Blackberry Crumble

by Josi S. Kilpack

  She couldn’t say for certain that Gary was a weasel, but there was something very weasely about him, and he’d talked to Hugh about selling their percentage. If only Sadie could ask May if Hugh had said anything to her. Could that be the reason for the tension between the two of them at Jim’s house yesterday? May had said Hugh thought she was crazy to think their father had been murdered—was Hugh hiding something? Protecting himself? Could Gary be manipulating his sick wife into the most financially advantageous position? There wasn’t enough information one way or another, but she knew she was getting closer and was more anxious than ever to fit the pieces together. She could smell it almost as well as she could smell Karri’s lunch special once she opened the driver’s door—chicken and citrus of some kind.

  She pushed through the front door, squinting as her eyes adjusted to the darkened interior. She explained to the hostess that she was meeting someone and followed the woman to a table painted bright yellow near the far windows. As Sadie passed the kitchen, she looked in and waved at Karri, who was mixing something. It took a moment for Karri to recognize Sadie, but she smiled and lifted a hand for a quick wave back. Sadie felt better to be in a familiar place and was eager to hear what Richard had learned from his father.

  “Can I get you anything while you wait?” the hostess asked, sliding the day’s photocopied menu in front of Sadie once she’d sat down in the antique dining room chair.

  Sadie opened her mouth to order a Diet Coke when the dessert tray across the room caught her attention. “Do you have the blackberry crumble today?”

  “We do,” the waitress said with a nod.

  Sadie smiled up at her and handed back the menu. “Don’t judge me for having dessert first.”

  The woman smiled and nodded, leaning in slightly. “You and me both,” she said, then took the menu and turned away.

  Sadie opened her purse, pulled out her notebook, and began writing down the disconnected thoughts she had about what she’d learned and the questions they inspired.

  Gary’s a scam artist—Does he have any convictions?

  Dumpy office—What’s his financial situation?

  Hugh taking Jolene’s percentage—Does the trust allow that?

  Cancer treatments every Thursday—Is Jolene really getting better?

  She tapped her pen on the questions, studying them. There was a connection there that she wasn’t making. What was it? What was she missing? She could feel it hovering like a mosquito, inviting her to swat at it, but she couldn’t connect with it, whatever it was.

  “I’m so glad you came back.”

  Sadie looked up as Karri slid a serving of blackberry crumble in front of her. It was topped with fresh whipping cream and sprinkled with a little cinnamon. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought it was a bigger portion than what she’d had yesterday. She smiled at Karri. “You’re spoiling me,” she said.

  Karri shrugged and slid into the booth across from Sadie. “It’s what I do.”

  “And yet you’re a size six,” Sadie said, picking up her fork.

  “Stress is a pretty good workout,” Karri said. “And if you’re looking for a good workout, open your own business.”

  “That bad, huh?”

  “Could be worse,” Karri said with a casual shrug.

  Sadie took the first bite of the dessert and let the flavors and textures mingle in her mouth. “This is so good,” she said after she swallowed. “Some of the best crumb topping I’ve ever had.”

  “And probably the easiest recipe you’ve ever heard of,” Karri said.

  “I suppose asking a chef for her recipe is considered bad form, isn’t it?”

  “I’m not a chef,” Karri said with a laugh. “I just love food.” She leaned forward. “It’s equal portions of oats, flour, brown sugar, and butter.”

  “That’s it?” Sadie said, putting down her spoon. “You just cut it together?”

  Karri nodded. “I add a little salt, a little cinnamon, and just a touch of lemon zest, but that’s it.”

  “I’m flabbergasted,” Sadie said. “You’ve just proven my point that good food doesn’t have to be complicated.”

  “Absolutely,” Karri said. “Hey, I also remembered something after you left.”

  “Oh?”

  “It’s not what you were asking about—lunch with the cold-soup man—but I got to thinking about Jim and remembered another lunch that stood out to me. I don’t think it had anything to do with the other stuff, though, so it’s probably not important, but—”

  “I’d love to hear about it,” Sadie said. “I’m trying to put some pieces together, so I’m not after anything specific. What was this incident?”

  “Another lunch. Like I said, Jim came in quite often. A few days after the lunch with that Kelly man, Jim came in with his son.”

  “Hugh?”

  Karri nodded. “See, they usually got along really well, but there was something wrong that day. I remember because I’d been a little worried about Jim after the lunch he’d had with that Kelly guy. He was so withdrawn and obviously stressed out. Anyway, he wasn’t much different when he came with Hugh. I make a point to say hi to my regulars, but we were too busy for me to leave the kitchen when their meals came up, so I brought out their check instead. They were arguing.”

  “About what?”

  “I don’t know. They were both real intent, but with their voices low as though no one would know they were arguing if they weren’t loud. I stopped a couple feet away from the table, hoping they’d notice me. Hugh said something I couldn’t hear, and then Jim suddenly leaned across the table, pointed at Hugh and said he’d ruined him.”

  “Hugh had ruined Jim?” Sadie asked.

  Karri nodded. “I think that’s what he meant. Jim saw me standing there and put his hand out for the check, slid a fifty inside, and told me to give the change to Hugh. Then he looked at Hugh and said it was the last handout he was ever going to give him. He stood up and stormed out.”

