Hospitality and Homicide

by Lynn Cahoon

  “Really?”

  Lille’s eyes narrowed. “Just for you. Not your skinny friend over there.”

  And then she went back to the counter and disappeared into the kitchen. Amy stared at me. “I’ve never heard of Lille giving away a meal before.”

  I happened to know that Lille and her crew sponsored a monthly meal down at the local soup kitchen. Angie had let that slip one day when I gave her a check for one of her programs. When I’d mentioned hitting up Diamond Lille’s, she told me that they already did enough with the soup kitchen. Since Lille hadn’t told anyone, I kept it secret too. What I said to Amy was, “She’s not that bad.”

  “Not compared to a tornado or a thunderstorm, I guess you’re right.” Amy brightened when Carrie came to take our order. For the rest of the meal, I heard all about Justin’s new house. I sighed when she talked about the den they were planning.

  “I so wanted to set up a library in the third bedroom.” I’d ordered the salmon plate with fingerling potatoes and a side salad. Tiny was getting a little fancy with his evening creations and I was digging it. The salmon sat on a puree of cauliflower and the potatoes were roasted. Lille’s had always gotten great reviews from the local food critic, but if he came back today, I think he’d be surprised at the growth of the menu.

  “Why don’t you?” Amy polished off her cheeseburger. If anything, my friend was consistent, at least in her food choices.

  “It’s this whole Greg moving in thing. Maybe he wants a man cave. Where do we set that up if I have a library? I’m definitely not giving up the guest room. I need it.”

  “Yeah, because you have so many guests.”

  She had a point. Besides Aunt Jackie who had stayed over once when her apartment had been fumigated for mice, no one had stayed in the room I’d so carefully decorated. “It took me weeks to find just the right quilt.”

  “Look, just talk to Greg. See what he needs. You may be surprised that he doesn’t want to bring over much of his stuff. From what I saw when we had poker night at his place, there isn’t much that is better than what you have. Except maybe his television. Man, that guy likes a big screen.”

  “If Toby was gone, Greg could have the shed for his man cave.” With Sasha out of the picture, it didn’t look like Toby would be leaving the shed any time soon.

  Amy pointed a French fry at me. “I thought you were turning that into a home gym?”

  “That’s right. I forgot.” I hated the idea of a home gym. Then I would have to either work out or feel guilty about not working out every day since it wasn’t a twenty minute drive to the local gym, but instead a one minute walk.

  We finished our meal, Amy paid for her dinner, and I left with an actual doggy bag for Emma. She’d probably eat the hamburger in two bites. Who was I kidding, it probably would be gone in one. Walking toward the house, I realized cars were still parked at the produce stand. Maybe I could corner Mandy and figure out why she had Walter’s wallet. And if she was the killer, at least I had people around us when I asked.

  My style of investigation had two rules. First, don’t let Greg know until after the fact. And two, don’t get killed. I think the second one had gotten me into a few tight spots in the past. But I was still here.

  I filled a bag with local apples and some leaf lettuce and then approached the cash register. Mandy and another girl I didn’t know stood talking to a customer. When she turned to me, she grinned. “Hey, Jill, I’m so glad to see you. Harrold and your aunt were here earlier. I hoped I’d see you sooner or later.”

  I suddenly felt guilty only really being here to snoop. I put the produce on the table. “It’s been a busy day.”

  “So I’ve heard. Your dog is pretty special.” Mandy rang up the purchases and gave me a total.

  I handed her a twenty; then as she counted out my change, I jumped into it. “Hey, can I talk to you a minute?”

  She turned to her helper. “Jessica, I’ll be right back.” Mandy carried my bag to the outside of the stand and sat on a bench behind the small building. “We built this place for us to take a break. You wouldn’t believe how busy we’ve been since we opened.”

  “I’d believe it.” I thought about Harrold’s statement when he was making his soup. “People like having fresh choices.”

  Mandy shrugged. “I guess. I just wasn’t counting on this. So what’s up? I bet you want to find out what my intentions are with Josh. He said you two were friends.”

