Tea Cups and Carnage

by Lynn Cahoon

  “Council business? All you really need to do is send me an email the week before the meeting and I’ll add it to our list. I can’t always guarantee that the agenda item will be added.” Then I threw Bill Sullivan under the bus. “You probably know that Bill has veto rights on the topics discussed. It’s part of the agreement with the city.”

  He nodded, looking thoughtful. “That’s understandable.”

  I was floored. Who was this guy and what had the alien pod monster done with Josh? I just stared at him, not knowing what to say.

  “Sorry, I’m getting off track. What I wanted to ask you is if you could see your way to watch my shop for a few weeks. Kyle will work the business, but he’s still young and needs to have someone to check in with him. I’d also like you to make any bank deposits while I’m gone.” He pushed a piece of paper toward me.

  I studied the list, stunned at the request. I didn’t think Josh liked me enough to even say hello as we passed on the street. Now he wanted me to help run his business? I pushed the paper aside. “What’s going on?”

  “I told you, I need you to help me out for a week or two. I’ll try to be available by phone the second week, but I can’t promise anything the first week.” He took his own copy of the list out of his pocket and smoothed the creases. “Now is there anything on this that you’d like me to go over? The bank manager has already been alerted to your limited access to the accounts. If you need additional funds made available because Kyle finds a piece to purchase, you have the authority.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Josh cleared his throat. “Fine, we’ll go over the list. Number one, please check that Kyle is opening promptly at ten. We don’t get a lot of customers that early, but I have a few regulars who enjoy shopping before the weather turns hot.”

  I put my hand on the paper causing him to look up at me. “No, I mean, why am I helping? Where are you going? On vacation?”

  He shook his head. “I wouldn’t ask you to do me such a big favor for a romp in some tropical island. I just need you to help. You’ve been very successful with your own shop and I’d appreciate it if you could see your way to doing me this favor.”

  I stared at him. “Aunt Jackie might be a better choice. She’s more familiar with your shop.”

  He held up a hand. “You can’t tell your aunt about this. I’m sure she’s too busy with her work and,” he swallowed hard, “other things to be bothered with this.”

  “But,” I started but before I could press him, he stood.

  “So if you have more questions, please let me know. I’ll be leaving on Friday and back no later than a week from Tuesday. Although I’m sure it can’t take that long”

  I watched him walk out of the shop his shoulders drooping and wondered what was going on with the man. I’d corner Kyle later when Josh wasn’t hovering and find out. The kid adored his boss, but if something was going on, he’d know.

  And if he didn’t, I’d make Josh tell me his plans before he left tomorrow.

  Chapter 8

  When Sasha arrived, she looked better than she had yesterday. Her eyes were clear and I didn’t get the impression she’d been crying. Maybe whatever was bothering her had been dealt with or she’d gotten good news about next semester’s financial aid. If she’d still appeared worried, I was going to tell her I’d front her the money for tuition until she got her aid. I didn’t want her to have to push off school any longer than necessary. Having Olivia had already put her behind in her schooling. The girl worked hard, she deserved a break now and then.

  “Hey boss, has the place been dead without all the chicks from the school coming in?” She shook her head. “I drove by the beach parking lot and it’s filled with cars. I didn’t even have to stop to know they were following Barista Babe.”

  Sasha had started calling Toby that a few months ago. I thought it was funny, but it made him uncomfortable. He knew he drew women into the shop, he just didn’t like the idea it was because he was cover-model handsome. The boy did have some substance under all that good-lookingness.

  “I’ve had a steady stream of customers since we opened. Not swamped, but enough to keep me busy. Your shift may be a little slower if all the traffic stops at the beach, but there’s enough places with sales happening, we shouldn’t be dead.” I thought of Josh and his strange request. He liked Sasha. Maybe he’d let something slip to her when he’d come in for his afternoon coffee. “Do you know what’s going on with Josh?”

