“Actually, we have an appointment with Kent at 11:45 this morning. I’m sure he’ll get this all worked out as soon as possible,” said Kari.
The second Kari finished speaking, both Beecher and Rene started up again, one talking over the other, each explaining what they thought should be done next.
Liddy Lou clanked her spoon against the side of her coffee cup, and it made a horrible noise. She sat up straighter in her chair and cleared her throat.
“First, I want to say that I love and appreciate that each of you is willing to do whatever you think is best to protect me; however, I’d like to point out I am still perfectly capable of taking care of myself, so stop treating me like I’m some fragile little bird. I did not kill anyone… yet!” Liddy Lou rose from her chair, placed her cup and saucer on the table in front of her, and left the room without a look back.
An awkward silence hung in the air. They all knew their matriarch could be feisty at times, but she seldom directed it their way. Jamie was the one to finally say what they’d all been thinking.
“Okay, then. I get the feeling Liddy Lou was kind of upset with us but please tell me that none of us is planning on letting her try to handle this on her own.”
As if they shared a single mind, the entire Block family blurted out a collective, “No.”
Chapter 21
The rest of the day was like walking on egg shells, with everyone on edge about Macie Dixon’s murder. Q’Bita was exhausted. She tumbled into bed just before midnight and was in the middle of a pleasant dream involving warm, buttery croissants and thick, French drinking chocolate when the sound of a ringing phone pulled her back to the real world. She plucked her cell phone from the nightstand and saw Jamie’s name.
“Q’B-doll, you awake? You’re never going to believe what I dug up.”
Q’Bita felt her stomach do a little flip.
“Jamie, please tell me digging didn’t involve accessing databases you have no business being in.”
“Girl, please, I’m a professional. They’ll never even know I was there. Besides, this is good stuff, and it just might keep Liddy Lou out of jail.”
“Damn it, Jamie. It won’t do any good to clear Nana if you end up in jail instead. You know you’ll do serious time if you get caught again.”
“Q’Bita, I love you, but can we just hit the pause button on the lecture and talk about what I found?”
“Okay, but you have to promise, no more—”
“Sure. Fine. I promise. Now stop talking and just listen. It seems Macie Dixon should have checked her references a little more closely. Her food stylist, Patti Becker, has been arrested twice for assault and once for violating the terms of a PFA order. Sounds like someone has a few anger issues.”
“Okay, but what motive would she have to kill Macie? Besides, Andy didn’t mention any signs of a struggle.”
“I don’t solve crimes, I gather information, Q’Bita, and I have more to share as soon as you stop interrupting me.”
“There’s more?” Q’Bita could hear Jamie clicking his teeth in frustration. “Okay, sorry, go on.”
“Turns outs Patti isn’t the only one with something to hide. Hadleigh Banks has a sealed juvenile record. Fortunately, I have mad skills and was able to crack that seal like a walnut. She may seem all shy and polite on the surface, but she apparently has enough balls to have racked up several charges related to breaking and entering and records theft.”
Q’Bita was wide awake now and her mind was spinning.
“So Hadleigh is a thief? Do you think Macie knew this? Maybe she’s the one who stole Nana’s recipes for Macie.”
“I guess it’s possible,” Jamie said. “From what I could piece together, she got nailed for B&E twice. One was a girls’ group home, and the other was a Sisters of Catholic Mercy Convent. The judge showed her leniency because the records she stole were her own. She’s adopted and was trying to find out about her birth parents. She got probation, community service, and court ordered counseling but we both know that doesn’t mean she’d never cross the line again. I know I sure have.”
Q’Bita was quiet for a few seconds as it dawned on her how similar Hadleigh’s early life seemed to Jamie’s. He’d veered off track, too, until Liddy Lou took him in.
Q’Bita knew any further lecture would be wasted words so she dropped it.
“Wow. Sounds like she had a rough start in life.”
Jamie chuckled but Q’Bita could hear the sadness behind it. “Yeah, sounds like she and I might have more than a few things in common. No wonder I think she’s hot.”
This time it was Q’Bita who laughed.
“I still want to choke you for taking such a risk, but you did good. Let’s keep this between us for now until I can figure out how to spoon-feed the information to Andy without having to tell him where I got it.”
Jamie agreed, and they made plans to get together in the morning, before Jamie’s shift to brainstorm what to do next. Q’Bita tried to fall back asleep but her mind was racing, trying to process everything Jamie had shared, and what if anything it might have to do with Macie Dixon’s death.
Jamie came in around 10 and they were deep into their brainstorming session when Q’Bita heard the crunch of gravel coming from the parking lot. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw that it was Andy. She turned to Jamie, a look of panic on her face.
“I have no idea why he’s here. I hope it isn’t more bad news.”
“Breathe, Q’B-doll. Everything is going to be fine.”
Jamie’s body language didn’t match his reassuring words.
Q’Bita greeted Andy at the door.
“Hello, handsome. This is a nice surprise.”
She stretched up on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. He smelled like soap and fresh air and she wanted to lose herself in that smell.
Andy smiled and tucked a stray curl behind her ear.
