Strawberries and Strangers_A Cozy Murder Mystery

by Leena Clover

  “I know you’re worried about her, Jenny. Why don’t you go get a good lawyer?”

  “She has a lawyer,” Jenny said.

  She stormed out as she remembered Jason Stone. It took three hours for Jason to work his magic. Jenny finally walked out of the police station with Star. Her aunt looked haggard as she leaned against her.

  “We’re going home now,” Jenny promised.

  “Let’s go to the Boardwalk Café first,” Star said weakly. “The girls must be worried.”

  Petunia and Betty Sue Morse were sitting at the same table where Jenny had left them. An empty coffee pot sat next to a pile of dirty cups. They had been joined by Heather and Molly from the library.

  “Star!” they exclaimed as soon as they spied Jenny walking up the steps with her aunt.

  “I’ll get you a sandwich,” Petunia said, getting up.

  She was back with two plates. The group refused to talk until Jenny and Star had eaten something.

  Betty Sue Morse rapped the table as Star wolfed down her last bite.

  “Are you going to get to the bottom of this, Jenny?”

  Chapter 7

  Petunia closed the café a few hours early that day. She handed over a brown paper bag to Captain Charlie as she turned him away.

  “We got to hunker down and take some serious action,” she told him.

  “Did that Hopkins boy really arrest Star?”

  “So you heard already,” Petunia sighed. “He did, Captain Charlie. Jenny went and got Jason Stone to bail her out.”

  “Tell her to hang in there,” Captain Charlie said as he peeked into the brown paper bag. “There’s plenty for me here. You gals take care of Star now.”

  He walked down the steps of the café and crossed the boardwalk. Petunia saw him heading to the beach and went inside with determination.

  “Start talking, Jenny,” she commanded as she sat down next to Betty Sue. “What’s the plan?”

  Jenny was feeling flustered. Star came to her rescue.

  “Relax! Adam’s just doing his job. I guess he had to bring someone in to show them he’s doing something.”

  “He said you had a record,” Jenny said meekly.

  Star didn’t bat an eyelid.

  “Of course I have a record. I was an activist back in the day.”

  “What for?” Molly asked curiously.

  “It was the 60s,” Star shrugged. “We protested about pretty much everything.”

  “Were you in an anti-war protest?” Jenny asked.

  “Anti-war, civil rights, women’s lib, you name it…”

  “Your aunt’s supported the pelicans and the whales too,” Betty Sue said proudly. “She’s one of a kind.”

  “That was several years ago. It doesn’t have any bearing on the crime today.”

  “They always bring the ex-cons in first,” Star said in a matter of fact way.

  “How can you be so cool about this?” Jenny quizzed. “Bail is just a reprieve. We need to prove you didn’t do this.”

  “Isn’t that the job of the police?” Heather asked.

  She was clutching Tootsie in her arms again. She had run back to the inn in Jenny’s absence and found Tootsie whining in a corner. Tootsie refused to eat her lunch so Heather brought the poodle back with her and fed her at the cafe. Between Heather and Betty Sue, Tootsie was used to being pampered. She always got her way. Petunia warned Heather to keep the poodle away from the kitchen.

  “If the police were doing their job, they would never have taken Star in.”

  Petunia seconded Betty Sue’s statement.

  “You’re the smart one here, Jenny. What’s our next step?”

  “I’m as clueless as you are,” Jenny protested. “I’m not an investigator.”

  “Maybe not,” Betty Sue reasoned. “But you have city smarts. And you went to college.”

  Jenny wiped off the specials board and picked up a piece of chalk. She needed to write things down. She always worked better with lists.

  “Let’s write down what we know,” she said.

  “We don’t know the name of the victim,” Molly Henderson said primly. “He’s a John Doe as they say in the movies.”

  Jenny wrote ‘Name’ on the board and added ‘Unknown’ in front of it.

  “Address is also unknown,” Heather spoke up.

  “Purpose of Visit,” Betty Sue supplied.

  “Person Visiting,” Petunia said, getting into the rhythm.

