by Leena Clover
“Any idea when they might open?” she asked him.
The man looked up at her and shook his head.
“Reckon they are gone for a while.”
“Do you come here often?” Jenny asked him.
He gave a slight nod and went back to reading his book.
Jenny inched a bit closer to the man.
“Can I ask you a few questions, please?”
“I don’t want any trouble,” the man said slowly. “I’m just sitting here reading a book.”
“You can sit here as long as you want,” Jenny said hastily. “I don’t mind that.”
The man quirked an eyebrow and waited for her to go on.
“There was an incident here a few days ago,” Jenny began.
“You talking about that old woman who got shot?”
“You know about that?” Jenny asked in a rush.
“Was right here, wasn’t I?” the man said. “Heard a woman screaming her head off. Got up to see what was wrong. Turns out there’s a dead woman sitting on that bench over there.”
“Were you here the night before that?”
“I don’t sleep here, lady,” the man dismissed. “Got here a bit after five. I like to catch the first rays of the morning sun.”
“Did you see anyone else around here?”
“A man was leaving around the time I got here.”
“Can you describe him?” Jenny asked eagerly, holding her breath.
The man shook his head.
“Not really. I just saw his back. He got into a car and drove away.”
“Did he come from the beach?”
“No idea,” the man shrugged.
“What kind of car was he driving? Did you notice the tags?”
“I was barely awake,” the man reasoned. “It was some kind of dark car. A sedan, I think. That’s all I can tell you.”
“Were there any other cars in the lot?”
“I don’t think so,” the man said. “Can I read my book now?”
Jenny thanked the man for his time.
“Why don’t you come to the Boardwalk Café sometime? Lunch is on me.”
The man’s face broke into a smile and he agreed readily.
Jenny walked home, trying to process what the man had told her. Her heart thudded when she realized he might have spotted the murderer.
Jenny and Star spent a quiet evening at home, watching television. Jenny pulled herself out of bed at four thirty the next morning and got ready to go to the café.
The Boardwalk Café seemed lonely without Petunia’s presence. Trying to drum up some inspiration, Jenny decided to mix things up for breakfast. She made a batch of blueberry banana muffins with sliced almonds.
“On the house,” she told Captain Charlie when he came in for breakfast. “It’s a new recipe I’m trying.”
“Anything you bake is going to be good for me,” he told her.
A couple came in and sat at a window table. The man was dressed in khakis and a light blue shirt. The woman wore a dress Jenny knew cost three figures.
They ordered the breakfast special. The man buried his head in a newspaper and the woman looked around with a sneer on her face.
Vinny and his guys came in for breakfast. Vinny gave a start when he spotted the couple. He walked up to the man and slapped him on the back.
“Didn’t know you were coming, Baby,” he roared.
The man dropped his newspaper and looked up at Vinny.
“Of course I came,” he said. “She was my mother too.”
Vinny summoned Jenny to the table.
“Have you met my brother, sweetheart?” Vinny asked, pulling up a chair and sitting between the couple.
The woman looked at him as if he was vermin. Vinny ignored her.
Jenny greeted the man seated at the table. Outwardly, he was nothing like Vinny. But there was a clear family resemblance. They both had a cleft chin and brown eyes the same color as Petunia’s.
“You look a lot like your mother,” Jenny told him.
Heather came in with an empty basket on her arm.
“Sorry I’m late.” She pulled out a tray of muffins from the oven and started placing them in the basket.
“What’s going on outside?” she asked, peeping out of the kitchen. She clutched Jenny’s arm when she spotted the couple. “See that woman? She was here before.”
“In the café? You must be mistaken, Heather. She just came in with her husband.”
“Not in the café,” Heather said, wide eyed. “In Pelican Cove.”
“Are you sure? That guy is Vinny’s brother. The woman’s his wife, I guess.”
“What’s their name?”
“Bellini, of course. Why?”
“That’s not the name she gave me.”
Jenny stared at Heather with her hands on her hips.
“You must be mistaken. Charles was just telling Vinny they came in last night.”
“That Charles guy did check in last night,” Heather confirmed. “But the wife was in town before this. I’m telling you she stayed at the inn. She checked in with a different name though.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Wait till you hear the rest,” Heather said under her breath. “She was here when Petunia got shot. She was right here in Pelican Cove, under an assumed name.”
Jenny’s eyes gleamed in triumph.
“That’s a whole new can of worms, Heather.”
Chapter 9
Adam Hopkins was engrossed in some urgent paperwork. Jenny sat in his office at the police station, tapping her foot impatiently.
“How much longer, Adam?” she burst out.
“Unfortunately, I don’t work for you,” he told Jenny curtly. “Come back later or wait till I finish what I’m doing.”
Jenny chose to wait.
Adam finally pushed aside the stack of files and gave a big yawn.
“What have you done now, Jenny? Why are you here?”
“I have a witness,” Jenny said eagerly. “He might have seen the killer leave the scene of the crime.”
“Does this witness have a name?”
“I guess,” Jenny said. “I didn’t ask him.”
“What does he do?”
