by Leena Clover
Ada Newbury wasn’t too pleased to see them.
“I have a golf lesson in half an hour,” she said, frowning at her wrist watch. “You should really call before you come.”
“This won’t take long,” Jenny said, refusing to be affected by Ada’s grumpiness.
Ada led them into the parlor. Jenny and Heather sat down without an invitation, forcing Ada to take a seat.
“You’re in the clear, Mrs. Newbury,” Jenny informed Ada. “The police don’t think you had anything to do with Kelly’s death.”
“I could have told them that,” Ada quipped.
Jenny hadn’t expected any compliments from Ada. But she couldn’t help being a bit disappointed.
“So my work here is done?”
“Do you know who killed that girl?” Ada asked.
“That hasn’t been determined yet,” Jenny said.
“I want you to keep looking,” Ada said. “I can pay you anything you want.”
Jenny herself was curious to find out what had happened to Kelly. She had been thinking of continuing her search anyway.
“I thought you didn’t like Kelly,” she said. “Why do you care what happened to her?”
“I didn’t like the girl for a reason,” she said. “She was wrong for my Brandon. I’m sure she was just taking advantage of him.”
Jenny knew that was true. She told Ada what they had found out about Kelly.
“So I’m not senile yet,” Ada said triumphantly. “My instincts do mean something. My poor boy! He’s well rid of this nuisance.”
Although Jenny thought Ada was being harsh, she couldn’t help but agree with her.
“How is Brandon doing?” Heather asked.
“Don’t tell him about this other guy,” Ada warned. “Who knows how he will react.”
“I think Brandon knew Kelly was involved with someone,” Jenny said.
“Then why didn’t he boot the girl out of here?” Ada asked, shocked.
“I guess he loved her too much,” Heather said.
“Love!” Ada spat. “Love means nothing without honor. Honor and respect. And whatever happened to trust? I couldn’t love a person I don’t trust.”
Heather and Jenny listened to Ada’s tirade with their heads down. They knew she was right this time. Neither of them could say anything to console her.
Zac Gordon walked into the parlor. Jenny hadn’t known he was around.
“Zac’s giving me a ride to the club,” Ada said curtly.
Jenny and Heather thought about the fleet of luxury cars housed in the big garage outside. They couldn’t help but exchange a look.
What was Zac doing there?
Zac’s hair was wet and looked like it had been finger combed. He greeted the girls cheerfully.
“Nothing like a swim to recharge you,” he said. “When are you coming to the club?” he asked Jenny. “I have a long waitlist but I can make an exception for you.”
“Jenny doesn’t belong to the country club,” Ada said haughtily. “She will need someone to sign her in as a guest.”
“I told you I can sneak you in,” Zac told Jenny with a wink. “Just say when.”
Ada was getting impatient.
“Is it too late for our lesson?” Ada asked Zac apologetically. “These girls turned up without an appointment.”
“The lesson begins whenever you are ready,” Zac said smoothly, taking Ada’s hand.
They walked out together, hand in hand. Zac bent down to whisper something in Ada’s ear, making her giggle.
Jenny and Heather watched them go, feeling bewildered. Ada Newbury never giggled.
Chapter 15
The Magnolias sat on the windswept deck of the Boardwalk Café and exclaimed over Jenny’s latest parfait. It was made with strawberry yogurt, macadamia nuts and toasted coconut flakes. There were generous layers of plump, juicy strawberries in between.
“I’m beginning to take a shine to these,” Betty Sue said, licking her spoon.
A small storm was brewing and the waves lashed against the shore with more than usual force.
“We are getting a lot of rain this year,” Star grumbled. “I have hardly ever been out painting.”
“That’s my fault,” Jenny owned up. “You have been stuck here, helping me out.”
“Tell us about your trip to Ada’s,” Molly said. “Did she at least thank you for your efforts?”
“She wants me to keep looking,” Jenny sighed. “I’m not sure if I can help. Every time I think I’m on to something, it turns out to be a dead end.”
