A Juicy Murder

by Eryn Scott

  Sharon had chosen the position for the cooler on purpose, finding the place in the office that was best for hearing what was going on in all areas.

  “I told you, I have nothing to hide,” Jenny said, her voice slightly muffled, but still audible in the spot Hadley stood. “I couldn’t break into a house or an apartment any better than I can break into a computer or its files. We just had computer issues at work, and we hired a guy to come fix them because I’m helpless when it comes to that stuff. If I was some mastermind, why would Hunk hire someone else?”

  That’s why Hunk hired Michael, Hadley thought, remembering him saying Hunk had hired him to fix an issue. She sipped on her water.

  “But you use a computer for a good portion of your job, don’t you?” Paul asked.

  “Sure, and I’m good at the program we use, but not if something breaks. It’s why I purchased CPU Knight for my home computer. I wish I was better, but I honestly couldn’t begin to tell you how to do any of the things you think I did.”

  “Then how do you account for your hair tie showing up at Hadley’s house the night she was robbed?”

  There was a long pause. “I swear, I’ve never been there. I thought I proved that when I agreed to the DNA test. Why would I do that if I was guilty?”

  Another pause followed, but this silence wasn’t broken by talking, but rather Paul emerging from the conference room. His expression was taut with frustration. When his gaze landed on Hadley, his frown softened but only for a second. He glanced at the water cooler and narrowed his eyes.

  “Hydrated?” he asked, walking past her toward his desk.

  Hadley’s neck grew hot, and she dropped her gaze to the floor as she followed him. “Sorry, I’m just worried about Sweet Pea.”

  Paul slumped into his chair. “I know. We searched her house and found nothing. Nothing suspicious on her computer, and not so much as a mouse’s skeleton in any of her closets. Also, no Sweet Pea.” He sighed.

  Hadley paced in front of the desk. “But she could’ve erased her computer files after breaking into my place.”

  “Very true, and we’ll look into that further if we need to.” He caught Hadley’s gaze with his. “She’s been very cooperative. Not at all like she’s hiding something.”

  “What’d she say about her alibi?” Hadley asked.

  “She said she was at home, sick,” Paul explained. “But she has no one who can confirm that. Kevin is at the gym right now looking through her reception desk area. I should head over there to help.”

  Opening her mouth, Hadley was just about to ask if Michael might search her computer, when Paul’s phone rang.

  “Hey, Kev. What’s up?” Paul asked. He listened for a moment, his eyebrows lifting. “Okay. Get it here as soon as you can.”

  Hadley recognized her brother’s expression. They’d found something.

  Hanging up, Paul’s eyes shone with excitement. “Kevin found the envelope with the blackmail meant for Simone under a pile of papers on Jenny’s desk.” He stood then stalked back toward the conference room.

  Hadley sunk into his now empty chair. A few minutes later, Kevin walked into the office. He nodded to Hadley but went directly to the conference room. Once the door shut behind him, Hadley scurried over to the water cooler, pouring herself another drink. She wasn’t sure why she kept up the ruse, but it seemed odd to just stand there and listen without the water.

  “So you really have no idea how this envelope ended up on your desk?” Paul asked.

  “Really. I’ve never seen that before in my life.” She sighed. “Look, someone is obviously trying to set me up. I just wish you believed me.”

  “Jenny, we’re trying, but there are a few facts stacked against you here. If you could tell us anything to prove you were home all day last Friday, or …” Paul paused.

  “I wish I could too. I was home. I have no idea where the cat is or why someone would take it from Hadley’s house.” She sounded like she might burst into tears.

  Either the woman was a fantastic liar, or she was right, someone set her up. Regardless, they were no closer to finding Sweet Pea, and every hour they didn’t find her made Hadley anxious that they wouldn’t.

  Hadley drank the rest of the water and moved back toward Paul’s desk, but she couldn’t sit. Her hope slowly deflated.

