by Lyndsey Cole
Ryan was looking at the papers from the envelope that Rosie had found. “This is interesting. These are minutes from a meeting to buy land for the casino. Members present: Mike Keller, Clifton Harris, Kirk Stevens, Tyrone Biotchi and Tamara Biotchi. Everyone was going to put in an equal share and the land would be resold to the casino developer for a tidy profit.”
“Let me see that.” Lily took the paper and read it to herself. “Kirk Stevens? He’s the antique dealer. He hasn’t been in town for long. Tyrone and Tamara working together? They hate each other. We need to find out where this chunk of land is.”
Ryan pulled the papers out of Lily’s hand and set them on the table. “Enough of this. Do you want dessert?”
Lily looked surprised. “Dessert? You made dessert?”
“Is that so shocking?” Ryan got up and walked into the house.
He returned with a blue china plate. “Ta-da. My special treat. Brownies.”
“From scratch?”
“I can’t reveal my secret. I have ice cream too if you want to make it really decadent.”
“What flavor?”
“Picky too? I thought long and hard and decided to get vanilla. It’s hard to beat chocolate and vanilla. Hope that works for you.”
Lily was laughing. “You are full of surprises.”
Ryan’s police radio paged him. “Hope it’s nothing important. I don’t want to go in to work tonight.”
Lily helped herself to a brownie and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the cold mouthful of vanilla ice cream mixed with the fudgy chocolate brownie. This guy might not be so bad after all. “What do you think Rosie?”
“Woof.” Lily giggled.
She opened her eyes when the back door slammed. Ryan had a scowl on his face. “I have to go to the station. There’s some kind of incident. Mike Keller is drunk, ranting and raving about getting his job back. I’m not happy about this.”
Lily finished her dessert. “That’s okay. I should probably get going anyway. Thanks for a relaxing dinner.”
Ryan stared at Lily. “You are a breath of fresh air in my life. Thanks for getting your skirt caught in your car door this morning. I’m a real sucker for a woman in distress.”
Lily’s face burned with embarrassment. She slapped his arm playfully. “Rosie owes you a dinner as soon as I get back into my house. Maybe she’ll grill you a dog bone or two.”
“I can’t wait.” His smile made her heart pound a little faster.
Ryan walked to his car ahead of Lily. Lily saw the envelope of papers on the table and dropped them in her bag.
Chapter 8
Lily quietly opened the door to her mother’s house, not sure if Iris would still be up.
“Lily? Is that you?”
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes Mom. Just me and Rosie.”
“That’s too bad. I thought you might have that handsome cop with you.”
“I’m sure that’s what you were hoping.”
Lily sat in the soft blue chair opposite her mother. “Take a look at this.”
Iris took the manila envelope from Lily’s outstretched arm. “What is it?”
“Take a look. Tell me what you think.”
Iris studied the papers. Her eyes widened. “The casino deal? Where did you get this?”
“Rosie found it somewhere in my back yard. What do you know about it?”
“There were a couple of sites that I heard about but the people in town don’t want anything to do with the problems associated with a casino. It will ruin Misty Valley.”
Lily sank deeper into the chair. “Do you think Clifton was murdered because of his support?”
“Or maybe he wanted out and someone at this meeting didn’t like that. It’s interesting that there’s a list of signatures against the casino deal. It’s a curious group. Tyrone and Tamara working together? I would expect one of them to murder the other before anyone else was murdered.”
Iris walked into the kitchen. “Want a snack?”
“No thanks. I already had dessert.”
Iris poked her head back into the living room. “Dinner and dessert?”
“That’s all the details you’ll get from me.”
“I didn’t expect you home this early.”
“Ryan got called into work. Mike Keller is drunk and he’s making a scene at the police station.”
Iris returned with a piece of pie. “That guy is trouble. I remember him from elementary school. He was a bully then. I hope they put him in jail and throw away the key.”
“From what you heard at the shooting range, he may get off. Unless there are other witnesses.”
Iris pointed to the papers. “That piece of paper Rosie found could lead to another witness. You’d better be careful though. Don’t let him know you’re poking around. Maybe you should come to the shooting range with me and do some target practicing. Remind Mike’s crazy friends that you know how to shoot.”
“Really?”
“Really. Clifton was murdered. In your house. You need to be extra careful.” Iris shrugged. “Plus, maybe we’ll hear more chatter at the shooting range.”
“Okay. Tomorrow afternoon? As long as Daisy will be at the shop.”
***
Lily was up and to the shop early. The town was abuzz with stories of the murder.
Candy was waiting for Lily to open up the shop. “Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Lily opened the door and held it for Candy to enter.
Candy was excited. “I heard someone broke into your house and you had to shoot him.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Who told you that?”
“Your mom. She said she’s so happy she taught you how to shoot when you were a kid.”
“That’s not what happened.”
Candy was deflated. “Oh.”
Lily turned her sign to open. “Clifton Harris was killed in my house but I wasn’t there.”
“What was he doing in your house?”
“That’s what I need to find out.”
“What’s happening with the wedding?”
“Cancelled, of course. No groom, no wedding.”
