“On my way to the kitchen,” Dana said. “Straight or with cream.”
“Cream and sugar.” I opened the door. With quick steps I hurried down the walk. “You were supposed to go to the dinner and follow tomorrow.”
“And have to explain a runaway bride? No thanks.” Lars pulled me into his arms. Our lips touched. “Next time I’ll marry a less independent woman.”
“Touché. How long have you been waiting to say that?” I rested my head on his shoulder.
“A month. Since the pauper remark. Glad you finally gave me an opening. Next time I’ll throttle you.”
I met his gaze. “Sorry for taking off. Just remember I’m the woman with a great pitching arm.”
“You wouldn’t be my Kate if you hadn’t. Can’t change you. Don’t want to.” He laughed and I knew his anger, though quick to arise, had ebbed.
“Come inside. There’s food and iced coffee waiting. Dana will make you a tasty meatloaf and cheddar sandwich.”
He groaned. “Meatloaf when I could be eating lobster, prime rib and shrimp plus those wonderful appetizers.”
“We’ll go another time and I’ll pay.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” He turned to the car and pulled out a plastic bag. “The top tiers of the cakes. The Guild women boxed them for us.”
“Weren’t they supposed to go to Cedar Inn?”
“I figured we would enjoy them here.”
I clasped his hand and led him to the house.
Joyce waited at the door. “I didn’t ask her to come.”
He chuckled. “When there’s a murder victim, you’ll find Kate. I’m sure you’ve heard about her other capers. Finding bodies is her third career. When she has a notion, nothing can stop her.”
“You know her so well.” Joyce turned. “This is Dana.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Lars shook Dana’s outstretched hand. “Kate has told me about you. English and creative writing professor.”
“I am.” Dana pointed to the kitchen. “Iced coffee and a sandwich wait.”
Joyce walked with us. “While Lars eats you and I can go to the house and make the guest room bed. You can stay there for the night. I’m bunking with Dana until this mess is cleared.”
Lars squeezed my hand. “All our luggage is in the trunk” He handed Dana the plastic bag. “Dessert. Cake for all.”
“Wedding cake?” Joyce asked.
“And the groom’s,” Lars said. “Tomorrow we can start the process for the loan.”
“Why?” Joyce asked. “I don’t need to buy Brenda’s share now.”
“Maybe not but that depends on your partnership agreement. We’ll visit the bank and start the process. Once this is settled, Kate and I will be on our way. Maybe by the weekend.”
When he and I were alone we would talk. I wasn’t leaving until Joyce was cleared. I kissed his cheek. “See you soon.”
Joyce and I walked across the lawn to her house. She opened the door and switched on the light. “No!” Her scream pierced the silence of the night. “No, no!”
The living room resembled the aftermath of a tornado. Drawers had been pulled from the desk and emptied. Cushions from the couch and the chairs lay on the floor. At least the television remained in place.
Lars and Dana ran into the room. “Who did this?” Dana asked.
Lars shook his head. “What a mess.”
“Someone searched the house,” I said.
“The police?” Lars asked. “Were they looking for the murder weapon?”
“They found it at Herbal Haven,” Joyce said.
I studied the chaotic scene. “Don’t touch anything. Call the police. Looks like they were seeking something specific. Lars and Dana, check the other rooms to see if they tossed them.” I spotted a metal box with a combination lock. Looked as if someone tried to open it.
Joyce used Lars’ cell phone and made the call. “My house. Searched. Did you?...No…What…Desk searched…Furniture searched.” She turned. “Zach and a tech will come. We’re not to touch anything.”
Dana and Lars returned. “Someone was in your bedroom but they didn’t do much but open a few drawers. Found the kitchen door ajar.”
Before long the handsome young man I’d met during my escape weekend arrived. Another man carrying a case followed. They surveyed the mess and dusted for prints. Zach lifted the locked box. “What do you keep in here?”
“Mostly papers. Nothing valuable other than the key to my box at the bank.”