Heather looked up from her phone.
“Remember what that maid told us about Enrique?”
“The pool boy?” Molly asked with a hint of mischief. “Are you looking for a chance to meet him again?”
“He’s barely legal,” Heather sighed. “Just a boy, really.”
“What about Enrique?” Jenny asked, ignoring their banter.
“He lied to us about being asleep. The maid saw him walking around.”
“She might have been mistaken,” Jenny reasoned.
“Why don’t we ask him outright?”
Jenny’s face set in a frown.
“If he lied to us the first time, what makes you think he won’t lie to us again?”
“Second time’s the charm?” Heather asked hopefully. “Anyway, I fancy a swim. Are you coming?”
“Isn’t it too cold?” Molly asked.
“Doesn’t matter,” Heather supplied. “It’s a heated pool.”
Jenny stole a glance at her aunt. She didn’t want to lean on her aunt and take off again.
“A swim sounds perfect,” Star said, reading Jenny’s mind. “It will perk you up.”
“But …” Jenny began.
“Go! Don’t worry about me.”
Jenny insisted on helping her aunt get ready for lunch. She stirred a big pot of vegetable barley soup as she made her mint and parsley pesto. She made pesto chicken and sweet pepper sandwiches for the lunch special. An hour later, Star literally pushed her out of the kitchen.
Heather had gone home to get her swimming things. She stood out on deck, waiting impatiently for Jenny to get going.
Jenny drove into the hills toward the Newbury estate. The girls took the path that skirted the main house and walked directly to the pool house.
“How do we get in?” Jenny asked as they stood before the access panel.
“Enrique will let us in,” Heather shrugged, pushing the button that acted as a doorbell. “Or I will call Brandon and ask for the code.”
“Maybe we should just go back if Enrique is not here,” Jenny said uncertainly.
She wasn’t keen on getting an earful from Ada Newbury.
“We are here for a swim,” Heather said stoutly. “Just relax, Jenny. Don’t worry about that old trout.”
“Hush Heather,” Jenny warned, looking over her shoulder.
She admitted to herself that she was jittery. She didn’t know why.
Enrique ambled out of the pool house and grinned when he saw them. He punched in the code to unlock the gate. Heather rushed in, waving cheerfully at Enrique.
“Great day for a swim, huh?”
Five minutes later, Heather and Jenny were swimming laps in the pool. Enrique sat in a chair on the patio, looking bored.
“What’s he doing, watching us like a creep?” Heather wondered.
“He doubles as a lifeguard,” Jenny reminded her. “He’s just doing his job.”
She swam a few laps and decided she was sadly out of shape. The girls floated on a couple of rafts for some time and finally climbed out of the pool.
“We should do that more often,” Heather said eagerly. “I feel so energized.”
Enrique got to his feet and beckoned them inside. He pointed to an array of soda cans in the refrigerator. Jenny and Heather both chose one.
“Are you a habitual liar?” Jenny asked casually. “Or do you just have a bad memory?”
“What?” Enriqu
e asked, looking cool as a cucumber.
Heather joined in.
“You told us you were drunk and asleep the night Kelly died. But you were seen walking on the beach that night.”
“That’s not all,” Jenny added. “You talked to Kelly. I think you had a fight with her.”
“I never met Kelly that night,” Enrique stressed. “I don’t know where you are getting your information. But someone’s obviously leading you on.”
“How do we know you are not the one doing that?”
Enrique shrugged.
“What can you do? You just have to trust me.”
“We don’t really know you,” Heather said, crushing her soda can. “Why should we believe you?”
Enrique muttered an oath.
“Believe me or don’t believe me. I don’t care. I have to go now.”
He buttoned his shirt and strode out of the pool complex, acting as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
“He’s just putting on an act,” Jenny said, her hands on her hips. “I’m sure he’s lying to us.”
“Have the police talked to him yet?” Heather asked. “What do they say?”
“I don’t know,” Jenny replied. “I can ask Adam.”