“I hope you’ll still be feeling that way when I leave. I have some questions for you about Macie’s case, and I’m worried you’ll be upset with me for asking.”
All hope that her day was going to get any better drained out of Q’Bita as she stepped back to let Andy into the kitchen.
“Hey, Sheriff Hansen. How’re you doing?”
“Doing fine, Jamie. How about yourself?”
“That depends. Are you here to tell us you’ve solved the case and Liddy Lou has nothing to worry about?”
Andy looked from Jamie to Q’Bita and blushed a little.
“I’m afraid not.”
“Well, I’m not doing too good, then,” Jamie said dryly.
Q’Bita grabbed a glass and poured Andy some sweet tea.
“Thanks, Q’Bita.”
Andy took a few sips and seemed lost in thought as he wiped at the condensation trickling down the glass.
“So, have there been any developments in the case?”
“Yes, there have, and that’s why I’m here.”
Andy squirmed in his seat and took a long swig of his iced tea then looked in Jamie’s direction.
“Some of these questions are kind of personal and it might be better to have a one-on-one conversation,” Andy said to Q’Bita.
Jamie gave Q’Bita a wounded look. She was torn, but if it turned out that Andy’s questions implicated her nana, she knew she’d want Jamie there for emotional support.
“I appreciate you wanting to be discreet but Jamie’s a part of this family and anything having to do with Liddy Lou is going to be shared with him anyhow, so I’d like him to stay if that’s okay.
Andy looked uncomfortable and Q’Bita hoped he wasn’t upset with her.
“Okay, but anything I say here cannot be shared outside your family. That means not a word to Kent Haskell, Evie Newsome, or anyone else until it becomes public knowledge. The mayor would have my badge if he knew I was sharing this with you.”
Jamie and Q’Bita both shook their heads in agreement.
“First, I want to make it clear we’re
still reviewing all the evidence and we haven’t yet labeled anyone a suspect.”
“Wait, suspect? Are you saying Macie was murdered, then?” Jamie asked, shooting Q’Bita a nervous glance.
Andy’s neck was turning red and a bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face. He stuttered a little when he spoke.
“I’m, I’m afraid it’s looking that way. Orvis thinks she was poisoned. He’s waiting for the tox results to come back later this afternoon. We should know for sure then.”
“When you first came in you said you had questions for me about Macie’s death. I don’t know much about poison, unless it’s food poisoning, so I’m not sure I can be much help,” Q’Bita said.
Andy drained the last of his iced tea.
“I’m not so concerned about the poison itself; the tox screen will tell me everything I need to know there. I’m more interested in figuring out how Macie ingested the poison.”
Jamie and Q’Bita exchanged confused looks.
“I’m not following you,” Q’Bita said.
Andy took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Q’Bita, do you still put a plate of cinnamon buns in each of your welcome baskets for your guests?”
“Yes. They’re Nana’s secret recipe, and they’re a huge hit with our guests. You wouldn’t believe how many comments we get about them in our online reviews. Right after we opened, Appalachian Travel Magazine ran an article about the Inn, and the reporter loved them so much she used a picture of them in her article. What does this have to do with Macie’s death, though?”
“When we processed the scene, there was a Red Herring Inn welcome basket in the room. It contained a plate of cinnamon buns. We found one on the floor with a few bites missing. I’m guessing we’re going to find that’s how Macie ingested the poison.”
Q’Bita’s hands started to shake, and she felt dizzy.
“How can you be sure it was one of our baskets? We buy them in bulk from Sammie Hake’s flower shop. Anyone in town could buy one just like it.”
“The basket had one of your red bows on it, and there was a note on the table next to the basket.”
“Note? What kind of note?” Jamie asked.
“It appears to be an apology note from Liddy Lou claiming the basket was a peace offering.”
Q’Bita couldn’t believe what Andy had just said. There was no amount of circumstantial evidence in the world that could convince her that her nana was a killer. She could feel tears stinging her eyes and was grasping for something to say when Jamie asked, “Are you going to arrest Liddy Lou?”
Andy held his hands up in surrender.
“I’m not arresting anyone yet. I’m only sharing this because I was hoping you could help me come up with a reasonable explanation for how the basket ended up being in Macie’s dressing room. Something about all this doesn’t feel right to me but I’m getting a butt-ton of pressure from the Dixons to make an arrest. I need to get all the facts as quickly as possible.”
Their conversation was interrupted when Andy’s phone rang. He excused himself and stepped outside to take the call. When Andy returned he had a troubled look.
“Everything okay?” Q’Bita asked.
Andy pocketed his phone and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not sure. That was Chance. I sent him down to the television station to interview some of the production crew and he said one of the crew was acting kind of nervous and disappeared before he could ask her any questions. Could be nothing, but it seems kind of odd.”
“I don’t suppose you can tell us which crew member it was, could you?” Jamie asked.
Q’Bita shot Jamie a distressed look and mouthed for him to be quiet hoping Andy wouldn’t notice, but he did.
“Um, something you two care to share with me? I sense a little tension all of the sudden.”
Jamie started to say something but Q’Bita spoke over him. “No, nothing. Everything is all fine, I swear.”
Q’Bita could hear the quiver in her voice.
