Kari Lee Townsend - Sunny Meadows 04 - Perish in the Palm

by Kari Lee Townsend

  I sighed. “That my mother is the prime suspect, so my parents won’t be leaving town any time soon.”

  “Good girl. And do you know what else it means?”

  “That you don’t want me anywhere near the case.”

  “Will wonders never cease,” he said with a slight grin, trying to ease the tension and lighten the mood. “I guess what they say is true.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The more time you spend together, the more you start sounding like each other.” He tweaked my nose.

  “Sounding yes. Thinking no. And do you know what that means?” I raised a brow, my smile more of a smirk.

  “That you don’t plan on staying away from this case for a single second,” he said wearily, looking at me as if he prayed he was wrong.

  “Good boy.” I patted his shoulders. “You’re learning.”

  He sighed in resignation. “And you’re playing with fire.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  ***

  “Well, this certainly isn’t Divine Inspiration.” My mother ran her white gloved fingertip along the top of the check-in counter at The Divinity Hotel.

  Divinity was an old-fashioned town with big Victorian homes and various businesses that showcased different eras throughout history. Some newer businesses opted for a more modern décor, but many of the older ones stuck to tradition. The Divinity Hotel was a large brick building with a 1930’s Art Deco theme inspired by the artists of Paris.

  Lacquered wood furniture trimmed with brushed steel and lined with exotic Zebra skin upholstered fabric was placed strategically throughout the lobby. And the colorful starburst motifs in various shades of greens and oranges with small bits of black and gold arranged in geometric shapes that covered the floors and walls was eye catching.

  I thought it was charming, but my mother thought the place was over-the-top and tacky. With the inn shut down as a crime scene and no other hotel in town, she didn’t have a choice unless she wanted to stay with me. Under strict orders from the captain not to leave town, she’d made it more than clear that jail would be preferable before she would go anywhere near my demon cat.

  Chuck Webb’s hard eyes narrowed. “I don’t know why I’m letting you stay here. You being a criminal, and all. You’re lucky Abigail and I have a baby on the way.”

  He was a muscular man in his fifties, with a brown military haircut, and he looked scary intimidating. I avoided him whenever possible after our rocky past encounters, though his recent marriage to Abigail Brook had softened his edges a bit. Except my mother had a way of scraping her perfectly manicured nails over anyone’s patience.

  “Last I checked it was innocent until proven guilty, darling. Don’t you know anything?” my mother fairly purred, but her eyes gave her away. She might act all calm and cool, but she was worried. I could tell. People might be more sympathetic to her plight if she would allow them to see that vulnerability, but showing weakness wasn’t in her nature. “No, you’re the lucky one, Mr. Webb. It’s a wonder your wife lets you stay here.”

  He curled his hands into fists, but my father stepped between them, looking as dashing and important as ever. “Mr. Webb—Chuck—Donald Meadows here.” He held out his hand, and Chuck warily grasped his palm and shook after a long hesitation. “I really appreciate you letting us stay in your fine establishment. My wife has had a rough day and isn’t quite herself. You know how it is with women.”

  My mother was about to say something, but my father shot her a warning look, and she backed down. He was the only human being on this planet who had that effect on her. It was one of the things I admired most about him. He truly loved her, and she knew it, but more importantly respected it. They respected each other. She knew he always had her best interest at heart, therefore she trusted and listened to whatever he said. I felt I had that with Mitch, it was just terrifying to give in to.

  “Women.” Webb chuckled. “They truly are from another planet.”

  “Exactly.” Dad clapped him on the shoulder as if he felt his pain. “Now if we could have your finest room, I will make it more than worth your while.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Chuck said.

  “So, how far along is the Misses?” my father asked as if he genuinely cared. His admirable bed side manner was one of the things that made him such a great doctor. His patients adored him.

