Paul groaned to himself, as he turned in the direction Susie had indicated and watched a pretty young woman get out of the car and head towards the diner with purposeful stride. She was dressed more for a downtown office meeting, than an afternoon in Citrus Beach. She did not have the friendly smile that most of the other patrons had as they came in to enjoy the good cooking the diner always offered. He averted he eyes when the woman looked into the window, hoping that she would not notice their table and keep walking past them to the bar. Luck was not on his side, and before he could issue a warning to the others at the table, the front door opened and the woman walked in, heading right to their table.
“Well, hello everyone. I was hoping I would run into you, Megan. And Aiden too. I understand you are the ones who found Mary Wheeler’s body. Could I get a statement from you for the news?”
They watched her pull a chair from a neighboring table to their booth and then she sat down to join them, without waiting for an invitation. She was a beautiful young woman, perfect in appearance for her job as a news reporter for both the local paper and the television station. It was her character that showed her flaws: ambitious and not above stepping on toes to get her story. She had gone head-to-head with Megan in the past. Megan was more than willing to stand up to her to prevent a fabricated story from being published. The two had reached an uneasy truce over the summer when the area had been hit by Hurricane Arlene. Yet everyone at the table knew it would take very little for the two women to end the standoff.
“Kim Heart. Feel free to join us,” Megan said sarcastically, the welcome not meant.
Aiden, always the gentleman, butted in before Megan’s temper could get away from her. He had known her since July, and he knew about her temper when she felt someone she loved was about to be persecuted. He also remembered how Kim Heart handled her interviews. If he had his way, this one would not happen here in a public place where she could create a spectacle.
“Hello, Kim. It is good to see you again. Yes, we were at the scene of the Wheeler murder, but neither of us will issue any statements without the sheriff’s permission. We wouldn’t want to impede his investigation.”
Kim looked at those around her, and grasped that there was something else in the works that she wasn’t aware of, but they were. For all her pushy behavior, she had a natural ability to sniff out a story. What she did with it from that point on is what often got her in trouble. Yet she always delivered a headline, and that kept her employed. She had a feeling that whatever it was they were keeping from her would be the story that would get her noticed by a larger news station and out of the small town where she had landed her first job. She tried a different angle, and taking a cup of coffee off the tray Susie carried as she walked by, shifted herself into a more comfortable position to talk with Megan.
“My gosh, Megan. How awful for you. You were a good friend of Mary’s, weren’t you? And this isn’t the first time you’ve been at a murder scene. How do you do it? How do you manage to be involved in these terrible events? Haven’t you helped the sheriff during his investigations in the past? Are you helping him out with Mary’s murder?”
“Kim, you make it sound as if I search for murders. I just happened to be the first one at the scene. It was just the way the events fell in place. I will help the sheriff in any way I can as will anyone who was a friend of Mary.”
“Of course we all want to find the killer and see him put away. But are you planning on getting involved beyond just being a witness?”
“Kim, please, just stop. I’m aware you have a job to do, but this is too close to all of us. Let Megan follow the sheriff’s directions, don’t hound her for a statement.”
Lucy, always the peacemaker, interrupted the other two women before they got carried away. Kim backed down and turned to Paul with a question.
“Paul, is the town council planning on making any statements about this?”
“Yes, we will meet in the morning. You are welcome to join us, Kim. It is an open meeting and we are hoping to address the fears of our town over the murder.”
“I will be there. Aiden, how is your new business going? You know, as the first private investigator in town, I would love to do a story on you, your background, and qualifications. Could we get together over coffee one afternoon?”
Megan and Lucy looked at each other, pleased that Kim was not pushing an interview on them, but suspicious of her actions. She might be playing nice now, but neither of them thought it would last.
“Listen, since I can’t get your statement about Mary’s murder, do you think you would each be willing to give me a comment about Mary for the background piece I would like to do on her? You know, her contributions to the community, her love of animals, her family’s history and how it was so important to the town. Things like that. I would like to do a nice write up for the paper and a human interest piece on the Sunday news cast.”
The four of them agreed to help Kim out with this line of questioning. Before long, they were all sharing stories about Mary, and a few of the other patrons stopped by their table to add a comment or two themselves. Susie came by to refill their drinks, adding her two cents in as well. She was pleased that what she had thought would be an ugly confrontation had turned out to be a nice tribute to a dear friend’s life. Susie leaned over Lucy’s shoulder to put her ice tea down and she felt the other woman stiffen. She glanced down to check if she had spilled the cold drink on her customer. Instead she saw Lucy glaring towards the bar. She turned to see what had turned Lucy’s normally smiling face so hostile, and Susie watched another woman come into the room from the back entrance. Now Susie knew her luck had run out. She couldn’t remember ever seeing Rita Thomas and Lucy in the same room without sparks flying. Usually it was because Rita was trying to capture the room’s attention, and today would be no different.
“There you are, Aiden! I’ve been looking all over for you. I must know, how is your investigation into my problem going?”
