by Lynn Cahoon
I walked her to the door. “We can’t save everyone in the world, but we sure can fix this one problem.”
She waved as she got into her car and headed out to the road and the less-than-two-minute drive back to the shop and her apartment. I guess she couldn’t have walked the distance in those heels, but sometimes, I wondered about my aunt and her attachment to her car.
I closed the door, bolted the lock, and headed back to the kitchen to continue my search. Instead, I found myself perusing my book supplier’s Web site and making a wish list to take with me tomorrow to my meeting with Mrs. Jenson. That way she wouldn’t have to make up a list on the spot and she could veto any controversial books.
Although what could be banned for five-year-olds, I had no clue.
The afternoon passed quietly, with a stint out on the back porch with Emma worrying a new bone and me deep into the young adult novel I’d started reading that morning. No wonder adults and kids loved this book. My thoughts were still with the story when I heard the tires of a vehicle spin out in front of the house.
Kids, I thought. Getting one last burst of speed before they entered town and would have their actions reported to their parents sooner than they would arrive home. There were joys of life in a small town, but for the kids growing up here, there were also pitfalls. Everyone felt compelled to watch the kids to make sure no one was causing trouble. That might have been part of life in a tourist town, too; we had an image to uphold. Emma took off for the front yard and started barking.
When she didn’t come back when I called, I set the book down on the swing and went around to see what she’d cornered. Probably a rabbit.
She stood at the front door, sniffing a package.
“Hey, girl, what did you find?” I leaned down and realized it was a dead rabbit. But not one my dog had trapped. The body was wrapped in a sheet of paper.
My hands were shaking as I unfolded the paper, setting the body of the rabbit on the edge of the porch rail out of Emma’s reach.
“Stop putting your nose in where it doesn’t belong,” I read aloud. The words chilled my blood even more. Someone wanted me out of the investigation of Ted’s murder. The implications of my continued involvement were clear.
I dialed Greg’s private line.
An hour later, I was staring at the television, not seeing the movie that Greg had turned on when he arrived, sitting me gently on the couch, Emma at my feet. There’d been more people than him out on the porch, taking pictures and dealing with the deceased bunny. The hair had been so soft, warm still. Yet I’d known as soon as I’d picked it up and it fell limp in my hand that it had been dead.
I heard voices on the porch, then a car drove away. Greg came into the house and slipped onto the couch next to me, turning the volume down on the television.
“You okay?” He rubbed my arm. “You feel cold.” He reached over the couch and grabbed the quilt I left, covering the back to lay it gently around me.
I swallowed. “I don’t know why this is upsetting me so much. It was just a rabbit.”
Greg’s voice hardened. “You had a threat on your life. I know you feel bad for the bunny, but maybe you’re reacting to the note, not the body?”
“What did you do with it?” I hoped it still didn’t sit on my porch.
“Tim took it back to the station. I don’t think we could get any evidence off it, but maybe the crime guys can pull a miracle.” He pulled me into his arms. “Seriously, are you okay? You’re too quiet, you’re scaring me.”
I shrugged, trying to brush off the terror that I was feeling. My throat was dry and I swallowed, trying to keep the waver out of my voice when I spoke. “I didn’t know anyone was watching me. I haven’t even found out anything.” A vision of Marie’s face at Lille’s filled my mind. Could she have done this?
“You know Ted was murdered. Why do you mess with things that aren’t your business? One of these days, you’re going to get into something you can’t get out of.”
“Like drug dealers trying to kill me in my shop?” I chided him. When Craig had been murdered last year, I’d been targeted by his murderers because of my inability to stay out of things. I laughed, not feeling the humor. “You’d think I’d learn.”
This time Greg laughed, too. He squeezed me gently. “Your heart’s in the right place. I guess I am just going to have to keep you closer to me when trouble visits South Cove.”
“Being close to you isn’t a hardship, you know.” I laid my head on his chest. “Thanks for putting me to bed the other night.”
