Southern Sass and Killer Cravings

by Kate Young

  Jena Lynn kept her gaze toward the ocean. “Sad about Charlie, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes. Did he have a heart condition?” I still wasn’t convinced his death was natural.

  “I don’t know. It wouldn’t have been the kind of thing he would have discussed with me if he did.” That was true. “I didn’t place that order for the rat poison.” There was a slight hiccup in her tone.

  I reached over and squeezed her hand. “I know.”

  “You need to get out of here, Marygene. Take a vacation somewhere. I’m beginning to believe this island is making people go nuts.” My poor sister.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about your hospital stay?” I asked softly. “You know I would have come home. Maybe I could have helped.”

  Her expression seemed dazed. “I don’t know. At first, I was worried word would spread.” She twirled the tie of her robe around her finger. “Then after I got out of the hospital, I just wanted to forget the whole thing.”

  “We’re sisters. Your well-being is important to me.” Emotion threatened to spill over.

  She faced me. Her face was pale. “I saw Mama. After she died, I saw her.” And as if summoned, Mama appeared before us.

  A quick glance at my sister told me she didn’t see her now. Mama was crying. It was the first time I could ever remember seeing her cry.

  “She couldn’t cope. I-I just wanted to say how sorry I was for putting her through all that I did. But my poor baby couldn’t handle it. It was my fault she was hospitalized. She was never crazy.”

  I wanted to tell Jena Lynn that, to help her understand it wasn’t in her head. But with the knowledge it would only make matters worse, I refrained.

  “Listen to me.” I moved to sit at the end of her chair. “You’re not crazy. You were under great duress. You weren’t sleeping. All of us can break if we don’t get enough sleep. That’s how they torture people in war.”

  She sniffed and took some comfort in my words.

  Mama was standing over her, stroking a hand across my sister’s hair as the wind blew. “I was a bad mother to you both. I’m sorry. I’m trying to help you, too, Marygene. I wish I had all the answers. I only have bits and pieces. And I’m only allowed to give a little at a time. I’m trying to figure out when to give what. I’m learning.”

  “How long have you been here?” I asked Mama in a tactical way. My sister would think the question was directed at her.

  “About half an hour.” Jena Lynn replied and wiped her face.

  “Since right before your sister’s breakdown. I’m tied to the island. If I could have sought you out then, I would have. I will make amends. I will help you if I can. I will be a better mother to you while I’m here. I’m sorry for . . .” She faded away just as hot tears ran down my cheeks.

  “Don’t cry.” Jena Lynn embraced me. “I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with all of this on your own.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry for. We’re going to figure this out. You’ll be exonerated and the diner will reopen.”

  She released me and settled back. I could tell she was medicated.

  Her words slurred. “Eddie promised me he’d fix all of this.”

  “And you know he will.”

  “If he can’t, promise me you’ll keep the diner running.”

  A knot formed in the pit of my stomach as I considered the gravity of her words. “We’ll fix this.”

  “Promise me!”

  “I promise,” I choked out.

  I wanted to ask her about Tally Waters. Wanted to know if they had had any other interactions. But her breathing changed. She was asleep. My questions would have to wait.

  Chapter 19

  After I left Jena Lynn sleeping, tucked in her bed, I ran through the Finger Lickin’ Chicken drive-through for a sandwich and fries. I’d felt weak and knew I needed to eat. The parking lot was only partially full, and I found a nice shady spot in front of a row of palm trees. I had a whole lot to think about as I sat there chewing on a fry. Betrayal. That was the word of the day. I’d run from home because of it. Jena Lynn felt I’d abandoned her. Judy had divulged the information she had because she felt betrayed by Carl. Calhoun certainly believed he’d experienced betrayal when his brother was accused and convicted by a broken system and then lost his life. Perhaps Mr. Ledbetter lost his life for the same reason. Yvonne was right, grudges ran deep around here.

  A minivan parked beside me and out popped a little family. Mom and Dad smiling with a couple of kids between them. The little girl with pigtails waved at me before skipping ahead toward the restaurant. Normalcy. That was what I had always pictured it to look like.