  Sasha tied her apron behind her back and then poured out the coffee to make a fresh pot. “He seems better. Breaking up with your aunt did a number on his head, you know that right?”

  “I mean, do you know if he’s doing something next week? Maybe a vacation?” I still hoped that something positive was behind the strange request. However, I didn’t hold out much hope. The man had looked scared. That was never a good thing.

  Sasha set up the first coffeepot to brew and dumped out the second pot. She shrugged, not looking at me. “Not that he told me about. What did you hear?”

  The man hadn’t really sworn me to secrecy, or if he had, I thought I was still being vague enough that it didn’t break his confidence by asking. “Nothing.”

  Sasha raised her eyebrows, clearly not believing my response. A door chime sounded saving me from having to respond.

  “I’m running to make a deposit, then out to the truck. Anything I need to take?” I scooted behind her to get my tote out of the office along with the deposit bag Aunt Jackie had locked in the desk.

  “Nope.” Sasha stepped behind the cash register and greeted the customers. The couple must have been visiting for the festival since I didn’t know them. I half listened to their order, then left through the front door. I turned left toward the bank and ran right into Esmeralda.

  “Whoa, sorry.” I held up my hands not quite sure we wouldn’t wind up on the cobblestone sidewalk.

  When she regained her balance, Esmeralda ran a hand down her skirt to smoothing the crinkles. “You’re off balance.”

  “Typically happens when I almost knock someone over.” I wasn’t in a mood for her cryptic answers.

  “I didn’t mean physically.” She grabbed my arm, swaying in the morning sunlight. “You’ve lost something.”

  “Yeah, you said that before.” I tried to step around South Cove’s resident fortune teller and my neighbor. The woman liked to play with my head. She’d even admitted she was good at reading people. My worry about the missing money must be showing on my face.

  The fingers of her hand tightened around my arm, keeping me grounded to that spot. “You need to keep her safe. The dark is near but it’s not aimed specifically at her. If she’s kept safe, the evil can’t find her.”

  Cold chills ran the length of my body. Esmeralda sometimes seemed to know too much. Things that she couldn’t know, even with mad body language skills. Aunt Jackie wouldn’t have told anyone about the missing money. Well, she might have told Mary, but her best friend was out of town.

  I whispered my question, hoping to reach whatever power was talking through Esmeralda. “Who do I need to keep safe?”

  As I spoke the words, the spell broke and the fog cleared from her eyes. The vision was gone and my neighbor was back. Esmeralda smiled. “I’ll do my best to keep Maggie inside for the festival. I know you worry about her.”

  Maggie was a jet black kitten that had adopted both me and Emma. She tended to cross the road to visit when she thought Esmeralda had a message for me from the great beyond. I believed the cat liked sleeping in the afternoon sun on my front porch. Either way, I worried about her getting hit by a car as she crossed back and forth. “That would be good, especially this weekend. Mary says our traffic should double.”

  “It’s sweet for you to worry about my Maggie.” She released my arm, staring at her hand like it had acted on its own. “Did something happen?”

  Now I did walk around her. No use bringing up the vision. Esm
eralda would want to read my palm or do my tarot cards or something to make sure there weren’t additional vague premonitions to give me and I didn’t have time for that. Once my errands were done for the day, I was curling up on the couch and reading.

  I didn’t get even close to the couch for over two hours. The lines at the bank were long. People were grumping at the new teller for mistakes. Then when I got to the food truck, they were almost out of coffee cups, so I had to run back to the house to get my Jeep. Then to the store and back to the truck. I’d just pulled out a bottle of water and the book I’d been dying to start when my cell rang.

  “Yes?” I tried to keep the annoyance out of my tone. I probably failed.

  “Where are you?” Aunt Jackie’s voice was low like she was in public and didn’t want to disturb the people around her. The noises in the background sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place them.

  I opened the book and read the first line. “At home. I’m a little busy right now, can I call you back?”

  “Unless you’re finishing getting ready for the planning meeting, I think you need to talk to me.”

