by Leena Clover
“Would you say he was violent?”
John hesitated.
“Honestly, I never interacted with him much. My staff shortlisted him and interviewed him. I just saw him a couple of times when we had those meetings in town.”
Ada spoke up.
“He escorted me a couple of times. He was quite jolly. He talked about his wife and kids all the time. Showed me a photo he carried in his wallet. But he changed overnight.”
“How do you know that?” Jenny asked.
“I saw him walking around in town after we let him go,” Ada told them. “He was unshaven. His clothes were streaked with mud. And I think he was drunk. He was swaying on his feet, muttering to himself.”
“Did you talk to him?”
“I don’t talk to riff-raff,” Ada dismissed.
“Why are you asking so many questions about this man?” John wanted to know.
“He pulled a gun on someone down at the beach one day,” Jenny explained. “He might be violent.”
John Newbury couldn’t hide his shock.
“I’m going to notify security about him immediately. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.”
Jenny and Jason said goodbye.
“That was helpful!” Jenny complained as she settled in the car.
“Look on the bright side,” Jason soothed. “We know the man’s name. Adam can take it from here.”
“Didn’t Ada say the man was drunk?” Jenny asked a few minutes later. “Do you think he might have gone to the Rusty Anchor?”
Eddie Cotton, the proprietor of the Rusty Anchor, was quite good at remembering people. If Mason Bush had ever been to the pub, Eddie would know.
Jason drove to the Rusty Anchor, Jenny clinging on to the slight ray of hope she felt.
Her phone rang. It was John Newbury.
“Did I leave something behind?” Jenny asked.
“I remembered something,” John said. “I called the office to double check before calling you.”
“What is it?” Jenny asked, trying to curb her impatience.
“We provided a house for Mason Bush. He moved into it with his family. According to our severance package – I told you it was generous – he can stay there for two months after being let go.”
“What does that mean, Mr. Newbury?”
“He’s still living in that house,” John said. “I made sure he hasn’t turned in the keys.”
“Do you have the address?” Jenny asked with bated breath.
She motioned Jason to pull the car over.
“Can you write this down?”
“Give me a second,” Jenny breathed, pulling an envelope out of her hand bag. She fished around for a pen. “Okay, tell me.”
Jenny wrote the address John Newbury provided. She thanked him before hanging up.
She waved the envelope before Jason, her eyes shining with excitement.
“I know where he lives!”
Chapter 20
“Why don’t you tell Adam about this?” Jason asked as he fed the address in the GPS.
“Let’s go see if he’s really living there,” Jenny said.
Jason started driving and headed toward a set of houses by the water.
“This place seems familiar,” Jenny said. “Have we been here before?”
Jason frowned and tried to think.
“Remember when we were tracing that car’s route? One road led out of town. The other one led to a group of houses near the water.”
Jenny nodded.
“This is where it led? I think we are getting warmer.”
The address turned out to be a ranch style bungalow with a small dock at the back. A speedboat was tied to the dock. Jason parked in front of the house and they got out. The fading evening light cast long shadows as they stared at the house.
“Why don’t you stay behind me, Jenny?”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Jenny exclaimed.
A car backfired just then and Jenny felt something whiz past her ear.
“Get down, Jenny,” Jason cried. “He’s shooting at us.”
They ducked behind Jason’s car. A couple more shots rang out.
“Do you think it’s time to call Adam now?” Jason asked.
Jenny was already dialing her phone.
An engine sputtered to life just then. Jenny peeped from behind the car to see the boat speed away from the shore, leaving a frothy wake.
“He’s getting away!” she cried, jumping up. “Do something, Jason!”
“What can I do?” Jason shrugged. “I don’t see another boat here.”
The speed boat was a mere speck by then.
“Jenny!” a voice crackled through Jenny’s phone. “Hello, Jenny! Are you there?”
Jenny plastered her cell phone to her ear.
“He got away, Adam. Where are you? You need to get here soon.”
Adam rattled off a string of questions. Jenny calmed down enough to explain that Mason Bush had escaped using a boat.
“I’ll be there in five minutes!” Adam said before hanging up.
Jenny leaned against Jason’s car, frustrated.
“I’m sure they will catch him,” Jason consoled her.
“But is he our man?” Jenny wanted to know.
“He shot at us,” Jason said. “He also fled the scene. So he must be guilty of something.”
“Do you think he’s just crazy?”
“Be patient, Jenny,” Jason reasoned. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
A police cruiser arrived in a cloud of dust and screeched to a stop. Adam hobbled out, leaning on his cane.
“I called the Coast Guard,” he told them. “They have patrol boats out on the water. Now tell me everything from the beginning.”
Jenny began with what the man with the shopping cart had told her.
“You sat on this all this time?” Adam fumed.
“I told you about the man with the gun,” Jenny said. “But you never brought him in.”
Jason stepped in.
“Stop fighting, you two. What do we do next?”