  That brought me up short. Were Josh and I friends? At least what he considered friends? “You’re right. I’ve known him since he moved to South Cove. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  Mandy looked disappointed. “Oh, I just thought…” She let the words drift off, then brightened and asked, “Then why are you here? Besides the awesome fruit selection.”

  “I wanted to know why you have Walter’s wallet in your car.” There, it was out in the open and I couldn’t take it back or beat around the bush.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, thank you. I’d forgotten all about that.” She bolted from the seat and went to a small cross over that had the logo for Jensen’s Farm on the side. She came back and held the brown wallet out. “Here, can you give this to your boyfriend? He’s the police chief, right? I’ve been meaning to stop in, but I get here before city hall opens and leave after everything’s closed.”

  “You’re turning it in?” I stood and grabbed one of the plastic bags from the holder near the lemons. Not touching the wallet, I covered it with the plastic and then put the wallet inside my shopping bag.

  “Of course, that’s what you do when you find someone’s wallet. I didn’t look inside, I guess I could have tried to find the owner, but I haven’t had time. Not with the stand and hanging out with Josh.” She paused. “Wait, you said it was Walter’s wallet. Like the dead guy Walter?”

  I continued to watch her reactions.

  “How do you know that? You didn’t even open it.” She narrowed her eyes, then sank onto the bench. “Josh told you. He looked inside and then told you instead of asking me. So what, he thinks I’m a monster?”

  “He doesn’t think that. In fact, he didn’t want to tell anyone.” Even after I told him he needed to tell Greg. I thought keeping that fact quiet would be better. “Where did you find it?”

  “On the road out of the farm. I drive slow because I hate getting my car dusty each morning when I go pick up the new supply for the shop. It was just there, in the middle of the road.” She peered at me. “Do you think it’s a clue?”

  “Who knows. All I know is Greg needs all the help he can get trying to figure this out.” I turned toward Mandy. “You don’t know anyone who would want to hurt Walter, do you?”

  She shook her head. “I never met the guy. I didn’t have the money to stay in those fancy places in town. When I first moved out here, I lived in the motel on Highway 1 for a week until the Jensen’s found me a place to stay. Man, that place is a dump.”

  Three cars pulled into the parking lot, one after another. Mandy stood. “Thanks for taking care of that for me. And thanks for looking out for Josh. He’s a big sweetheart and I know people have teased him in the past.”

  I stood too. “I’ll call Greg now about this wallet. He’ll probably want to talk to you.”

  “I’ll be here first thing tomorrow morning. Typically, we’re closed on Monday, but we’ve been so busy, the family wants to try staying open seven days a week. At least until fall. That’s why Jessica’s here, to learn the ropes. I guess I’ll get a day off someday.” She nodded to the stand. “I’ve got to get in there. She’s not very good with the register yet.”

  As I walked home, I pulled out my cell. When Greg answered, I said. “This isn’t my fault, but you need to come to the house for a minute. Or I can walk into town as soon as I drop off the apples and Emma’s hamburger.”

  “Since when are you feeding Emma hamburgers? Where did you get it? Make sure the onions are off. Dogs can’t eat onions.”

&nb
sp; “I knew that. It came from Lille’s. It’s a reward for finding Thad.” I paused, still on the sidewalk. “So are you coming over here or not?”

  “What do you have?”

  “Something you need to have.” When he didn’t answer, I gave him the punch line. “Walter’s wallet.”

  “I’ll be right there.” He clicked off.

  CHAPTER 17

  Greg had me repeat what I knew about the wallet three times. Then he took the wallet to his truck and drove the tiny section of road down to the stand. He was back in just a few minutes.

  I sat at the kitchen table, a pot of coffee brewing, and my study notes in front of me. I needed one last session to make sure I passed the final tomorrow. With all this other stuff on my mind, I wasn’t sure that was possible.

  He sank into the chair. “Mind if I wait for some coffee before going back?”

  “No problem. Wasn’t Mandy there?” I’d figured I’d see him before he went back to work, but I thought interviewing the woman would take at least some time.