“I was on a Boy Scout mission, to help a woman in distress.” He put up three fingers. “I didn’t even steal a kiss.”
I leaned back and stared at him. “You let me fall asleep without a kiss?”
“Okay, so that part I lied about.” He chuckled and put his hand on my head, laying it back down on his chest. “What do you say I take you to dinner? You feel up to heading down to Lille’s?”
Lille’s. I sat up and pushed the quilt aside. “I need to tell you something.”
When I added the conversation I overheard at Lille’s to the list of evidence that had me, at least, convinced Marie Jones was the missing wife, he narrowed his eyes. When he didn’t say anything, I couldn’t stand it and burst out with “Well?”
He glanced at me. “Possible. At least it’s a lead. This case is dryer than the Mojave.” He tapped my leg. “You ready to get dinner?”
I nodded, stunned. I thought I’d been giving him a viable lead and yet he couldn’t be bothered with checking Marie out to see if she was the one throwing threats at my front door? It had to be her, there was no one else.
I figured I was dressed good enough for a dinner in town so I put Emma out the back door with a bowl of water, more food, and her bone. I grabbed my book off the swing and set it on the kitchen table after locking the door. Greg picked it up, glancing at the back.
“Not your typical reading material.”
I swung my purse on my shoulder and stood waiting. “I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I’ve sold more copies of that one book than anything else in the last three months. And next month, they’re releasing a movie based on the books.”
“I’ve heard about this.” He set the book down and put his hand on my back. As he led me out my front door, I glanced at the place where I’d dropped the note. The porch was empty.
Lille’s was quiet for a Sunday night, but as soon as we’d ordered, Mayor Baylor and his wife made an entrance. As soon as Tina saw us, she dragged Marvin through the tables and stood in front of our booth. “Jill, I’m so sorry about your little mishap. I hope you’re doing better.”
It took me a few seconds to realize she was talking about my finding Ted’s body not the rabbit. “It was quite a shock, but I’m fine now. Thanks for asking.”
She leaned closer. “We’ll have to talk soon. I want all the details.” Tina glanced at Greg. “Especially since your boyfriend refuses to tell me anything.”
Mayor Baylor cleared his throat. “Now, Tina, you know Greg can’t talk about an open investigation. It would be”—he paused and glared at me—“unethical.”
Greg turned his pizza-and-a-game smile on Tina. “That’s why I’ve been staying away while you decorate. You know I have trouble telling you no.”
I almost gagged as I listened to him flirt with the woman. Greg was much better at this politicking game than I’d realized. Tina was still talking and now they were looking at me.
“So I’ll be over Tuesday morning to discuss your business’s contribution to the festival.” Tina arched an eyebrow. “Around ten?”
“Sounds good. I’m excited to see what you’ve come up with for a theme.” I felt a tad bit guilty for not standing up for Darla, but if Greg could be nice to the meanest couple in South Cove, I could give it a try.
“It’s not just decorations, you know. We’ll have to do a town charity project.” Tina glanced around the almost empty dining room. “I’m sure we could find some
family who’s poverty-stricken to support this year. The Good Book says we’re supposed to take care of our neighbors.”
“Jackie’s doing, well, the shop is doing a children’s book drive for the Bakerstown Children’s Center. The entire town could help us with that, if you’d like.” Jackie would love the idea, well, once she got over the fact that Tina would bulldoze her out of being in charge. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.
Tina exchanged a look with her husband that clearly said, Can you believe this woman? Then she turned back to me, and in a calm voice like I was a child, said, “That won’t do at all. I mean, I’m sure it’s a fine project for your little store, but we’re going to do something that will change lives. Not just entertain a bunch of kids.”
“Studies show kids who learn to read early are less likely to drop out of school and later stay out of jail or prison or worse.” I felt my back stiffen as my words sounded more and more clipped.
