Killer Party

by Lynn Cahoon

  “Butch didn’t…” I paused, wondering if she’d tell me if he had.

  Lois’s eyes widened. “Butch didn’t kill the kid, if that’s what you’re asking. He just cornered him after football practice and told him to leave Levi alone. Or his secret was going to be all over the high school by the next day.”

  “So he shot himself.”

  “That same weekend. The team played Friday night, he told his dad he was going up to the cabin afterward. When he didn’t come home Sunday, the old man drove up to see what was wrong.” Lois filled her cup with coffee. “Butch felt responsible. He came to me after school when we found out and just cried. Levi needed to pay for that.”

  “So you told him to put you on the board.”

  Lois nodded. “Not my best moment, I’ll agree. I didn’t want to blackmail him but we were struggling and the board money is easy. Four meetings a year and I make over six figures. No wonder the rich keep getting richer. Even if it’s just for a couple of years, that would build up our retirement account.”

  “What happens now that Levi’s gone?”

  Lois tapped one finger on the table. “I have a contract. A valid one. They don’t need to know why Levi picked me to fill the opening. And yeah, the chance I’ll get a second term is unlikely, but I’ll give them everything I can for the next four years. Then, we’ll see.”

  I finished off my coffee, thinking about Lois’s words. She had a reason for Levi to stay alive since his support kept her on the board. Nothing I’d learned this morning pointed toward a possible murder suspect. In fact, it eliminated several. I wondered how Greg was faring with Mikey.

  “Hey big guy. How are you feeling this morning?” Lois’s gaze went over my head and I realized the boys were back from their chat.

  “I haven’t drunk that much since the last reunion I attended.” Greg pulled up a chair and sat next to me. “I’m beginning to think that you’re the problem, missy.”

  “You’ve always been in love with me, admit it.” She smiled and I could see the mimosas were making her eyes a bit glassy. “Only Butch won my heart first and I could never be unfaithful.”

  “You broke my heart. Almost ruined me for other girls.” He put his arm around my shoulder. “At least until I met Jill here. She’s the real deal.”

  Lois’s lips were tight and I could barely see the red lipstick that she kept leaving on her mimosa glasses. “I’m happy for you. It’s time you found someone who really cares for you.”

  Mikey didn’t say anything, but he pushed away his almost full plate. He looked at me. “Where’d Allison go?”

  “Upstairs to lay down.” I said.

  Greg looked at me as if questioning what I did to make her leave, but then Lois spoke up. “What is wrong with that wife of yours? She’s either obsessively swimming in the pool or she’s crashed out way too early.”

  “Allison’s fine.” He ran a hand over his face. “She’s going to have a baby.”

  Greg slapped him on the back. “Hey, man, you didn’t tell me that. Mikey, a father. What’s the world coming to?”

  As they exchanged congratulations and good wishes, I snuck a peek at Lois’s face. Under the bright smile lay a sadness she couldn’t hide.

  When we got home, I rotated laundry and brought out a basket of clothes to fold in the kitchen. Greg was looking at my notebook.

  “So, what did Mikey say?” We’d talked about the baby on the way home, but not about the affair.

  “He told me he was concerned that Levi was going after Allison. Apparently, the rest of his marriages had failed because of interference from Levi. He’d promise these women the moon, then once he got them in his bed, he dumped them.” Greg unloaded the dishwasher as he talked.

  “And yet, Mikey stayed friends with him?”

  Greg shrugged, obviously uncomfortable with the subject. “He blew it off. Thought it was his own fault or the woman’s fault, whatever. But deep down he knew. And I don’t think he was really in love until Allison. Then the thought of losing her made him crazy.”

  “She told me she didn’t do anything with Levi. But he was always pushing her. Trying to get her to meet him, sending little gifts to the house. No wonder Mikey thought she was having an affair. Levi made it look that way.” I folded clothes as I talked. “But she wasn’t falling for it. I think she’s pretty strong.”