“He was sitting in that big parking lot, reading a book.”
“So you are relying on the word of some transient who could be anywhere right now.”
“I think you’ll find him at the same spot,” Jenny persisted. “Right by the snow cone shop.”
“That little hut?” Adam asked sardonically. “That’s closed for the season.”
“You don’t have to go in there. You have to talk to the guy who sits outside.”
“Okay. What did this guy say?”
“He saw someone get into a car that morning. Don’t you see? This guy could be our shooter.”
“What kind of car was it?” Adam asked.
“He didn’t say,” Jenny admitted. “It was dark. He thinks it was a sedan.”
“That’s slim, Jenny. What am I supposed to do with this information?”
“Follow up,” Jenny shrugged. “Isn’t that what the police do? Spread your net wider, Adam. I am sure someone else must have seen that car that morning.”
“I’ll look into it, Jenny,” Adam sighed. “No promises though.”
“I understand,” Jenny nodded sadly.
Adam leaned forward and looked into her eyes.
“What are you doing tonight? How about getting dinner somewhere?”
Jenny’s heart skipped a beat. Adam had asked her to move in with him a few months ago. He had been curt with her after she refused. They hadn’t been on a proper date since then.
“I can manage that,” she said. “Will you pick me up at home?”
“You’re on,” Adam said, trying to hide a smile.
Jenny hurried back to the café. Star and Heather were assembling sandwiches in the kitchen.
“Who’s that grin for?” Heather asked immediately. “Tel
l me, quick.”
“I’m having dinner with Adam.”
“Finally!” Star exclaimed, rolling her eyes. “Looks like that boy is coming to his senses.”
“Just roll with it,” Heather advised. “Stay away from taboo topics.”
“I’ll try,” Jenny agreed.
She dressed carefully that evening, not sure where her relationship was headed. Was it just dinner between friends, or did Adam want to pick up where they left off. She wished he had given her a hint.
Adam arrived on time, dressed in a sports coat. Jenny was glad she hadn’t worn jeans. He was wearing his favorite shirt, one she had bought for him. She had chosen it for its color, the exact shade of blue as his eyes.
“Have fun,” Star called out merrily. “I won’t wait up.”
“We are going to Virginia Beach,” Adam told her. “There’s a new seafood restaurant on the boardwalk. It’s getting rave reviews.”
“Sounds great,” Jenny said enthusiastically.
“We haven’t gone out in a while,” Adam explained. “I wanted this evening to be special.”
Jenny slipped her hand in his and clutched it tight. Adam was a grouch most of the time but he did manage to surprise her sometimes.
They talked about the weather and their kids. They were both careful about avoiding painful topics.
Jenny enjoyed the drive over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The road was busier than usual with the last of the summer tourists.
The hostess led them to a table on the beach. Adam ordered Jenny’s favorite local wine along with the shrimp cocktail. The food lived up to the hype. They both got the blackened fish and watched the people walking by. Vinny waved at her from a table at the other end. Enzo sat next to him, wearing a blue tracksuit, puffing his cigar. Charles was the third person at the table.
“Looks like a family dinner,” Jenny noted.
Smiley and the other guys occupied a table adjoining Vinny’s.
“Forget about them,” Adam said. “This is our night.”
“What do you want to talk about?” Jenny asked.
Adam pulled out a tiny box from his pocket. He handed it to Jenny.
“What is it?” Jenny asked with bated breath.
“Open it,” Adam smiled.
Jenny flipped the box open and felt herself relax. The box held a pair of pearl earrings.
“They are beautiful,” Jenny breathed. “But what’s the occasion? It’s not my birthday or anything.”
“I wanted to do something special for you,” Adam said.
“You know you don’t have to buy me expensive gifts, Adam,” Jenny said frankly.
“Do you like them?”
“Of course I like them. They are cute.”
“Then they are yours,” Adam said.
He took Jenny’s hands in his and kissed them.
“I missed you, Jenny.”
“I missed you too,” Jenny said quickly.
“Let’s not fight about anything. I don’t care where you live. Your house, my house. You have a place in my heart, Jenny King.”
Jenny felt her eyes fill up.
“Don’t make me cry, Adam Hopkins.”
“Never,” Adam said, shaking his head. “I want to make you happy for the rest of your days.”
“Just be yourself, Adam,” Jenny whispered. “That’s enough for me.”
They ordered baked Alaska for dessert and shared it, feeding each other.
“Shall we go for a walk here?” Adam asked, offering Jenny his arm.
Jenny blushed and nodded. She wished she could stay in that moment forever, without thinking about the other things going on in her life. But Vinny’s presence was a stark reminder of what had happened to her friend. She wasn’t going to give up until Petunia’s killer was behind bars.
Jenny had a spring in her step as she entered the Boardwalk Café the next morning. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she relived the evening she had spent with Adam. She made a special streusel topping for the muffins and chatted animatedly with her customers.
Molly and Heather teased her mercilessly. Star and Betty Sue laughed at their antics.
“I’m going to be a bridesmaid soon,” Heather crowed.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, girl,” Jenny said shyly.
