Deadly Dirty Martinis

by Nicole Leiren

  Placing the drink in front of her, I returned her smile. "We've been extra busy around Thanksgiving. Not sure if that's normal this time of year or not since this is my first Thanksgiving here."

  She sipped the drink. "This tastes great. I can only imagine how good it is with alcohol in it."

  I laughed. "When you're old enough, I'll hook you up with one of those. Are you planning on sticking around?"

  She propped her chin on her hands and sighed. "I dunno. I've been here just a little less time than you, but I still don't feel like I fit in."

  About that time, Ashley came in. She was sporting the green shoes as well. I think I could make something happen here. I waved Ashley over and gestured to the stool next to Julie. "Ashley, meet Julie. She's Charlie's niece. If you'll take note of her shoes, I think you two may have some things in common."

  Both girls looked down and laughed. They started chatting. Guess my services were no longer needed. "Ashley, I'll grab you a Hurricane too."

  She nodded and resumed her conversation. "Uh…thanks."

  I vaguely heard Ashley mention to Julie how glad she was that school was done for the day and she was on break for the holiday. Freddie brought up a case of beer and immediately noticed the two girls. He elbowed me and whispered, "You going to introduce me?"

  "I thought you and Liza were tight?"

  He chuckled. "In my dreams, maybe. She's just using me."

  It wasn't as surprising he recognized she was doing that but that he continued to allow it. "Using you for what?"

  He shrugged. "A sounding board, mostly. There's lots of crap going on with the band."

  Crap she was responsible for, if you asked me. But since he hadn't, I'd keep my opinion on that to myself. "Just be careful. I don't know why, but I don't trust her."

  "Let's argue about her later. Who's the hottie sitting next to Tan's little sister?"

  "I'll introduce you, but she's only eighteen, so behave yourself."

  Freddie crossed his hands over his heart. "That hurt, Lilly. She's legal. That's all I need to worry about."

  Men. He was right, though. She was legal and could make her own decisions. We walked over to where the girls were still chatting. "Ashley, Julie, this is Freddie. I'd say you can believe about two-thirds of whatever he says to you."

  "Lilly!" Freddie turned a bright red as the girls laughed. He quickly recovered his coolness though and began to chat them up—Julie in particular.

  Before I could tease him any more, sunlight filtered into the dark room again, indicating another patron was entering. Guess the lunch rush would merge right into a dinner rush. The door closed, and I dropped the glass I'd been wiping off. Blinking rapidly, I wanted to make sure this wasn't a hallucination.

  Harmony's smile radiated the joy of a newly freed woman. She waved and headed toward me. "Hi, baby. I'd kill for one of those vodka lemonades about now."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  I closed the distance between us and pulled Harmony into a hug. "How? Why? You didn't escape, did you?" Hey, given her wild and rebellious youth, it could happen.

  Her rich laughter warmed me all the way to the tips of my toes. "Lab results came back. I'm innocent just like I told you. And no, I didn't escape, but maybe I should've tried. I really must be playing it safe in my advanced years." She pulled back from our embrace. "Does that answer all your questions?"

  "On a top level, yes. I want more details though. Come sit down, and I'll make your drink." I might have floated back to the bar. This was the most relieved I'd felt in a long time.

  Freddie's visage didn't resonate with the same happiness mine did. Guess that was to be expected, especially given he'd been hanging out with Liza. She certainly wasn't my mother's biggest fan. He offered a curt nod. "Ms. Waters."

  Harmony grabbed his hand and squeezed. "Donny and I may have had our differences, but I promise you, I didn't kill him. I'm truly sorry he's gone. He was a decent man, just not a great manager."

  Freddie softened the smallest bit. "I suppose. I know Lilly is glad you're free."

  "I am, and we're not giving up on finding Donny's killer, promise." I wanted Freddie to know I was committed to making the responsible person pay.

  Clara made her way from the kitchen into the bar area and disrupted our potential Hallmark moment. "Hey, Lilly, Vernon is on the phone for you."

  I swallowed hard and nodded. "Abe, can you watch the bar for me? If they need a drink you don't know how to make, just ask them to wait for a few. I won't be long."