  “She’d have to be to put up with that.” Greg closed the dishwasher and grabbed a pair of pants out of the basket. He folded quickly. “What’s next on the agenda once we get these folded?”

  “Do you want to take a chance at running to Bakerstown for groceries?” I looked at the clock. It was one. I’d at least finished washing Toby’s uniforms and by the time we got back, the other load would be dry too.

  “Sure. Even if they get the judge off the golf course, they can cool their heels a few hours while I handle some of our household chores. You’re going too, right?” Greg paused, looking panicked at the idea of grocery shopping by himself.

  “You know you are perfectly able to do it by yourself.” I smoothed the last set of pants and hung the three dress shirts from the chair. “But yeah, I was planning on riding along, if you buy us lunch at the drive-in.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He set the laundry basket on the floor.

  I glanced around the kitchen. We’d almost knocked out all the cleaning in just a few hours. This couple thing had its advantages. “Your friends seemed to be very stuck in gender roles. Lois is the fifties housewife. Butch the bread winner. Even Mikey wants Allison to stay home and raise his offspring.”

  “We grew up in Iowa, what can I say?” Greg sank into a chair and opened a soda. “Women took care of the home, the men put food on the table. It was how we were raised.”

  “But you’re not that way?” I spread my hands, indicating the clean house.

  “My mother worked full time. I had chores from the time I was in school. And when I was married to Sherry, if I didn’t do it, it didn’t get done. So I guess I’m the exception to the rule.” He pushed an unopened can toward me. “Sit, drink. We’re almost done, we can take a break.”

  I joined him at the table. “I really like this. I’m glad I asked you to move in.”

  “Is that how you remember it?” he said with a laugh. “Whatever you need to tell yourself. Hey, let’s take a walk down at the beach after we get back. I think Emma’s getting a little stir-crazy being locked in the house.”

  “Maybe she’ll learn not to eat everything she comes in contact with then.” I reached down and scratched behind her ears. “But yeah, it sounds lovely, if you don’t get called out.”

  “I’m thinking positive. Besides, once I get to the station, it will be a quick in and out. Those big shot lawyers like to make these kind of appearances quick. Otherwise, rumors start flying about who exactly they were bailing out.” He grabbed the keys to the Jeep from the wall hanger. “Do you have a list?”

  “I have one on my phone, unless you need something too.” I still wasn’t used to buying his toiletries, but I figured it would become second nature, sooner or later. “Who exactly did Toby lock up?”

  “Why do you think I know?” Greg put on his Cheshire-cat grin and sunglasses. “Let’s go woman.”

  “Can we stop by the police station and take a peek?” I followed him out the back door, making sure Emma stayed inside. We kept the front door locked, even when we were home now. Especially since I was nearly robbed this summer.

  “I’m not running a zoo.” He opened the car door for me. “Besides, you’ll see it in Monday morning’s news. If Darla follows up on the lead I’m going to leak to her.”

  “You’re a tease, Greg King.” I slipped into the car and buckled my seatbelt.

  The next few hours were just domestic bliss. We didn’t talk about the case, his group of friends staying at The Castle, his ex-wife, or anything that could derail the conversation. It was fun. Like a date should be. Even if that date was stocking up on groceries and other suppl
ies.

  Greg did get called out later that evening. I guess the judge didn’t answer his phone on the course. We’d had dinner and were sitting out on the back porch sipping iced tea when his phone rang. Toby had stopped by around four and picked up his laundry. He didn’t look like the living dead anymore.

  I went inside and turned on the television, mostly for background noise. Then I opened the book I’d been trying to finish for a few days. Tomorrow I didn’t have to work, but I had my first class of the semester so I knew recreational reading time would be limited for a few months.

  I brewed a cup of tea and curled up on the couch. Lights flashed in the window and I considered hiding in the bathroom until whoever it was that had just pulled into the driveway went away. Instead I went to the front door and stood at the screen door, watching my aunt carry her wedding planner up my steps.

  “Jill, how did you know I was here?”

