Marriage Is Pure Murder

by Staci McLaughlin

  “The three of us standing on the sidewalk is probably attracting even more attention,” Mom said. “We’ll get out of your hair.”

  “Good idea. Maybe I could stop by tomorrow?” I asked Violet. “Your mom wanted to show me a couple of alternate flowers for my bouquet.” Too bad I couldn’t remember the name of either one of them.

  “Tomorrow would be good,” Violet agreed. “I’ll look over my mom’s ledger tonight. She always took meticulous notes.”

  “Great, I’ll see you then. And again, please accept my condolences.”

  Violet nodded and resumed sweeping. Mom and I paused at the curb for a break in traffic. When the next car slowed down in front of the flower shop, we trotted across the street and said our good-byes in front of Going Back for Seconds.

  I hurried back to the diner parking lot, aware that my lunch hour had gone longer than I’d intended, thanks to my talk with Violet. As I stuck my key in the ignition, my cell phone chimed. I checked the screen. Jason’s text offered a makeup dinner for the one I’d canceled the previous evening.

  I couldn’t type my reply fast enough. I mean, sure, one of Jason’s home-cooked meals sounded heavenly. But more importantly, I was dying to know what he’d found out about Bethany’s murder.

  Chapter 10

  The afternoon oozed along slower than the organic honey Zennia often bought at the farmers market. After I’d checked the clock for what felt like the hundredth time, my extended workday finally came to an end.

  As I saved the document I’d been working on, the office door opened and Esther walked in. “Oh, good, Dana, you’re still here.”

  I swiveled my chair around to face her. “You caught me as I’m wrapping up for the day,” I said, hoping she’d take the hint. I was anxious to meet Jason. “What can I do for you?”

  “I won’t keep you.” She held up two spools of wide ivory ribbon in a shimmery fabric that reminded me of the inside of a conch shell. “I wanted to show you the ribbon I found at the craft store. I thought it would look so pretty wrapped around the gazebo posts.”

  My irritation vanished, replaced by guilt. Here I was trying to rush Esther out of here and all she wanted to do was help me with my wedding. Shame on me.

  I stood up and hugged her. “The ribbon is beautiful. It’ll look fantastic tied on the posts.”

  Esther’s cheeks turned pink. “I want your big day to be the best it possibly can. You know how fond I am of Jason. And you, too, of course.”

  “With your help and Zennia’s, too, I know my day will be wonderful. I couldn’t possibly have planned this wedding without you.”

  Esther bit her lip and sat down in the metal guest chair near the door. Clearly she had something else on her mind. I settled back into my office chair.

  “I heard what happened to Bethany,” she said. “Will her passing cause you trouble with your flowers?”

  “No, her daughter plans to keep the shop open, and she said she can take care of my order.”

  Esther’s eyebrows came together, causing a deep furrow to appear. “Violet? I never pictured her following in Bethany’s footsteps. They’re such different people. Then again, she’s worked there longer than I ever expected she would, so perhaps she enjoys the business more than I thought.”

  I almost slapped my forehead as the figurative lightbulb went on. “That’s right. I forgot you knew Bethany for years.” I studied Esther’s face for any signs of grief. “How are you holding up?”

  Esther tugged on her blue-and-white-checkered shirt. “Well, of course, I was stunned beyond words when I heard she was murdered. To think someone waltzed right into her shop and killed her is impossible to imagine.”

  “I’m so sorry. It’s hard to lose a friend,” I said.

  She tipped her head. “She was a good woman, but I’d call her more of an acquaintance than a friend. Once we disbanded the Blossom Valley Rejuvenation Committee, I rarely saw her.”

  How could I forget the rejuvenation committee, a group of three who were intent on drumming up business in Blossom Valley? I’d helped the committee on several occasions, from setting up a cricket-chirping contest to organizing a green living festival to painting pictures on store windows when I had little experience painting anything, including my own fingernails. I’d done a private dance of joy when the group had broken up, and pushed those memories to the far reaches of my mind.

