by Lyndsey Cole
Scarlet answered Tyler’s question. “I didn’t take anything.”
“I would like you to come to the station so I can question you about Steve Fitch,” Tyler said. He turned to Thorne. “You too.”
Another grunt came from Thorne, but without any self-satisfied expression on his face this time. “I’ll get it over with now,” he said as he walked to, what Annie assumed, was his car.
Thorne winced as he favored his right leg on his short walk.
Annie noticed.
Interesting.
Did he injure himself in a struggle with Steve Fitch? A theft gone wrong?
Thorne awkwardly slid into the driver seat of his car and left.
“I can come now, too,” Scarlet said.
Scarlet’s comment brought Annie’s attention back to the current situation. “I’ll follow you, Scarlet,” Annie said. She didn’t want to give her the freedom to flee again.
Scarlet followed Tyler’s cruiser and Annie followed behind Scarlet. This was getting more and more complicated. First, she tripped over Steve’s body, then Leona found the sketch pad in an anonymous envelope, and now sketches from a suspicious origin were in her pocket. She did not like where this was heading, especially since it was taking her away from her wedding excitement.
Annie strummed her fingers on the steering wheel while Scarlet went into the police station. She wished she could be a fly on the wall to hear exactly what Scarlet was telling Tyler. If she mentioned her suspicions about someone breaking into her room and planting the sketches, Tyler would be furious at Annie for taking them and keeping silent after he searched Scarlet’s suitcase.
A tap on the window startled Annie from her daydreaming. Detective Christy Crank tilted her head and pursed her forehead. “Are you lost?”
Annie rolled her window down. “No. I’m waiting for someone. Any progress with Steve Fitch’s murder?”
“Progress as in, do we know who did it? No. But we have some leads we’re following.” Christy leaned one hand on the roof of the car and bent down closer to the window. “Leona had a history with the victim, didn’t she?”
“That was ages ago. Close to thirty years at least,” Annie said, trying to downplay any connection Leona and Steve Fitch used to have.
“What aren’t you telling me, Annie? Your fists are wrapped tighter than a boa constrictor on that steering wheel.”
Annie immediately forced her hands to relax. “Nothing. You always make more out of every little look or gesture than is necessary.”
“It’s my job,” Christy said nonchalantly. “How about a heated argument between Leona and Steve Fitch hours before you tripped over his body? That’s a minor gesture by your definition?”
Annie felt her mouth drop open. “What are you talking about?”
“Listen, Annie. I know you’re super loyal to Leona, but something doesn’t add up and you might want to dig it out of her yourself. What did she tell you? That Trisha Fitch stole her designs all those years ago?”
Annie nodded.
“You never questioned that?”
Annie shook her head. The pit of her stomach was twisting into knots. This conversation was leaving a bad taste in her mouth..
“This is what adds up from what I’ve been told: Steve Fitch was the mastermind in getting Trish Designs off the ground. Steve convinced Trisha to use Leona’s designs and he convinced Leona to let it go. Now, all these years later, Steve shows up in town, they argue, and all those old wounds on Leona’s heart start to fester. Something happened between them.”
“Listen yourself, Detective Crank. I don’t know who you’re getting your information from, but your theory doesn’t add up in my book. If what you’re saying is even true, why would Leona kill him? Her life is great at the moment. She wouldn’t want to flush it all down the toilet.”
Christy laughed out loud. “Who said anything about Leona killing Steve? Those are your words, Annie. Why would your mind even go there?”
Annie fumed inside. “You tricked me, Christy. You were thinking exactly what I said. But since we’re talking hypothetical anyway, why would Leona kill Steve and not Trisha? Trisha is the one Leona can’t stand.”
Christy smacked her hand on the roof of the car. “Thank you, Annie. That’s exactly what I wanted to get confirmation about. Leona hated Trisha Fitch. Leona wanted to get even. Leona found an opportunity to hurt her nemesis.”