Candy was worried. “What am I supposed to do with the cake? Tamara already paid for it.”
Lily picked up a bunch of pussy willows and red roses to wrap for an order. “Hasn’t she called you?”
Candy shook her head. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of her but she never answers her phone.”
“She’s donating all the wedding flowers for the hospital charity event. You could donate the cake too.”
“I can’t really just donate it without her permission. It belongs to her. She paid for it. But I’d hate to see it go to waste.”
“Call Melinda. Ask her what to do.”
Candy lowered her voice to a whisper. “Who do you think killed Clifton Harris?”
Lily looked at Candy. “I wish I knew. That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?”
Iris hurried into the shop. She looked at Candy and avoided Lily’s gaze.
Lily looked directly at Iris. “Candy just told me an interesting story going around town. Who on earth started that?”
Iris squirmed for about two seconds. “Nothing wrong with a little embellishment. People want to hear an interesting story.”
Daisy arrived out of breath. “Geoffrey told me the casino deal is off.”
Lily was surprised. “Really? Because of the murder?”
“Someone bought the land.”
“I thought there were a couple of land options.”
“Not according to Geoffrey. The new hospital is going on the site the casino wanted.”
The shop was feeling crowded when Ryan walked in. “Good morning, ladies.” He looked at Iris. “Any new stories I should know about?”
Lily tried to change the subject. “Ryan Steele, this is Candy Clarke. I don’t know if you’ve met. Candy
owns Candies Cakes and Catering. Candy, Ryan is the new acting police chief in town.”
Candy looked Ryan up and down, grinning. “I hope you’re around for the long haul.”
Ryan fidgeted. “Lily. Can I talk to you for a minute? In private?”
Daisy and Iris snickered as they watched Ryan follow Lily to the back room.
Ryan looked annoyed. “Did you take that envelope from my deck last night?”
“You left it there,” Lily said defensively.
“That’s not my question. I need to add it to the evidence. Where is it now?”
Lily stared at him with her arms folded. “At my mother’s house.”
He grabbed her arm. “Let’s go get it.”
Lily jerked away. “Wait a minute. I’m busy. I’ve got a business to run.”
He eyed her skeptically. “It sounded like a coffee klatch out there. No one looked very busy.”
Lily stood her ground defiantly. “You can’t just come in here and boss me around, Ryan Steele.”
“This is important. I need that evidence. You can cooperate or I could arrest you for taking it.”
“What? You wouldn’t.” Lily stormed out of the back room. “Mom, can you go with Mr. Steele to get that envelope at your house? He needs it immediately.”
“I’d love to.” Iris winked at Ryan. “Do I get to ride in your cruiser?”
Ryan walked out without looking at Lily. Iris followed with a big smile on her face. “I can’t wait to tell my friends. Will you put the siren on?”
Ryan opened the door for Iris and ignored her question.
Daisy watched with her mouth hanging open. “What just happened?”
Lily was jamming flowers into a big basket arrangement. “What do you mean?”
“You and the handsome cop. Do you like him?”
“Are you kidding? He thinks he can come in here and order me around. I have a business to run.”
“Sure Lily. You only get this worked up when you like a guy.”
Lily glared at Daisy. “I’m going to make these deliveries and pick up flowers at Geoffrey’s greenhouse.”
***
Lily had cooled down by the time she pulled into Geoffrey’s parking lot. Sitting in her car to completely calm herself, she thought, I don’t need that Ryan Steele. I can figure this out myself. She walked into the storage building attached to the greenhouse. The sweet smell of flowers surrounded her immediately.
“Geoffrey? I’m here to pick up my order,” she called.
Geoffrey looked up from his desk. “I wasn’t sure if you still needed the flowers since the wedding is cancelled.”
“Your mom is generously donating them to the hospital charity event.”
Geoffrey closed the ledger he was working on. “There’s nothing generous about my mother. There must be something in it for her.”
Lily sat down at Geoffrey’s desk. “Oh?”
“I probably shouldn’t say this, but Tamara Biotchi doesn’t do anything if there isn’t something in it for her.”
“What do you know about Clifton Harris?” Lily got straight to the point.
“My almost-brother-in-law?”
“Yeah.”
Geoffrey leaned back in his chair. “Hand-picked by my mother. Poor Melinda. She didn’t have the courage to be her own person. Maybe now she can let herself love the person her heart wants.”
“Jack?”
“He has always loved Melinda, but he accepted that she had to obey Mother. He knew he couldn’t fight that battle.”
“And now? With Clifton dead?”
Geoffrey shrugged. “Maybe he has a chance. But Mother despises him.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve always wondered if it’s because Mother married for money and not love and she was jealous that Melinda found someone who loves her for who she is. But that’s just my theory.”
Lily leaned back in her chair. “Not an easy family to be a member of. How have you managed to do your thing?” Lily looked around at all the incredible flowers that Geoffrey had in buckets ready for pickup by wholesalers. Snapdragons, hybrid delphinium, tulips, calla lilies, Asiatic and oriental lilies in every color of the rainbow. And potted geraniums, begonias and impatience.