  “Tell me more about Bethany,” I said. “From my few interactions with her, she seemed very nice.”

  Esther started fiddling with the hem of her shirt again, never a good sign. “Yes, she could be nice,” she said, pulling on the fabric even harder.

  “Could be? Does that mean she normally wasn’t?”

  Esther let go of her shirt and ran her hands over her legs. “I don’t want to speak ill of the dead. Overall, Bethany was as sweet as a bowl of peach cobbler on a warm summer’s day.”

  I kept my gaze fixed on Esther. “What about when it wasn’t a summer’s day?”

  She avoided making eye contact. “Sometimes . . . she seemed a little too interested in other people’s lives.”

  “So she was a gossip,” I said. “We’ve got plenty of those around town.” I didn’t bother to tell Esther I’d met two such women at my lunch with Mom today.

  She shook her head. “Not so much a gossip. I’d say more of a snoop. She liked to ask really personal questions and was always watching you like she was waiting for the tiniest secret to slip out, like an egg popping out of a chicken.”

  I cringed at the image, but Esther didn’t notice.

  “I don’t think she passed the information along to anyone,” she said. “I got the feeling she just liked knowing everything about a person, especially the stuff they didn’t want other people to know.”

  Esther’s description dovetailed with what Mom had told me. If Bethany had pried into the wrong person’s life, she might have discovered information that had gotten her killed.

  Esther stood up and smoothed out her shirt. “Look at me, babbling on like I am, and here you said you were about finished with work. I’m sure you have plans tonight.”

  “Dinner with Jason. He’s cooking beef stroganoff.”

  Esther laid a hand on her cheek. “I remember when Arthur and I were engaged. Such a wonderful time.” She made a shooing motion at me. “Now skedaddle. You don’t want to keep your beau waiting.”

  I laughed at her antiquated words, but she didn’t need to tell me twice. I hurriedly shut down the computer, grabbed my purse and other belongings, and headed to my car. Here I’d been looking forward to what Jason might have learned about Bethany, but thanks to my little talk with Esther, I might be the one with something to share.

  * * *

  Forty-five minutes later, I had showered, donned a pair of dark jeans and a light blue sweater Ashlee swore was a dead match for my eyes, and dried my hair. After adding a touch of makeup, I grabbed my keys and drove across town to Jason’s duplex, which would be my home, too, in another week. I smiled when I saw the porch light already on, a sign he was waiting for me. Mom did the same thing when she was expecting Ashlee or me to visit.

  I locked my car and walked up the steps, noting the freshly mowed lawn and carefully swept walkway. My cleaning skills were decent, but Jason’s put mine to shame. Maybe I’d place him in charge of the cleaning once we were married. But then, would it be fair to make him cook, too?

  Still divvying up the chores in my head, I knocked on his front door. Jason opened it after a moment.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” he said, pulling me in for a kiss that set my insides on fire.

  We broke apart. “Wow, you sure know how to greet a gal,” I said.

  “Not just any gal. My soon-to-be wife. And there’s plenty more where that came from.” He winked at me, which only fanned the flames.

  He ushered me inside and closed the door. I sniffed the air and picked up a decidedly rich and beefy aroma that made my mouth water.

  “Have I ever told you
how much I love beef stroganoff?” I asked.

  “That’s why I made it. Come try a bite.” He took my hand and led me to the kitchen, where he dipped a spoon in one of the pans on the stove and held it out for me.

  I slurped up the sauce, savoring the rich, salty flavor. “Mmm, so good.” I batted my eyelashes at him. “Are you going to cook like this every night after we’re married?”

  Jason leaned down and gave me a kiss. “Not every night. When I’m under deadline, we may have to rely on sandwiches.”

  “Or pizza,” I said. “Or one of those giant trays of macaroni and cheese I’m always tempted by in the frozen food section. And don’t forget there’s always ramen noodles.”

  Jason clutched his stomach. “You and your packaged food. I’m definitely going to be in charge of meals, or I may not survive.”