  “All of these are Unknown,” Jenny said as she updated the board. “So we essentially know nothing about this person.”

  “We know how he looks,” Star said casually.

  “What?” Jenny burst out. “How do we know that?”

  “Adam showed me a photo, remember?” Star asked them. “I can draw a sketch based on that.”

  “You remember his face?” Jenny asked.

  Star shrugged.

  “All I need is a pencil and some paper, or a crayon. Anything, really.”

  “I’ll go get some,” Heather offered.

  She set Tootsie down and pulled at her leash.

  “Come on Toots.”

  Jenny made some fresh coffee while Heather was gone, although she wasn’t sure if she could handle more caffeine. Her brain was already buzzing with a thousand questions.

  Heather was back, clutching paper and pencils, tugging Tootsie behind her.

  Star got to work. The girls watched silently as Star’s fingers flew across the paper. She had drawn a rough outline within seconds. She finally looked up five minutes later and handed them the paper.

  Betty Sue, Petunia, Heather and Jenny stared at the picture that emerged. None of them noticed Molly’s face turn white.

  The face that stared back at them was ordinary. They were sure of one thing. They had never set eyes on him before.

  “He’s not from Pelican Cove,” Betty Sue declared. “I should know.”

  Betty Sue prided herself on knowing everyone in town. She had lived there for 75 years and she hailed from the first family of the island.

  “He hasn’t come to the cafe,” Petunia said strongly. “I would remember a stranger.”

  “What about you, Star?” Jenny asked. “Have you seen him before?”

  Star shook her head.

  “Doesn’t look familiar to me. I know most people in town. I even remember some of the regular tourists.”

  Jenny looked around at them.

  “What do we do now?”

  Molly cleared her throat and stood up.

  “I’m sorry, but I have to get back to work.”

  “Thanks for coming here,” Jenny said, giving Molly a hug. “It means a lot to me.”

  “What’s eating her?” Betty Sue whispered as soon as Molly left. “Did you see the sweat beading her brow?”

  “Hush, Betty Sue,” Petunia said, tapping her friend on the hand. “Pay attention to Jenny.”

  “Does anyone have any ideas?” Jenny asked.

  “Why don’t we make copies and show this picture around?” Heather asked.

  “That’s brilliant, Heather,” Jenny said with a smile. “We can post a picture up here on the bulletin board. Maybe you can put one up at the inn.”

  “Why stop there?” Betty Sue asked. “Take a picture around to all the local shops. Go to Williams’ Seafood Market and the Rusty Anchor. Add your phone number at the bottom and ask people to contact you if they know something.”

  “What about the sheriff?” Jenny mused. “Will he have a problem with this?”

  “You’ll find out soon enough,” Betty Sue snorted. “You’re doing nothing wrong.”

  Star wanted to fill in some color in the picture to make it look more lifelike. She finally handed it over to Jenny.

  “Do you have a scanner?” she asked her aunt. “I can scan this and print out copies.”

  “It’s broken,” Star told her.

  Jenny looked at Heather.

  “Don’t look at me. We don’t even have a computer
at the inn. Grandma won’t let me buy one.”

  “You don’t need that machine to keep track of a few guests,” Betty Sue began, ready to embark on her hobby horse.

  “I’ll go to the nearest copy place,” Jenny said hastily.

  “You’ll have to drive over to the next town,” Petunia told her. “They have one of those business centers in the mall where that big grocery store is.”

  “Doesn’t the library have a copier?” Star asked.

  “Duh!” Jenny said with a laugh. “That should work just fine. How many copies shall I get?”

  Betty Sue and Heather left with Jenny.

  “I haven’t done any of my chores today,” Heather said.

  She was in charge of cleaning the rooms. Their new guests would be checking in later that evening.

  “Go with Jenny and bring back a few copies for us,” Betty Sue told Heather as she took Tootsie’s leash. “I’ll give this sweetie her walk and then head home.”

  “Okay Grandma!” Heather agreed.

  Molly was nowhere in sight when they reached the library.

