“Toughness is a good thing and so is gratitude. I felt both, along with a bunch of other things. I still stand by what I said, Meredith. I’m glad you’re here and as lovely as always.” Meredith tried to smile, teared up, and dropped her eyes. She responded with one word.
“Makeup.”
Jennifer launched into another round of explanation for her daughter. They had used makeup to help Meredith cover the remnants of scratches and bruises on her face. Jennifer’s voice wavered as, in a hushed tone, she added that the turtleneck shirt Meredith wore concealed the worst damage—the aftermath of a stabbing meant to kill her. Meredith’s hand tugged a little at the turtleneck as though it felt uncomfortable.
Talking about it had to be difficult. Enough is enough, I thought. Remembering how sweetly Jack had responded to me when he sensed I’d reached my limit, I switched the subject by commenting on our lovely surroundings.
Only Jack had shown no discomfort as I steered the conversation to less sensitive matters. That soon changed. Jennifer’s friend, Carolyn Chambers, suddenly swooped down on all of us like a bird of prey. Jack went on alert as if she’d tripped a wire or set off an alarm.
“Oh, my God, Meredith! You’re home!” She flailed her arms, almost taking flight as she dashed toward us squawking that greeting. Her dark, hawk-eyes had spotted us right away, and she had waved the moment we entered the restaurant. She must have flown straight for us when we sat down. Carolyn had left an older woman sitting alone who appeared blasé about the situation even though the flamboyant woman was creating a scene.
“Speaking of makeup,” Meredith muttered under her breath. The makeup Carolyn wore was distinctive. Smoky eyeshadow, with the eyeliner drawn out to points in the corner of her eyes, added to the predatory sense that hung about her. Her long red fingernails did, too. A woman in her thirties, her brow already displayed the telltale signs of Botox.
“I was in New York City for years and never had a scare like the one you had. Who knew North Carolina beaches could be such a nightmare? Are you okay?” Carolyn tilted her head from one side to the other as though sizing up her prey. She didn’t wait for a reply from Meredith. “You look okay—except for that swelling around your eye. Come by Chamber Made tomorrow, and I’ll fix it for you." Meredith still didn’t speak but nodded in agreement. Carolyn Chambers barely breathed before continuing. This time, she addressed me.
“And you’re Georgie Shaw. I’m Jennifer’s BFF, Carolyn Chambers.” Jennifer raised her eyebrows at the BFF comment and gave me a confused look. Meredith squelched a smile as Carolyn Chambers held out her hand. Her bracelets jangled as I shook her hand. “So, Georgie, may I call you, Georgie?” Once again, waiting for no reply, she rushed on. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Big shot at Marvelous Marley World. Fancy place in the OC. Local girl makes good—that sort of thing. Makes me want to go home to Lone Point and bask in the glory a bit.”
I wasn’t sure what to say, but it didn’t much matter. Enough about Georgie Shaw, or so I presumed. It was on to the man at the table. Jack squirmed under Carolyn’s gaze.
“Have we met? You look so familiar to me. No, wait, aren’t you the detective involved in that nasty business at Arcadia Park that made all the news?” Jack held out his hand.
“Jack Wheeler. Pleased to meet you, Ms. Chambers.” She reached across me, leaning forward to expose a little cleavage as she shook Jack’s hand. Jangle, jangle went those bracelets, now no more than a few inches from my nose.
“It’s Carolyn unless we need to keep this on a strictly professional basis, Detective Wheeler. Go ahead and frisk me. I’ve got nothing to hide,” she said as she stood up straight and struck a pose.
“Let’s keep the detective issue on the down low since I’m not here on official business, Carolyn.” He gave her a little wink. Carolyn looked from Jack to me, and then back to Jack. A light bulb went off, I suppose. That revelation shifted the focus back to me.
“You’re very photogenic. I’d swear you were ten years younger if all I had to go on were those tabloid photos. That slasher murder was a terrible thing to happen to your boss’s daughter. To all of you at Marvelous Marley World. A nightmare like that must add years to your face and take years off your life.”