Rita’s voice carried across the room and caught the attention of most of the diners. Kim surveyed Aiden, a smile crossing her lips. There was a story here after all. One she had not anticipated, but she had a feeling it would be good, maybe even a little sensational. She waited for Rita to continue as everyone else looked back and forth between the investigator and the client he was already regretted taking on
Realizing she had the attention of everyone in the room, Rita made her way around the tables until she was standing in front of Aiden. When no one spoke, Kim couldn’t help herself. She had to ask what everyone else was thinking.
“Rita Thomas. You are back in Citrus Beach less than 48 hours and you’ve hired a private investigator? Why come back here for that? There must have been plenty of firms to choose from in the city. No slight intended, Aiden. What is going on? Why the need for an investigator?”
“Kim, really, the word private does mean something. Let the two of them alone.” Megan interrupted, hoping to defuse the bombshell that was about to go off.
“No, no, Megan. I am happy to let everyone in Citrus Beach know about the fight they are about to get into. Kim, I will be happy to give you my story. Here is your headline: Wheeler Legacy Belongs to Rita Thomas!”
Chapter 20
There was a stunned silence from those who had heard Rita’s proclamation. Then the whispering began as others in the diner who had not heard clearly, or didn’t believe what they had overheard, asked the person next to them what was going on. Kim, however, lost no time questioning Rita. Here was her story, and Kim would not let Rita get hushed up without finding out what was going on. With a deep breath, she launched questions at Rita like a preschooler with a list of “whys”.
“Why would the Wheeler estate belong to you, Rita? What claim do you have on Mary’s land? What did you mean the town would have a fight on its hands? Why have you hired Aiden Tory to investigate, and what is he investigating?” she paused for breath and then wished she hadn’t when Aiden stood up.
“I’m advising my client not to say anything to the press or anyone else at this time. Rita, we need to discuss this back at my office, now! I’m sorry to leave like this, guys, but I need to get things under control.” Giving his companions an apology, Aiden grasped Rita by the arm and half pulled, half dragged her from the table. He could sense the anger beginning to develop as those who hadn’t heard about Rita’s claim around him caught on to what Rita had said. He wanted to get her out of there before she could damage his chances of getting any answers to her case. Not giving the woman next to him a choice, he walked her to his car, and opened the door for her before he got into the driver’s seat.
“We need to get a few things straight before I proceed any further with this, Rita. Say nothing until we get back to my office. I can send my assistant to pick up your car for you while we talk,” was all he had to say to her. Running his fingers roughly through his hair, Aiden began to regret agreeing to take on Rita’s case. In frustrated silence, he pulled out of the parking lot and drove the short distance to his office.
Once there, he led Rita to his private office, barely acknowledging the puppy’s excited welcome when she saw him. A moment later he walked back out to the reception area and set Rita’s car keys on Jakes desk and explained what he wanted the younger man to do. Jake took one look at the anger in Aiden’s eyes, and didn’t ask any questions. Instead, he grabbed the keys and headed out the door. Turning on his heel, Aiden headed back to his office to confront his client.
“What were you thinking? Rita, this is a confidential investigation. If you wanted the whole town to know about your claim against the Wheeler trust, then you should have just taken Kim Heart to lunch. Mary Wheeler was a beloved member of this community, and they will stand behind her and her memory, no matter what. Your comment has just made my investigation that much harder. Plus you have just announced, in front of a reporter, that you plan on filing a suit against the town. Just how forthcoming do you think they will be now?”
“Oh, for crying out loud. I don’t care who knows. I’m tired of the truth being hidden. If your job is a little harder, charge me more. I just want to move forward, fast and without any bleeding hearts and tears for poor Mary Wheeler. It’s my time to take my place as the head of the Wheeler clan. And, Aiden, I don’t care how it gets done or who’s feelings get hurt.”
As he looked at her, Aiden remembered Lucy’s caution about Rita’s character flaws, and he had a foreboding feeling that this was only the beginning of his problems working with Rita.
“From what I’ve gathered, Rita, you know what life is like in a small town such as Citrus Beach, and that’s why you left. And that means that you know as well as I do, that we have to tread lightly. Getting everyone angry, defensive and putting their backs against the wall will not help prove your case. We need to use a bit of honey to catch our bees. You will have to swallow your pride and be nice to the people around you. I give you fair warning right now, if you continue to step on my toes and hinder my investigation, then you can find somebody else to do the job. You will probably leave this town as soon as you solved your problems. But I, on the other hand, am trying to make my home here. Antagonizing my new neighbors is not a good way to start out.”
Rita looked back at him, but couldn’t handle his stare for long before she glanced away. He would not be the pushover she had thought. Aiden had proven to her that she would have to use more than her good looks to get him to do what she wanted. After a few moments, she smiled slyly and nodded her head in agreement.
“All right, Aiden, I’ll play by your rules for now. But I want my results fast, I’m used to getting my way. If I don’t get the results I want through your methods, I’ll go about doing things my own way. But either way, Aiden, I will get my results and they will be the results I want. Whether I get them honestly, or I have to pay for them, I don’t care.”