  Minutes later, Paul walked out of the conference room, flanking Jenny. She shot a forlorn look over at Hadley before walking out toward the front of the offices. Paul followed her, coming back a minute later. The expression he wore confirmed Hadley wasn’t the only one who thought it would be hard to prove this was Jenny.

  “I’m sorry.” Paul settled into his chair and moved a stack of file folders to the right and then back where they were. “She could be lying, but if it’s not Jenny, we have to figure out who could’ve had a motive or means to try setting her up.”

  At that moment, Suze showed up with a tray of coffees. “Had, we’ve got to go set up for the market,” she said, passing one to Hadley, Paul, and then Kevin. “I can set up for you if you need me to.”

  “That’s okay.” She shook her head. “I’ll come.”

  It didn’t matter. They were back at square zero.

  22

  Hadley hoped the farmers market would cheer her up, but the case hitting a brick wall made her feel like all hope was lost.

  Luke was still gone too, which only made her more forlorn. Hadley missed seeing him behind the Fenton Farms booth, not realizing what a comfort it had been over the last year since he’d moved back, seeing him there every Saturday.

  She, Gran, and Suze sat in the shade of their pop up. After the initial rush of crowds after the market opened, there was a lull. In this relative silence, Hadley explained the Jenny conundrum to Suze and Gran, who had stopped by to help.

  “As much as it stinks, you’re right; she doesn’t seem guilty of anything but being set up.” Suze picked at a piece of dried paint on her shoe.

  Gran nodded. “And Paul’s sure it’s not this Muscles McGee guy?” she asked.

  Hadley suppressed a chuckle, and she could see Suze do the same.

  “Hunk DeMuscles, Gran,” Hadley corrected, realizing it wasn’t much better. “And yes, he’s pretty sure.”

  “What about the mayor?” Gran said. “I thought you had a very compelling argument why he and the juice lady were viable suspects.”

  “I think Paul’s right. They wouldn’t have known about the blackmail and wouldn’t have a motive to hurt Laney, nor would they have known who she was or what she looked like. Owen and Hunk only knew because she’d been in the blackmail video. There’s no way Simone could’ve watched the video and then killed Laney in the time frame she had, and they accounted for Guy up in Cascade Ridge.”

  “So you’re not only catless, but officially suspectless too.” Gran shook her head.

  “Yeah.” Hadley felt her shoulders droop forward.

  “Remind me again why Paul’s not arresting Owen,” Suze said.

  Hadley shrugged. “It’s all too convenient. Those three names are left behind, but they wipe everything else? It’s like Jenny. They’re being set up for a reason, to distract us. All the clues we really needed were erased.”

  A few customers approached the booth, and Hadley helped them with the sale. After they left, she turned to her grandmother and her friend.

  “How are you even supposed to solve a case when someone got rid of all the important stuff?”

  Suze groaned. “It sounds impossible, doesn’t it?”

  “I hear you,” Gran said. “I assumed I was becoming computer savvy, but without CPU Knight I’m still to slogging through that virus.”

  Hadley chewed on her lip. She hadn’t told Gran anything about the connection between Laney and CPU Knight, not wanting to worry her.

  “Maybe they’re on vacation,” Hadley said instead, adding, “But I know of someone who’s a tech genius who might help you in the meantime.”

  Gran perked up.

 
; “Is it Luke?” Suze asked.

  Hadley shook her head. “He’s off in Seattle putting out a fire with his company. I don’t want to bug him. The guy I’m talking about is named Michael. He’s a tech kid McKay gets to do freelance work for the department every once in a while. He was the one who recovered Laney’s files from the smashed laptop. I wonder if he would help Gran for a small fee.”

  “It’s worth a shot,” Suze said. “Do you know how to get ahold of him?”

  Hadley sighed. “No.” She tapped her fingers on her lip. “But I know someone who might.”

  Hours later, Hadley stood in front of Sharon’s desk at Paul’s office. The receptionist smiled her usual warm greeting.