  “She went home early,” one of the girls who worked at the library told them. “Had a migraine.”

  “Ohhh…” Jenny sympathized. “Sounds painful.”

  Jenny got fifty copies of the picture and handed a few over to Heather.

  “I wish I could go with you,” Heather said wistfully. “But duty calls.”

  “Don’t worry,” Jenny patted her on the shoulder. “You’ve been a big help. I am so glad I have your support.”

  “You can count on me, Jenny,” Heather said, pulling her in for a quick hug.

  Jenny went back to the Boardwalk Café and pinned the picture up on their bulletin board. The notice seeking help was already gone. Jenny wondered if someone had removed it to get rid of the competition. She would put a new one up later.

  Petunia was cleaning up in the kitchen. Star was sitting at the table, looking exhausted. Her tie dyed tee shirt looked cheap in the afternoon light. Her face was devoid of any makeup. Her earlobes, one longer than the other, looked odd without their dangling earrings. It looked like the police hadn’t waited long enough for her aunt to dress properly.

  “Can we go home now, Jenny?” Star asked.

  “I was thinking of handing these out at a couple of places,” Jenny said. “Why don’t we grab a pint at the Rusty Anchor while we’re at it?”

  “You go ahead,” Star said. “I’m going home.”

  Jenny felt torn.

  “I’ll be home soon,” she promised. “I think we should show these pictures around as soon as possible.”

  “You’re right, dear,” Star conceded. “But I need to lie down.”

  “Will you promise to take it easy?” Jenny asked. “I’ll make dinner once I get home. I have some chicken breasts marinating in the fridge. Maybe I’ll get some fresh shrimp at the market.”

  As expected, the thought of her favorite shrimp for dinner drew a tired smile out of Star. She urged Jenny to get going.

  A gentle breeze was blowing over the ocean. Jenny looked longingly at the boardwalk and promised herself a walk on the beach after dinner. She went out of the front entrance of the café and walked down the street. Her first stop was the seafood market. She ran into Chris as soon as she went in.

  “Hey Jenny, how are you holding up?” he asked when he saw her.

  His eyes were laced with concern. Jenny realized the town grapevine had spread the news of Star’s arrest far and wide. Everyone in town must know about it, she realized.

  “Have you seen this man before?” she asked, showing Chris the victim’s picture.

  Chris looked at it closely and shook his head. His eyes narrowed as he realized the significance.

  “Is this that guy who died?”

  Jenny nodded.

  “Do you have a board or something where I can pin this up?”

  Chris stepped out from behind the counter and took her to a big cork board hanging on the wall. He pulled off some old flyers and put the picture up in a prominent position.

  “Can you ask people to give it a glance?” she asked.

  “I won’t have to,” Chris assured her. “Almost every person coming in checks out the board.”

  “How was your dinner date at the Steakhouse?” Jenny asked, genuinely interested.

  “Did Heather tell you anything?” Chris asked.

  His ears had turned red when Jenny asked him about their date. Jenny thought it was cute.

  “Don’t forget the Boardwalk Café when you’re looking for a caterer,” she winked.

  “Huh?” Chris asked, looking bewildered.

  “Never mind,” Jenny said, taking pity on him.

  Guys could be so clueless.

  “Got any of your famous shrimp?”

  “Of course,” Chris said. “The catch just came in. I’ve got some already peeled and deveined.”

  “I’ll take a pound of that please,” Jenny said.

  She would use the same marinade she had used for the chicken, tequila and lime. It was her aunt’s favorite. A nice chicken and shrimp dinner with some herbed rice and veggies would cheer Star up. They could have the orange strawberry cupcakes later for dessert.

  “Why don’t you leave some more here?” Chris said, pointing to the stack of pictures in Jenny’s hand. “I’ll ask some of the watermen to pin them up near the dock. Who knows, maybe the guy came here by boat?”

  “Good idea!” Jenny said brightly.

  She handed over a few pictures to Chris and set off for the Rusty Anchor.

  Eddie Cotton greeted her as soon as she entered the pub.