  “Wild guess.” She was a little out of breath so I took the book from her. In the few days since I’d seen her, it must have gained five pounds. “What have you added to this? All the wedding songs from 1960 to today?”

  “No. But that’s a good idea. I hadn’t thought about the music yet.” She sat her purse on the table, then strolled to the kitchen. “Do you have coffee going?”

  I followed her, grabbing my teacup as I passed the coffee table. Someday she wouldn’t ask me that question all the time. Or, then again, maybe not. My aunt was an acquired taste, but her tenacity made me smile. I pointed out the obvious. “No. It’s seven o’clock in the evening. No coffee. But the water should still be hot for tea.”

  She sniffed but grabbed a cup and fingered through my tea selection. “Did you get these from Kathi?”

  “Most of them. She’s trying to get me educated on the joys of tea. I hate to tell her the truth. I like the fruit ones the best.” I sat at the table, moving my murder notebook under a pile of bills I’d taken out to give to Greg. We were sharing costs, but he tried to pay all of the utilities since the house was free and clear. I thought it was over kill, but he was stubborn. “So what brings you out on a Sunday night?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about the engagement party. I talked to Amy today and she and Justin are having one. Do you think it’s too late for Harrold and me?”

  I groaned on the inside. I had hoped that the conversation wouldn’t be about the wedding, but I should have known. “If you want an engagement party, we’ll have a party.”

  “Well, you don’t have to sound so excited about the idea.” Aunt Jackie sat down next to the book. “I was just thinking since this will be the last time either Harrold or I get married, we might want to throw out all the stops.”

  Now I felt like a heel. “You’re right. I’m sorry, it’s been a long day. A party sounds fun. Where do you want to hold it?”

  She opened her book. “I need your help. Of course the easy answer would be The Castle. Or even South Cove Winery. But we’d have to call in favors for both of these since they don’t typically sponsor these types of events.”

  Of course, according to the event planner, this was exactly the type of event the new owner of The Castle planned on having. “Oh, I don’t know, The Castle might just be perfect. Go talk to Brenda tomorrow and if she gives you any trouble, I’ll call her. I’m sure she owes me a favor or two.”

  Okay, so Brenda owed me a lot. Mostly for keeping her out of jail when her ex-husband was murdered. It’s surprising the number of times that when a person is killed, it’s a loved one or former loved one who did it. Which brought me back to Jessica or honestly, anyone in Greg’s group of friends. What were the stats that the victim knew the killer intimately? Fifty percent? Seventy-five? Ninety? I wanted to Google it, but my aunt would consider that rude, especially since she was still talking about the engagement party.

  “And I want those tea lights spread all through the pergola that’s around the pool. That’s what they’re called right? The mini lights.” My aunt glanced up from her scribbling and stared at me. “Jill?”

  She’d caught me daydreaming. “Fairy lights. I think they’re called fairy lights now. Tea lights are the candles that Esmeralda uses during her voodoo sessions.”

  “Now, dear, Esmeralda doesn’t do voodoo, she is a fortune-teller. It’s quite different. I would have thought you knew that as close of friends as you two are.” My aunt wrote down fairy lights, then made a quick drawing of their required placement.

  “We aren’t close friends.” I argued. “She’s a neighbor and sometimes we talk, but it’s not like me or Amy or even Sadie.”

  Although as I thought about it, I hadn’t seen Sadie lately either. I was bad at this friendship thing. Brenda had said as much when she told me she never saw me anymore. I wasn’t one of those girls who got a boyfriend and dumped all her women friends, was I?

  I made a mental note to stop by Sadie’s bakery tomorrow. I’d have to be early since the woman got up at four to make the desserts she then delivered late morning. I don’t know how she did it all. And she was continuing to volunteer at the church. Although I secretly thought that was more to impress the single Pastor Bill than a true calling from God. I looked around for the lightning bolt to strike me down for being human. Nothing. Just my aunt watching me.

  “Are you tired, dear?” She reached out a hand to feel my forehead. “You don’t feel warm. Maybe you’re getting sick.”