  Abe nodded. "Sure thing. Though I've been watching you do that little Hurricane dance. I think I can do it."

  Clara and I both laughed, and then she spoke up. "Well, if you do that, be sure to call us all out here, as we would pay to see that."

  He flicked her playfully on the arm with the bar towel. "Don't you have some food to tend to?" His smile lit up the whole room. I really was going to miss him.

  I followed Clara into the kitchen then turned left into the office. Closing the door, I picked up the phone. "Hi, Vernon. Sorry for the delay. Needed to get someone to cover."

  "No problem. This won't take long. Thanks for the scones, all twelve of them, by the way. They were delicious. I appreciate a customer who pays up front."

  "Always a pleasure keeping my source happy. So what did you find out?" It wasn't impatience, just excitement. With Harmony free, I was even more committed to finding out who did this. It was easier to be driven down the path to solving a crime when one of your loved ones wasn't going to be sitting at the finish line. At least it was for me. Finding and putting together the clues were an essential part of completing that goal.

  "The guitar strings weren't your run-of-the-mill strings that any player would use. These were pure nickel. Not exactly rare but not common either. Hope this helps."

  Remembering my conversation with Johnny, I knew this detail did help. Still circumstantial, but it moved the guilty needle in a different direction than I'd been looking. "Thanks, Vernon. You're the best. Stop by later, and I'll buy you a drink."

  He grunted. "Eh, Ruby has me running to Seattle to do some major grocery shopping for Thanksgiving. Rain check?"

  "Sure thing." I hung up the phone. Thanksgiving was two days away. I couldn't help but wonder if this might be the first time I'd get to spend it with my parents. Oh shitzu! If they did stay for the big holiday meal, what would I cook? I was more of a tea, bagel, and protein bar kind of gal. Never needed to fix a meal at home since I worked six out of seven days. Clara and Tara always hooked me up with a hot meal at least once during my shift at the tavern.

  "Lilly," Abe's voice called to me from the bar. I'd deal with the dinner dilemma later. For now, work called.

  After catching up on the cocktails, I noticed Brock had joined Harmony at the bar. I was just about to ask them about Thanksgiving when Ashley stood to leave. "Thanks for the drink and for introducing me to Julie. We're going to hang over the Thanksgiving vacation."

  I grabbed her empty glass. "Can I speak with you out back for a moment before you leave, please?"

  Ashley sported the deer-in-the-headlight look for a moment and then shrugged. "Sure, why not."

  "Great, thanks. Head out back. I'll be there in just a minute."

  I made new drinks for Harmony and Brock. "This round is on me to celebrate your freedom. I need to take care of something right now, but I'd like to talk about Thanksgiving when I get back."

  Brock opened his mouth to say something, but Harmony interrupted. "Okay, baby. Hurry back."

  I decided to ignore the nonverbal exchange my parents made at my mention of Thanksgiving. My PLH factor was high, and I'd like to keep it that way for a while. Choosing not to give any weight to the idea they might leave town before the holiday, I wiped my hands and headed out back. I found Ashley sitting on my favorite bench and staring at the shed. Deciding to keep the subject light for a moment, I started with a reasonable topic. "How was school?"

  "Boring."

  T
an had mentioned to me that Ashley got good grades without even trying. I'd worked for every B, and an A was a hard-fought victory. But I was really good in track. Had I mentioned that before? I was going to ask a follow-up question, but Ashley's gaze remained fixated on the shed. Even I could pick up on the cue this was not a discussion she wanted to have. "Have you thought about maybe taking on a part-time job to help alleviate the boredom?"

  "What kind of job?" She turned to look at me.

  I saw that as progress and decided to push forward. I hoped I didn't regret it. "If it's okay with your mom, maybe you could work here after school or on weekends. If you wanted, that is." I'd already come between Ashley and her brother. I didn't want to inadvertently do the same with her mother.

  The November wind rustled through the bare tree, bringing a chilling breeze. I also hoped she didn't take too long to decide, since I'd left my jacket inside.

  "What would I be doing?"