“Pot.”
“Pot? What do you mean?”
He adjusted his baseball cap. “I make a lot of money with the medical marijuana so Mother tolerates my obsession with growing flowers.”
“What do you know about the casino project?”
“Not much, except that it seems to have fallen apart. Somehow the hospital got the land. My father is pretty upset about it.”
Lily leaned forward. “Do you think that had anything to do with Clifton’s murder?”
“I wish I knew. He wasn’t the most popular guy in town. It could be anyone.” Geoffrey got up. “I’ll help you load the flowers. It’s too bad about the wedding I guess, but, in the long run, maybe Melinda actually has a chance for happiness now.”
“And you?”
Geoffrey grinned from ear to ear. “Oh yeah. I have a real good chance for happiness. Your sister is dynamite.”
Lily closed the caravan door after the flowers were loaded. “Thanks Geoffrey. You certainly know how to grow the most beautiful flowers around. I’d love a tour of your greenhouses sometime. How did you ever get started in this? I can’t imagine that your parents steered you in this direction.”
Geoffrey choked with laughter. “I love flowers. I think my parents just gave up trying to change my mind, and when Clifton loaned me the money to get started, they had no control over me anymore.”
“Clifton helped you financially?”
“It was his idea. I never asked for the help. It’s built into the loan that if anything happens to Clifton, the debt is forgiven. Sweet deal for me.”
Lily was surprised. “Yeah. Lucky you.”
Geoffrey leaned casually against the van. “Can you give your sister a message for me?”
“Sure.”
“Tell her to swing by after work. I’ll be waiting.” He winked and went back inside.
Lily hurried after Geoffrey with one more question. “Did Clifton buy cream tulips from you in the last couple days?”
“Clifton? Nope. Jack did. Why?”
“Melinda thanked me for the beautiful tulips Clifton left in her kitchen yesterday morning. He didn’t get them from me.” Lily chuckled. “I’m just wondering who my competition is.”
“No worries there. I only sell to friends once in a while. I have no intention of competing with your incredible design ability.”
I wonder who gave them to Melinda. Did she lie to me?
Chapter 9
Lily was feeling much better after her conversation with Geoffrey. He gave her interesting information about his family. She had to admit to herself that Geoffrey did seem normal. And he acted quite smitten with Daisy.
Her contented feeling flew out the window when she saw Ryan’s police cruiser at her shop. What does he want now?
Iris and Ryan were seated in the backroom enjoying a cup of coffee. “There you are, Lily. Ryan and I were just having the most interesting conversation about guns.”
Lily stood with her hands on her hips. “Of course you were. You really should let Ryan get back to work. He has an important murder to solve.”
“That’s why he’s here waiting for you. I’ll go help Daisy so you two can talk.”
Ryan got up from his chair and handed a coffee to Lily. “Peace offering?”
“For what?” She wasn’t going to make this easy for him.
“I was frazzled this morning after having to deal with that—well, never mind what I’d like to call him. It was so nice having dinner with you last night. Keller knew how to push all my buttons to ruin my good mood.”
“Is that an apology?”
“Yes. I don’t know how else to say I’m sorry.”
Lily sipped the coffee, making Ryan sweat some more. She coyly smiled.
“Apology accepted.”
Ryan relaxed back into his chair. “That envelope wasn’t at your mother’s house.”
“What?” Coffee spilled onto Lily’s jeans as she lurched forward. She looked down at the dark spot. Why does this always happen around this guy?
Ryan handed her a napkin to blot up the coffee, trying to hide his grin. “Did you notice if anyone followed you last night?”
“I don’t think so. Where did you look for it?”
“On the coffee table. Your mom said you two were sitting in the living room looking at the papers when you got home.”
Lily settled back into her chair. “I took them into my room and stuck them in the bedside drawer. Mom didn’t know that.”
“Do you have time to find them for me? I would like to get them into a safer place. I think that may be important evidence.”
Lily beamed as she stood up. “Since you asked so nicely, let’s go.”
It didn’t take Lily long to find the papers and get back to the shop. Daisy was up to her elbows in flowers. Arrangements were lined up around the whole work area.
“Geoffrey asked me to give you a message,” Lily said when she got back to work.
“When did you talk to Geoffrey?”
“We had a nice chat when I picked up the flowers at the greenhouse.”
Daisy looked concerned. “Chat about what?”
“His family.” Lily moved some arrangements into the cooler. “You.”
“Me?”
“I think he likes you. A lot. He wants you to meet him after work. Said he’d be waiting.”
Daisy blushed and smiled. “Doesn’t he seem normal? Unlike the rest of his clan?”
“I have to agree with you about that.” Lily paused at Daisy’s work space. “Did you know that Clifton loaned him money to get his business going?”
“No. We don’t talk business when we’re together.” Her face changed to a deeper shade of red.
Lily chuckled. “Don’t tell Mom or she’ll want all the gory details.”
“Speaking of Mom, she said to remind you to meet her at the shooting range at four.” Daisy arched an eyebrow. “I thought you gave up guns after that accident?”