Jenny didn’t get a chance to talk to Adam until later that evening. She had invited him home for dinner.
“What’s on your mind?” Adam asked as she served him a big steak of fish.
“Enrique,” Jenny admitted. “What do you think about him?”
“Do we have to talk about this now?” Adam grumbled. “Can’t we have a single meal without you trying to pump me for information?”
Jenny apologized. She knew Adam would clam up if he was angry. She didn’t broach the subject again until they were sitting out on the patio. The big stone fountain gurgled merrily and Adam sat with an arm around her shoulder. The storm had moved past Pelican Cove and a bright moon shone in a clear sky.
“We questioned that pool boy,” Adam volunteered. “He doesn’t have a strong alibi. But he doesn’t have a motive either. He has nothing to gain by harming Kelly.”
“I think he’s hiding something,” Jenny insisted.
They talked about their kids after that. Adam wanted to know if the kids were coming to Pelican Cove for the spring festival. Jenny didn’t know but hoped the kids would turn up for the special weekend. She was looking forward to spending more time with her son.
Jenny got to work at the café the next morning with a firm resolve to stay put. Heather had offered to come and help. Jenny convinced her aunt to take the day off.
It was a Friday and the weekend tourists were beginning to flock to town. A group of suburban moms about Jenny’s age occupied a big table. They gushed over Jenny’s parfaits and asked for the recipe. Jenny was making shrimp po’boys for lunch.
Adam Hopkins rushed into the café around noon, looking for Jenny. His face was brimming with impatience as he waited out on the deck.
“What is it?” Jenny asked, hurrying out to talk to him.
“You were right about the boy,” Adam gushed. “I don’t know how you do it, Jenny.”
“Did he confess?” Jenny asked with bated breath.
“No such thing,” Adam said, shaking his head. “I couldn’t stop thinking about him so I ordered my men to search the pool house.”
“I thought you already did that.”
“Not very well, apparently,” Adam cursed. “My men found a key in a gym bag.”
“A key?” Jenny was puzzled.
“Let me finish,” Adam said. “Luckily, I was familiar with the key. It opens a locker in the local bank. You will never guess what we found.”
Jenny waited for Adam to go on.
“A bunch of jewelry,” Adam said. “A really expensive string of pearls, a diamond necklace and some emerald earrings.”
“Where did they come from?” Jenny asked.
“That’s what I would like to know,” Adam spat. “The boy maintains they belong to him.”
“Can I see these jewels?” Jenny asked.
Adam pulled out his phone and showed her some pictures. Jenny had a good eye for jewelry.
“If these are real, they cost a pretty bundle.”
“We got a jeweler to check them out,” Adam told her. “These are the real deal.”
“Do you think these jewels belong to Kelly?” Jenny asked Adam.
“We thought of that,” Adam said. “It seems Kelly was wearing some fine jewels at the party. And she was still wearing them when she drowned.”
“That means she wasn’t killed for money,” Jenny said.
Adam was looking frustrated. Jenny convinced him to stay back and have lunch.
“Don’t go after that boy, Jenny,” Adam warned her when he left. “Let the police do their job.”
“See you later tonight,” Jenny said, heading back to the kitchen.
Heather’s mouth dropped open when Jenny told her about the jewels in Enrique’s locker.
“Who do you think they belong to?”
“Kelly, Ada and Megan are the only women involved here,” Jenny said thoughtfully. “Surely Ada wouldn’t give away her jewels to the pool boy?”
“Kelly’s our best bet,” Heather said. “But how do we find out if these jewels belonged to her?”
“We can ask Brandon,” Jenny suggested. “Or what about that roommate of hers? That girl we met in the city?”
“Excellent idea,” Heather approved. “Did you get her phone number?”
“I don’t think Adam will send me those jewelry photos,” Jenny reasoned. “What am I going to say to this girl?”
“Just talk to her,” Heather said. “She might recognize the jewels from their description.”
As it turned out, the girl was very familiar with Kelly’s jewels.