  “Why aren’t you home taking care of your aunt?” he asked.

  “This is my last stop before heading home,” Jenny promised.

  She handed over some pictures and asked Eddie to show them around.

  “Haven’t set eyes on this one,” Eddie said before she could ask him a question. “I never forget a face.”

  Jenny pulled up a stool and leaned against the bar. She talked to a few people as they entered the pub. She called it a day after some time and trudged home.

  Chapter 8

  Star rallied around a bit after dinner. Jenny made sure she was settled in front of the TV with some peppermint tea. She took a wrap and went out for the walk she had promised herself.

  Roses bloomed in the garden next door. Seaview was a three storied house with large wraparound porches facing the sea. It had been for sale since Jenny came to Pelican Cove. A gardener came in every few days but the yard was beginning to look run down. The motion sensing lights at Seaview came on as Jenny walked past. She saw a familiar figure in the distance.

  Tank trotted up to her but cowered when she tried to pat him.

  “Hello,” Adam called out.

  He was limping a bit more than usual. Jenny wondered if his condition was permanent.

  “Looks like we have a storm coming in,” he said. “My leg always lets me know.”

  “Does it hurt a lot?” Jenny asked.

  “Nothing a few pills can’t fix.”

  “I hear they can be habit forming,” Jenny said.

  She almost bit her lip as the words slipped from her mouth. She didn’t mean to imply Adam was addicted to his medicine.

  Surprisingly, Adam didn’t seem to take offense.

  “It’s a line I try hard not to cross,” he admitted.

  Jenny said goodbye and walked on. She wondered if Adam would come to her beach for a walk every day. There were plenty of beaches in the town of Pelican Cove but many of them were rugged and strewn with rocks. The beach her aunt’s house was on was a smooth stretch of two miles facing the ocean.

  Jenny had a smile on her face the next day as she whipped the batter for some pancakes.

  “Looks like you had a good night,” Petunia remarked. “How’s your aunt doing?”

  “She’s okay. I convinced her to stay at home today. She can paint off some of her photos.”

 
“She’s got plenty of those,” Petunia nodded, her chins jiggling in tandem. “Don’t forget to ask people about that picture on the bulletin board.”

  “I won’t,” Jenny promised.

  Captain Charlie came in for coffee and a muffin. He looked around for Star.

  “She’s at home today,” Jenny told him.

  “That’s hard to believe,” Captain Charlie snorted. “Probably rushed off somewhere soon as you turned your back.”

  Jenny shrugged. Her aunt wasn’t a captive. She could go out if she wanted to.

  “Have you seen this man before, Captain Charlie?”

  She gave a quick account of how they got the picture.

  “Can’t say I have,” Captain Charlie shook his head. “Have you got any more of those? I’ll put one up in my office.”

  Jenny asked the same question to the guests as she poured coffee and filled breakfast orders. She spotted Kevin the mailman walking down the street on his rounds and suddenly remembered her unopened mail. Had she taken it home with her?

  Kevin came into the café an hour later.

  “How about some of that famous coffee?” he asked Jenny. “And one banana nut muffin, please.”

  “Is that to go?” Jenny asked.

  Kevin thought for a minute and shook his head.

  “You know what? I think I’ll have it here. I can take a break now.”

  Jenny took over the coffee and muffin and let Kevin get started. He gave her his usual salute and took a large bite of the muffin.

  “Delicious! I don’t know how we survived before you came to town.”

  Jenny let him make some small talk and pointed toward the bulletin board. Kevin took a deep sip of his coffee and gave her a sympathetic look.

  “I heard about your aunt. I am so sorry. Star is such a force around town.”

  “Do you recognize this guy?” Jenny asked. “You must get to every nook and corner of the island on your rounds. Did you come across him anywhere?”

  Kevin stood up and walked to the board. He looked at the picture from either side. Jenny felt some hope spring within her. Kevin asked her to pull it off the board so he could have a better look. Jenny went in and brought out a fresh print.

  Kevin took it out in the sun and peered at it closely.