  When the bite of sandwich I’d been chewing wouldn’t go down, I decided now was the time to get my life in order. Before that could ever happen, I had to get my sister out of this mess. Judy knew something, and I was determined to find out what. Hopefully she would be forthcoming. I hated to threaten Judy with exposing her and Carl’s relationship. It was low and dirty. Sleeping with your best friend’s husband wasn’t something that would blow over easily once the news spread. It would ruin her on the island. Unfortunately, this was about my sister’s freedom, and I couldn’t worry about the consequences of leaking Judy’s indiscretions.

  I really didn’t like Carl. He was a chip off the ole block.

  People were milling around in the common areas when I arrived at the inn. Judy had updated it recently. The front desk was the first thing you saw when you entered. It was a large built-in desk made with old-looking whitewashed wood. It was lovely and currently unmanned. Judy should have been there this time of day. The large ornate staircase was off to the side. An elevator was installed twenty years ago, but the staircase was still used frequently. I moved past the desk. The colors were a calming tan and off-white. Large high-backed couches covered with large fluffy pillows, along with two Queen Anne chairs, greeted you in the main sitting room. The walls were adorned with pieces of driftwood, abstract marine life paintings, and seashells.

  “Hey, Marygene.” Poppy strolled toward me with a basket of cookies.

  My gaze drifted to the basket.

  “I’ve been buying these here since the diner’s closing. My customers are accustomed to snacking while they’re having their hair done.” She lifted the basket and inhaled. “Not as good as The Peach’s cookies but still good. Any idea when you’ll get to reopen?”

  “Afraid not.”

  “Well, that sucks. I guess I’ll have to drive all the way over here until it does.” She moved closer to me.

  People were now moving into the dining room for tapas. The older crowd always ate early.

  “Rainey Lane came into the shop yesterday.”

  I leaned toward her when she lowered her tone.

  “She was being all sweet and got Emma Mae talking about the buyout. You know Emma Mae, right? Tall, curly, sandy blond hair with an angled bob.”

  I nodded. “We refer to her at the diner as ‘okra extra brown.’” When Poppy squinted, I supplied, “It’s her usual order with her lunch. Whatever sandwich she chooses, she always orders a side of okra extra brown.”

  “Right, well, I overheard Emma Mae telling her that she didn’t think you and your sister would ever sell. And Rainey Lane said something like y’all’s vote wasn’t relevant.”

  “What did she mean by that? Of course it’s relevant.”

  “I hate it, but it looks like with all the ruckus going on with the murder and with it happening in the diner, folks may not be too keen to eat there anymore.”

  A knot developed in the pit of my stomach.

  “You know I will,” she rushed to add.

  “Marygene, how nice to see you again.” Calhoun came into the room, wearing slacks and a deep green Hawaiian shirt with white flowers. He had his leather bag attached to his side, which, I assumed, held his laptop and notes. Perhaps even recording devices, if he didn’t use his phone for that sort of thing.

  “Afternoon, Mr. Calhoun.” I bit the in
side of my cheek.

  “I’ve got to get back to the shop. Forget what I said. I’m sure business will boom at the reopening. Rainey Lane and Emma Mae are idiots. See ya.” Poppy bopped through the front door.

  “How’s your sister holding up?” Calhoun asked.

  “She’s fine. Is there something you wanted?”

  “No. I was looking for Ms. Palmer. There’s a small leak in my shower. It drips all night.”

  “Ah, well, I’m sure she’ll get it taken care of.” Like I cared.

  “I was going to wait to inform her, seeing how upset she was before.”

  “What do you mean, upset?” He motioned for me to follow him out onto the porch. “I was having coffee out here when she came flying into the parking lot. Her car ran up on the curb,” he pointed, “there.”

  Judy’s car was parked haphazardly, with two wheels wedged into the azaleas.

  “Huh.”

  Our conversation must have torn her up.