“Why, yes, I’ve read those sad stories, too, but if a family needs food and shelter and heat, giving them a book is just rubbing their noses in their inability to care for the family’s basic needs.” She focused her attention on Greg. “Don’t you agree?”
Before Greg could answer, the ringtone version of “My Heart Will Go On” filled the café. I wondered if she realized how appropriate a sinking ship theme song was for her personal ringtone. I didn’t get a chance to ask as she answered the phone. “Tina Baylor,” she crooned into the mouthpiece as she motioned for her husband to follow her. They sat in a booth on the other side of the dining room, the mayor studying the menu like he hadn’t eaten here two or three times a week for the last ten years.
“I guess we’re dismissed.” I took a sip of the soda Carrie had brought over before the visitors had arrived at our table. “Boy, she has you wrapped around her little finger.”
“I’m used to the game.” Greg shrugged. “She’s always been like that. She didn’t even know my name the first three years I worked for South Cove. Now that I’m divorced and available for her to try to set me up with her friends, suddenly I’m interesting.”
“Available, huh?” My blood was beginning to heat. I hadn’t liked Tina before; now I wanted to strangle her. “Why would she think you were available?”
He grinned and put his hand over mine. “Well, I was interesting before I started dating you. Now I just think she’s confused.”
Our food was delivered and for the next hour, we talked about anything but the case. He recounted Amy and Esmeralda’s day with the steamroller that was Tina Baylor. I told him about Aunt Jackie’s book drive and, because I knew he loved gossip as much as I did, about her fight with Josh.
“The guy needs to learn to shut up when he’s ahead. Jackie will calm down, but not if he keeps making himself a target.” Greg pushed away his plate, empty except for the crumbs of the bacon big burger and one last French fry, which he grabbed and popped into his mouth.
“Is that how you deal with me when we fight? Stay out of reach?” I took the last bite of my enchilada, eyeing the dessert menu.
“You’ve discovered my evil plan.” Greg grinned. “Sherry wouldn’t let me stay away. If she wanted to fight, she’d come down to the station or wherever I was to get it done and over with. You, on the other hand, you steam for a while, then the issue works itself out.”
“I’m going to be very upset if you don’t order the Brownie Surprise and two spoons.” I pointed at the picture on the table flyer standing in the salt and pepper holder.
Greg waved over Carrie to give her the order. “And that’s the other thing; you can be plied with food into a good mood. Sherry wanted jewelry or later, in our marriage, cold hard cash.”
“Well, maybe we should invite her over for Thanksgiving and I can learn a few things from her,” I teased. Jim had tried to push an invite for Sherry and her new banker boyfriend.
“If you do, she can have my place. I already told Jim that she wouldn’t be on the guest list.” He nodded to the dessert Carrie had just set on the table between us. “Be good or I won’t let you have a bite.”
CHAPTER 9
One in three people dread Monday. They’ve done studies. It’s a day filled with sleep deprived commuters, grumpy receptionists, and annoyed customers. Problems that any other day would be handled quickly with a smile seemed to take forever to complete. It was that way when I worked for the law office. The group I hung with typically gathered at the little tavern next to the office building every Monday evening, throwing out war stories, trying to best the story told by the last guy.
Now I loved Mondays. It was my day off. Typically when the tourist seasons were slow, the shop was closed on both Sunday and Monday, but the holiday season traffic demanded the doors stay open during the weekend. I slept in that morning, only rousing when Emma gave me a slurpy kiss. Sunshine filled the room and I threw off the covers, padding downstairs to let her outside.
Last night, Greg had dropped me off at my door close to nine, giving me a quick good-night kiss as he returned to the station to pore over the files and notes from the investigation. I threw a load into the washer, grabbed a bottle of water, and took my book upstairs to continue exploring the fantasy world. It was almost one when I’d finished the book and turned off the light, visions of elves and talking mushrooms taking over my dreams.