  “Wait, what planning meeting?”

  A long, drawn-out sigh echoed into the phone. “The library event? Sasha asked you to step in for her so she could keep the shop open today. We always meet for lunch on Thursdays.”

  I slapped my palm against my hand. I’d forgotten all about the meeting. “Lille’s right?” I glanced at the clock. One-thirty. I would only be a few minutes late if I hurried.

  “See you soon.” My aunt clicked off and I grabbed my purse and my keys. Hopefully Lille’s parking lot wouldn’t be packed. I would just walk, but the tone of my aunt’s voice had informed me I was already in trouble for not being on time.

  I let Emma outside and ran to my car. I got the last slot in the parking lot and ran into the restaurant. I spied my aunt and two women sitting by the window. Nodding to Lille who stood at the hostess stand glaring at me, I weaved my way through the tables, filled with mostly tourists.

  My aunt took in my rumpled clothes and sniffed as if I’d shown up in pajamas.

  I slipped into a chair and smiled at the women. “Good afternoon. Sorry I’m late, I’m Jill Gardner.”

  The woman closest to me held out a hand. “Monica Chatman. I’m the head librarian for the school district and this is Kori, she’s an assistant.”

  I shook both women’s hands, but I got the feeling that Kori didn’t much like the title Monica had bestowed on her.

  “Actually, I’m the marketing director for the library.” Kori explained as she shook my hand.

  It was Monica’s turn to sniff.

  “Anyway, so glad to finally meet you. Sasha raves about you.” Kori ignored the pointed barb, not even breaking stride talking to me. “She’s been so helpful as I’m trying to set up a teen-based marketing program.”

  “We adore Sasha.” I took out my notebook and a pen. Opening to a clean page, I looked around the table. “So what are we meeting about?”

  “Dear, we don’t just jump into business. We usually have something to eat first. I’m sure you’re hungry after your busy day.”

  My aunt’s comment made it seem like she knew what a mess my day had been. Who was her source? Hoping she was just making conversation I nodded and put the notebook to the side. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude.”

  “No problem. I was the same way when I first started working for the library back home. Now Texas is a place that likes their social routines. We’d have a meeting to decide on the agenda for the meeting we were having the next day” Kori sipped her tea. “You all move a lot faster than my former co-workers ever did.”

  “I didn’t realize you were from Texas.” My aunt looked at me, the question forming on her face before she asked. “What part?”

  “Just a little town near San Antonio. I doubt if you’ve heard of it.”

  “I can’t remember exactly where, but our new tea shop owner is from the San Antonio area.”

  Kori put her hand on the table. “You’re kidding me.”

  I held a hand up in a mock pledge. “I swear to God.”

  No thunder crashed into me as I stood there, so apparently my vow hadn’t offended the big guy. “I think she said she was from Melaire. Have you heard of it?”

  A big grin filled Kori’s face. “That’s where I worked right out of college. I ran the children’s division for the local library. It was such a small town, I’m sure I’ve either met her or some member of her family. What’s her name?”

  “Kathi Corbin. Her sister, Ivy’s currently in town too. Although, I’m not sure that she moved here.” I looked at Aunt Jackie. “Did you get the feeling she just needed a temporary job when she talked to you about the shop?”

  My aunt gently shrugged. “I didn’t let the conversation get that far since we aren’t currently looking for additional help. It didn’t feel right to let her keep hoping.”

  “I know both women. Kathi’s quite the celebrity since she was a runner up in the Miss Texas beauty contest. She talked to my teen group one Saturday about career choices for women, but all the girls wanted to hear was her pageant stories.” Kori pushed her long bangs out of her eyes. “I guess it’s the age group.”

  I didn’t know since I had only been in one beauty pageant in my life when I was just starting high school. Back when I thought I could do anything. I had a ton of confidence, but the girl who won had been groomed in contest lore since she was five. She had the walk, the smile, and even the best answers. And she had a stage mother who didn’t mind stepping on other contestant’s evening gown hems.