  “I should go and check on her.” Guilt set in when I thought about my earlier idea to use her feelings for Carl. It wasn’t fair to push her with that. I’d have to convince her to aid me in another way.

  “Of course. I also wanted to apologize to you for the way I came across the other night. Maybe if you have some time later, I thought perhaps we could talk.”

  “Maybe,” I said noncommittally. “I really should go and check on Judy.”

  He followed me through the door into the main sitting room.

  Normally I would have waited until he left the room to go into Judy’s private rooms, but the wall panel door was ajar. She must be upset. She never liked guests to have access to her personal space. If they knew where she was, they’d be banging on the door at all hours of the night when they needed something. After I asked Calhoun to wait in the sitting room, I slipped through the opening and ventured into her tiny living area.

  “Judy, it’s me,” I called out softly. “You all right?” When there was no response, I ducked my head into her bedroom. It was small, and the masculine furniture that had belonged to her mama and daddy remained. Everything looked in order, and it was empty. The French doors leading to the master bath were slightly ajar as well. Maybe she was soaking in the tub. “Judy, hon, it’s Marygene. Are you okay?”

  Still no response. My skin tingled.

  “I’m coming in.” Using my elbow, I nudged the door the rest of the way open and stepped inside. “Oh my God! No!” I shrieked. My head spun and spots blurred my vision. I propped myself against the wall.

  “What is it?” Calhoun peeked his head inside the room.

  Gasping for air, I tried to speak but couldn’t. I pointed to the tub. The blood visibly drained from his face.

  He turned abruptly. The two of us scampered from the room. I took a seat on the cedar chest in front of Judy’s bed. It had been impossible not to glance back at the lifeless body of my second cousin. She’d been partially submersed in a full tub. The water red. Her left arm slung over the side. A puddle of crimson on the yellow ceramic tile. A single rhinestone laid at the edge.

  * * *

  I was sitting on the front porch wrapped in a blanket, shivering, despite the warm temps. Calhoun was sitting next to me, so close that our shoulders were touching. His face drained of color. I didn’t resist when he reached out and took my hand. His hand was warm, dry, and comforting. The mere connection to another human being was welcome. And like it or not, we were now connected. It had been Calhoun with me on the floor with Mr. Ledbetter, and it was Calhoun and me that found Judy. All the guests were being held inside.

  “Don’t give them any information other than the basic,” Calhoun whispered. His words hardly registered.

  “She wouldn’t have killed herself,” I told Calhoun just as two more cars arrived on the scene.

  Alex got out of his car. Eddie and Detective Thornton emerged from Eddie’s beige pickup with SHERIFF written down each side. Calhoun released my hand.

  “You okay?” Alex put his hands on my shoulders.

  “No,” I said.

  He caressed my cheek.

  I nestled my face in his palm, willing myself not to cry. I didn’t want him to move.

  “It’s going to be okay.” Alex glared at Calhoun suspiciously.

  Alex helped me shift the blanket higher on my shoulders. I used this as an excuse to reposition myself farther away from Calhoun. The shock Calhoun had shown in the bathroom was the reaction of an innocent man. At least I had thought so. But then, I was so worked up, I could have missed something. He had been the one to bring up Judy. Though his reasons were believable. I needed to get upstairs and check his shower.

  Dread swept over me when Eddie instructed Alex to go inside. I was going to have to speak with that detective again.

  “Pumpkin, do you need to see a doctor?” Eddie asked from the detective’s side.

  “No, sir,” I said weakly.

  His glare toward Calhoun matched Alex’s. “I’m surprised to see you’re still on the island, Mr. Calhoun. According to your editor in chief, the turtle project concluded three days ago.”

  “I’m working on another piece now.”

  “Not for your paper you’re not,” Eddie countered. “Nor for the Gazette. I have it on good authority they will no longer be acquiring articles from reporters not on staff.”

  If I had been feeling better, I would have praised Eddie for shutting Calhoun out. That article would prove to be damaging on multiple fronts.

  “It’s a freelance project,” Calhoun replied smoothly.

