“I didn’t even think of resisting,” Moira admitted. “I just did what he told me and handed over the cash and my ring. I felt bad for not being brave, but at least I’m still here now. It really puts it in perspective.”
The three women fell silent for a few moments, each of them lost in thoughts about the recent streak of crimes. Eventually the deli owner sighed and stood up.
“I should get going,” she said. “I’ve got to stop by the deli and go over tomorrow’s recipe with Darrin. I’ll see you two later.”
“See you, Moira.”
She waved goodbye to her friends, then dumped her empty coffee cup in the trash can. She stood aside as the café’s door opened and nodded at the man who came through.
“Good morning, Ms. Darling,” he said.
“Good morning, Luis.”
He was one of her regulars, someone who had been coming to the deli almost since the first day it had opened. The familiarity with her customers was one of the things that she loved about Maple Creek. Despite everything that was going on, they really were a community.
In her car, she glanced at her phone one last time before pulling out of the parking lot. Still no call from David. She felt bad about not being completely honest with him about going to see the man at the pawn shop. I’ll tell him tonight, she resolved. There shouldn’t be secrets between us. If there’s one person I can trust completely, it’s him.
Dinner that night was fresh baked trout, roasted potatoes and garlic, and a salad that Moira had thrown together herself. When David came in the door, he remarked on how good it smelled.
“I’m never going to regret marrying a cook,” he said with a smile. “Though I’d still love you even if you were the sort of person that burned water whenever you tried to boil it.”
“That’s good to know,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “You love me for more than my food. I’m sure the food doesn’t hurt, though. Do you want to sit down? I set the table.”
“Let me take my coat off first,” he said, chuckling. “I’ll join you in a minute.”
They sat down together and dug in. Moira was proud of the meal. She didn’t cook fish often, but the trout had turned out great. The potatoes and garlic weren’t too shabby either. It was a simple recipe — the redskin potatoes were cubed and tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper before being baked with cloves of garlic.
“I want to say something,” David began after they had been eating for a few minutes. Moira looked up, surprised. She had been just about to say almost exactly the same thing.
“What?”
“I’m sorry for telling you what to do,” he said. “You’re my wife, but you’re also your own person and I shouldn’t be trying to control what you do. You know I want you to be safe, but in the end, it’s your choice whether you get involved with things like looking for a murderer. I understand why you want to be involved; it’s personal, and you’re one of the few people that has actually seen the guy.”
“Thank you,” she said slowly. This was unexpected, that was for sure. Was he going to let her start helping him with more of his cases? An idea occurred to her. She knew he was still looking for an assistant… what if instead of hiring a stranger, she became his assistant? She didn’t need to work at the deli as much as she had been; her employees had most of the shifts covered, and most of the time they really didn’t need an extra person, especially during the slowest times.
She resolved to think about it later. She wasn’t sure what all David had in mind for his assistant to do, and she didn’t want to get stuck filing paperwork or something boring like that. Not that she wouldn’t be willing to help David with that if he needed it, but what she wanted was something more exciting.
“I’ve got something I’ve been wanting to talk about too,” she said instead. It was time to come clean about her visit to the pawn shop. No secrets meant no secrets, not even harmless ones. And especially not ones involving potential murderers.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
* * *
A day spent shopping with her daughter was an opportunity that Moira didn’t think she would ever turn down. It was a Saturday, and Lake Marion, while not exactly bustling, was certainly a busy little town. Candice met her mother at the door with her calico cat, Felix, in her arms. She had gotten Felix as a kitten, and while he had grown to be a large cat, he still had much of his playful, adolescent personality. The deli owner scratched his head affectionately.
“Hey little buddy,” she said. “Are you excited about the wedding? I bet you would be, if you could understand us.”
“I think he’ll just be happy when I’m not so busy,” Candice said, kissing the top of his head and then setting him on the floor. “I’m not getting married for another eight months. It’s crazy how much there is to do.”
“Trust me, I know,” Moira said. “I’ve done it twice.”
“I’m glad I have your help. Otherwise I’d be totally overwhelmed.”
“I’m happy to do anything you need me to,” she said. “What’s on the list for today?”
“Honestly, I just want to spend a day shopping and having fun. If I see something I like for the wedding, maybe I’ll buy it, but otherwise let’s just relax.”
“That sounds perfect to me,” Moira said. “I’m just along for the ride.”
Lake Marion was about the same size as Maple Creek, but was built around the lake that it was named after. It was a beautiful little town, and Moira had considered moving to it after her home of twenty years had burnt down. Fifteen minutes away from her Maple Creek — when the roads were good, at least — it wouldn’t have been that far of a drive to get to work at the deli, but she had ended up moving into the little stone house halfway between the two towns instead.