  “All closed up with a sign saying they’ll be open tomorrow. I guess I’ll pop in after John leaves. At least this gives me one more avenue to explore. I didn’t want to tell him I was up against a dead end wall.

  “Do you believe she just found the wallet?”

  Greg stood and took a ceramic “Fun in Mexico” cup out for me and a CBM travel cup for him. I’d bought the cups last year and still had people purchasing them with their morning coffee. Especially tourists. I loved seeing CBM all over the area. He turned the question back on me. “Do you believe she could be a killer?”

  “Not really, but I don’t actually know her very well. And,” I pointed out, “she is interested in Josh. The guy has to be at least five years older than she is. Maybe ten.”

  “So are you commenting on her ability to kill or her bad choice in men?” Greg sat a cup in front of me. “Don’t answer that. I’ve got to go.” He kissed me on top of my head.

  “See you someday. I kind of like these drop-in visits. It makes me feel loved.” I leaned over my study notes.

  “You called me. I swear, Jill, you can get into more trouble just talking to random individuals than anyone. How did you know she wasn’t a killer?”

  “I didn’t.” I shrugged. “Look, I told Josh to tell you, he didn’t. So I went to the source. The place was well lit. People were still shopping. I wasn’t in any danger.”

  “You’re always putting yourself in danger. I just don’t think you see it anymore.” He tapped the side of the door. “Lock up behind me.”

  After Greg left, I went back to studying, but I thought about his last comments. Maybe that was why he wanted to move in. He thought he had to “take care” of me. If that was his idea, well, that went into the con column. I didn’t need anyone to take care of me. Not now, not ever. A vision of Aunt Jackie and Harrold came into my mind and I tried to push it away.

  Sure, it would be nice to grow old with someone. And Greg was definitely the guy to fill the bill, but was I ready for the commitment? Were Sasha and I crossing the gender roles? She’d chosen a career over a relationship and I was commitment phobic. Our grandmothers would be rolling in their graves (except for the fact that Sasha’s grandma was alive and living in Bakerstown). Why couldn’t life be simple?

  I went to bed with that thought swirling around my head. My dreams grabbed on to the concept. I walked through a field of flowers. And walked and walked. I could hear others calling to me at the end, but no matter how I tried, I couldn’t get there. It was just me and the flowers. Endlessly. I woke up in a start, my damp sleepers clinging to my body. Time for a real run that would burn energy and the ice cream I’d eaten last night.

  Emma was more than willing to jump right into a run. As we jogged toward the beach, my dream faded into a bad memory. I’m sure dream watchers would say I was distancing myself from those who loved me. Translated, I should let Greg move in. As soon as these two finals were done, Greg and I were having this talk. I needed to know what this meant, especially in how he treated me from now on.

  A black SUV sat alone on the beach parking lot. Probably a leftover from one of last night’s weekend beach party, the driver too drunk to go home on his own. I took Emma off the leash as we went down the stairs and then started running. The waves were crashing, gulls were flying, and the wind was just brisk enough to keep my hair out of my eyes. I felt great. And then Emma took off for the cove and when I turned to watch her, a woman stood near the opening.

  “Emma, no.” I wasn’t sure if she could hear me, but it looked like she slowed a bit. When she reached the woman, instead of jumping on her and knocking her down into the sand, which I could envision, Emma sat perfectly still at the woman’s feet. I’d only seen her do that for one person, Aunt Jackie. But this woman was at least thirty years younger than my aunt. As I jogged up to them and clicked Emma’s leash on her collar, I apologized and gave the lamest excuse ever. The truth. “I didn’t think anyone was out here.”

  “No worries, she’s a lovely dog.” The woman peered at me. “Don’t tell me you’re Jill Gardner.”

  “I am.” I wasn’t sure how the woman knew my name, but this couldn’t be good.

  The woman knelt and hugged Emma. “And this must be Emma. Thank you, girl. Thank you so much.”

  As I watched her croon to my dog, I realized that this was Thad’s mom. “Mrs. Coltrane, how is your son this morning?”

