by Judi Lynn
Jazzi studied the three of them. There’d been a lot left unsaid between them to protect the other person.
Gaff’s shoulders stiffened, and his gaze drilled Gene. “What happened when you met Darby?”
“That’s the thing.” Gene shrugged. “I never got to see him. He wasn’t here when I knocked on the house door or at the office. I waited a good two hours, but he never came back. I knew if I didn’t start home, I wouldn’t get back in time, that Rose would catch me. So I left.”
“And you expect me to believe that?” Gaff’s voice was harsh.
“You asked me a question, and I answered it. I drove home with the restraining order, and I mailed it to him later that day. If you looked through his mail, you probably saw it.”
“I have it.” Walker got up and walked to a desk in the front room. When he returned, he handed it to Gaff.
Gaff studied the postmark. Tuesday, the day after Darby died. He rubbed his jaw and gave Gene a long, hard look. “You were at the scene close to the time Darby died. That moves you to the top of my suspect list. After you lost your temper and slammed Darby with the shovel, it would be easy for you to drive home and mail the restraining order to throw us off.”
“Like I said, I never saw the man. I don’t think he was home.”
An acrid scent drifted to the table. Jazzi sniffed and wrinkled her nose. “Something’s burning.”
“The sauce!” Rose jumped to her feet and rushed to the stove. When she took the lid off the heavy pan and gave the contents a stir, she sighed. “The bottom’s black. We’ll have to throw it away.”
“No problem, Mom. I’ll take you two out for supper.”
Rose returned to the table, looking defeated. She slumped into her chair. “What now?” she asked Gaff.
“Neither of you leave Dayton until we clear you. I might have more questions for you later.” Gaff looked from one of them to the other. “Anything else you should tell me?”
“You should keep looking,” Walker growled. “Neither of them killed him.”
“Let’s hope facts bear that out.” Gaff closed his notepad.
Walker stood to show them to the door. He looked at Jazzi. “Gene’s a great guy. He’d never hurt anyone.”
Jazzi nodded agreement. She couldn’t swear Gene hadn’t killed Darby, but she sure hoped he hadn’t. “Will they be here on Sunday? You could bring them to the family meal.”
He shook his head. “They’re leaving right after breakfast, but I plan on coming. You gave me an idea, though. I’m going to call Thane and Olivia and see if they want to go out with us tonight. Mom always loved seeing Thane. Maybe that way we won’t talk all night about Gene driving here.”
“Hope you have a nice visit.” She hugged him. He was beginning to feel like part of their group. “See you on Sunday.”
She followed Gaff to his car and slid inside. On the drive across town to her house, Gaff sighed. “I wish people would just level with me from the beginning, but they rarely do. It always looks worse when we find out later.”
Jazzi chewed on her bottom lip. “I think I’d be too afraid to tell you up front, too. If it looked like no one would ever know, it would be tempting not to mention it.”
Gaff grinned. “I get that. Good people tell lies. That’s why I keep questioning them. Sometimes, eventually, the truth pops out.”
It was Friday night, and people were driving more recklessly than usual. Everyone was in a hurry to be somewhere. At the second stop where drivers ran red lights, Gaff grumbled. “They wouldn’t do that if I drove a squad car.”
“No, but then you wouldn’t be a detective either. And you make a good one.”
He laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.” When he finally turned into her drive and left her off at the back door, he called, “Thanks for going with me.”
“No problem! Have a great anniversary, and enjoy tonight.”
He smiled. She had a feeling every time he thought about his Ann, it made him happy. That made her think about Ansel. Her Norseman was waiting to take her out to eat, too. And tonight, nothing tempted her more than a sausage roll. She hurried inside to see him, George, and the cats. He’d want to know how Gaff’s interview with Walker’s parents went. Boy, she hoped Gene wasn’t the killer.
Chapter 37
Ansel went to the refrigerator and poured her a glass of wine while she kicked off her work boots and came to join him. “Hey, babe.” He wrapped her in a warm embrace.
He smelled like Irish Spring, his blond hair still damp. She inhaled his scent. “They should make a soap called Norse Nuance or Viking Musk. Something that sounds strong and sexy.”
“Nuance?” He snickered, stepped back, and dropped onto a stool. He pushed a plate with hummus and veggies to her. She nibbled, then sipped her wine. “How did it go?” he asked.
She sank onto the stool next to his and turned so that they were bumping knees. She rubbed her foot up and down his calf. “No Whiskers and Haze, but Walker’s mom and her husband came to see him, so we stopped for Gaff to question them.”
“Good. He can check them off his list.”
“It moved Gene higher.” She told him about their visit.
“Not a brilliant idea. Gene shouldn’t have driven to River Bluffs to see Darby, but I wouldn’t have told Gaff about that either.”
“Neither would I. It would make me look guilty for sure.”
Inky jumped on the island’s countertop to demand attention.
“You’re not allowed up here.” Ansel scooped him up and set him on the floor.
Jazzi bent to pet both cats. Marmalade, as usual, acted like a lady and meowed for her strokes. “Walker wasn’t too happy that Gaff put so much pressure on his parents, but he understood that that’s his job.”