  I lightly punched his arm. “My eating habits aren’t that bad. I even made a salad for dinner the other night.” Sure the lettuce had been buried under a pile of shredded cheese, bacon bits, and ranch dressing, but it was in the bowl somewhere.

  “At least you’re making progress.” He put on an oven mitt, opened the oven door, and pulled out a tray of roasted broccoli. “And here’s another chance to eat your vegetables.”

  I eyed the broccoli. It sizzled on the pan. “I hate to admit it, but that looks pretty tasty. Is that parmesan cheese on top?”

  “It adds a subtle saltiness.” He pulled two plates down from the cupboard and scooped up a pile of rice that was waiting in the other pot on the stove. He spooned generous helpings of beef stroganoff over the rice, added a few stalks of broccoli to the side, and carried the plates over to his dining room table, where place settings and glasses of red wine already waited. We sat down to eat.

  “Aunt Virginia called this afternoon,” Jason said as he lifted his forkful of stroganoff.

  “That’s your mother’s sister, right?”

  “Right. She wanted to tell me that Uncle Rick won’t be coming to the wedding.”

  I sipped my wine. “Is he sick?”

  “No, he fell off the ladder while cleaning out the gutters and chipped his tailbone. He’s not up for traveling.”

  “Poor guy,” I said. “Is Aunt Virginia going to stay home and take care of him?”

  Jason shook his head. “Their neighbor will watch him while Aunt Virginia flies out here.”

  “I’m glad.” I caught myself. “Not about Uncle Rick and his tailbone, of course. But I’m looking forward to meeting more of your relatives.” Jason’s parents visited on rare occasions, but I had yet to meet any other family members.

  “I only hope you see Cousin Eddie before we’ve opened the wine. After a few glasses, he usually starts speaking with a cockney accent and pretending he’s in the cast of Mary Poppins.”

  I laughed. “Sounds fun.”

  “If you say so.”

  We spent the rest of the meal chatting about other kooky relatives, like my great-uncle Fred, who thought it was hilarious to try to scare me with his false teeth, even though I’d stopped freaking out by the time I’d turned ten.

  As soon as I’d finished the last bite and wiped my mouth with a napkin, I said, “Thanks for dinner. Everything was absolutely delicious.”

  “I aim to please.”

  I washed my meal down with the remnants of my wine and set the glass firmly on the table. “Since we’re done eating, you can tell me all about Bethany’s murder, and anything Detective Palmer’s shared with you.” Though reporters and detectives were often at odds, at least on TV, Jason and Detective Palmer had become friends over the years and sometimes traded bits of information. The detective knew Jason could be discreet when necessary.

  Jason wiped his own mouth and set his napkin next to his plate. “I’m impressed you made it through dinner. I figured you’d start asking questions before I’d taken the first bite.”

  I gestured toward my plate. “You worked hard on the stroganoff. I didn’t want to spoil it by talking about murder.”

  “In that case, how about letting our food settle first? Discussing what happened might give you indigestion,” he said with a detectable twinkle in his eye.

  “Now you’re pushing it.” I grinned at him. “Spill it, or I won’t tell you what I know.”

  Jason leaned across the table. “And what do you know?”

  “You first.”

  I tried to look fierce, but I was bluffing. If Jason refused to divulge anything, I’d spill my info in a second.

  Thankfully, he didn’t call my bluff. “I’ll make you a deal,” he said. “I told the guy next door that I’d feed his dog while he’s out of town. Come help me, and I’ll tell you everything I’ve found out.”

  “Deal,” I said. I held out my hand, and we shook.

  We carried our dinner plates into the kitchen. Since Jason had cooked, I handled the dishes while he wiped down the counters and straightened up. That done, we headed to the other half of the duplex.

  Cutting past the neighbor’s shrub, we walked up to his door. Even before we made it there, I could hear the dog barking from inside, one persistent bark after another, occasionally punctuated with a growl.

  “It doesn’t sound terribly friendly,” I said. “Does it bite?”

  Jason pulled a key out of his pocket and inserted it in the lock. “The only real danger is that she’ll lick you to death.”