  I pulled my mother away while my father worked his magic to smooth things over. We sat in a couple of chairs by a cozy fireplace. It wasn’t just a fireplace, it was the focal point of the lobby. A combination of mahogany, walnut, and oak wood had been used to create the mantel. Those woods were easy to carve and featured contrasting grains as part of the design. Carved flowers, leaves, and beading lined the frieze, and a beveled mirror had been built right into the center, surrounded by hand painted tiles.

  My mother’s shoulders slumped just a hair, and only for a moment, but I saw. “Mother, what were you thinking?” I couldn’t help but ask.

  She waved her hand at me. “He’s harmless.”

  “I’m not talking about him, Mom,” I sputtered. “People heard you say on several occasions that you should buy the inn because you could surely run it better than that imbecile, and then you threatened to kill him.”

  “I’m not worried because I’m innocent, darling. I wouldn’t be in this God forsaken business if I didn’t believe in it. Detective Stone will catch the real killer soon, I’m sure of it. This is simply an inconvenience.”

  “It’s more than an inconvenience, and you should damn well be worried.” As my voice raised, I could feel my blood pressure rise as well. I couldn’t help it. I was worried sick. She was my mother and no matter how much she drove me crazy, I was terrified. She might act all tough, but there was no way she could handle jail. If anything bad ever happened to her, my father would never survive and I would never forgive myself.

  She blinked up at me startled.

  I took a deep breath and continued in a lower voice. “You kept pushing Mr. Theodore and arguing with him relentlessly in front of all the guests. Half the town was at that wedding. Everyone saw you two argue over the fruit bowl, and how on earth did the kitchen knife you were using end up buried in his chest? Answer me that.” My voice squeaked despite my efforts, so I looked away and practiced my yoga breathing. Wally’s World gym had to start paying off somehow.

  When she remained silent, I glanced back at her. She would draw her sleek eyebrows together if she could, but the Botox prevented it, I was sure. “You don’t honestly think I killed him, do you?” she finally asked, as if my belief in her mattered that much. Sitting on the edge of her seat, she stared at me.

  I blew out a breath and fell back against the cushions in my chair, because I knew it did. I knew she loved me as much as I did her. “Of course not,” I finally said, “but why were you standing over him when the tent was raised?”

  “Like I told Detective Stone,” she replied, more composed now. “I helped Jo cut the cake and then just before the tent collapsed, someone shoved me hard in the direction of the fruit table. I had just regained my balance when I found myself face-to-face with the innkeeper. I admit we were about to pick up where we’d left off earlier in our argument but the tent suddenly fell.”

  “What happened after that?”

  “Quite honestly, I’m not really sure. There were all kinds of skirmishes taking place beneath that tent before it was lifted. Once it was, I was as shocked as everyone to see Mr. Theodore dead at my feet and the knife in his chest. I don’t recall how it got there. To think the real killer must have been right beside me when he or she committed the heinous act. I don’t know who it was, but one thing is clear. Someone is trying to set me up.”

  “They’re not trying, Mom, they’ve succeeded. Can you think of anyone who would want to set you up?”

  “No one knows me which makes me an easy target. It was pretty clear Mr. Theodore and I disliked each other, and I’m an outsider. The real q
uestion you should be asking is who might want Pierce dead or even who might want to ruin Jo and Cole’s wedding. Speaking of them, where are they now? On their honeymoon?”

  “No, unfortunately. The honeymoon is on hold. They aren’t allowed to leave yet, either. No one who attended the reception can leave for the time being. It wouldn’t have been much of a honeymoon right now anyway. Not with the memory of a man getting murdered on their special day. And Cole is having a hard time not blaming himself.”

  “What on earth for?”

  “He thinks he is cursed, so now he’s trying to get Jo to leave him.” I shook my head and sat back to rub my throbbing temples.

  “Oh, that’s just ridiculous.” My mother threw her hands up.

  “Mitch and Sean are on their way to find him and try to talk some sense into him.”

  “Poor Joanne. She shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.” My mother’s face suddenly looked every inch her age. She really cared about Jo, and I couldn’t help but feel a smidge of jealousy. I wasn’t sure she had ever expressed that kind of genuine concern for me. At least she never showed it.