  “He’s out getting lunch,” Sharon said. “I made them leave. Told ‘em I’d quit right here, today, if the two of them didn’t take a proper break and get some food in them. They’ve been working nonstop for almost a week.”

  Hadley appreciated the way Sharon used her indispensability in the office as leverage to keep the deputies balanced.

  “Actually, I don’t need Paul. Gran’s having some computer problems, and I was wondering if you could give me the number of that guy, Michael, who McKay had in here the other day.”

  Sharon nodded. “Oh, sure, honey.” She clicked a few things on the computer and pulled out a sticky note. “Here you go.” She scrawled something on the note and handed it over.

  They thanked her and headed out to Hadley’s car. She dialed the number as they sat in the parking lot.

  “Hello?” a man answered.

  “Hi, Michael?”

  “Yes?”

  “A friend recommended you, said you might help with a computer problem I’m having.”

  “Okay … who?”

  She considered saying Hunk, but after what she and Luke had witnessed Thursday night, figured it might be best not bring him up.

  “Mark McKay,” Hadley blurted out. She cringed at the idea of calling the ornery sheriff a friend, but it was better than Hunk. “He said you’re the best.”

  “That’s very kind of him. What’s your problem? I’ll see if I can help.”

  “My grandma got a virus on her computer. Is that something you might be able to help with?”

  “Absolutely. I have an opening in my schedule today. I know it’s last minute …”

  “That’s fine,” Hadley said, cutting him off. A distraction would be nice.

  “Are you in Cascade Ridge?”

  “Stoneybrook, actually. We can come up north, if that’s easier.” Hadley tried not to sound too eager.

  “Okay, meet me at the Coffee Stop in thirty. I’m here, wearing a red baseball cap.”

  “Thank you. We’ll see you there.”

  Hadley hung up the call and nodded to Gran. Starting up the car, she headed for Cascade Ridge.

  And maybe while he’s helping Gran, I can ask him if there’s any way to recover the files that were wiped from Laney’s computer, she thought to herself as she drove.

  As much as they seemed to be at a dead end with this case, she couldn’t give up on Sweet Pea. Laney deserved justice too. Blackmailer or not, she hadn’t deserved to die.

  Gran and Hadley chatted about their plans for the jam shop as they drove and pulled up in front of Coffee Stop about twenty minutes later. Cradling her laptop, Gran got out of the car and followed Hadley into Coffee Stop.

  It was one of those large chain stores that made Hadley cringe and wish she didn’t have to support them. But she also hated loitering in their business without making a purchase, so she and Gran both got tea and then scanned the place in search of Michael.

  Hadley spotted him near the back corner, red baseball hat pulled low on his forehead as he focused on his computer.

  “Hey,” she said, stepping up to his table. Gran sidled up next to her, holding her laptop to her side.

  Michael glanced up. “Are you my appointment?” he asked, then his eyes narrowed. “Don’t I know you?”

  Nodding, Hadley said, “I was at the Stoneybrook sheriff’s office when you were there helping with that last case. It’s how I thought of you when my grandma said she needed help with her computer.”

  “Well, thanks for the business,” he said with a smile. “What seems to be the problem?” He gestured for them to sit.

  “I was downloading a recipe for honey biscuits one minute and the next this little arrow guy is moving like he’s stuck in honey himself.” Gran opened the lid to her laptop and pointed to the cursor, demonstrating how slowly it moved.

  Hadley heard the barista call their names, so she went to collect their drinks. By the time she returned to the table, Michael had the laptop in front of him and did that superfast typing and scrolling trick again. She could barely keep up with his hands.

  “I like your style,” he said, glancing up at Gran while he kept typing. “This is a classic machine.”

  Gran raised her chin. “Thank you. I don’t need anything fancy. I just want it to work.”

  Michael nodded, returning his focus to the screen. He did a few more things, the only sound between them the clicking of keys and the women sipping at their teas as they waited.