  “So is their mother still alive? Kathi said that Ivy was the caretaker for their dad.” I watched Carrie bring refills for everyone’s iced tea and then tapped a pen on her pad.

  “You guys wanting food?” Carrie glanced at Lille who still glared at the table.

  I picked up my menu. “Of course. Bring me the Cajun Grilled Chicken salad, with the vinaigrette on the side.”

  As the others ordered, I sipped my tea. I didn’t know why I was so intrigued by the Corbin family, but there was definitely something Kathi wasn’t telling us about her impromptu move across the country to start a new life. After Kori ordered, I reminded her of my question.

  “Oh, the mother? I don’t know. I got the feeling she’d been gone a while. Kathi’s dad never left the house, or at least, I never saw him out in town.”

  I formatted another question but my aunt kicked me under the table. I leaned down and rubbed my calf.

  “We’ll get started now. I’m excited to bring you all up to date about the author and the plans for the presentation and signing.” Aunt Jackie took the reins for the next hour as I sat and took notes. I’d really let myself get behind in the planning process and most of the information was a surprise to me as well as the librarians.

  As we said our goodbyes to Kori and Monica, I pointed to my Jeep in the parking lot. “Can I give you a ride back?”

  “I think I’ll walk.” My aunt surveyed the sky for any rain clouds. “I need to stretch my legs for a bit before I take over for Sasha.”

  “The bank was crazy busy when I made the deposit today.” I hoped my opening would lead her to tell me that she’d found the missing check. And remind her I was doing all the bank trips.

  “Claire stopped by the shop just before I left. She’s ready to kill that new teller, but what can you do?” My aunt kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  She paused at the sidewalk edge and looked both ways. A blue sedan stopped to let her cross the street. Just as she was halfway across, a black motorcycle sped around the car and past Aunt Jackie, knocking her back onto the pavement. I ran to her side. The woman from the car beat me to her and on the other side, a truck stopped, blocking traffic.

  Aunt Jackie struggled to stand, but as soon as she was up, she doubled over in pain and leaned against the car.

  I looked
her over. “Are you all right?”

  He face was ashen as she shook her head. “Something’s wrong with my ankle.”

  I dialed 911 and when Esmeralda answered, I quickly explained what had happened. Before I got off the phone, Greg had pulled up in his truck.

  “Is it just your ankle? You aren’t hurt anywhere else, are you?” He kneeled and touched the skin where even I could see the angry red marks.

  “I’m perfectly fine, except for my right foot. I can’t seem to put any weight on it.” My aunt pressed her lips together and I could see the pain in her eyes.

  “The ambulance will take thirty minutes to get here. I can meet them on the highway if she’s okay to be moved. Did you see what happened?” He took me to the side. Harrold had left his shop and joined the group clustered around the blue sedan.

  “That motorcycle guy with the pig on his back sped around the car waiting for Jackie to cross. I think he must have frightened her because she stepped back, then she was down.” I put my hand over my heart, trying to slow my breathing. “It happened so fast.”

  Greg gave me a quick squeeze. “I’m taking her to meet the ambulance. Follow me in your Jeep.” And then he walked back over to the group, picked Aunt Jackie up in his arms and carried her to the truck.

  I put my hand on Harrold’s arm. “Do you want to ride to the hospital with me?”

  He turned and looked at me like he’d never seen me before. Then he nodded. “Let me lock up the shop and I’ll be ready.”

  I didn’t have to wait very long for him to climb into the Jeep. I’d moved the car to wait in front of his shop after the traffic had cleared and Greg and Aunt Jackie were long gone. I didn’t know if we’d see the ambulance, but I knew Greg would follow and stay with her until I got there.

  The ride to Bakerstown was quiet. Harrold and I were both lost in thought. I parked the Jeep in the emergency room lot and we hurried into the hospital. “Jackie Ekroth? She was just brought in by ambulance?”