  "Truth?"

  She nodded. "Truth."

  "Washing dishes and helping out in the kitchen or wherever we need you." It wasn't glamourous but important.

  "You really need my help? You're not just doing this to get me to be okay with you and my brother dating?" The accusation returned in her tone. Ah yes, this was the Ashley I was used to.

  "Your brother and I are friends who occasionally go out. We aren't dating. He's been very kind to me since I moved into town. I'm sorry that his friendship with me has come between you. I promise it wasn't my intent." I paused for effect before adding, "I really wish you would have just talked to me about it rather than pulling those pranks. The bike was aggravating, but the ants bordered on cruelty."

  She grinned and appeared to stifle a bit of laughter. I wasn't sure how to take that in response. Maybe she had a little more evil in her than I gave her credit for. "Tan said you were scared of bugs, but I thought he was just being dramatic."

  "So you decided to test the theory to see if he was right?" This kid was unbelievable. If she kept this up, the job offer was going to be moved off the table and into the trash.

  Ashley had the decency to look embarrassed. "It wasn't like that. I figured you'd be grossed out but not freaked out. You really need to work on that."

  Like I needed a sixteen-year-old telling me what life goals to have. "Maybe you can work on positively dealing with conflict, and I'll work on the bug thing?"

  She sat up straight. "Point taken. I only have two questions."

  "Ask away." The cooler temps had caused little goose bumps to start popping up on my arms and neck.

  "First, you said you and Tan were just friends. Do you kiss all your friends?" She grinned like she knew she had me. Maybe it was a blessing I'd never had a little sister. They were kind of annoying.

  "Next question?" I wasn't going to dignify that one with a response. It was none of her business who I did and didn't kiss. Though her brother was the only one on the list at the moment.

  She raised her hands in defense. "Okay, fine. Just pointing out that little detail. Final question, are you still offering me the job?"

  To buy myself some time, I pulled out the ponytail and redid it. In all fairness, it needed to be done. I exhaled a long breath. Before I could say anything, she looked around quickly and then whispered, "What if I could tell you something about who was arguing by the shed the night Donny was murdered?"

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Ashley's question prompted the little bumps on my skin to expand into full-blown balloons. "OMG, you were removing the chain on my bike while they were arguing, weren't you?"

  She nodded. "I was afraid they might see me, so I moved into the shadows of the beer garden until they left."

  With those neon green shoes she'd been wearing, her fear of being seen was probably tripled. "Did you see them?"

  "Not when they were arguing but when they left."

  "Who was it?" My impatience came through loud and clear this time.

  "Geez, chill. I'm getting to the point."

  I bit my tongue, not a pleasant sensation when your teeth were already chattering from the cold. "I am chilled to the point of about to freeze. If we were inside, I'd be more patient. Warmth tends to bring out my more tolerant side."

  She shook her head. "Whatever. Anyway, it was the guy who got killed and some woman. I don't know her name."

  "What did she look like?" I wondered if this is what Detective Pizza Guy felt like when he was questioning me.

  "It was dark, so hard to see. She was taller than you, by maybe two or three inches. Fairly skinny, and her hair looked to have some blonde in it, but not totally blonde—maybe highlights?"

  A prayer of thanks went upward that Harmony had already been cleared, otherwise I might have thought Ashley was describing her. One other woman I knew kind of fit that description. "Would you recognize her if you saw her again?"

  Ashley shrugged. "I think so. Do you think she killed Donny?"

  While every part of me wanted to believe Liza was the one who killed Donny, the laws of physics still told me it wasn't possible. Donny was taller than her, stronger than her, and would have been fighting for his life. Those three things alone indicated she would have had a hard time strangling him from behind, even if she did snag another band member's guitar strings. "Anything's possible. She may know something that could help point us to the killer. Maybe she saw something after you left."

  "Maybe. Mom's waiting for me, so I should probably go, but do I have a job?"

  I hoped I wouldn't regret this but wanted to make an effort where Tan's family was concerned. "We'll do it on a trial basis. Since you're out for the holiday now, come in tomorrow morning, and I'll have Clara or Tara show you the ropes in the kitchen. I expect us to be busy. With all the cooking everyone will be doing for the holiday, they will want to be fed by someone else in the days leading up to it. Be here an hour before opening."

