by Moure, Ana
She wasn’t going to let the bad thoughts sneak back into her mind, so she pasted a charming smile on her face and entered the living room. Prim was sitting in one of the leather wingback chairs, legs crossed at the ankles and fingers clasped in her lap, and her face seemed warm and full of compassion as she was listening to something Kevin was saying.
“Excuse me,” Sage said, “Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“No, no, not in the least!” Prim said, standing up. “Kevin, this is my sister, Sage. She’s staying with me for a while.”
“Nice to meet you,” Kevin said politely and turned to face Sage. She could see now that he looked tired and ruffled, his hair tousled and his eyes puffy as if he’d been crying.
“Well, why don’t you two get started on tea and I’ll go see what’s taking the boys so long,” Prim said with a discreet wink at her sister. “I hate to be taking so much of your time, Kevin, especially at a moment like this. We’ll be right down.”
Sage settled in her sister’s seat and started pouring two cups of tea, though she could care less about tea right now. She wasn’t a tea person anyway, unlike Prim. But the situation was making her nervous and she needed a moment to think of something to say.
“It was a beautiful wedding,” she started, but felt that she wasn’t going to go anywhere with that and added, “And I’m really sorry things turned out like this. I’m sorry about your friend.”
“Yeah, it was a shock to all of us,” Kevin said. It didn’t seem like he was shutting off, so Sage used the moment.
“So, no one knew about this disease that she’d had?” She pushed a cup of tea towards him.
“I didn’t.”
“But your wife, I mean Jasmine, she must have seen it coming. How is she taking the whole thing?”
“She’s pretty shaken up, I guess. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her yet. I think she’ll be needing her space for a while.”
“That’s true. And to think that the whole day started so well. I saw Natalie early in the morning when Prim and I were setting up for the wedding and she looked in perfect health.”
Sage bit her lip, fearing that she’d gone too far. She didn’t have much time, so she’d gone straight to the point. She sipped her tea, but it was scalding and she burned the tip of tongue. She didn’t pay much attention to it as she was waiting for his reaction. To her surprise, the boy didn’t bite the bait as she’d expected.
“I know,” he said absent-mindedly, “I saw her too, in their home when I was checking in to see if Jasmine was ready, and she looked fine to me too.”
Either Kevin was a really good actor, or he wasn’t the man she had seen at the stone terrace that morning. Sage shifted in her seat nervously. When she’d entered the living room, she’d been more than sure that she was going to talk to a murderer.
“Did you talk to her? I mean, did she seem off then?” she asked and noticed that Kevin was getting a bit impatient. It was only normal. They’d dragged him over here on the evening of his failed wedding and now some stranger was interrogating him.
“I only talked to her for a couple of minutes, but if anything, she looked radiant. I know she was happy for Jasmine and me. She didn’t look sick if that’s what you mean.”
The door opened once again and Prim came in, looking furtively at her sister to gauge whether she’d been gone long enough for Sage to learn anything. Sage gave her a desperate look.
“The boys are ready upstairs, Kevin,” Prim said, “You can join them. Do you want me to bring your tea?”
“No, it’s okay,” Kevin said, taking the cup, “I’ll manage.”
Something blinked in the dimmed light of the living room and Prim caught on immediately.
“What a beautiful ring!” she said, “I’m so glad you at least managed to exchange rings with Jasmine. I know the day didn’t turn out to be what you expected, but the important thing is that you two have each other for support.”
“What?” Kevin said, confused, almost spilling his tea while following Prim’s gaze to his finger. “Oh, that. No, it’s not a wedding ring. That’s my purity ring. You know, for the circle I’m in.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, where is my tact? I completely forgot about that. I actually thought the circle didn’t exist anymore.”
“Well, it probably shouldn’t after Natalie and Trevor…” Kevin said, but suddenly stopped as if he’d gone into forbidden territory. “Yes, it still exists.”