He wiped the surface. “Open it.”
Joyce did. Zach examined most of the papers and handed her the key. “Might have wanted this. Keep it safe.” He and the other man moved to the back door. “Jimmied.”
“What would someone what to access my box?” Joyce asked.
I cocked my head. “They could have removed the partnership agreement or planted some kind of evidence. Maybe they were looking for money.”
Zach stared at me. “You are one suspicious lady.”
Lars laughed. “She gave up a career in nursing for a life of solving crimes.”
I tapped his arm. “I retired first.”
The young officer arched a brow. "Thought you were a chef.”
“Just like to cook.”
Zach grasped Joyce’s shoulder. “Have you been back here since you were released?”
“This afternoon to pack some clothes. I’m staying with Dana. Kate and I came to fix the guest room for her husband and her.”
“Then this is recent. Something must have scared them off.”
“Maybe my arrival.” I met Zach’s gaze. “What now?”
He shrugged. “Evidence taken. Clean up. Report missing items.” He strode to the door.
“Will you let us know what you learn like whose fingerprints you find?” I asked.
“Why?” A frown wrinkled his brow.
“So I can prove Joyce’s innocence.”
He laughed. “My job, not yours.” He waved and left.
I bent and restored the cushions to the couch.
Lars picked up papers. He turned to Dana. “Is the offer of real coffee and a sandwich still good?”
“Yes.”
Lars nodded. “Keep that key in your possession. Tomorrow, plan to be at the bank when it opens.”
Joyce thrust the key toward him. “Here. You keep it.” She opened the desk to store the papers.
I walked to the guest room, grabbed linens and made the bed. By the time I finished, Joyce had the papers sorted and returned to the desk. “Anything missing?” I asked.
“No.”
“Check your bedroom.”
“I’ll do that now.” She left and returned a short time later. “Nothing’s missing. I dislike the idea that someone pawed at my underwear.” She held up a stuffed plastic bag. “I’ll wash it at Dana’s.” At the door she turned. “Will you be uneasy sleeping here?”
“Why?” Whoever searched found nothing. Doubt they will return when two people are sleeping in the house.” I went to the kitchen and shoved a chair under the knob. “Just a precaution.” At the front door, I waited until she locked and handed me the key. “Is Dana serious about Zach?”
She shrugged. “They date. He’s a good man. Even apologized for questioning me. Does Lars really plan to leave this weekend?”
“If so, he’ll go alone. I’m staying until the killer is caught. Come on. Cake’s waiting.”
Over dessert we discussed plans for the next day. I wanted to see the scene of the crime. Lars and Joyce planned to be at the bank by nine.
“Are the police finished at the shop?” I asked.
“I think so.” Joyce tasted the chocolate cake. “This is every bit as good as I remember.”
“Maybe I’ll have time to bake one here.”
“Not in this heat,” Dana said. “There’s enough for us to have several more pieces.”
Lars shook his head and filled his glass for the third time with iced coffee. “I agree with the no cooking order.”
>
“Cooking helps me think.”
“Then figure something that doesn’t need a fire.” He finished his cake. “My dear wife, shall we retire? We’ll hash out your thought process tomorrow.”
I rose and waved to Joyce and Dana. “See you tomorrow.”
Hand in hand Lars and I walked to his car where we retrieved his overnight case. We entered Joyce’s house. Lars yawned. I locked the door. I couldn’t imagine how he could sleep with all the coffee he’d drunk.
“Good thing I was able to cancel our hotel room at home,” he said.
“Sorry.” I sucked in a breath and prepared to make an announcement. “Even if there hadn’t been a murder we would have stayed here for a night.”
“Got you. Dana said something that puzzled me and might make Joyce appear guilty. Dana can’t figure why the shop wasn’t making more than a few hundred dollars every month, especially with the large mail and download orders. Makes me wonder if Joyce’s partner wasn’t skimming cream. That could make your friend appear guilty.”