Annie pushed the door open, letting it bang into Christy’s side. “You’ve got one thing wrong in your little scenario. That marriage was on the rocks and Trisha wanted Steve out of her life. You’ve got the players all wrong. Why don’t you use that detective nose of yours and stick it in Trisha Fitch’s background? I guarantee you’ll find lots of interesting dirt.”
“Like dirt about your new friend?” Christy nodded toward Scarlet walking toward them. “Hello Miss Scarlet. So sad about your boss’s husband.”
Scarlet looked at Christy, then at Annie. Her face wrinkled with total confusion.
“Oh, sorry.” Christy held her hand out. “Detective Crank. Interesting relationships at Dazzle Design. Care to enlighten me about how you and Steve Fitch got along?”
Scarlet’s face tightened. “What are you talking about?”
“You know.” Christy flipped her hand palm-up then palm-down. “Trisha, Steve, Thorne, you. One big happy family.”
Scarlet pulled her car door open. “I don’t think you know what you’re talking about.” She slid into the driver seat. “And I don’t work there anymore.”
Annie turned her car on.
Christy whispered in Annie’s ear. “Don’t leave her alone with the silver, if you get my drift. Things tend to disappear when she’s around.” Christy slammed the door before she walked away toward the police station. Without a backward glance.
Annie fumed all the way to Jason’s house. Did Scarlet sell her a packet of lies? What about Leona and her story? Another twisted tale, like so much else from Leona’s past? At least Scarlet’s car reflected in Annie’s rearview mirror as they headed to Jason’s house and she didn’t make a run for it.
Soon, she could call it their house. As long as this murder didn’t derail her wedding.
Chapter 9
Annie’s stomach rumbled. She grabbed the package from Dazzle Design, got out of the car, and waited for Scarlet. She was supposed to be sampling some of Leona’s appetizer samples for the wedding instead of searching for clues and alibis to keep her off the suspect list. Maybe she would be able to sneak away and satisfy her hunger cravings.
“Wow,” Scarlet said as they stood in the shade under the leafy maples and giant white pines. Her head swiveled as she surveyed Jason’s lakeside home and the beautiful surroundings. “This is quite the place. And look at that view. This is yours?”
“Not yet. I’m getting married tomorrow and then, yes, I guess I will be considered an owner, too.”
“Married? Congratulations! I love weddings. That’s my favorite fashion style to design. Can I see your gown?”
“Um, sure. Come on in. You can meet my fiancé, Jason, too.”
Annie opened the door that led into the kitchen area. Jason was already on his way to greet her. Behind Jason, Annie saw Great Uncle Harold.
Not anyone she wanted to spend time with at the moment.
Or probably any moment in her lifetime.
She put on a smile to be polite. “You have company,” she stated as Jason hugged her.
“Yes. We’ve been chatting and waiting for you to get back. Oh, and you brought company, too.” Jason’s eyes were filled with questions.
Harold approached Annie with a smile spread over his jowly face. The smile melted when his eyes moved to the person standing behind Annie. “What is she doing here?”
“Excuse me?” Annie said rather rudely. “Do I need your permission to invite someone into my home?” Her hands clenched into fists.
“Of course not, Annie, it’s only—” he sputtered and grasped for words.
>
Scarlet touched Annie’s arm. “I don’t—”
Annie cut her off. “Of course you won’t leave. Maybe it’s time for my great uncle and aunt to leave.” She challenged Harold with her eyebrow raised and, at the same time, she held onto Scarlet’s arm.
“I was hoping to have a word with you.” His gaze traveled around the room. “In private?”
“I don’t see why that would be necessary. You can say anything in front of my fiancé and my friend.” Annie was determined not to let this brutish person intimidate her. She would call the shots or he could leave. She couldn’t imagine he had anything so important to say to her that she would care one way or the other if he left before he spoke his mind.
“Milly is on the porch reading. Could you sit out there with us? It’s such a lovely view.”
“You do realize that your son-in-law was found dead at the bottom of those porch steps?”
Harold’s hand covered his mouth and a small gasp escaped. “I didn’t realize. Is it too painful for you to sit on the porch?”