“Sorry to upset you more, honey,” Prim tried to cover up, “Let’s just go upstairs and if you are not feeling up to it, you can leave any time. I know my boys would be grateful for every minute that you can spare for them.”
Sage took her cooling cup of tea to the back porch. It was already about nine o’clock, but it was still hot outside. It was nothing compared to the scorching heat of the afternoon, but the ground still seemed to exude all the warmth it had absorbed during the day. The air had turned and now a balmy breeze came from the sea, ruffling her hair lightly and tickling her bare arms and legs. A chorus of invisible crickets accompanied the pleasant atmosphere and a faint sweet scent carried from Prim’s flower gardens.
Sage sat on the wooden swing and tucked her legs underneath herself. She looked at the millions of stars sprinkled over the deep blue ink of the sky and sighed. What a day! Somehow Natalie’s story had become personal to her over the course of a few hours. Now she couldn’t imagine letting it all go. The funeral was probably going to be in a couple of days and she knew they needed to hurry if they wanted to figure out what really happened to Natalie. She had the nagging feeling that the answer was already in front of her, but she simply couldn’t put the pieces together. They needed to talk to a few more people before things cleared up a bit more.
But what then? What if she actually managed to solve this mystery? Wouldn’t that have been just a momentary distraction from what was really the matter with her life? Namely, that she had no life. She’d lost the man she’d loved, the career she’d adored, the environment she’d thrived in. She couldn’t simply push these thoughts to the back of her mind and not deal with them. She needed to find something, anything, that would help her start building her life again.
As she relaxed in the swing, slowly swaying back and forth, this time she invited the memories herself. She was back at that stage in the brightly lit auditorium, presenting her life’s work in front of the most esteemed names in the Biology circles. She had only gone through the first couple of slides, when she’d noticed that something was wrong. No one had seemed to care about what she was saying and the loud whispers had grown into an animated discussions. There had even been some fingers pointing at her. What had gone so horribly wrong?
She had just pressed the clicker to move on to the third slide, when the whole auditorium had exploded.
“This is outrageous!” she’d heard her senior colleagues shout as they had gotten up and thrown their handouts in their empty seats, filing for the exit one by one. She’d stood there, stunned, trying to comprehend what she’d done wrong, tears already welling up in her eyes despite her mind insisting that there had been a simple misunderstanding. It hadn’t been until some professor or other, she hadn’t been able to see past the smudged screen of her watering eyes, had thrown the latest issue of the Biology Examined journal across the lectern, a loud “Shame!” accompanying the flying copy.
Lost in preparation for the upcoming presentation, she hadn’t even found the time to open the envelope with her own copy of Biology Examined. Now, in the empty lecture hall, the smiling, smug face of a proud Derek had stared back at her from the journal’s cover. The man she’d been bound to marry, the man who had brewed her endless coffees, while she’d worked through the nights, the man who’d encouraged and believed in her. Her soulmate. He’d stolen everything she’d spent years compiling, signed his name underneath her life’s work and smiled for the cameras while he’d taken the ovations that were rightfully hers.
The humiliation had been overwhelming.
Before she knew it, the tears were trickling down her sides and Sage finally felt something dislodge from her throat. She gave in to her feelings and simply sat there crying until the heaviness that weighed down on her chest seemed to be lifting.
When Prim found her half an hour later, she was curled up on the swing, her breathing even and her cheeks dry, her face resting on her folded arm. Prim shook her gently and helped her upstairs. It had been such an exhausting day, but there was still too much to be done tomorrow if they were to race time.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Fruitcake and Clues
Sage dragged herself down the stairs, yawning. She went straight to the kitchen and, like a robot, moved mechanically towards the coffee maker. A sleepy smile spread across her face when she saw the full pot of freshly made coffee, the steam still rising from it. She glanced towards the wall clock. It was barely eight o’clock, but the house looked (and sounded) deserted. Maybe that was for the best. She enjoyed quiet mornings and preferred to start talking only after she’d had her dose of caffeine.