“Only if she knew.”
“How could she prove she didn’t?”
That was a potent question I had no answer for. “Let’s worry about this tomorrow.” I led him to the guest room.
Before long we hit the bed and celebrated our marriage in the traditional manner. In his arms, for a short time, I felt young again.
* * *
The sun shining through the lace curtained window woke me. Lars stretched, kissed me and headed for the bathroom where he showered and shaved. Then I took my turn. Once dressed, we walked across the lawn to Dana’s house. Joyce sat at the kitchen table. Dana had already left for the college.
Joyce had coffee, tea and sticky buns waiting. We ate and left for the bank. Lars vetoed my idea of going to Herbal Haven alone. Joyce concurred. The bank president greeted us. Joyce went with him to remove all the papers concerning the business from the box.
Before they left Lars convinced the president to allow us to use one of the conference rooms. Joyce and the slender man arrived with a stack of papers.
“I would like a printout of all the Herbal Haven’s accounts for the past two years,” Lars said.
“Why?” The middle-aged man asked. “You’ll find no discrepancies. Our records are audited yearly.”
“I have my reasons. Since I’ll be investing in Herbal Haven I need to see the flow of cash in and out. They must be compared to the ledgers at the store. Unfortunately, Mrs. Browne‘s murder has raised questions.”
The man’s mouth gaped. “I don’t understand.” He stared at Joyce. “You came to us for a loan but when you applied you were vague.”
“I didn’t want to tell the world I wanted to buy Brenda’s share of the business. She didn’t want it to be public knowledge.”
“I wish you had told me. The community would have been better off with her absence.”
I wondered what he meant. Did he know more about the dead woman than we did? “I…”
Lars’ hand clamped around my arm. I turned to him. “Don’t,” he mouthed.
“I did what I thought best,” Joyce said.
“Ah,” the banker said. “If word had spread, she would happily spread stories about how mean you were. That woman poisoned everything she touched. Once the police solve the murder, the bank will be glad to discuss your needs.” He left the room.
“Interesting,” I said.
Joyce leaned forward. “Brenda was involved with his son for a short time.”
“Oh.” Both Lars and I responded.
Twenty minutes later, the bank president returned. He held a long manila folder. “These are complete.”
Lars put the papers Joyce had removed from her box into the folder. “Before I call my people, I need to study these and ask you some questions.”
Joyce rose. “Thank you. I’ll be a few minutes. I must pay some bills.”
Lars and I strolled outside. Already the August sun heated the air. He held the folder in one hand. “This certainly has been an interesting start to our marriage.”
“You should have known.”
He chuckled. “After witnessing your actions over the years and what you managed in Santa Fe, I knew but I thought that would be the end of your adventures.:
"Did you forget Hudson House?” I gazed into his eyes. “Have you changed your mind?”
“Why? I love all your nooks and crannies.”
“As I love yours.”
“I’ve none.”
I lightly tapped his arm. “So you think.”
“Promise me this is your last case.”
“No promises. Seems the bodies find me.” I squeezed his hand. “Tell me what happened when you realized I had gone.” Last night other things had been on our agenda. Celebrating our marriage and exhaustion had waylaid his anger and my explanations.
“When Edward and his gang freed me, I returned to Fellowship Hall. You’d vanished. Saw Pete. He told me he’d driven you home and you would drive back. That young foster son of Sarah’s told me you had used his phone. Raised my suspicions.”
“How long did you wait?”
“Half an hour or so. Had the top layers packed up. Wasn’t sure how much I would need but I guessed none would go to waste. Dragooned our sons to end the party. Left. Drove to the apartment and read the note.”
“Why did you follow me yesterday?”
His whoop of laughter caused the manila folder to shake. “And explain why my bride thought a murder was more important than a reception and a wedding night?”
“Well, it is. Then what?”
“Called Don and Andrew. Told them to tell people we decided on an early getaway. Took your bags, programmed the GPS and drove.”