“Gaff’s a great person, but I wouldn’t want him to interrogate me. Cops make most people nervous.”
They munched happily together until Jazzi finished her wine. “I’m going to throw a chuck roast in the slow cooker for a quickie version of beef barbacoa at Jerod’s tomorrow, then I’ll run up and take a shower so we can go out to eat.” Hummus was a skimpy appetizer after a long day of work.
“Put on your tight jeans,” Ansel called after her.
She did better than that. She wore a low-cut red top, too. Ansel always complimented her when she wore red, said that it went great with her blond hair and blue eyes.
When she came downstairs, he grinned. “I got dessert early. You look good enough to eat.”
She wasn’t touching that line. Instead, she asked, “Are you hungry now, or would you like to relax a little before we leave?”
They ended up playing with the cats and spoiling George before they finally left the house. When they reached Wrigley Field Bar and Grill, business was starting to pick up. By the time they’d leave, it would be packed. She ordered the sausage roll—a massive thing—and Ansel ended up ordering the pork tenderloin sandwich with breaded mushrooms. Neither of them was eating light tonight.
The waitress brought their beers, and Ansel took a long drink before glowering across the table at her. Uh-oh, had she irritated him? Was he tired of her traipsing after Gaff?
But then he said, “My sister called today. My parents want to come to our wedding. So do Bain and Radley.”
She hesitated. She didn’t know how to answer him. “I don’t have a problem if they come. We have plenty of room, but they’re your family, and I know you don’t want them here.”
He took another swallow from his glass. “I already caved when I went to help them with the house and barn roofs and stayed until Dad could manage his crutches to milk the cows. You know how much I didn’t want to see them then, but Adda made me feel guilty. I sure don’t want to see them now.”
Adda must have tried to wheedle him into inviting his parents. Ansel had a soft spot for his baby sister, but
he could be stubborn when he dug in. And he was in no mood to forgive his parents and brothers anytime soon. “Why does Adda think you should invite them?”
He sighed. “Because she has a big heart and a small memory. They treated her like crap, too, but she still rushes to rescue them when they need her. Family doesn’t toss you out the minute you graduate from high school and divide the dairy farm between your older brothers. They left her as high and dry as they did me.”
“Whatever you decide is fine with me,” she said. “Will Adda still come if your family can’t?”
“She said she and Henry are excited about coming and staying with us a few days.” He shivered. “Mom and Dad would expect us to entertain them, too. Bain would never pay for a hotel room, so he’d expect free room and board. I’d like to see Radley, but he knows how I feel.”
“Can you invite Radley, but not the other three? He still lives at home. If he comes, will your parents make it awkward for him? They can’t stay mad at him too long. They need his help on the farm.” And sadly, that’s what decided most issues with Bain and Ansel’s parents.
Ansel drained his glass and motioned for a refill. When the waitress came with another cold bottle of Coors, she brought their food, too. Steam rose from Jazzi’s sausage roll, but she couldn’t wait. She cut a small bite and blew on it. The sausage and marinara sauce were drowned in melted cheese. She made a small, happy noise when she ate it, and Ansel laughed.
“You’ve been waiting for one of those since Thane, Walker, and I went to Chevy’s.”
She nodded. “How’s your tenderloin?”
“They’re always good here.” He tasted a mushroom cap and had to chug down his beer. “Too hot. I’d better wait.”
Jazzi playfully rubbed her foot against his. “The wedding’s not that far away. What are you going to do?”
“Do you think I should invite them?”
She shook her head. “Not if you don’t want to. My family doesn’t cause me angst. I don’t have these kinds of worries.”
He grimaced. “That’s not much help.”
She swallowed another bite of food. “All right, let me ask you this. How much would they ruin your mood if they came?”
He scowled, took another sip of beer, then shrugged. “I’d mostly ignore them. And I’d tell them they could spend one night, then get up and go home.”
She blinked. “You’d really tell them that?”
“They let me spend one night at home when I graduated, then told me to get my bags and be gone.”
Put like that, he had a point. She went on. “It would make Adda happy if you invited them. Then she wouldn’t always be in the middle.”
“But they’d use her every time they wanted something from me. Besides, that’s her own fault. She could tell them to take a hike.”
Jazzi shrugged. “I give up. You have to make up your own mind.”
“Will it bother you if they come?”
“Honestly? Yes, but I’d just keep my distance. You’d have to be the one who put clean sheets on the beds for them. We’ll have to buy air mattresses and have your brothers stay in the same room as your parents. It’s big enough.”
“I’ll lay sheets out. They can make their own beds. If they don’t like their room, they can stay in the garage.”
She rolled her eyes. Their house had only three bedrooms, but they were all good-sized.
Time to change the subject. “Is everything outside done at the Southwood Park house except painting the window trim?”
He leaned back in his chair and forked up more mushrooms. “We’ll have everything finished on Monday. While you’re shopping.” He pointed the fork at her. “I’m excited about the dress. We live together. I think you should model it for me.”
“Dream on. Bug me about it and I’ll buy a white muumuu.”
“I’d still know what’s under all that volume.”
He was impossible. “You don’t get to see the dress until I walk down the stairs at our wedding.”