She poured herself a big mug, which read ‘Super Mama,’ and carried it off to the kitchen island where another lovely surprise was waiting for her. A fruit cake, seemingly fresh out of the oven, was put on a glass cake stand with only one piece missing. Where the piece was cut out, Sage could see the bright yellow velvety layers, sprinkled with caramelized cinnamon apple pieces and amaretto-drenched raisins. The whole cake was drizzled with luscious caramel sauce and brown sugar buttercream oozed from between the layers.
Apparently, true to habit, Prim had been up at dawn, baking and getting everyone ready for school and work, and then she had taken off herself. Sage cut a hearty piece of cake and dipped her finger in the caramel sauce, licking it in delight. It was only then that she noticed the set of notes lying on the table, tucked under a small vase of freshly cut flowers.
She picked them up and realized they were all from Prim, addressed to all the members of her family and containing instructions for the day. She fished out the one with her name on it and started reading, while a large piece of cake melted in her mouth.
Out to meet with mortician about memorial service flowers. Will be back for lunch. Cold sandwiches in fridge. Get out of the house! Enjoy the cake :)
Sage had to give it to Prim. She had this giant heart that wanted to make sure that every person she loved was cared for and, most of all, fed. Sage was much more selfish herself. She’d never had anyone to take care of beside herself (and well… Derek, but that was the past) and she felt like if people depended on her for food or safety, she’d soon have a household full of dead people. She brushed off the grim thought.
What could she do? Prim was right. She needed to get out. Plus, she couldn’t imagine sitting around and waiting for her sister when there was so much to be done on the case. Sage laughed to herself. The case! She was really seeing herself as a sleuth now after only a day of snooping around.
By the looks of it, it was going to be another scorching hot day, so she hurried up with her breakfast. She could go to the cafe again and listen to people’s conversations, hoping to catch another clue. But then she didn’t want this Dan to think she was there to see him. If she hurried up, she’d catch the pleasant morning coolness and take a walk on the beach. Yes, she decided, that’s what she would do, while waiting for Prim to come home.
Sage soon found herself on the stone terrace at the edge of the village green where the wedding had taken place the previous day. Or, more like, hadn’t taken place. Even though the weather was gorgeous and the sun had risen enough to bathe the place in light, the entire scene looked sad. No one had taken care to dismount the wedding arch or put away the benches and the flowers that Sage and Prim had so lovingly wrapped around the metal frame were now dead. The ones that were still in the pots were crumpled and wilted and the blue and jade ribbons flapped gloomily in the light morning breeze.
Sage decided to take the stone steps down to the beach, because this place was too depressing for her to linger. She had just taken a step down the corroding stone staircase when she heard a sound from behind the corner further down. Someone was coming. She quickly retreated back up and hid behind the bushes that lined the steps. Soon a large figure emerged dragging something heavy and Sage held her breath. It took her a second to realize it was Dan, his muscular physique unmistakable under his worn out T-shirt. She breathed out loudly in relief.
Dan jumped surprised and turned around to see where the sound had come from.
“What on Earth…?!” he spit out, “Is this what you do in the big city? Hide in the bushes and sneak on unsuspecting people?”
Sage blushed. Of course she looked kind of ridiculous, half hidden in the bushes.
“No, sorry,” she said apologetically, “Didn’t mean to scare you. I didn’t know it was you.”
“Well, sorry to disappoint you. You can go back to your sneaking now,” he said and kept going, pulling a large roller sack into the grass.
“No, no, wait,” Sage called after him, wincing at the awkward exchange. “I mean, I’m glad it was you.”
“And who did you expect? The town’s murderer?”
Sage winced again. As a matter of fact, yes, she thought, but said nothing.
“You aren’t at the cafe? I thought it was a mad rush in the mornings,” she panted, hurrying to catch up with him, though she still wasn’t sure why. She wanted to pick his brain about the six young friends and their relationships, but broaching the subject out of nowhere didn’t seem like a good idea. On the other hand, he owned the one place in town that was teeming with gossip and she was sure he knew some things that would shed light on the whole mystery.
