Southern Discomfort

by Caroline Fardig

  “Yes! You said some awful things when you were interrogating me. And then later on you were needling me about having something to confess. If you thought I was innocent, I’d hate to see how you treat people who you think are guilty.”

  He gave me a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry to have scared you, but I can’t say that it wasn’t my intention. That’s my thing. I go bad cop while Rufus plays good cop. For me, the fastest way to tell if someone is lying is to see how they react when accused of a crime. It’s like my litmus test. You passed, by the way.”

  “Then why did you tell Drew that you thought he and I were in on it together?”

  “I was trying to get the guy to confess. I thought if I threw you under the bus, that he’d come clean to save a friend.”

  I shook my head, stunned. “So I was in the clear all along? I did this all for nothing?”

  Rufus put his hand on my shoulder and smiled. “Of course not. The real killer is behind bars thanks to you, and that’s the most important thing. And we all know you’d have still gone through everything if it had only been Drew Green whose name needed clearing. You’re that kind of friend. Always have been.”

  I nodded. I had to admit that if it were to happen again, I didn’t know that I’d go the extra mile for Drew. I couldn’t imagine either one of us would be able to go back to being friends after all that had happened and all that we’d said to each other.

  Detective Flynn said, “You keep your nose clean, young lady. No more investigating for you. If we’re lucky, you and I will never see each other again.”

  Smiling, I said, “That’s true. It was nice to have met you, Detective.”

  “Likewise.” He wandered off, leaving me with Rufus.

  Rufus said, “I’m sorry our first reunion was under such dismal circumstances. When this case all blows over, I’ll have you over to my home. My wife and kids would love to meet you. And I know my grandfather would love to see you as well. He’s not getting around like he used to, so he lives with us.”

  I stared at him, stunned. “Of course I’d love to see your grandfather but…you have a wife and kids and never mentioned it?”

  “My apologies, but I didn’t feel like it was prudent to become chummy with you during the investigation. One of the downsides of being a cop.” He looked over my shoulder. “I think your sister has fallen asleep standing up. You two head home. Do you need an escort?”

  I looked around the yard, where everyone had been congregating. Tucker was absent. I didn’t imagine he’d want to stick around and wait. It had been hours.

  “No, I think we Bellandini sisters can handle ourselves just fine.”

  Rufus waved goodbye, and I went over to where Delilah was leaning on the fence, half out of it.

  “Hey, sis,” I said. “Ready to go home?”

  She yawned. “Am I ever.”

  We walked out the gate, arm in arm.

  Once we got to the B&B, I glanced over at Tucker’s place. All the lights were off, so I wondered if he’d gone on to the Tybee cottage. But then I saw his truck parked farther down the street.

  As if reading my mind, Delilah said, “Tucker is staying one more night here and then heading out tomorrow. He didn’t stick around at Green because he wasn’t sure how you’d feel about him being there after your big blowup earlier.”

  “Oh.”

  “He was really worried about you, you know.”

  That had been clear to me, but I wasn’t convinced it was enough. “I know.”

  “I think that means you might have a chance with him, if you asked nicely.”

  “You think?” I asked, my spirits lifting.

  “Yeah, I do think.”

  A glimmer of hope in my heart, I climbed the stairs and headed to my room, wondering if it was possible that she could be right.

  Chapter 30

  The next morning, I was up bright and early, pretty much just happy to be alive. The only unpleasant part was when Papa Sal cornered Delilah and me in the kitchen and interrogated us for a good hour while we were making breakfast. He’d read in this morning’s paper how she and I had helped the police bring the real killer to justice, plus Uncle Frank had ratted us out to him about the excitement at Green. Maybe he’d heard that last part from another source. Or maybe I was warming to the idea that ghosts might possibly exist.

  Once breakfast was served, I gathered up the extra batch of Mexican hot chocolate scones I’d made and put them in a pretty basket. At least if Tucker didn’t give me another chance, I’d send him off with a little something to remember me by. I left the cleanup in Delilah’s and Papa Sal’s capable hands and headed out, but when I got to the foyer, I stopped dead in my tracks. I had an unexpected visitor.