After I’d brushed my teeth and pulled my hair into a scrunchy, I started the coffee and opened my notebook-slash-day-planner. During the week, I’d write off all the housekeeping jobs I’d put onto Monday’s schedule as well as any errands I needed to run. Like visiting the Work Today program and meeting the new program director. Time to find out who’d I’d be working with for the next eight weeks. And find out if Ted had left any hints of why he’d moved so far west from his family’s influence. I was sure I wasn’t going to be able to walk in and search his desk, but maybe there’d be something.
Emma barked at the door. She eyed the hook where I hung her running leash, then looked back at me, gauging my interest.
“We’ll go, just give me some time to do a few things.” I patted her golden head. She gave me a lick on the hand in response, then grabbed her teddy bear and headed to her kitchen bed to try to tear the stuffed animal to pieces.
I sipped my coffee as I wrote Ted’s name on the top of a page in my notebook, then wrote Marie’s name at the bottom. Would Marie stoop to threatening me because of the conversation I overheard? It didn’t seem her style, but really, what did I know about the woman? I had paid for one more class with her next Thursday. Maybe I’d have a chance to ask her about her phone conversation then.
I wrote the name Katherine Janell Corbet Hendricks in the middle of the page, and opening my laptop, I started working on finding out anything and everything on Ted’s missing wife. Like had she studied glass design. At nine, I closed my web browser and frowned at the paper. I hadn’t added anything to the page except the name of the college where Katherine and Ted had met. I’d pulled up the college’s Web site, and besides the fact the library was named for the Hendricks family, there wasn’t a clue that Ted had even graduated. I’d sent a quick e-mail to the address listed for the alumni committee saying I was putting together a story about Ted and Katherine for our local newspaper. I even threw in the part of feeling connected since I’d found the body. Maybe if the recipient was just a little nosy, she’d respond to find out more about Ted’s death.
When I stood to put my cup in the sink, Emma watched me, hope filling her face. If I was going to get a run in before my Bakerstown trip, it was time to go. “Let me get changed and we’ll go.”
Emma’s tail beat on the floor in happy response.
Just over an hour later, I was showered and on the road, my notebook in my purse. I would stop by the work program, make a detour to the children’s center, then I planned on a quick lunch at the new café that had opened last month. From what Aunt Jackie had reported, the food was amazing. Then a quick stop at the grocery store, and home to South Cov
e. I should be back in the house and curled up with a book by three.
I turned into the nearly empty parking lot. Maybe the place was closed on Mondays, too?
I walked into the deserted lobby. Folding chairs lined one wall. On the other, five antique computers sat side by side, the large, bulky monitors dark. A printer sat on another table, a bulletin board hung above the table. Flyers were tacked to the board, most yellowed with age. In one corner of the room, a play area had been built up kind of like a sandbox, with a few broken and partial toys on the floor. I walked toward the back and a young girl burst from the hallway, a box in her hands.
“Oh, I’m sorry. How long have you been waiting? I didn’t hear anyone come in.” The girl set the box on the desk. She pushed it toward me. “I wasn’t expecting you for another couple of hours.”
“What?” I wasn’t sure I’d heard her correctly.
The phone rang. “Bakerstown Work Today, may I help you?” The girl twisted her hair as she grinned at me. “Hold on a second, I’ll find out.”
She put the call on hold and pointed to the box. “There’s most of Ted’s stuff, but I’ve got a few more things to bring out.” Then she disappeared toward the back.
“Wait,” I called after her. I glanced at the box, my curiosity getting the best of me. I looked in the direction the girl had disappeared, then started digging through the box, just in case there was anything there. I found an old wedding picture of Ted and Katherine, his smile bright, hers more tentative. I turned over the picture and saw the back coming loose, a piece of paper hanging out. When I twisted the holders on the back, a folded sheet of paper fell into my hand.
A voice called out from down the hall and I stepped away from the box and the desk, shoving the paper that had somehow stayed in my hand into my purse. This time when the girl returned, an older woman followed. She smiled and greeted me. “So you knew Ted?”