“I’m sure people can manage on their own one day of the week. Brewing coffee shouldn’t be that hard,” he grumbled.
“Wow, aren’t you friendly today! So, what’s in the bag? A dead body?” Sage giggled uncomfortably at her own stupid joke.
“Fish,” Dan said.
“Fish? I wouldn’t have taken you for a fisherman,” she said.
“Oh yeah? Well, I’m a man of many talents, as I mentioned before,” he said, more warmly now. His irritation seemed to have passed. “It’s what I like to do on my morning off. Spend a few quiet hours out on the sea.”
“Well, I guess I’m ruining that for you,” Sage said.
“It’s fine. I got my day’s worth. Where are you headed? Back to town?”
Back to town was a figure of speech since they could already see Main Street with its little shops and offices springing to life one by one.
“Are you opening the cafe now?” she asked hopefully.
“Not for another couple of hours, but I can brew you a cup if it’s that urgent.”
“Oh, I’d love that,” Sage said, happy at the opportunity.
Back in The Cheshire Cat, the curtains were drawn and the shutters closed over the door and and the front windows. They used the back entrance to get in and Sage headed for the front, while Dan disposed of the fresh fish in the kitchen and washed its smell off his hands.
Sage had settled on a bar stool, toying with a plastic spoon. The place was immaculately clean, a bit like Prim’s kitchen, though it was surprising when she knew Dan was the one responsible. He looked rough and not in the least bit domestic, but here were the gleaming metal surfaces and the polished wood, the neatly pressed tablecloths and the meticulously ordered cups and glasses that proved otherwise.
“So, how are you liking small town life so far?” Dan said as he busied himself with the coffee machine.
“Well, it’s a bit horrifying from the little I’ve seen,” Sage said, hoping he’d catch on.
“You mean the wedding? You seem to be obsessed with it,” Dan teased, serving her a steaming cup.
“I wouldn’t say obsessed, but I’m just interested. Sorry about barging in with all my questions yesterday,” she said.
“It’s fine. Did it lead to anything?” he said and seeing her confused face, added
, “Your little investigation, I mean.”
“It’s not an investigation,” she tried to protest.
“Come on, you thought I poisoned the girl!” Dan laughed.
“I didn’t say you did it! And I told you, I’m just helping Ben out.”
“Uh-huh, fine, you don’t have to tell me, but I still think you are up to something.”
“So,” Sage finally ventured after a pause in the conversation, “Is there anything you can tell me about the six of them? They seem to have been quite the tightly-knit circle. I assume they’ve hung out here a lot.”
“Well, I don’t like to meddle in my customers’ lives…”
“Wait!” Sage interrupted him and started digging in her purse. She took out the little notebook and pressed the button on her automatic pencil, poising it over the paper.
“You can’t be serious!” Dan laughed, but since Sage didn’t change her expression, he realized she was serious.
“Okay, let’s see, Master Detective, the six of them, the two sisters, Emily, Trevor, Josh and Kevin, were in this purity circle together. I think Father Pendergrass organized it for his daughters, so then their boyfriends had to join if they wanted to see them officially, but I don’t think the boys were too much into it. They usually came here instead when the meetings were taking place in the church. Except for Kevin. Kevin went regularly I think. Or at least he didn’t come here with the other boys.”
“So, who was whose boyfriend then?”
“Well, they keep changing all these years, but I think Kevin and Jasmine were together from the very beginning and Natalie was with Trevor, though everyone knew Trevor was into Jasmine the whole time. I think that’s why they broke up in the end.”
“You sure know your gossip,” Sage said with a sly smile, while scribbling down a diagram of the relationships. “So, that means the other two, Emily and Josh, were also a couple?”
“I think so,” Dan said, “I’m not too sure. You shouldn’t have been so quick to judge my gossip skills. This is basically all I’ve got.”
