have to attend to some business. Look around and let me know if there’s anything you might be interested in.” Trisha looked Annie up and down, making Annie feel a bit self-conscious with her jeans and t-shirt in this upscale shop. “Family always gets a discount.” Trisha patted Annie’s back and hurried to the man in the corner.
Annie took a deep breath, looked around the shop, and decided to wander around the wall racks first. Who knows, maybe she’d find some tidbit that she would actually consider wearing. Right! She laughed to herself.
Camilla approached Annie. “Can I help you find something special?”
Annie raised her eyebrows but nodded.
Camilla pulled a silky dark green sleeveless top off the rack and held it in front of Annie. “This is perfect for you.” With her back to everyone else in the store, Camilla whispered, “The security guard just returned. Trisha sent him on a mission and he’s been gone for about an hour. I sense something fishy going on.”
Annie rubbed her fingers over the fabric. “The guy that walked in when I was talking to Trisha?”
“Uh huh.”
“This is elegant. I might even wear something like this on our honeymoon. I can’t always throw on a t-shirt if Jason makes reservations at a fancy place.”
“In that case . . .” Camilla matched the top with a flowing, just-below-the-knee skirt. “It would look great with this. Go and try them on. The dressing room is straight through that arch in the back.”
Annie couldn’t believe Camilla conned her into trying on an outfit. This was the last thing she wanted to be doing, but it was beautiful, she grudgingly admitted.
Annie entered a dressing room big enough to accommodate a cushy chair and a small table with a tray of individually wrapped chocolates and glass bottles of specialty juices. “Wow. Trisha doesn’t fool around,” Annie said to her reflection.
As she slipped into the top and skirt, she heard hushed voices through the wall.
Annie froze.
She cupped her ear against the wall.
> Sure enough, it sounded like Trisha’s shrill voice. All she could understand was a man’s voice saying something about not finding anything. Trisha’s angry voice replied much louder, “That’s not acceptable. We have to find it. If he snuck it to Leona, we’re done.”
Annie’s heart raced.
Her legs felt weak.
She dropped into the comfy chair.
Were they talking about the sketch pad of designs? She gasped for air as the dressing room closed in on her. She needed to get out.
Camilla called to Annie, “Do you need some help?”
That’s an understatement, Annie thought in a panic as she tried desperately to get the skirt off. “Um, yes, come on in. I think the zipper’s stuck.”
Camilla opened the door and rushed to Annie’s side. “What’s wrong? You’re white as a ghost.” She opened a bottle of blueberry mango juice and handed it to Annie. “Here, have a chocolate too. Maybe you have low blood sugar.”
Annie drank half the bottle before she tried to speak. She pointed to the wall, held her hand to her ear, and flapped her fingers together like a talking mouth.
Camilla nodded. “Let me see that zipper. Oh dear, what a mess. There you go. Good as new.” Her eyes searched Annie’s face as if she expected to read a private message on her forehead.
Annie pulled out her phone and sent a text message to Camilla explaining the conversation she just heard. Camilla’s eyes grew bigger and rounder as she read the message. “I’ll get a different skirt for you and get these wrapped up while you finish dressing. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
“Wait. These might come in handy with,” she pointed to the wall and mouthed the words security guard. Annie thrust the bag of muffins into Camilla’s hands, stopping her before she could leave the dressing room.
Annie squeezed her chin between her thumb and finger. Did she just buy the outfit? On second thought, it was a good idea. She could show it to Scarlet and find out exactly who designed it. “Thanks, and Trisha told me I get a family discount.”