“We wait,” Adam said. “Why don’t you two go home now?”
Jenny realized Adam was right.
Two days later, the Magnolias gathered at the Boardwalk Café, eager for the latest update.
Jenny brought out a plate of fresh blueberry muffins. Star was right behind her with a pot of coffee.
Betty Sue barely glanced at the food.
“So? Was it him? Tell us what you know.”
Jenny sat down and poured herself a cup. She gave her friends a watery smile.
“Mason Bush confessed last night. He fired the shot that killed Petunia.”
“Why?” Betty Sue cried. “What did she ever do to him?”
Jenny felt the weight of her pent up emotions.
“It was a mistake.”
The Magnolias started speaking at once. Jenny felt their outrage. She had been battling the same feelings since the previous night.
“What do you mean, Jenny?” Heather’s question filtered through. “Was he just shooting his gun off on the beach?”
“He wanted to kill someone,” Jenny said, stressing the last word. “It wasn’t Petunia though.”
“I’m guessing there is more to this story,” Star said. “Start at the beginning, Jenny.”
“Mason Bush was a decorated soldier,” Jenny started. “He retired from the army and started looking for a job. He got one worthy of his qualifications.”
“Is that when the Newburys hired him?” Molly asked.
Jenny nodded.
“The dispensary project was going to be big. Mason was hired as security chief. He had a bunch of people reporting to him. Unfortunately, the project fell through. The Newburys didn’t have any need for him so they had to terminate his employment.”
“Didn’t he look for another job?” Heather asked.
“He must have. But he had a streak of bad luck. His wife left him. She took the kids. What’s more, she r
efused to let him meet them.”
“All because he lost that job?” Betty Sue asked.
“That part is not clear,” Jenny shrugged. “Maybe they had some other differences. But Mason hit an all time low.”
“Is that when he started roaming around like a homeless guy?” Molly queried.
“He was never homeless, really. He had a severance package and a house to live in. He probably had a pension too. He was just depressed.”
“What does that have to do with our Petunia?” Star glowered.
“I’m coming to that. Mason started playing the blame game. He figured the town was responsible for him losing his job. And then he remembered the person who was at the forefront in all those protests.”
“Who?” All voices yelled together.
“The person who made sure the Newburys didn’t get the necessary licenses for their project. The person who saw to it that the project got scuttled.”
“Barb Norton,” Betty Sue said under her breath.
“Barb Norton?” Molly and Heather cried.
Jenny gave a deep sigh.
“Mason wanted revenge. He decided the only way he would get it was by killing Barb.”
“What happened on the beach that day?” Star asked.
Jenny paused to recollect what Adam had told her.
“Mason couldn’t sleep. He was walking on the beach when he saw Petunia sitting on that bench. She was the same height and build as Barb. And she was wearing a scarf that looked a lot like something Barb has.”
“He thought she was Barb,” Star said, welling up.
Jenny nodded.
“He pulled out his gun and shot her. He said he didn’t give it much thought.”
“He must have fled the scene though, huh?” Heather asked. “He didn’t come forward when the police were making their inquiries.”
“I guess his survival instincts kicked in when he realized what he had done. He drove his car out of the parking lot. He had done a survey of the town’s security systems. He knew about the traffic cameras. He parked his car in the woods and just walked home. He retrieved his car later.”
“What about that jacket?” Molly asked. “Wasn’t that what led you to him?”
“Mason realized the jacket might put him on the spot. He handed it over to a man on the beach.”
There was a stunned silence as the Magnolias digested the story.
“It’s not fair!” Molly wailed indignantly. “So Petunia’s only fault was she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“We have to send her off in style,” Betty Sue said in a heavy voice, dabbing her eyes with a lace handkerchief. “Pretty much all we can do now.”
Jenny and the ladies banded together to fulfill Petunia’s last wishes. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea, the girls saying their final goodbye as they stood on the deck of Captain Charlie’s boat.
Jason covered Jenny with his jacket and held her as she cried her eyes out.
Petunia had approved a memorial. The Magnolias got busy planning a grand party. The whole town was invited. Jenny made all her signature dishes, ones Petunia had loved. There were crab puffs, and pimento cheese, chocolate cupcakes and strawberry cheesecake. Jenny made tiny meatballs using a recipe she found in Petunia’s diaries.
The Boardwalk Café wore a festive air the day of the memorial. Any tourist might have mistaken it for a happy occasion. But the moist eyes and bittersweet expressions on the women’s faces told a different story.
Adam stood close to Jenny with a protective arm around her shoulders.
“Let’s get away somewhere,” Jenny said.
“You mean now?” Adam asked.
“Not now. Tomorrow. Later. I’m beginning to suffocate here, Adam. I want some time away from here.”
“Okay,” Adam agreed. “Where do you want to go?”
“Enough with the questions,” Jenny snapped, leaving Adam bewildered.
Heather pulled Jenny aside and hissed in her ear.