  “Sorry, I’m fine. I was just thinking about,” I paused, not wanting to say exactly, then I just grabbed the first thought. “Sadie. I haven’t seen her since Nick’s going back to school party.”

  Nick was my part-time summer and school holiday help, and Sadie’s pride and joy. He was killing it at college

  Nick must have been on Aunt Jackie’s mind, too. “That boy is going to go far in this world. No small-town life for him. I just hope he keeps his feet solidly under him.”

  That was my hope for him as well, but so far, Sadie had raised a really good kid.

  “So I think we have a good plan for this. Shall we set a tentative date for late October? Will that work with your school schedule?” My aunt checked the paper calendar she kept in her purse.

  Paper. Everyone else I knew kept their calendar on their phones, but I don’t think my aunt even realized her smartphone had the app. Or email. She was just starting to text. She loved sending me reminders of chores to do in the store when she was upstairs watching her shows. I think it made her feel like she was managing from afar.

  “As long as it’s not a Monday or a Wednesday, I’m good.” I was only taking two classes a semester. It would take me a bit longer to finish up the MBA, but I liked the mix of working and school. Each had its joys and drawbacks and I never got bored which made me happy.

  “Let’s go for the weekend before Halloween. I don’t really want to feel obligated to do some sort of costume theme.” She wrote the dates in her notebook. “I’ll run by The Castle tomorrow and let you know how it goes Tuesday morning.”

  I watched as she started putting away her glasses. Our planning session was over, apparently. “This was fun,” I lied.

  “You don’t have to patronize me. I know event planning isn’t your strong suit, but I got used to bouncing ideas off Sasha and with her off to the city, I need a new partner in crime.” She kissed me on the cheek. “Oh, I meant to ask, how was the festival planning meeting? I hope you didn’t over extend yourself with tasks.”

  “Actually, I didn’t take on any.” I could see my aunt’s response in her eyes, so I held up a hand, stopping her. “Deek is our representative on the festival committee and he’s loving it.”

  “Deek?” My aunt wasn’t quite sure what to think of our new employee, except that he needed to put on some weight. The guy was skinny. “Are you sure he’s qualified?”

  “The guy has two degrees, one in marketing and is a semester away from getting his MBA. If he didn’t love school so much, he’d be running his own Fortune 500 company by now.” Well, that and if he would
wear something besides the jeans and T-shirts I’d always seen him in. “The fact he almost had a minor in English literature makes him a perfect employee. Although I doubt we’ll keep him long.”

  Aunt Jackie put her bag over her shoulder and went to lift the book. I waved her away. “I’ll carry it to your car. It’s going to be enough for you to haul it up all those stairs to the apartment. Maybe you should think about dividing it into volumes.”

  “If I do that, the volume I want will always be upstairs and I’ll be running more than I am now.” She let her lips curve into a smile. “Besides, they say weight lifting is good for us older folks.”

  I went with her out to the car and watched her go. As I walked back to the house, I notice the extra cars and light on at Esmeralda’s. She was doing a reading. I kind of expected there to be brightly colored auras floating around the house when she did one of these, but as usual, all I saw was the starry California sky. I hoped the spirits were treating her well this evening.

  Then I went inside and read. I was going to finish this book if I had to stay up all night. Book hangover was a real thing. They needed a support group for people like us.

  CHAPTER 19

  I was finishing the last page when I saw the lights in the driveway again. This time I didn’t get up. I figured it was Greg, coming home from the station. The key turned in the lock just as I was closing the book with that satisfied sigh I got when I loved the ending. I would definitely put this book on our Staff Picks shelf. Deek had suggested the feature as part of the newsletter he developed for us. Now, we had a monthly column of Staff Picks as well as a cute shelf near the coffee counter of the books. I had to admit, sales were rising.

  “Hey, I thought you’d be asleep.” Greg dropped his keys into the basket on the table near the door, then went into my, his, office, to put his gun in the safe. That was another thing he’d brought from the apartment. A gun safe and several actual guns. It wasn’t like I was afraid of them, I’d just never had them in my house before.