  “She’s not.” I pushed my jealousy aside because Jo was pretty awesome and deserved everyone’s affection. “Her cousin Zoe is with her. She’ll be okay. They went back to her new house to check on her dog Biff.”

  “Now there’s a pet worth having.” My mother smiled in fondness, then her lips tipped down and her face looked pinched as she studied me in a most disapproving way. “And why aren’t you with them? You’re not being a very good maid-of-honor and best friend now, I’d say.”

  And there was the mother I’d known my whole life. No “thank you” for staying with her because, heaven forbid, she admit she might actually need me for a change. Or the world might come to an end if she admitted she was the one in trouble this time. After all these years of knowing how she was, you wouldn’t think I would continue to let her get to me, but I did.

  I just sat there too numb for words.

  As if reading my thoughts, she responded. “Don’t worry about me, darling. I have your father.” And that’s all I need was left unsaid, but we both knew it had been implied. She didn’t need me, didn’t appreciate me, and probably never would.

  I snapped my jaw closed and stood. “You know what? You’re right. I think I’ll go where I can actually do some good. Good luck, Mother. I hope you like orange. I hear it’s the new black and all the rage behind bars.” Waving my fingers at her eye-roll and head-shake, I turned my back and walked out the door, but I wasn’t going to Jo. And I wasn’t going home. I was on a mission.

  Mother wasn’t the only one who could stir things up.

  Chapter 5

  It was Saturday evening, but not too late. I was hoping Mitch thought I was still settling my parents in at the Divinity Hotel. He had been busy securing the crime scene and questioning the guests at Jo and Cole’s wedding reception, but everyone had dispersed, and he was probably home by now. Leaving him alone with Morty was risky, but I needed answers. This was my mother we were talking about. As much as she drove me nuts, I still loved her and didn’t want to see her go to jail for something she didn’t do.

  There had been something in the reading I had given to Peirce that made me want to question Linda Theodore more. She had definitely seemed like a wife who wasn’t happy. She had rolled her eyes at Peirce not wanting to travel and didn’t seem entirely content in their marriage. It was late when I arrived back at Divine Inspiration. The wedding and reception had long since been over, the crime scene was secured, the detectives were gone, and my parents were settled. I only had minutes to play with.

  I rang the doorbell without hesitation. The door swung open and Linda Theodore stood there, her eyes wary and calculating but not red-rimmed like you would expect from someone who had just become a widow.

  “I’m Sunny Meadows, consultant for the Divinity Police Department.” I stuck out my hand.

  “I know who you are.” She didn’t shake my hand. Instead, she tightened her long, satin robe around her.

  “I see.” I dropped my empty palm to my side.

  “What are you doing here so late, Miss Meadows? The police have already questioned me thoroughly and shut down my place of operation, I might add. Do you have any idea the amount of money I will lose by closing my doors until this investigation is solved? I can’t afford that. We were fully booked for the fall leaf peeping season. This will ruin us.”

  “I do understand, and I’m so sorry. I get it, believe me. It wasn’t long ago that I had to close my doors until a murder investigation I was involved with was solved.” I tried to play on her sympathies. “I understand first-hand what you’re going through. I’m just here to try to help you if you’ll let me.”

  “I’m not a fool, Miss Meadows. You’re here because you want to save your mother.” I could tell she didn’t trust me. She tucked her brown bob behind her ears.

  “True, I do,” I chose my words carefully, “but not at your expense. I can promise you that. I really do want to get to the bottom of whomever the real killer is.”

  She stared at me for a long minute, and then finally stood back and pushed the door open wider. No words were necessary to know that she believed me or was at least curious enough to hear me out.

  I stepped through the threshold and followed her into the living room. The same living room where I had given Peirce his reading.

  “Normally this room would be filled with guests right now.” A note of wistful longing filled her voice as she sat on the very same couch.