  “Drew. You’re out,” I said dumbly.

  Drew smiled slightly. “Yeah. All thanks to you, I hear.”

  I shook my head. “Not really. It was a group effort.”

  “I probably owe your sister a thank-you, too.”

  “Right. She was a huge help.”

  An awkward silence passed between us.

  I said, “I’m happy that this is all over for you.”

  He nodded. “Me, too. Now it’s time to regroup. Val and I are going to put Green up for sale, and probably the spice shop, too. I think we’re going to move back home and start fresh.”

  “Oh, that’s nice,” I murmured.

  Looking at the floor, he said, “Quinn, I’m really sorry how all of this played out. You have to know I didn’t mean to put you in danger by not telling you the whole story. I thought I could keep my personal life out of it, but…turns out it was too interwoven. I understand that you and I can’t go back to where we were, but I hope we can keep in touch.”

  I nodded. “I accept your apology. And I’m sorry for the way I walked out on you yesterday. Delilah made me see that I needed to keep my end of the deal no matter the circumstances. And sure, we can keep in touch.”

  “Great.” He turned to leave.

  “Oh, wait. I realize there are a lot of potential buyers for Green, but I know that Jed and Charlotte Heyward are very interested. They’re good people, and I know they’d take care of the building. So if you have any say—”

  “Done. I owe you one, remember?” Drew smiled as he walked out the door.

  I exhaled a breath and went to the mirror in the foyer, checking my hair and makeup one last time and going over the things I had planned to say. It was now or never. I might get shot down, but I had to try. There was something about Tucker that drew me to him, and I didn’t want to let what we had slip through my fingers.

  I hurried across the street and knocked on his door. Tucker answered the door immediately.

  I cleared my throat and handed him the basket of scones. “Hi, Tucker. These scones are for you. My name is Quinn Bellandini, and I live across the street. If you remember, we grew up on this street together. But when I got older, I didn’t treat you well because of an ignorant assumption I made about you. I also investigated your parents because I incorrectly assumed they might be killers. I was horribly rude to your father in particular. I was hoping that you might be able to look past my prior injustices toward you and your family and consider getting to know me. I know you’re moving, but Tybee is only about thirty minutes away, and we could—”

  His face unreadable, he interrupted my speech. “Quinn.”

  “Yes?”

  “I decided not to move. I’m going to ask my parents if I can buy this place from them.”

  “Oh,” I breathed. “That’s great news.” When he didn’t say anything else, I asked tentatively, “And the other stuff?”

  He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. My insides twisted, wondering what his answer would be. I had no idea how he felt toward me.

  But when Tucker wrapped one arm around my waist and leaned down
to kiss me, I knew exactly how he felt. I was getting my second chance, and I couldn’t be happier.

  After we broke our kiss, I teased him, “Was it my speech that changed your mind? Admit it—it was a good speech.”

  Tucker smiled down at me. “It was okay, I guess. But to be honest, you had me at ‘scones.’ ”

  To my cousins, the Abshire family, whose Southern hospitality was the inspiration for this story.

  Acknowledgments

  Many thanks to the people who have contributed so much to this book—my agent, Ethan Ellenberg; my editor, Junessa Viloria; and the Alibi staff. I couldn’t do what I do without you!

  BY CAROLINE FARDIG

  The Lizzie Hart Mysteries

  It’s Just a Little Crush

  That Old Black Magic

  Bad Medicine

  My Funny Valentine

  Wedding Bell Blues

  The Java Jive Mysteries

  Death Before Decaf

  Mug Shot

  A Whole Latte Murder

  Brew or Die

  Murder Over Mochas

  The Ellie Matthews Novels

  Bitter Past

  An Eye for an Eye

  The Southern B&B Mysteries

  Southern Discomfort

  PHOTO: JENNYLYNN PHOTOGRAPHY

  CAROLINE FARDIG is the USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen mysteries. Fardig’s Bad Medicine was named one of the best books of 2015 by Suspense Magazine. She worked as a schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom before she realized that she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Born and raised in a small town in Indiana, Fardig still lives in that same town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat.