“Were you angry?”
“Yes. A bit at you but more with Edward. Five minutes he said and it was nearly an hour. You could have waited and we could have traveled together.”
Chagrin filled me. I was so used to making my own decisions and acting on them, I’d forgotten I was no longer alone. “Sorry.”
He squeezed my hand. “I know you are.”
“I would like to say it won’t happen again.”
“What? Edward, a murder, or independent actions?”
“All of them.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Just try to give up the sleuthing.”
“I’ll try.”
Joyce left the bank. “Where now?”
“Herbal Haven.” I said.
We drove to the shop in Lars’ sedan. My thoughts buzzed with scenarios to prove Joyce’s innocence. The murderer had to be one of my four suspects. Shame she lived alone. Though the police always suspected the alibis given by a family member, Dana would be a good witness.
We reached the green and white farmhouse. Sunlight glinted on the glass panels of the greenhouse that stood a dozen yards from the shop. This had been one of the reasons Joyce had made the purchase. As we approached I saw the white clapboards and the trim had been painted since my visit.
Joyce stood on the front porch. Her hand shook as she tried to fit the key into the lock. I noticed spots where the crime scene tape had pulled some of the green paint from the door frame.
“Want me to do the honors?” I understood her reluctance. I’ve experienced the same emotion a time or two.
She shook her head. “I have to do this. Won’t help business if the owner can’t go inside.”
I clasped her shoulder. “You can and will. Shudders are allowed. Took me weeks before I could look at the yard after finding Rachel’s body.”
My words steadied her. She turned the key, opened the door and stepped inside to the brassy clang of the bell. Lars found the switch for the lights and the air conditioner. The stuffy heat slowly dissipated. I saw the remains of fingerprint powder and the scuffed chalk on the floor marking where the body had been found. Had the police dusted every surface? I crossed to the stairs avoiding the dried blood. The dark splotch covered a wide area of the floor.
> “We’ll need to clean this stain before you open for customers. There will be the curious come to buy and look. They don’t need to see this.”
I strode around the blood stain and saw two places where the spray had flown. Having seen patients bleed made me realize what had interrupted the amount on the floor. There must be blood soaked clothes somewhere. The weapon had been found beneath the counter, meaning it had been removed. Brenda had bled out but she must have had a head wound as well. Had that occurred before or after the blow ending her life had been struck? Was there a way to see the autopsy report? Could I convince Zach to share that info? Did Joyce have an attorney? I would have to ask.
Lars cleared his throat. “Before you two are tied up solving the crime, where is the computer, check book and any other records? I need to study them.”
Joyce left me and took Lars into the small parlor turned into an office. I opened several jars of mint tea to allow the scents to filter into the stale air. Baskets of fresh herbs hung from those kinds of holders allowing more than one to be displayed. The plants drooped. In the kitchen I filled a long spouted watering can and started rounds. Each watered plant revived.
Joyce left the office. “You beat me to it.”
“What about the greenhouse?”
“Wasn’t part of the crime scene so Dana handled the watering there.”
While I continued the chore, Joyce walked to the kitchen. “What are you doing?” I called.
“Orders to fill. Lars printed them out for me. Good thing Brenda gave me the password to the shop’s account. Lars said there’s another on the computer but its password protected.”
“Secrets,” I said. “Another way for her to manage and control. Lars will figure something. Before we do those boxes, we need to clean the floor.”
We scrubbed the stains from the hardwood with less trouble than I’d expected. The wood had been sealed and several coats of polyurethane applied. This done, we began packing the boxes by collecting dried herbs, spices, jars of blended mint teas, grinders, tea balls, sets and watering devices. When we finished Joyce called for a pickup.
After the delivery man left I knew what I wanted to do. I turned to Joyce but she had entered the office. “Be with you in a sec. Want to give the credit card slips to Lars so he can prepare a deposit slip.”
Murder and Herbal Tea Page 5