“I might take one look at you and faint with joy.”
“When you gain consciousness, we’ll finish the ceremony.”
He laughed. “There’s no negotiating, I can see. Love that about you. babe.”
His mood better, they dug into their food in earnest. There were no leftovers to take home for George, so Ansel stopped on the way to buy him a junior roast beef sandwich. He bought a second one to split between the cats.
“We’ve had a good night. Our pets should, too.”
Once home, they relaxed and enjoyed the evening before he walked into the other room to call his sister. While they talked, she stayed in the kitchen, adding seasonings to the roast in the slow cooker. Then he called his brother Radley. When he joined her again, his mood was less festive.
“Well?”
He wore a sour expression. “They’re coming. Radley said Bain put Adda up to calling for them. I feel like I’ve been outmaneuvered by my oldest brother again.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Jazzi came to wrap her arms around him. Her head fit under his chin, and she leaned into him. “Bain’s a jerk. Radley isn’t. And you’re more generous than any of them. You did the right thing.”
He squeezed her tight. “Let’s watch some TV.”
There’d be nothing frisky tonight. But they didn’t have to be at Jerod’s until ten tomorrow. There would be plenty of time to start Ansel’s day right.
Chapter 38
Jazzi was the aggressor on Saturday morning, and Ansel loved it. The pets waited outside their bedroom door until they were done. After quick showers, they went down to feed the poor starving beasts before they got ready to drive to Jerod’s.
Inky hovered to see where Jazzi was headed next, and when she reached for her work boots, he glared. Most Saturdays, she puttered around the house in the morning, dusting and sweeping. The cats didn’t like it when she left for work. In a huff, he leapt onto the countertop next to the sink and stalked to her flowers. He batted the base with his paw, and it didn’t move. He tried again. Then he turned to stare at her.
She smiled. “Yup, try to move that crock.” It was heavy stoneware. It wasn’t going to budge.
Undeterred, Inky grabbed a long stem with his teeth and bit off the flower. The little brat! Jazzi had to admit, she was impressed. He went to grab the next one. “Don’t do it,” she warned. “That’s a rose. It has thorns.”
He started to chomp, then jumped back with a yowl. This time, he whirled toward her with a hurt look, and she immediately felt guilty. He’d expected better of her.
“Sorry, I tried to tell you.” He jumped off the countertop and stalked away, miffed.
Ansel had watched the whole thing and shook his head. “You ruined his fun.”
“He’ll think of something else. Maybe I should have let him demolish the flowers. They’re easy to replace.”
Ansel glanced at the clock and went to gather the food she’d made for lunch. “We’ll have to see what Inky comes up with later. We have to go.”
Jazzi enjoyed the ride to Jerod’s house. Once they left the city and drove down the highway, the houses were set farther apart. On the back seat, George whimpered, and his feet moved as if he were chasing a rabbit in his sleep. Not that he did that when he saw one in their backyard. It must be that, in his dreams, he was an action dog. When they pulled into Jerod’s drive and George saw where they were, she watched him steel himself for the onslaught of small children. She grinned and picked him up as they walked to the kitchen door.
Jerod glanced at the slow cooker Ansel carried and her tote bag. “What did you bring this time?”
“The stuff for barbacoa tacos.” She plugged in the cooker and set it on low.
Jerod took a deep breath. “I’m going to miss having a private chef when we finish the basement.”
Ansel frowned and
looked around. “Where are the kids?”
“Franny’s mom’s taking them to Science Central today. Gunther’s been wanting to go for a while now.”
Jazzi had gone there with her friend Leesa when Leesa’s son, Riley, turned two. An English professor, Leesa was all about providing her child with a maximum number of learning experiences. Thank goodness, the learning was so much fun, he didn’t suspect anything. “It’s a great place for kids. Adults, too. I enjoyed myself there.”
Ansel glanced around again. “Where’s Franny?”
“Out in her woodworking shed. She got a great price on some serious tools for furniture making. She’s playing with them.”
Ansel looked surprised. “She’s going to start building furniture now instead of just refinishing it? Has she ever tried that before?”
Jerod nodded. “She took a class once, simple stuff. She’s determined to make all of the furniture for the basement, and I wouldn’t put it past her.”
They headed to the basement, and Ansel toted George down with them. The dog gave a huge sigh and sank onto his side. No kids. Life was good.
“I took a few shop classes in high school,” Ansel said. “I built a bookcase with a top drawer. Really enjoyed it.”
Uh-oh, Jazzi could hear the enthusiasm in his voice. Building furniture had sparked his interest.
Jerod had stacked the drywall in the back half of the room, and they got to work. They wanted to finish the entire project next weekend, so that Jazzi and Ansel would have a weekend free to get ready for their wedding reception. Hopefully, next Saturday, they could install the hanging ceiling and trim.
There was no small talk while they worked. They’d done this a zillion times together, and they had a set routine. Every piece of drywall was nailed in place by the time they stopped for a late lunch.
“Franny’s not eating with us?” Jazzi asked.
“She loses track of time when she touches wood. I’ll give her a call.” He picked up his cell phone. “Jazzi brought food. You hungry?” he asked.