She was wearing the pearl earrings Adam had given her.
Barb Norton huffed up the café steps and flopped into a chair.
“You’re coming tonight, aren’t you?” she asked. “No excuses.”
“What are you doing now, Barb?” Betty Sue asked.
“Pelican Cove has a big problem,” Barb announced. “No wonder we are battling this mosquito menace. We are going to address it all in tonight’s meeting.”
“There’s a town hall tonight?” Heather asked. “Great. I have been working on some off-season discounts at the Bayview Inn for the locals. I want to talk about them at the meeting.”
“We may not have time for frivolous stuff,” Barb dismissed. “See you later, girls.”
Barb declined Jenny’s offer of coffee and muffins and went on her way.
“I’m sure this has to do with those inspections,” Molly said.
She turned out to be right.
Most of the town had flocked to the town hall meeting. People didn’t look too pleased to be there. Jenny decided Barb had managed to browbeat all of them into attending.
Barb tapped on the mic and called for attention.
“You have been negligent, Pelican Cove. You have all been negligent.”
A murmur rose through the crowd. A wisecrack or two followed and everyone began laughing.
“This is not funny,” Barb said. “The Extermination Committee inspected every garden and yard in town. Their results are very disturbing.”
“Get on with it, Barb,” Betty Sue bellowed from the front row.
“60% of the people in town have standing water. Some of you have bird feeders overflowing with water, others have gutters full of rain water … and the ponds and ditches. These are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.”
“What do we do now?” someone asked.
“We need to spray the town,” Barb said. “But we don’t have funds. I am open to any fund raising ideas.”
Jenny tuned out Barb’s voice and thought about Petunia. There hadn’t been a single positive development in the case. Were they missing something obvious?
She thought of the woman staying at Heather’s inn. Jenny decided to talk to her the next day.
Laura Bellini helped her by coming in for breakfast by herself the next morning. She ordered the crab omelet with a smirk and sat drumming her fingers on the table.
“We need to talk,” Jenny announced.
“Is that a small town thing?” the woman sneered. “Talking to every customer?”
“Petunia meant a lot to me,” Jenny said curtly. “You are her son’s wife, aren’t you?”
The woman gave a slight nod.
“Why did you check into the Bayview Inn under a false name?”
The woman’s smile slipped. She looked around fearfully and placed a finger on her lips.
“Can we keep that between us? Please?”
Jenny noticed how Laura’s posture changed. She was on edge.
“Why did you do it? Tell me everything.”
Laura cut a piece of her omelet and chewed it slowly. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Jenny.
“Tell me how you knew my mother-in-law.”
“I am new in town,” Jenny said. “I was at a loose end, looking for work. Petunia took me in. She was good to me.”
“Wait. Are you that woman who inherited this café?” Laura asked. “Charles told me some upstart woman had sweet talked his mother into it.”
“I didn’t ask for it,” Jenny told her. “I had no idea she was going to do that.”
“She talked about you a lot,” Laura said. “Said you were like the daughter she never had.”
“When did you talk to Petunia?�
� Jenny asked, surprised.
“When I came to town earlier this month,” Laura Bellini explained.
“Why did you come here, exactly?”
“You know what my husband does?” she asked Jenny.
“I hear he is not part of the family business,” Jenny said haltingly.
“He’s a teacher!” Laura exclaimed with disgust. “He’s a teacher in the public school system. You know what that job pays? A pittance.”
“But your husband is rich, right?” Jenny asked.
“His grandpa wrote him off when we moved to California. I have to scrimp and save when his family is rolling in billions.”
“That must be hard on you,” Jenny commiserated.
“Darn right it is,” Laura swore.
She had the family habit of using plenty of expletives in her speech.
“I want a better life, you know,” Laura said, pulling a cigarette out of her purse.
“There’s no smoking here,” Jenny said quickly.
“Relax,” Laura snapped. “I’m not going to light it.”
She placed the cigarette between her lips and mumbled under her breath.
“I want a better life,” she repeated, pulling the cigarette out of her mouth. “I want to drive a better car. I want to wear good clothes. I want our kids to go to a private school.”
“You have kids?” Jenny asked in awe. “Did Petunia know she had grandchildren?”
“She knew,” Laura said softly. “She walked out on the family a long time ago.”
“Why did you think she would talk to you?”
“I was here to beg for money,” Laura confessed. “It was like a last resort. I didn’t tell Charles where I was going. I wasn’t even sure she would agree to talk to me. That’s why I used a false name.”
“What did she say?” Jenny asked.
“She asked me how much I wanted,” Laura said with wonder. “All that tension I was feeling was for nothing. She offered me a cool million. Told me to buy something nice for the kids. One million dollars. Can you believe it? I’ve never seen that kind of money.”
Another string of profanity followed.
“That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though, isn’t it?” Jenny asked. “Your husband inherits several million dollars now that she is gone.”
Chapter 10
Sun worshippers lined the beach behind the Boardwalk Café, sprawled on colorful beach towels. The weather was a balmy eighty degrees. Pelican Cove remained an attractive choice for tourists even in September.