Annie threw her Dazzle Design bag on the dining room table and shrugged out of her light jacket which soon joined the Dazzle Design bag. “I would imagine it would be too painful for the two of you. How can you be so callous about the murder of your daughter’s husband?” She’d had enough of trying to be polite to this bore.
Harold approached Annie. “I can see this has affected you deeply. It must be putting unnecessary stress on you just before your wedding.” He tried to put his arm around her shoulders but Annie would have none of that. She walked past him and sat on the couch next to Roxy. Stroking the soft fur on Roxy’s head helped to calm her annoyance.
Jason interrupted the awkward tension and asked, “Would anyone like something to drink?”
“A glass of wine for me.” Annie couldn’t believe those words just popped out of her mouth.
It was barely past noon and her stomach was empty.
He did ask, she justified to herself, and what could one glass of wine hurt? “Scarlet, would you like some, too?” At least if Scarlet joined her, she wouldn’t feel guilty about drinking alone.
“Sure.” Scarlet plopped down on the couch next to Annie. “This place is just as nice on the inside as it is on the outside.”
Jason brought a tray with glasses, wine, cheese, and crackers. And a jug of water. Annie wondered if that was a hint, but if it was, she chose to ignore it. He poured two glasses, barely half full, and handed one to Annie and the other to Scarlet.
“Harold?” Jason asked, holding up a third wine glass.
“All right. I don’t want to be a party pooper.” He sat in Jason’s comfy recliner without waiting for an invitation.
Annie took several sips, or maybe they were more like gulps, before she set the glass back on the tray. “So, Harold,” she decided the great uncle label was for the birds—there was nothing great about him and, at the moment, she wished he wasn’t her uncle, “what is so important that you had to invite yourself in?”
Harold held his untouched glass of wine. “It’s about your wedding gown.”
Annie lurched forward so fast it was a good thing she wasn’t still holding the wine or it would have ended up all over herself. “My wedding gown? How does that have anything to do with you?”
Harold’s face actually turned a deep shade of red. He glanced at Scarlet and finally sipped his wine. “That’s why I was hoping to talk to you in private.” Annie stared at Harold. He squirmed in his seat. “Well, you know, because of the history with the gown?”
Annie settled back in the couch and picked up her glass. “The history.”
“You don’t know? Leona never told you what happened?” Harold seemed genuinely shocked.
With the help of the wine which went straight to her head, Annie was beginning to enjoy watching Harold’s story unfold and couldn’t wait to hear his version. “No, but you’ve certainly got my attention, Harold. What happened? What story did Trisha tell you?”
“Well, right after Leona and Trisha graduated from high school, Leona gave some sketches to Trisha. Leona was quite the artist at that time but she didn’t have any plans to pursue a career. You know, unlike my Trisha.”
Annie noticed Scarlet sit up a bit straighter.
Annie bit her tongue to keep from ripping Harold to shreds.
“Leona begged Trisha to look at the designs and make one of the dresses for her, in case her boyfriend asked her to marry him.” Harold took another sip.
Annie noticed perspiration on his upper lip. She picked up the wine bottle, added more to her glass, and offered Harold a refill. He held his glass out.
“Thank you. Where was I?” He wiped his upper lip with the back of his hand. “Oh yes, the gown. That’s really about it with the story.” He shrugged. “Leona didn’t wear the gown because the wedding never happened. Trisha would much rather you wear one of her newer designs. I’m sure you see the sense in that.”
“Actually, I don’t. I love Leona’s gown. I’ve loved it ever since I was a little girl. And do you know what makes it extra special for me?”
Harold shook his head but Annie could see in the expression on his face that he wasn’t going to like her answer.
Scarlet interrupted. “Can I see the gown?”
Harold suddenly stood up. “I don’t think that’s necessary. Just let Trisha give you something special to wear at your wedding. Milly and I were at her store earlier and that’s all she could talk about. How she would love to see you walk down the aisle in one of her most recent designs.”