“What is she doing here?”
Barb Norton had arrived, wearing her usual pompous expression.
“She’s got some gall, coming here,” Star bristled, coming to stand beside Jenny.
Mason Bush had confessed to attacking Barb in the street. The police told her how he mistook Petunia for her and shot her. Barb hadn’t been seen around town after that. Everyone hoped she would go visit her daughter in Florida for a few days.
“I’m asking her to leave,” Heather seethed.
Betty Sue had sidled up to them.
“It’s not her fault,” she sighed. “Let her pay her respects.”
Barb walked up and opened her arms. She hugged each of them.
“I am so sorry,” she said sincerely. “I know that doesn’t change anything. I am going to miss Petunia.”
“It’s not your fault,” Betty Sue said again. “Thank you for coming here, Barb.”
Jenny gritted her teeth and spoke about the weather.
A screech of tires sounded outside. A stream of big, black SUVs with dark windows came to a stop outside the café. The Bellinis had arrived.
Vinny and his cohorts got out of one car. Vinny wore a dark suit and a dark fedora. Enzo Bellini stepped out of the second car, wearing a black track suit with his signature white hat. Charles and Laura stepped out of the third car. They made a grand entrance into the café.
Enzo pumped Jenny’s hand and thanked her profusely.
“Thank you for catching my baby girl’s killer.”
Vinny had spotted the meatballs-on-a-stick. He popped one in his mouth and walked toward Jenny.
“Great party, sweetheart! Thanks for doing this.”
“Thank you for coming,” Jenny muttered, feeling overwhelmed.
She wondered why the Bellinis were still hanging around Pelican Cove. Vinny answered her unspoken question.
“Had to tie up some loose ends ... we are getting out of town after this party.”
“Your mother would be glad you came,” Jenny told him.
Vinny looked around the packed café.
“Our Ma had a good life here. Are you going to keep the café going?”
Jenny nodded.
“I love this place. You don’t mind Petunia left it to me?”
“Not at all. You take care of this place for her.”
He pulled out a card from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Call me if you need anything. We take care of our own.”
He tipped his hat and wished her good luck. He walked out, flanked by his three men.
Jenny and her friends began tidying up the café. The party moved to Seaview, Jenny’s seaside house.
Jason took drink orders from everyone. Adam sat next to Jenny, peering at her with concern.
“I’m not going to break, Adam,” Jenny grumbled. “Relax!”
“I know it was a tough day,” he said, rubbing Jenny’s palm. “But you handled it well.”
Heather raised her glass in a toast.
“To Petunia … may she rest in peace.”
Everyone raised their glasses and toasted their dear friend.
“To Petunia.”
Star sat up suddenly.
“I almost forgot, Jenny.”
She went inside and came out with a big sketchbook.
“These are just some designs I have been working on.”
Jenny opened the book curiously, and gasped when she saw the drawing inside.
“You talked about sprucing up the café,” Star explained. “I thought you might want a new logo.”
Jenny stared at the lifelike caricature of Petunia juxtaposed next to some pretty lettering.
“I love it,” Jenny squealed, handing the sketchbook to Heather.
Everyone wholeheartedly approved the new logo.
Adam’s phone rang shrilly, making Jenny jump. He stood up and walked into the next room to take the call.
Jenny was the only one watching when he came back.
&n
bsp; “What’s the matter?” she asked, dreading his reply.
“That was the station,” Adam said, dumbfounded. “Mason Bush is dead. He was found stabbed in his cell.”
Epilogue
The car climbed into the mountains, following the serpentine road. Tall firs towered over them, ablaze in vivid tones of yellow and orange. There was a riot of color wherever Jenny looked.
“Skyline Drive stretches over a hundred miles in the Blue Ridge Mountains,” Adam told her.
Jenny had finally caved and agreed to go on the foliage trip with Adam. She fought against the happiness bubbling inside her. Wasn’t it wrong to feel such joy when she had just lost her close friend?
“You up for a small hike?” Adam asked, clutching her hand tighter and planting a feather light kiss on her forehead.
They had been holding hands since they left Pelican Cove. Adam had refused to let go. Jenny thought it was romantic. Her heart beat in anticipation of what was coming next.
Adam parked near a trail head and they got out. Adam packed some snacks and drinking water in a backpack and slung it over his shoulder.
“It’s about three miles to the falls but they should be worth it,” he told Jenny.
Jenny set a leisurely pace as they walked down the trail. They passed a few hikers on the way. They heard the falls before they saw them.
Adam helped Jenny onto a rocky ledge that provided a good view of the waterfall. Jenny looked down on the water, drinking in the beauty of the scene.
She heard a throat clear and whirled around instinctively. The sight before her took her breath away, more so than the churning water below.
Adam Hopkins was down on one knee, holding up a tiny box. He popped it open, making Jenny’s eyes go wide and her mouth drop.
“Will you marry me, Jenny King?”
***THE END***
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