  carolinefardig.com

  Facebook.com/​carolinefardigbooks/

  Twitter: @carolinefardig

  Blackberry Lavender Scones

  2¼ cups all-purpose flour

  ¼ cup granulated sugar

  1 tablespoon baking powder

  ½ teaspoon salt

  1 tablespoon organic fresh lavender, crushed

  1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, cubed

  1 large egg, beaten

  ½ cup heavy (whipping) cream, plus more for brushing

  2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  1½ cups blackberries, halved

  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and lavender in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg, cream, and vanilla extract and mix gently until almost combined. Add blackberries and mix just until incorporated; don’t overmix.

  Turn scone dough out onto floured cutting board. Halve dough and pat each portion into a 1-inch-thick round. Cut each round into 8 wedges. Transfer scones to a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between them, and brush with cream.

  Bake scones for 15 to 18 minutes, until risen and golden brown. Transfer to a rack to cool. Yields 16 petite scones.

  Mexican Hot Chocolate Scones

  1 cup all-purpose flour

  ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  ¼ cup granulated sugar

  1 teaspoon baking powder

  1 teaspoon cinnamon

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  ½ stick (4 tablespoons) butter, cubed

  1 5.3-ounce container Greek vanilla yogurt

  ⅓ cup milk

  1 large egg, beaten

  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  ½ cup chocolate chips

  Heavy (whipping) cream for brushing

  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add yogurt, milk, egg, and vanilla extract and mix gently until almost combined. Add chocolate chips and mix just until incorporated; don’t overmix.

  Turn scone dough out onto floured cutting board. Pat dough into a 1-inch-thick round and cut into 8 wedges. Transfer scones to a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between them, and brush with cream.

  Bake scones for 18 minutes, until risen. Transfer to a rack to cool. Yields 8 scones.

  Lemon Macarons with Strawberry Buttercream

  2 cups powdered sugar

  1 cup almond flour

  Pinch of salt

  3 large egg whites

  ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

  ¼ cup granulated sugar

  Grated zest of 1 lemon

  ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice

  ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

  Yellow food coloring

  Put powdered sugar, almond flour, and salt in a food processor and process until combined. Sift mixture and set aside.

  Put egg whites in a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add cream of tartar and beat on high speed for about 1 minute. With mixer running, slowly add granulated sugar and then beat until soft peaks form. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and a few drops of food coloring and beat until stiff peaks form.

  Gently fold dry mixture into meringue with a rubber spatula just until no traces of egg white remain; don’t overmix.

  Fill pastry bag (one with a ½-inch tip, or cut a ½-inch opening at tip of disposable bag) with batter and pipe 1- to 1½-inch rounds onto parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving at least 1 inch between them. Tap baking sheets on countertop to eliminate air bubbles and let stand for 20 to 30 minutes.

  Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Bake macarons for 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Sandwich pairs of macarons with Strawberry Buttercream. Store refrigerated, but serve at room temperature. Yields 48 macaron shells / 24 macarons.

  Strawberry Buttercream

  2 large egg whites

  ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

  1½ sticks (¾ cup) butter, cubed, at room temperature

  ¾ cup strawberries, hulled, chopped, and pureed

  ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

  Combine egg whites and sugar in bowl of stand mixer, set over pan of simmering water, and whisk until sugar has dissolved and mixture reaches at least 140 degrees.

  Attach bowl to mixer stand and fit with whisk attachment. Mix until stiff peaks form, then continue to mix for about 10 minutes, until meringue is thick, glossy, and completely cool.

  With mixer at medium speed, add butter a little at a time, mixing well after each addition. (Frosting will thin when butter is added. Keep mixing—it will thicken and fluff up.) Once butter is incorporated, mix for an additional 2 minutes on low speed. Add strawberries and vanilla and mix until smooth.

  Every great mystery needs an Alibi

  eOriginal mystery and suspense from Random House

  randomhousebooks.com

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