“I borrowed those emeralds once,” she told Jenny. “Kelly was pretty cool about letting us girls borrow her stuff. She said it was meant to be shown off.”
Jenny asked her about the pearls and the diamonds. The girl had borrowed them too.
“Any idea where Kelly keeps them?”
“She took all her bling with her,” the friend confirmed. “Said she couldn’t get married without her favorite pieces.”
Jenny hung up the phone and looked at Heather.
“How did Enrique get his hands on Kelly’s jewels?” she wondered.
“Let’s go ask him,” Heather said, jumping down from the kitchen table.
“Adam kind of warned me not to go and see Enrique,” Jenny said meekly.
“What if Enrique comes to see you?” Heather asked, a broad smile lighting up her face.
“Wishful thinking?” Jenny asked.
Heather turned her around and pointed at a spot in the café’s dining room. Enrique sat at a table near the window, wringing his hands.
“Are you here for lunch?” Jenny asked a few moments later.
Enrique looked resigned.
“Yes, please. I’ll eat whatever you have on hand.”
Jenny brought out a sandwich bursting with plump, deep fried shrimp. She placed it on the table and sat down before Enrique. She let him eat a few bites.
“Why did Kelly give you her jewelry?”
Enrique’s eyes popped open. He swallowed a mouthful in haste and looked about to bolt.
“Don’t even think about lying again,” Jenny warned. “I know about the stuff they found in your locker. I am sure you got it from Kelly.”
“Can you keep this between us?” Enrique urged.
“Depends on what you are going to tell me,” Jenny said sternly. “Out with it.”
Enrique leaned forward and spoke softly.
“I was blackmailing Kelly. I saw her kissing that cousin of hers, what’s his name? Bunky or something like that.”
“Binkie,” Jenny corrected automatically.
“Yeah, him,” Enrique nodded. “I threatened to tell Brandon.”
“What else did you do?” Jenny asked. “Did you push
her into the pool?”
Enrique looked alarmed.
“I had nothing to do with that. You have to believe me.”
“You lied to us before,” Jenny pointed out.
“Kelly had agreed to pay me a lot more,” Enrique said. “The jewels were just a down payment. Why would I kill my golden goose?”
Chapter 16
The Magnolias gathered for their mid-morning coffee break. Betty Sue and Heather had called ahead saying they would be late because Betty Sue needed to go to the bank. Jenny was pouring the coffee when they came in, Betty Sue looking flustered and red in the face.
“I know what I saw,” Betty Sue Morse said indignantly.
She was so distressed she had set her knitting aside. Betty Sue rarely did that.
“Calm down, Grandma,” Heather said, stroking her back. “We need to watch your blood pressure.”
“Leave me alone, girl!” Betty Sue cried, flinging off Heather’s hand. “How could she!”
“Take a deep breath, Betty Sue,” Star said, “and start at the beginning.”
“Ada Newbury was kissing a man,” Betty Sue said again.
“Go Julius!” Star chortled. “So their romance is still going strong.”
Julius Newbury was Ada’s husband.
“She wasn’t kissing Julius,” Betty Sue said, her chest heaving. “I never saw the man before.”
Jenny laughed. Molly and Star joined her.
“Did you see her too?” Jenny asked Heather.
“I wasn’t paying attention,” Heather said.
“You must be mistaken, Betty Sue,” Jenny said. “Ada’s well into her seventies. I don’t see her having an affair at this age.”
Star added her opinion.
“Forget her age. I can’t imagine Ada Newbury developing an affection for anyone.”
“It was Ada alright,” Betty Sue persisted. “She was driving that fancy car of hers. The man was sitting next to her. They were parked in that little alley behind the bank.”
“Kissing a man in broad daylight, that too in the heart of the town?” Star frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Ada.”
“Can you describe the man, Grandma?” Heather asked.
Betty Sue thought for a few seconds and shook her head.
“I was too shocked to notice.”
“The only strange man I have seen around Ada is that golf coach of hers,” Heather said. “You don’t think she’s carrying on with him?”