My head hurt. I was now in a worse mood than I had been when I sat down. My anxiety about not being able to determine where that rendition of Danny’s song had come from was rapidly morphing into anger. Not to mention the dread attached to the other events of the day—real or imagined coincidences or whatever they were.
When Jack had heard what I said about that tune, he had dashed out of our suite and hit the elevator button. I rushed to catch up with him. By the time we got to the lobby and ran outside, the music had stopped. We had asked around, but no one seemed to have a clue about any music other than that playing over speakers in the elevator and lobby. A staff member at the Front Desk suggested the music could have come from many sources outdoors. Or, perhaps, from a guestroom below us.
After another look around outside, we had given up and returned to our suites to dress for dinner at the Dulces Companas. The "sweet bells" restaurant took its name from the dulcet tones of the bell tower at the monastery nearby. The sounds emanating from Carolyn Chambers now were anything but sweet.
Flirting with Jack was rude, but understandable if she hadn’t figured us for a twosome. I can’t abide catty comments veiled as compliments, however. Carolyn reminded me of Mallory Marley-Marston who, before her death, often carried on excitedly about others’ bad luck. It also irked me that Carolyn had made little slashing motions as she mentioned Mallory’s stabbing. Heartless to do that in front of Meredith, who had only barely escaped the same fate. I wanted this woman to go away. I decided to try to move things along.
“Wow, how incredibly sensitive of you to be so concerned about Meredith and me. I suppose I should join her and let you help me hide a few of those years the trouble at Arcadia Park put there. I can tell by looking at you how adept you are at compensating for deficits. What do you say, Meredith, can I tag along with you to the Chamber Pot tomorrow? I’ll pick up the tab for both of us. We’re not talking about more than a few hundred dollars. That’s chump change for local girls like us who have made good, right, Carolyn?”
Silence followed. Jennifer’s eyebrows rose, again, and stayed there. Meredith stopped short of a spit-take, choking on the water she had been sipping. Jack squirmed in his seat. Carolyn stood there for a full minute, eyes unblinking.
“Uh, sure. You and Meredith come on by Chamber Made, tomorrow, and I’ll fix you both right up.”
If I had to guess, I’d say the cha-ching in her head won out over any antagonism she felt toward the insult or two buried in my offer. Who knows? Maybe she had missed the sarcasm in my voice. I hoped so. I already regretted my remarks, having yielded to my edginess about the day’s events as well as my dislike for the woman’s behavior. Carolyn didn’t seem offended as she moved on.
“Jennifer, I need to ask you for a favor. Can you find me a good deal for travel to Door County, Wisconsin near Copper Moon Beach? I’m planning to visit from the end of June for the Fourth of July and through the following week. You're both invited to go with me, by the way. Heidi's going to be there, Meredith. She feels awful about what happened in North Carolina, and she's devastated she didn't get to spend any time with you and Kat. There’s going to be this big race near Copper Moon Beach. Heidi's designing racing suits for a bunch of the hunky bikers that are racing. You have to see them for yourself."
“See what?” Meredith asked with a smirk on her face.
"What? Oh, I'm talking about the racing suits, silly. Not that the bikers aren't worth a look or two! Heidi's designs are getting a lot of attention for her back in the Big Apple. You know how connected she is to absolutely everybody. That includes loads of people in the art scene. It couldn’t hurt to hang out with her since you're interested in art and all.” Carolyn showed no signs of stopping. Jennifer interrupted her.
&n
bsp; “We’ll think about it. I’ll talk it over with Meredith and her dad. We’ll have to wait and see how Meredith feels in another week or so. Do you need a place to stay or just air and ground transportation?” Jennifer had pulled out her phone and typed in information.
“If you could get me a good discount on a dreamy B & B that would be ideal. Heidi says Copper Moon Beach is a very romantic spot. You never can tell when a B & B in a place like that will come in handy.” As she spoke those words, she glanced at Jack with what I imagine she intended to be a come-hither look. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Jack staring intently at his menu. I wasn’t sure whether he had caught that flirtatious glance from the brazen woman, or not. An awkward silence hung in the air. Not for long.