  “Oookay,” he said, clicking one more thing before swiveling the computer back toward Gran. “I’ve got it all fixed for you. But”—he pulled the computer slightly out of her reach, shooting her a poignant look—“I’m going to give you a quick lesson on a few things to watch out for as you’re downloading files. I will also show you how to run the antivirus software you already have on the machine.”

  Gran opened her mouth, as if to protest.

  Michael held up a finger. “Believe me, it’ll save you some time coming back and forth to me.” He shot Gran a sweet smile.

  Whether it was his logic or his dimpled grin, Gran gave in and let him show her the tips. He had her go to some sites she’d been downloading from and showed her how the actual download buttons can become hidden by other, more nefarious ones in an effort to trick people. And then he took her through a virus scan, step by step, waiting as she wrote each one on the notepad she’d brought with her.

  As the scan was running, Hadley took the opportunity to do a little digging about the case. Someone breaking in and taking Sweet Pea had to be connected to Laney’s murder, and Hadley knew the sooner they solved one, the other mystery would follow.

  “Michael, Gran was telling me she accidentally erased some files from her computer. Is there any way to recover something that’s been deleted?” Hadley sipped at her tea innocently.

  He turned to Gran. “Well, things will live in this trash bin here on your desktop, so if you haven’t deleted items, they’ll go here first and you can restore them.” He showed her.

  “But what if I erased that too?” Gran asked, playing along.

  “There are ways to recover them from the hard drive, but that would only be used in an extreme case.” He shrugged. “Unless someone knows what they’re doing, most things are not gone.”

  Hadley leaned forward, dropping her charade. “Then you think there’s a way you can see what files were erased from Laney’s computer? Whatever’s gone from it has to be the piece we’ve been missing.”

  Michael’s body tensed. “Wait, we? Are you a cop?”

  “No,” Hadley whispered, sitting back. “Just trying to help.” She gave him a wan smile. “I have a tendency to get too involved in local cases.”

  He hefted out a long sigh. “I’m sorry, I can’t help you with that. I checked that hard drive and whoever got to it before me must’ve really known what they were doing.”

  Chewing on her lip, Hadley’s thoughts felt blocked. “That’s just the thing. The person who got to the computer before you was a person who knows very little about them. He thought breaking the screen would ensure no one could find what was on it.” She met Michael’s gaze. “That doesn’t seem like a tech genius, right?”

  “It really doesn’t,” he agreed.

  “And the other suspects have to get hel
p when things go wrong with their computers. They don’t sound like people who would know how to wipe a hard drive.”

  Michael shook his head. “They don’t.”

  If the mayor had known about her blackmail, maybe he could’ve hired someone, but the file had been sitting on Jenny’s desk at the gym. He and Simone had never even known she had proof of their affair. Plus, they both had alibis for the time of Laney’s murder.

  “It doesn’t make sense,” Hadley said. She picked at her cup of tea as her mind worked around for any other solution.

  Michael and Gran nodded. Finally, the computer in front of Michael trilled out a fanfare bugle sound, snapping everyone out of their thoughts.

  “So sorry,” he said, folding his laptop closed. “That’s reminding me I have another appointment in a few minutes.” He looked at Gran. “You should be good for now, but call if you run into any other problems.”

  Gran stood with him. “How much do I owe you?” She pulled out her wallet.

  Michael checked his watch and put up a hand to stop her. “This one’s on the house.” He flashed her the dimpled smile again and waved goodbye.

  “Such a nice boy.” Gran clicked a few buttons. “I’m sad not everyone uses their powers for good like he does.”

  Gran was right. These tech geniuses seemed to have powers compared to normal folks. And the person who’d killed Laney and taken Sweet Pea was definitely a powerful genius—and an evil one.

  A shiver wound down her spine as they went back to her car. The weight of the case felt like it sat right on Hadley’s shoulders. Maybe this was one case they’d never figure out.

  23

  The next day, Hadley had every intention of moping around her house. But Suze showed up at ten with determination written across her face.

  “Get dressed. I’m taking you to brunch.” She walked past Hadley and plopped down on her couch.