Candice’s Candies was right on the busiest street in town. The lower portion of the building was devoted to the storefront and the kitchen, and the upper part featured two apartments, one of which Candice had lived in for a while after first starting her business. Before its current incarnation, the candy shop had been a toy store. Moira and David had both helped with the renovations, and the deli owner felt a certain fondness for the place. Even though it was closed until that afternoon, the shop had a certain undeniable cheeriness.
“You’ll have to remind me to order some more of those double filled caramel chocolates,” Moira said as they passed by the candy store. “I finished the last batch just before David and I left for Europe.”
“I’ll try to remember to make some more for you next week,” her daughter said. “They’re popular. I can’t keep them on the shelves.”
“I’m not surprised. Have the dentists started complaining yet? You must have given half of the children in town cavities by now.”
“I’m sure they’re glad for the extra appointments,” Candice said with a laugh. “I don’t think the candy I make is any worse than what they buy in stores. It’s probably healthier, since I don’t use as many preservatives and I use only natural ingredients when I can.”
“I’m sure it is,” Moira said. “After tasting the chocolates you make, I don’t even like store bought candy all that much anymore.”
“It’s just like the difference between soup from a can and homemade soup,” her daughter said. “Homemade is always better.”
“It definitely is,” the deli owner said.
“Oh, has David found anyone to help him out yet?” Candice asked. “I know someone that might want the job if he hasn’t.”
“Actually… I was thinking I might do it,” Moira said. She hadn’t told anyone this yet, but it felt good to share it with her daughter. “The deli is running just fine without me, and I need something to do with my time. Why do you look so surprised?”
“Well, it’s just that I thought you were going to try to expand the deli? Maybe open a second location up somewhere? I know you talked about it before, and I guess I always just kind of figured that was what you were going to do.”
“I do want to
do that. I haven’t really made up my mind yet, I guess. I need to talk to David and see what he has to say. Whatever I end up doing next, it will affect both of us.”
They spent the next few hours exploring the small shops in Lake Marion. As it neared lunch time, the two of them drove to Maple Creek. They settled down in the same cafe where Moira had enjoyed coffee with her two friends the day before and shared a light lunch.
“There’s something I wanted to ask you,” Candice said as she picked apart her scone.
“Ask away, sweetie.”
“Well, I always thought Dad would walk me down the aisle, but he’s gone now, and, well… I was thinking I might ask David to do it.”
Moira looked up at her daughter, surprised and touched. “I think that’s a wonderful idea, Candice. I’m sure he would be delighted.”
“Really? You don’t think he would think it was weird?”
“Of course not. He’s your stepfather. He considers you to be part of his family.”
“All right, if you think he’d be okay with it… I’ll ask him next time I see him.”
Moira beamed at her. She loved the fact that Candice liked David. She knew he could never replace her biological father, but hopefully he would be able to fill much of the same space he had left in her life.
The door to the cafe opened. The deli owner glanced up reflexively, then did a double take when she saw who was walking in. It was the man from the pawn shop — her top suspect in Edna’s murder.
“Mom? You okay?”
She forced her attention back to her daughter and tried to smile. Her heart was beating heavily, and she kept the man in her peripheral vision. Was he going to commit another robbery right now? No, he wasn’t wearing the ski mask or gloves, and there were plenty of witnesses. It didn’t fit how he usually operated. He’s probably just in for a cup of coffee, Moira thought. Just act normal.
That was easier said than done. She didn’t want to draw any attention to herself in case he recognized her, but she also didn’t want to let him out of her sight. If she tried to leave right now, Candice would surely ask why they were leaving without finishing their lunch, which would just give the man more reason to notice her. She decided to sit tight and hold her breath hoping that he wasn’t going to order a meal.
She breathed a sigh of relief when he left with a coffee in hand a few minutes later. Candice kept shooting her sideways glances, but after a few minutes seemed to put it up to her mother just being weird. That was close, Moira thought. Maybe David had a point. I don’t want to give this guy any reason to think I’m suspicious of him. It could put not just me, but those I love in danger.
CHAPTER TWELVE
* * *
Moira dropped Candice back off at her house a few hours later. She had enjoyed all the time spent with her daughter, but ever since running into the man from the pawn shop at the cafe, she hadn’t been able to shake a clinging feeling of anxiety. She wished she had never gone to the pawn shop to see him. Putting herself at risk was one thing, but she never wanted to do anything to bring her daughter into harm’s way. David said he hasn’t found anything to tie the guy to the crime yet, she thought. He could very well be innocent. I’m probably overreacting.