Annie was already on her feet and heading upstairs for the gown. She ignored Harold’s endless babble. She was ready to get this out in the open and see just where it headed. She grabbed the gown and almost tripped in her haste to return downstairs.
“Jason, close your eyes. You can’t see the gown until I’m walking down the aisle.” She looked first at Scarlet’s excited face, then Harold’s face full of dread. “What’s the matter Harold? Don’t you want to see this gown? What are you worried about?”
He sputtered and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll get Milly. We need to let Trisha know you’re bound and determined to wear that,” he pointed to the gown still covered in plastic, “that old thing.”
Annie watched Harold go out to the porch. Through the window she saw him waving his arms around. Milly closed her book, stood up, and followed Harold off the porch and out of view.
“Wow. What the heck was that all about?” Scarlet gushed. “I can hardly wait to see the gown. It must be really awful for Trisha to offer you a new wedding gown from her exclusive line. Do you know how much she charges?”
Annie shook her head. “And I don’t really care.” She pulled the plastic off the gown, checked that Jason had his eyes closed, and held it up in front of herself.
Scarlet’s mouth fell open. She gently caressed the fabric and the delicately embroidered flowers that decorated the gown from just under the left bodice down to the hem. The exquisite needlework in iridescent light rose and green was stunning.
“This is unbelievable. Trisha didn’t have anything to do with a design like this. I can assure you of that.”
Annie’s eyes misted over. “I used to sit in my aunt’s closet and imagine I was in a magical garden with these flowers draped around me. I wouldn’t dream of wearing anything else but this gown for my wedding.”
“Trisha doesn’t want anyone to find out she didn’t actually design this gown. That’s the problem, isn’t it? Every wedding gown she sells now is a spinoff of this original design. If it gets out that she didn’t actually design it, that information will ruin her business. She’ll be exposed for the fraud she is.” Scarlet smiled.
Annie returned the gown to the bedroom before she sat down again. “But how does this fit in with Steve’s murder?”
Chapter 10
Jason picked up the Dazzle Design bag that Annie had forgotten on the dining room table. “What’s this? Am I allowed to se
e what you bought, or is this a sexy surprise for our honeymoon?” His eyebrows wiggled suggestively.
Scarlet had made herself quite at home with Smokey curled on her lap, Snowball draped on the back of the couch near her head, and another glass of wine. “You bought something from Trisha’s store?” She popped a cracker with cheese into her mouth.
“Not exactly,” Annie said. She pulled the tissue-paper-wrapped blouse from the bag. “I have a spy at the store. She gave me this as a wedding present from Dazzle Design. Most likely without Trisha’s knowledge.”
Scarlet’s hand stopped midair. A second cracker covered with smoked gouda remained suspended between the table and her mouth.
Jason laughed. “Sounds like the perfect job for Camilla. She could pull off talking her ninety year old grandmother into buying a silky red thong. What did she manage to give to you?”
“I’m not going to show you with that attitude, Mr. Hunter. You’ll just have to wait and wonder.” She grinned and started to stuff the wrapped blouse back in the bag. “Huh, there’s something in the bottom of the bag.” Annie reached in. She held a fistful of folded papers in her hand.
Scarlet was at her side, waiting for Annie to unfold the wad.
“Camilla must have used my bag as a hiding place to smuggle these papers out of the store.” Annie’s eyes grew wider and wider as she read the words.
The top paper was the lease agreement for the store in the Cove’s Corner building. Underneath were instructions to Steve detailing how to conceal Trisha’s identity during the negotiations so neither Annie nor Mia would suspect who the actual tenant was.
That was bad enough, but under those papers, Annie found a note from Trisha to Steve ordering him to get Scarlet’s designs and to use any tactics necessary. The last paper had a short note from Trisha to Steve explaining the potential fallout if Annie wore Leona’s wedding gown creation.
Jason let out a low whistle. “You should show these to Tyler. There’s plenty of evidence here to narrow down suspects.”
The door slammed. Annie looked at Jason. “It certainly points a finger at Scarlet and gives her a motive for killing Steve. I’m thinking she just took off because she decided the same thing.”