“Okay, well thanks. Let me know what you find and what you two decide you want to do. I shouldn't keep Mom waiting any longer. You know how hard it is for older women to keep up. I don’t want to wear her out!” Jennifer and Meredith both let out a sigh of relief as Carolyn sashayed away. Jack quit squirming. I felt my body relax.
“Not worried about wearing out Mom’s wallet, I see,” Jack whispered as he nodded at Carolyn as she returned to her table. The attractive older woman smiled at her daughter as she put away a receipt slipped from the leather portfolio a waiter had handed her.
“Sorry about that. She’s a piece of work sometimes,” Jennifer said.
“Sometimes? Mom, what are you saying? She’s always like that! What is that bit about the art scene in New York? I’ve told her several times I’m going to be a school teacher. What is her problem?”
“I mentioned something to her about how worried you are about your friend Kat who had that interview in New York City recently. She must have gotten the two of you mixed up. Don’t worry, Meredith. I’m not going to book a B & B for us anywhere near her.”
“Hey, I didn’t say I didn’t want to go, Mom. Most of the time her cougar routine is hilarious, and that snarky, she-beast thing, too. By the Fourth of July, I’ll be stir-crazy after sitting around in San Albinus with nothing to do. It ought to be a hoot to see Heidi and Carolyn try to out-vamp each other. Checking out hunky bikers in tight racing suits doesn't sound bad, either.” Jennifer’s mouth dropped open, giving Meredith one of those who’s-daughter-is-this looks only a mom can deliver.
“What? I’m not married. I’m allowed to look!”
“I guess so. Carolyn’s hardly old enough to be a cougar, but she’ll be a wild cat of some kind with all those men around. Are you sure you want to go through that?”
“We’ll ditch her if we can’t stand it.” Meredith’s mood shifted, and her voice took on a more somber tone. “Wouldn’t it be great if Kat’s well enough to join us too? Heidi's connections in New York might mean something to her if...” Meredith frowned and went silent. I used that pause as an opportunity to apologize.
“I’m sorry about the rude way I reacted.”
“Why? She was nasty to you! And she made a play for Jack right in front of us. I was ready for real drama.” Meredith clawed at the air like a cat as she went on. “You know, hissing and spitting, some effort to claw her eyes out, or at least send a little fur flying. You and your Cat Factory associates must be good at that. You owe me a full-blown cat fight!” Jennifer’s mouth opened again. Then she snapped it shut as Meredith gave her a smug look.
“What I owe you is a better demonstration of how to behave when confronted by a she-beast. Does that mean we’re on for a visit to Chamber Made?”
“Don’t you mean Chamber Pot? That was my favorite part,” Meredith snorted. Jennifer laughed, too.
“I tried to warn her about that name. Chambermaid, chamber pot—not too many people might make those connections, but why take a chance? It doesn’t even make complete sense. Her name is Chambers, not Chamber. She either didn’t get it or didn’t believe me when I suggested she choose an alternative.”
“Like Carolyn’s Botox, Bewitchery, and Brews, you mean?” Meredith offered, adding a little witchy cackle. “I don’t see why she can’t ride a broom to get to Copper Moon Beach.” We all had a good laugh as we made our first serious effort to figure out what was on the menu for dinner.
I marveled at how resilient Meredith appeared to be. I hoped our trip to Carolyn’s shop might give me a chance to find out more about how she was dealing with the horrific events she had survived. Those first few weeks after my ordeal on the beach had been the worst. I hadn't been in Meredith’s situation, either, worrying about her friend’s recovery. Danny had simply vanished.
I felt myself slipping away. A few notes of Danny’s song played in my mind and threatened to draw me into the darkness of my past. Determined not to go down the rabbit hole, as Jack called it, I focused my attention on the menu.
The Spanish Fusion dishes all sounded delightful and intrigued me as a chef. Gazpacho, a cold tomato-based soup, is an old favorite. This one was made with fire-roasted vegetables and served with Mollette, a garlicky flatbread. Partridge roasted in a spicy chocolate sauce was irresistible as the main course. A way to get a badly needed chocolate fix, although an unusual one. I imagined the sauce must be some variant on a molé. They served the Partridge with pomme puree, a rich, cream-laden version of mashed potatoes, and a side of steamed asparagus; the entrée sounded like a perfect choice. For dessert, leche frita, a custard with a crispy outer layer accompanied by fresh berries and a handmade chocolate truffle. More chocolate. What could be better than that?