  Her eyes widened. "Ugh, that's early."

  "You want the job or not?"

  "Fine."

  She stomped off in true teen style, and I made my way back inside. Tara had a warm cup of tea waiting. I cradled the cup and let the steam infiltrate my chilled pores. "Mmm, thank you so much."

  She smiled bashfully, the green of her eyes sparkling in the fluorescent lighting. She and her sister were very close to identical, their eyes being the main difference. Clara's were a light brown while Tara's were hazel. Though they looked the same, anyone who knew them at all would never get them confused. "You better hurry and drink that, though. If the incoming orders are any indication, the dinner rush has started hours early."

  As much as I hated to waste a perfectly made cup of tea by inhaling it, there was no time for leisurely sips. After I gulped half the contents, I put the cup down. "Okay, I'm back on it. I have help showing up an hour before start time tomorrow. Put her through the paces. She needs something so she won't be bored."

  Clara laughed. "We'll be sure to—"

  "Keep her very busy," Tara finished.

  Mandi popped her head into the kitchen. "Lilly, I'm one hundred percent sure that if Abe had hair, he would be pulling it out right now trying to keep up."

  One last sip. That would have to do me until after the rush was over. "On my way, Mandi. Thanks." I hurried back to the bar. Abe's frantic movements reminded me why he was suited perfectly for the garden. Things moved slower out there. "I got it, Abe. Thanks so much."

  He sighed in relief. "This old man is going back to the kitchen where the dishes are far more patient."

  Once I'd caught everyone up, I noticed Officer Faria coming in. He took a seat at the bar. "Hi, Lilly. Can I get one of those turkey sandwich specials?"

  "Sure thing. For here or to-go?"

  Officer Faria frowned. "I guess to-go. I have to be ready when the court order comes through."

  "What court order?" I'd be surprised if he actually told me, but you can't get to yes if you don't ask, right?

  He leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Since the DNA
didn't come back as a match for your mother, we want to check it against the rest of the band's. We're worried they will leave before we can compel them to produce a sample for comparison."

  About that time, the rest of the band came in and headed toward Brock and Harmony. "They're leaving tonight or first thing tomorrow morning," I whispered. I'd seen some covert DNA collection on some of the crime shows Gram and I used to watch. "I have an idea. Do you have some evidence bags in your car? Can you get them to Tan and ask him to bring them behind the bar?"

  Before Richie could ask me any details, I started my plan in motion. Waving to my sexy security stud, I got his attention. "Tan, would you mind helping me for a moment?"

  My handsome not-boyfriend whom I kissed from time to time finished up his conversation with Janiece Jordan and her granddaughter, Alex, and joined me behind the bar. "What's up?"

  I pulled him into a quick hug and whispered instructions in his ear. I quickly separated and offered a big smile. "Just wanted a hug to celebrate my mother's release. Thanks!"

  "Hey, I would've given you a hug," Mandi teased. "I don't have exact numbers, but while there is a percentage of people who don't like to be hugged, I don't fall in that group."

  "You can hug me while you're helping me get ready for Thanksgiving dinner." Totally sprung that one on her. She and her mom were both great cooks, so it felt like a good place to go for help. Now on with my plan. I moved to the other end of the bar. "Hi, everyone. Thanks for coming in. As you've seen, I'm in the mood to celebrate my mother's release, so I'm buying every member of the band their next drink."

  Harmony beamed with pride but shook her head. "You don't have to do that."

  "If the girl wants to buy us a drink, let her. God knows I could use one," Liza interrupted and slid onto a stool on the other side of Brock. Tommy sat next to her, followed by Johnny.

  "Yes, let me. So what will it be?"

  They rattled off their selections. Everyone but Tommy ordered. "Nothing to drink, Tommy?"

  His whole demeanor radiated grumpy. Maybe they ran out of goodies at the B&B again this morning before he got up. "No, thanks. I'm just ready to get out of here."