  She stood and wiped her eyes. “Starving. The hospital will only let him eat soft foods for a day, so he can try to keep the food down, but all he wants is a hamburger and a milk shake. I came out to see if I could talk to Esmeralda, and then I’m back to the hospital with Thad’s shake.”

  “Sneaking it in?” I liked this woman.

  “I’m afraid so. If the kid was smart, he’d ask for his fondest desire right now, since I’m pretty certain I wouldn’t say no. Now next week? That might be a different story.” She laughed and the sound tinkled off the cliff walls and out to the ocean. “No one answered at Esmeralda’s. Any idea where she might be? “

  “Probably at the police station.” I laughed at the stricken look that came over Mrs. Coltrane’s face. “She works there. As a dispatcher.”

  She reached into her purse and pulled out a wad of bills. “Thank you again.”

  I stared at the money. There had to be twenty hundred-dollar bills. “You shouldn’t carry so much cash around.”

  “I’m not. I’m giving it to you.” She pushed the money closer and I took a step back.

  “Why? Are you crazy?” The words came out of my mouth before I could temper them. Maybe her son being lost and presumed dead had put this woman over the deep end. I just knew I better get her out of the hot sun before she gave away all of her family’s wealth.

  She dropped her hand. “You don’t want the money? You found my Thad.”

  I looked at her realizing she was trying to say thank you. “Look, I’m glad he’s safe, but I don’t want your money. I would have helped anyone’s kid out of that cave.”

  Mrs. Coltrane tucked the cash back into her purse. Then she pulled out a small case and gave me a business card. “Okay then, I owe you a favor. Whatever you need, whenever. And it can still be money. You just tell me what you want and it’s yours.”

  I looked at the business card and then tucked it into my jacket pocket. “Thank you. I’ll keep this in mind, in case I need something. Do you want me to walk with you back to the parking lot, Mrs. Coltrane?”

  “Beth. Call me Beth and that would be nice. I wasn’t sure I could find this place, but it was right here, all along.” She took one last backward glance at the cave where her son had stayed alive for longer than anyone expected. And mostly because of Esmeralda’s faith and the care packets she’d sent out after hearing the message.

  Beth offered us a ride to the house, but Emma and I decided we’d walk. At home, I made a quick breakfast, then opened my books to do one last quick study session. My mind kept go
ing back to the question that I’d asked Doc Ames. Who would want to murder Walter? Finally, I gave up and pulled out my sleuthing notebook. I ripped the missing boy page out of the notebook and balled it up before throwing it into the recycling bin. Two points.

  Then I started writing on Walter’s page. As I finished making my notes, I circled B&B. I wanted to see the two businesses. Maybe it was as easy as a business rivalry. Of course, neither Bill or Mary were on my suspects list, but maybe they knew someone who should be. I cleaned up the dishes and put my study material in my school tote. I could get one more look at the papers just before the exam started tonight. And with as scattered as my mind was today, I was going to need all the memory prompts I could get.

  I looked at the clock. It was only eight-thirty. Bill and Mary were still serving breakfast to their guests. I had time for a shower and a change of clothes. Greg would be interviewing Mandy at nine. But I knew she wasn’t involved. Or, in my totally unprofessional opinion, I thought she wasn’t involved. And if I was wrong, nothing bad would happen unless I confronted them alone. Of course, my gut usually just told me when someone wasn’t the murderer. Like with Mandy. I didn’t know why, but I knew she hadn’t killed Walter.

  Besides, if I got a new lead, Greg might just be able to solve this mystery.

  My phone rang and I answered it as I was on the way upstairs without checking the caller ID display. “This is Jill.”

  “Good, because that’s who I dialed.” Apparently, Aunt Jackie was in rare form today. “Would you mind stopping over this morning about ten? I have someone coming in for an interview.”

  I calculated the time to get into South Cove and then the time I thought it might take to explain to Bill why I was asking about a high school disagreement. “Sure, I’m stopping at South Cove Bed and Breakfast first to talk to Bill but then I’ll be there. Who are we interviewing? Anyone I know?”

  “He says he’s a friend of Nick’s. He goes to school with him.” My aunt called out to Harrold. “The bacon is burning.”