“With all due respect, Q’Bita, you’re not very good at hiding things from me,” Andy said with a frown. “If there’s something I should know, it’s better you tell me now.”
Q’Bita’s heart was pounding and her ears were ringing. She truly cared for Andy, but Jamie was her best friend and she just couldn’t risk getting him in trouble. She tried her best to hide the rising fear bubbling up inside her as she contemplated what to say to Andy.
“Oh, for God’s sake, Q’Bita, just tell him what we know before you implode. If it can help Liddy Lou, it doesn’t matter what happens to me.”
“Jamie, shut up.”
Q’Bita hadn’t meant for the words to come out so harsh and regretted them as soon as they were out.
The look of hurt and shock on Jamie’s face hit Q’Bita like a gut punch, and she felt like crying.
Jamie crossed to her side of the counter and softly punched her shoulder.
“Q’B-doll, it’s alright. I know you want to protect me, but I knew the risk when I took it. We have to tell Andy.”
It suddenly dawned on Andy why Q’Bita seemed so upset. Like Jamie, Andy was a Castle Creek native and was aware of Jamie’s past troubles with the Feds.
“If this has to do with Jamie violating his probation, I can probably look the other way provided you keep my name out of this if he manages to get himself caught again.”
Q’Bita looked up at Andy in disbelief.
“You know about Jamie’s probation?”
“Of course. I have to keep track of all felony violators in Castle Creek while they’re still on parole. Especially the ones with federal violations. It’s part of my job.”
Andy’s face had softened a bit, and Q’Bita could feel herself relax a little as Jamie shared what he’d uncovered with Andy.
“Wow, that was some serious detective work, and it certainly raises some questions I’ll need to look into further, but it still doesn’t explain how the Red Herring Inn welcome basket or the note from Liddy Lou ended up in Macie’s room.”
Q’Bita chewed on her bottom lip as she tried to come up with an explanation, but she had nothing. She paced back and forth as she filled their glasses with iced tea and set out a pear and chai cream tart she’d been recipe-testing for an upcoming class.
“Can’t you just dust the note for prints or analyze the handwriting?” Jamie asked.
“We already checked and found no prints, and the note was typed and printed out. My guys are still working on determining the type of printer.”
Q’Bita cut into the pie and plated three servings. As she placed one in front of Andy they made eye contact. His look was warm and comforting but she couldn’t help wondering if someday soon she’d look at him and only be able to see the man who arrested her nana for a murder she didn't commit.
Chapter 22
For the second time that week Andy’s love of pie had to take a back seat to work. Three bites in, Mike Collins called to say he and Chance had intercepted Patti Becker in the process of leaving town and they’d parked her in an interrogation room for him to question her.
Andy was still steaming as he drove to the station. When he’d asked Mike why they didn’t just question Patti themselves, Mike had hesitated, then admitted Chance thought the case was a career death sentence and that he and Mike should distance themselves from it as much as possible. Andy wasn’t sure if he was angrier at his deputies for being idiots or because they were right about the case being a career killer.
He tried to think about something less upsetting as he glanced over at Q’Bita. She gave him a smile that made him melt. This was also the second time this week he’d let her tag along to the station. This, too, was probably a career killer, but he couldn’t help himself. When it came to Q’Bita Block he was powerless to tell her no.
“Thanks again for agreeing to let me come with you, Andy. Hopefully, whatever is going on with Patti Becker will clear my nana, so we can put this mess behind us and get back to normal.�
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“Well, I hope so, too, Q’Bita, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Just because Patti has a record doesn’t make her a killer. As much as I want to clear Liddy Lou—and believe me, I do—I need to be extra careful with this case. The Dixons are already squawking at me about why I haven’t arrested your nana. Cookie Dixon came right out and accused me of stalling because of our relationship. Red’s also been hinting that he’s going to back Chance in the election. It wouldn’t surprise me if Chance has been feeding the Dixons information about this investigation, so you gotta lay low again when we get to the station.”
One of the perks of being sheriff was having an office with its own private entrance from the back-parking lot. Andy opened the door and took a quick glance around his office to make sure it was empty. He motioned for Q’Bita to come in, then moved to the door that opened to the bull pen and locked it.
Andy moved closer and bent down to give her a kiss as he pulled her into a hug. He held her close for a minute and then said, “I’d better head out there. Stay in here, out of sight, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Q’Bita was afraid if she let go this might be the last hug they shared. She felt bad he was under so much pressure to solve Macie Dixon’s murder, but she also knew her nana was innocent.
If Q’Bita was wrong, and Patti wasn’t responsible, Andy might have no choice but to arrest her nana. She wasn’t sure she could forgive him for that.
The next hour crept by at a snail’s pace. Q’Bita passed the time by making a list of all the questions she thought Andy should be asking about the case before making an arrest. When the phone on Andy’s desk rang, it scared her so badly she almost peed herself. One look at the phone’s LED screen told her it was from Castle Creek Coroner Orvis Burr.
Picking up the phone would be a huge violation of Andy’s trust, but she needed to know if the tox results were back and if Orvis had determined the cause of death. The information might be key to proving her nana’s innocence.
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