  I sat down on a chair adjacent to her.

  “I’d offer you refreshments, but since I’m not allowed to entertain any guests, I can’t exactly afford any staff at the moment.”

  “But I thought I saw a few of your regulars just minutes ago.”

  “I have a few diehards who refuse to leave whether I can pay them or not.”

  “That’s sweet. You hold onto that. And don’t worry about me, I don’t need any refreshments.”

  “I plan to hold onto that.” She appeared stronger than I had originally thought. “Now, what can I do for you, Miss Meadows?”

  “Listen, I just want to help you. Sincerely, I do.” I studied her, taking in her appearance. She was a petite brunette with a cute, sassy, wavy brown bob and pretty amber eyes. She could have any man, but she’d remained true to her husband, who obviously hadn’t treated her as nicely as he should have, according to the vibe I’d received from his reading.

  “And how can you do that?” she asked with a surprisingly calculating gleam in her eyes. “You’re reading was a joke. Where’s all the money Peirce was supposed to come into? I certainly haven’t seen any of it.”

  “These things take time before they reveal themselves fully.”

  “Well time is something I don’t have. Let’s just say my husband had more enemies than friends, I’m discovering. And more debt than I was aware of.”

  “What kind of enemies? Are you in danger?” I pulled out a notepad and pen. For the first time, I realized there might be more danger involved than I had first thought and more people might be in jeopardy of losing their lives.

  She shrugged. “I was never afraid for myself, but he seemed terrified. Whenever I asked him about it, he told me I was imagining things, but I wasn’t. I was married to him for long enough to know when he was stressed out.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “At first I thought he was seeing another woman with all his late night hushed phone calls and secret meetings, so I followed him. Turns out he had been meeting with his accountant. Then when we kept getting prank phone calls, I knew his problems were much bigger than a simple affair.” She finally sniffed, pulling out a hankie and dabbing at the corners of her eyes. “I just don’t know how I’m going to get through all of this. I sometimes worry that his thugs are now after me.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find a way,” I said because I didn’t know what else to say.

  Her calculat
ing gaze cut to my eyes. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “I think you do.” I narrowed my own gaze. “I do my homework, Mrs. Theodore,” I added, deciding to cut to the chase.

  She arched a brow. “And what exactly does that mean?”

  “That I know you took out a big life insurance policy on your husband recently.” Okay, so I didn’t do my homework, but I’d overheard Mitch and Captain Walker talking earlier, but she didn’t have to know that.

  She stiffened and a flash of concern crossed her features, then she sat up straighter, donning an unreadable expression. “So what? That doesn’t prove anything.”

  “I’m not trying to prove anything, Mrs. Theodore. I’m trying to point out what any prosecuting attorney is going to jump on in a court of law. Do I think you’re guilty?” I studied her carefully and answered as honestly as I could. “No, I don’t. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t think you’re hiding something.”

  Her eyes shot to the floor, her body language saying it all even if she hadn’t uttered a word of guilt. “There’s nothing wrong with planning ahead.”

  “No, especially not if you think your husband’s life is in danger. Is that what happened?” I watched her eyes closely to gauge her reaction.

  She sighed and the first unguarded, honest expression of worry crossed her features. Her shoulders slumped as though she had the world resting upon them. “Look, Miss Meadows, I actually loved my husband. Did I make mistakes in our marriage? Of course. I’m only human. But I didn’t kill him or have him killed, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  “Then why the policy?” I asked in a quiet voice.

  “Because he wasn’t himself at the end. He wouldn’t talk to me, but I could tell something was bothering him. He was never big on travel, but at the end, he was adamant we not go anywhere. And he was constantly on his phone, whispering in a heated voice and looking more stressed than I’d ever seen him. It was after I received those few threatening phone calls in his absence that I finally took out the life insurance policy. I knew we had a lot of debt, and the last thing I wanted was to go bankrupt for whatever he was involved in. That doesn’t make me a murderer, Miss Meadows.”