Aiden saw more than determination as he contemplated his client. He also saw a flash of the spoiled child that Rita had been and the selfish woman she had become. He wasn’t too worried. In his years of being an FBI agent he’d come across characters far more flawed than this Thomas woman was. He also sensed that underneath that selfishness was a hard woman who would get her way no matter what. In an instant he made the determination to stick with Rita’s case. This way he can keep her away from the murder investigation and still keep an eye on her. It was better he investigate the claim she had with an honest open agenda rather than she hired somebody else who would have less scruples. Hopefully, he could even disclaim her announcement and help the town keep their legacy from Mary.
Once he made up his mind, Aiden turned his charm on full blast and Rita couldn’t help but be taken in. He graciously offered her a drink while they waited for Jake to return with her car, and they sat down to discuss her claim in more detail.
They were finishing up when Jake returned. They came out of Aiden’s office to find Jake playing tug-a-war with the puppy, her tail wagging in delight as Jake let her win the game. He got to his feet with the ease of youth and handed Rita her car keys. As she reached out to take them, the puppy growled and crouched low to the floor. Aiden looked at the dog with surprise, this was the first time she had showed any sign of serious aggression. Jake picked her up and moved out of the way of Rita, calming the dog in his arms.
“A dog in the office? How quaint. You are really trying to fit into this small town, aren’t you, Aiden?”
“She a new addition, a stray we’ve adopted.”
“Really? I’m not so sure I would let a stray near your clients. It’s obviously not a very friendly dog. You’d better watch that she doesn’t bite someone.”
“She’s really friendly, Ms. Thomas. She loves everyone," Jake interrupted
Snatching her keys from Jake, Rita left the office with a final command to Aiden. “Well, not everyone. That’s fine, I can’t stand dogs anyways. I’ll just be on my way. Call me tomorrow with an update, Aiden."
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have butted in Aiden.”
“No, it’s okay. I can’t say as I blame this little girl for growling. I felt like doing it myself a couple of times today.” He reached down and picked up the puppy whose tail was now wagging with delight and he scratched her behind the ears before continuing. “She sure didn’t like Rita. The little minx is a smart little thing.”
Jake laughed along with Aiden before he put the puppy down. Aiden glanced at his watch, and seeing how late it was, told the younger man to go on home. After being assured that there was no more work needing his attention, Jake said good night and left.
***
After Aiden left the table, the three friends refuse to answer any further questions from Kim Heart. Finally realizing that she would not get any more information from them, she left hoping to get back in time to get a quick story put together to make the morning news. It didn’t concern her that she didn’t have all the information or that the story she would write would be incomplete. She had a headline and that was enough for her.
Once Kim departed, things settle back down in the diner and it wasn’t long before Paul and Lucy were saying goodbye to Megan. With a promise to call first thing in the morning, Megan waved them off and sat back down the table to enjoy one last cup of coffee and sort her thoughts. It had been eventful day, and Megan had to admit she was getting tired. There had been no opportunity to fill Aiden in on the discovery of the key or the search of Mary’s house. Megan had to admit she had begun to anticipate sharing discoveries with her new friend’s discovery and hearing his thoughts. But after the display she had seen from Rita Thomas, she wasn’t sure how much she and Aiden would be able to compare notes. As much as she hated to admit it, she would have to pick a side and say on it in this battle between Rita and the town. There was no competition, she knew she would stand behind the town, and she hoped that Aiden’s decision to take on the case would not jeopardize their budding relationship or his prospects for customers.
She was in deep tho
ught when Susie walked by with a coffeepot ready to refill her cup. But after one look at Megan’s tired face, Susie didn’t even offer. Instead she smiled and offered some friendly advice.
“Honey, you’re exhausted. Instead of sitting here, get up and get home and get some rest. If those wheels in your head keep turning you could be down to Key West before you know it. Whatever is bothering you won’t seem so heavy after you get a good night’s sleep.”
“You’re right, Susie. Sitting here isn’t getting anything accomplished, and I have a puppy at home waiting for me, wondering where his dinner is. The food was delicious as usual, and your advice is spot on.”
Susie nodded her head in agreement and started to walk away, but Megan thought of something and grabbed her arm before she got out of reach.
“Susie, I know I asked you before, but this is where most people tend to come to at some point during their stay here in Citrus Beach. Have you noticed any strangers in town? And not solely for the geo-cache. Anybody stick out as being an out-of-the-ordinary, traditional tourist? Maybe somebody with a purpose, is what I’m looking for. Or has anybody been asking about the Wheeler farm? You know, directions on how to get there or any information about Mary and her petting zoo? I’m grasping at straws here, trying to figure out something that might give me a clue.”
“I can’t say that anybody really sticks out Megan. Of course we had out-of-towners here for the charity event, and the normal tourists that are passing through on their way to Orlando. Let me think on it a bit. Like you said, most people do pass through the diner at some point. I’ll ask my dad tonight and in the morning I’ll ask the old-timers who come in for their morning coffee. Perhaps they’ve seen something that I’ve missed. Now go on, head home. You won’t do anybody any good, being so tired that you can’t think straight. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for you, Megan. I can tell that you’re already getting involved in the investigation. Just don’t step on anybody’s toes and keep yourself safe.”
Murder at the Geo-Cache...A Citrus Beach Mystery (Citrus Beach Mysteries Book 3) Page 12