She was still feeling uneasy as she drove back into Maple Creek. She had been planning to stop at the deli before going home to check in, but made a split-second decision as she passed the police station and ended up pulling into the parking lot. If Detective Jefferson was in, he might be able to answer a few of her questions — or at the very least, make her feel better by assuring her that the man from the pawn shop was being watched.
“Take a seat Ms. Darling.” The detective stood as she seated herself in the comfortable leather chair across the desk from him, then sat down himself. “Would you like a water or a coffee?”
“I’m fine, thanks,” she said.
“I know what you’re here for, and I’m afraid I can’t help,” Detective Jefferson said. “I don’t have any new information I can share with you. We did speak with one person who was linked to the robbery, but he’s a minor and I’m unable to give out any names. We haven’t had any real leads since.”
“What about the man in the video?” she asked.
“The man in your security video?” Jefferson raised an eyebrow. “What about him?”
“Did you take him in for questioning or search his house or anything?”
“We did send an officer to speak with him and look through the merchandise in his store,” the detective said. “No stolen goods were found.”
“He might be a killer. Is that really all you can do?” Moira asked, feeling desperate.
“He has rights,” Jefferson said. “We can only do so much without stronger evidence. From what David said, you didn’t feel very certain it was him. Him being a large guy who happened to look into the camera and who owns a pair of black gloves isn’t enough to grant us a warrant.”
“It’s hard to be certain of anything,” she said. “It all happened so fast. I wish I could remember more about the man who robbed the deli. I feel like I just gave up the moment he pulled the gun.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he told her. “Memories of traumatic events often get distorted. It’s perfectly normal, but it’s why we can’t go arresting a guy who vaguely matches the general body type of the person who assaulted you, not without more to go on.”
“I understand,” she said reluctantly. “I’m sorry for bothering you. It’s just frustrating.”
“I know it is. It’s always hard when a case just doesn’t move forward. Don’t give up, though. We’ll catch the guy responsible, eventually, if I have anything to say about it.”
When Moira left the police station, she felt a little bit better. It was reassuring to be reminded that the men and women protecting Maple Creek were doing their jobs, and she was confident that eventually they would crack the case. She just wished she could be more sure about who the suspect was. The man from the pawn shop seemed to fit with what she remembered of the armed robber, but like Detective Jefferson had said, there just wasn’t any concrete evidence. If she could find something tying him to the crime… No. She shook her head, pushing the thought away. If he was the killer, the last thing she wanted was for him to catch her digging around into his past. It was time to go home and let the professionals do their jobs.
Even though it was a Saturday, David was busy working. She knew that he was trying to tie up a few of his simpler cases so he could put his full focus towards figuring out who had robbed the deli and killed Edna. Moira wished that she had remembered to offer to bring him lunch while she had been in Lake Marion with Candice, but she had just been too distracted after running into the guy from the pawn shop. She would make up for it by making a nice dinner for them that evening.
She meant to start on the cooking right away, but when Maverick and Keeva greeted her at the door with their soulful chocolate eyes and happy tails, she decided that cooking could wait. It was high time that she spend some quality time with her dogs. They had been so good while she was away, and had adjusted to life with David in the house extremely well. She had no doubt that they were content, but it had been far too long since she had gone on a walk through the woods with just her and them.
Since she was already wearing boots and her coat, she just dropped her purse off inside and held the front door open for the dogs. They came dashing out and ran in a big loop through the yard. The ground was slushy with half melted snow, and muddy droplets of water flew through the air like mini missiles.
“Let’s go, you two,” she called. “Walk!”
She began sloshing her way across the yard to the trail head. The dogs followed behind her, pushing through the bracken and undergrowth to the sides of the trail. She knew that Keeva would need some help getting the burrs out of her fur later, but the fun that the dog was having right now made it worth it. It was easy to forget about her worries while she was surrounded by nature and had her two furry
protectors close by her side.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
* * *
Moira got to the deli on Monday in time to make the soup of the day before they began serving lunch. It was a new recipe; bean and winter squash soup. She was eager to try it, and felt sure it would go well with the gloomy winter weather they had been having.
While Darrin and Meg made crepes and prepared breakfast orders to-go for customers, she began the task of chopping up the vegetables that would be going in the soup. Garlic, carrots, onions, spinach and, of course, squash. She had a couple large butternut squashes left over in the freezer from the local farmer’s market that autumn, and it was these that she had defrosted and was using now. Butternut squashes were one of her favorites, and as far as she was concerned, it was hard to go wrong with one in a soup.
A Quiche To Die For: Book 17 in The Darling Deli Series Page 5