  “Uh-huh,” Eddie grunted. “I look forward to hearing about it.”

  Eddie and the detective disappeared inside. But not before the detective growled at us, “Don’t move a muscle.”

  “You think I did this to Judy?” Calhoun whispered.

  “I don’t know what to think. You did write that disgusting article. Freelance project?”

  Calhoun had the decency to appear abashed. “I explained that. My intentions were pure. But I lied about the freelance project. I’m not actively working on one at present.”

  “That wasn’t wise.”

  “It’s easily remedied. I sell freelance pieces all the time. Not all of them get published.” He leaned closer to me, and I couldn’t help myself: I flinched. “I didn’t do this.” His tone sounded urgent. “Why would I? I hardly knew the woman. And before you go down that rabbit hole, I didn’t know the old man either.”

  Was he capable of murder? Who knew? And motive? Serial killers didn’t exactly have motive. They were just plain nuts. Calhoun pushed his frames back up on his nose. Honestly, I didn’t believe he was psychotic. But what did I know? You see those interviews with neighbors on the news who always say, “He was the nicest guy. Friendly and quiet. Always had a smile on his face. I’m just shocked by it all.” Exhaustion took hold.

  The rumblings of guests inside grew louder by the second. Many of them wanted to check out. Not that I blamed them. Judy’s younger sister would probably take over managing the inn, or maybe her brother, Nate. The second my lids closed, the tears fell.

  “I’m sorry,” he said softly.

  Not thinking, I said, “We weren’t all that close, but she was family and not a bad person.”

  “We’re going to be questioned again, even if this does appear to be a suicide. Detective Thornton doesn’t particularly care for either of us.” His expression appeared fixed. “Plus, I think he’s dirty.”

  Chapter 20

  “Either you have the worst luck on the planet or you didn’t heed my warning, Ms. Brown,” Detective Thornton said.

  “Providence has not been in my favor lately,” I said.

  The detective had elicited all the facts regarding what transpired before his arrival from me in a series of concise questions that led to further questions. I answered all of them as simply and directly as possible. Now, seated in the front seat of Eddie’s truck, I was worn slap out. My second cousin was being taken out in a body b
ag. I sniffed and glanced away from the gurney.

  “You said it appears to be a suicide,” I whispered with effort. “I don’t know how I could have had anything to do with that.” Eddie paced in front of the truck.

  “Appears is the key word there.” His tone was razor sharp. “What were you doing here in the first place?”

  “I saw Judy at my sister’s a little while ago. She was really upset about this whole business with Jena Lynn being falsely accused. I came to check on her after I left there.” I wiped my nose with the Kleenex someone had given me. For the life of me, I couldn’t recall who it had been.

  “And you and Mr. Calhoun just happened to go in and find her together?”

  I blew out a breath. “I was talking to Poppy in the front entryway. Mr. Calhoun came down and told me Judy had appeared really upset. I went to check on her in her room. He heard me cry out, I guess.”

  “Was it his suggestion to check on Ms. Palmer?”

  Alex handed me a bottle of water. He didn’t make eye contact with the detective. He was silently cautioning me to be exceedingly careful. I shouldn’t poke the bear. Tell him the truth, his stern expression shouted. Did he believe I wouldn’t?

  I took a sip from the bottle. “Not to check on her, but he mentioned he wanted to complain that the showerhead in his bathroom was leaking.”

  “You were willing to take a perfect stranger into your cousin’s private quarters to complain about the showerhead in his room?” His tone said that was an outlandish allegation that no one was buying.

  Well, piss on him. My face heated. “No. I wasn’t. I told you I was worried about her. I went into her rooms without Calhoun. Then when I found her, I guess I screamed.”

  “And that’s when Calhoun joined you?”

  “Yes.” There was an edge to my tone.

  The detective smiled. He seemed to enjoy rattling me. Sadistic bastard.

  I took another sip from the bottle and attempted to calm myself.

  “What did you and your cousin talk about at your sister’s house?” the detective asked as Alex moved toward Eddie.