  “Guess I can take my chances.”

  He unlocked the door, and I followed him in. Immediately, I felt a series of rapid paw taps on my knees. Jason flicked on the light, and I looked down to see that I was being bombarded for attention by a copper-colored cocker spaniel. It started to whine. I reached down and ran my fingers over its silky fur.

  “That’s Molly,” Jason said. He squatted down, and she abandoned me and ran to him to be petted.

  We both showered the dog with affection for a minute, before Jason rose and led the way to the laundry room, where two dog dishes waited. I filled one with fresh water while Jason scooped dry dog food into the other. After Molly wolfed down her dinner, we took her outside to do her business.

  The backyard held a small patio with a kettle barbecue. The rest of the space was devoted to a large lawn and two lemon trees. While Molly romped in the grass, I sat in a plastic patio chair, crossed my arms and legs, and stared hard at Jason.

  He gave me a knowing smile. “All right, I guess you’ve been patient enough.” He dragged another patio chair over next to mine and sat down. “What would you like to know?”

  “Everything. Start with how Bethany actually died.”

  “She was shot once in the chest.”

  I shuddered. “Shot?” I repeated stupidly, though Ashlee had already told me that. Then again, she’d also told me Bethany had been shot fifteen times, so I hadn’t put too much credence in her information. I watched Molly sniff around the yard. “That might actually help Detective Palmer. Not everyone owns a gun.”

  The dog brought a ragged tennis ball over and dropped it at Jason’s feet. He bent down, picked it up, and launched it across the grass. Molly bounded after it. “True. Once he has a list of possible suspects, he can check to see if any have a weapon’s permit, although someone could have acquired a gun illegally.”

  “Blossom Valley isn’t exactly known as a great place to buy illegal guns from some guy in a dark alley.”

  Jason shook his head. “It’s more sophisticated than meeting in back alleys these days. You can find someone selling guns on any number of Web sites if you know where to look.”

  I’d never heard of any such sites, but I took his word for it. “Do they know what time she was killed? Was it right before I got to the shop?”

  “Looks that way. Couldn’t have been more than an hour before. Probably much less.”

  I tried not to think about what would have happened had I gotten off work early that day. “Did anyone hear the shot?” I asked. “That late in the afternoon, people would be going home from work, kids are out of school. Pl
enty of people should have been around.”

  “The ice cream parlor was packed with a group of kids who’d just won a soccer game. I talked to one of the employees, and she said she might have heard a bang, but with the kids screaming and hollering, she couldn’t be sure. A man came out of the store across the street and heard what he thought was a firecracker, but he figured some kids were goofing around in the back parking lot. A few other people reported hearing a pop, and one person even called nine-one-one, but no one looked around for where the sound came from.”

  Molly brought the ball back. This time I grabbed it before Jason could and heaved it across the yard. “Did anyone at least see anything?”

  “The guy who may have heard the shot didn’t notice anyone suspicious, but he admitted he wasn’t paying attention. The employee at the ice cream shop said she was too busy watching the kids to make sure they didn’t drip ice cream on the floor or use up all the napkins. Then two boys started playing tag around the tables, so she had her hands full. The woman who called nine-one-one was fairly close to the flower shop but saw nothing unusual.”

  I made a mental note not to work in an ice cream parlor if I ever lost my job at the farm. “I don’t remember seeing any kids when I tried the front of the flower shop, but maybe they were gone by then.” I watched Molly where she was lying in the grass and chewing on her tennis ball. I had a hard time picturing a bunch of kids celebrating a soccer win on one side of the common wall, while poor Bethany lay dying on the other.

  I could feel Jason studying me. “You all right?”

  “Just got lost in my thoughts for a minute.” I straightened in the plastic chair and tried to wave Molly over with her ball. She ignored me.

  “So what’s your big news?” Jason asked.

  I thought about what Esther had told me earlier. Now that I was about to pass it on to Jason, I wasn’t sure the information was such a huge deal. “I’d classify it more as little news.”