When I had decided what to order, I picked up my dinner napkin to place it on my lap. What appeared to be a business card fluttered onto the floor. Jack leaned over, picked it up, and handed it to me. I stuck it in the pocket of the silk jacket I wore assuming Carolyn had left it for me so I could find my way to her shop the next day. I was wrong.
6 Moonlight and Wildflowers
“That was an excellent meal,” Jack said as we left the restaurant.
“Yes. A beautiful setting and terrific food, despite that visitation by the refugee from Cougarville.”
“Meredith sure has her number.” Jack clawed the air as Meredith had done.
“Meredith has a great sense of humor. She’s funny, isn’t she? Like your daughter.”
“Yes, she is. Gutsy, too, to have bounced back so soon. Like you.” Jack took my hand as the elevator door opened. “Feel like walking off our dinner? Would a stroll along the beach be too uncomfortable? If you’re up for it, I’d appreciate getting a closer look at the spot you and Danny had picked out that night. If it’s too much, I can do it alone.”
“No, I’d like to see it, too. Maybe I’ll remember something I’ve forgotten about that night. I’ve wanted to do this for years, but I’m not as resilient as you think I am. It seems much more doable with you at my side.” I squeezed his hand, and he pulled me close as the door shut. If I’d needed any encouragement, the powers of persuasion in the kiss that followed would have done the trick.
The glow lit by that kiss felt almost as bright as the moonlight that spilled around us and onto the water. Waves rolled in, pounding away rhythmically as we made our way down the many steps and paved pathways that led from one terraced recreational area to another. I hardly remembered making the trek to the beach that night. Not because of the head trauma I had suffered later, but because Danny and I were so absorbed in each other and the plans we were making for our future as a couple.
“Tommy Harwell’s truck wasn’t there when Danny and I arrived. We drove almost to the boat launch and parked. Since we didn’t see them pull in up there at the turn-off, I don’t know how long they were around before that attack.” I stopped and searched the hillside for the access road and the place they had found the truck.
“The police should have some idea about that if they did a decent job of tracking the Harwell brothers’ whereabouts that day. Their report might address Carol’s question about the involvement of other locals if Tommy and Mark Harwell were seen earlier that evening driving around town with their pals in that
truck. I take it the police found Danny’s car parked where you left it?”
“Yes. That’s what I learned a week or so later when I was well enough to ask about the investigation. The car was unlocked—no one bothered to lock up back then. No one ever found Danny’s keys so he must have had them with him. If he ran away why not make his getaway in that car?”
“Or why not use the vehicle to get help for you? Or put you in the back seat and drive you to a hospital. I doubt Danny ever returned to his car, Georgie. When I get my hands on the police reports, I’ll check to see if they found fingerprints or footprints in or around the truck or the car that might hint at what happened. I presume they would have told you if they had found any evidence that suggested Danny or Tommy had fled and in which direction.”
“I don’t recall, but as I realized eventually, these weren’t skilled crime scene investigators. Maybe there’s something in the case records. The ocean breezes and the tide might have made it difficult to track evidence left on the beach. One time when I spoke to Officer Higgins who oversaw the investigation, he mentioned something about ‘mother nature’ interfering with evidence at the scene.”
“I understand. That’s even more probable if you’re correct that the police didn’t do much investigating until the next morning when Mark Harwell’s body washed up on shore.” Jack shook his head. “What a shame. I’m sorry, Georgie. I hate it when the authorities drop the ball.”
“I know you do. I’m glad you care so much about doing your job.”
“It’s important to me, personally, to do my job. But it’s more than that—a matter of justice, too. Not to mention protecting others from a person who’s capable of killing another human being and still on the loose.”
“That’s a distressing thought, but you’re right. I told Carol I doubt Tommy Harwell could have stayed out of trouble this long if he was still around. He must be gone or dead like his brother. It’s even more troubling to imagine Danny as a killer lurking out there and ready to strike again.”
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Box Set Page 13