  Sadie put her hands in her lap, suddenly not hungry. “Wow,” she said.

  Karri nodded. “I know, right? They both apologized for it later, but—”

  “Both?”

  “Jim came in the next day and was real embarrassed. He said it was a bad day, and he was sorry for behaving like that in my restaurant. It was real sweet.”

  “And Hugh apologized too?”

  “After the funeral,” Karri said. “He came a few days later and said how horrible he felt about the argument and how he hoped I wouldn’t hold it against him.”

  “Did you know Hugh well?” Sadie asked. It seemed odd he’d return weeks later to apologize for something.

  “He’s the one who installed our sprinklers, and he came in a few times a month—usually with Jim. It was nice he made things right with me; I’m sure that after Jim died, Hugh felt horrible about that argument. It’s funny how something tragic like that can suddenly make the things we get mad about seem small.”

  Sadie nodded. “That’s an excellent point.”

  “Well, I best get back to work and let you enjoy that crumble,” Karri said as she stood. “I’m glad you came back in. I’m afraid I got busy and couldn’t find that number you gave me, and then Jim’s daughter didn’t know when she’d be seeing you next so I worried you wouldn’t get my message.”

  Sadie’s mouth went dry. “Jim’s daughter?”

  “Yeah,” Karri said. She stood up and adjusted her apron. “When I remembered about the lunch with Hugh, I called Jim’s house, figuring since you were friends with May that was a good place to start.” She smiled, unaware of the pit in Sadie’s stomach. “Anyway, I’m glad it all worked out.”

  “Yeah,” Sadie said, her tone flat even though she tried to force a smile. “Me too.”

  “The blackberry crumble is on the house,” Karri said as she turned away. “My treat.”

  “Thank you,” Sadie said, but Karri was too far away to hear it.

  Sadie looked down at the dessert that she had
no appetite for—well, not as much as she’d had when she first ordered it anyway. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t had a reasonable meal all day.

  She picked up her spoon and cut another bite. The crumb topping broke apart, causing the entire crust to crumble, and as she put the bite in her mouth, she reflected on how similar this whole situation with Jim Sanderson’s death had become. She’d covered her bases, learned little details about the people in his life and the possible motivations that may have ended his, but many more things were crumbling even as other pieces came together.

  Hugh was in debt.

  Keith was out of town when Jim was killed.

  Hugh was now trying to sell to Keith.

  For a moment she wondered if Keith and Hugh could have been in on it together. The idea made her sick—Hugh was Jim’s son!—but he was also an addict. Addicts were a personality type unto themselves.

  Her phone dinged to signal she’d received a text message, and she dug the phone out of her purse, freezing for a moment when she saw that it was from May. Heat rushed up her neck and into her face. Karri’s phone call meant May would know Sadie was not only still in town, but still working the case. Sadie didn’t know if she could handle any more negativity right now, but she took a breath and opened the message.

  I need to talk to you. Can you come over?

  Sadie wasn’t sure if she was relieved or not. She’d been nervous to open the text message for fear it would be full of angry words; could she stand that same anger face to face? And yet, could she refuse to go talk to May? Even if the idea made her want to curl up in a ball and rock back and forth in a corner?

  She took a breath and replied.

  I can be there in an hour.

  The response was immediate.

  Okay. You might beat me, but I’ll be there soon.

  Sadie looked at the text message and wished she could divine May’s mood and intentions. Still staring at the phone, she took another bite of the crumble, barely tasting it this time.

  Someone slid into the chair across from her, and she remembered that she was waiting for Richard. She looked up and almost smiled before she realized it wasn’t Richard. The blackberry flavor disappeared from her tongue, and she swallowed as Keith Kelly looked back at her with a serious expression, his eyes almost cutting in their intensity.

  Chapter 42

  For a few seconds they both just sat there. Sadie’s stomach was in her shoes, and sweat trickled down the back of her neck as she tried to formulate how to handle this situation.

  Be confident, she told herself as she put the spoon down next to her dessert.

  “Mr. Kelly,” Sadie said, as though she’d expected him along. She hoped she didn’t have any blackberries in her teeth. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  She put her hand across the table. His grip was firm, so she increased her own, which caused him to grip her hand even harder. Inside she winced, but she kept her cool and noted his attempt at besting her. Finally, he let go, and she dropped her hand under the table, flexing it a few times in an attempt to work out the ache in her joints.

  “I’m not here to play games or act under pretenses,” Keith began, his intense blue eyes boring into her. “You’ve asked my son to look into my personal affairs, and I resent it. You need to—”

  “I’m sure you do resent it,” Sadie cut in. “But your resentment is misplaced.”

  His left eye twitched, and she hurried on.

  “Where’s Richard?”

  “He’s been detained.”

  “Is he hurt?”

  “How dare you ask that,” Keith said, leaning forward slightly as his eyes narrowed. He placed both hands on the yellow tabletop. “Of course he’s not hurt. He’s my son.”

  “Who is suddenly not dancing to your tune.” She raised one eyebrow. “Must be hard for you to stomach—him suddenly questioning you.”

  Keith took a breath, presumably to calm himself. “What do you want with Richard?”

  “Nothing,” Sadie said easily. “He’s simply helping me put a puzzle together.” She had an idea. Wondering if it would work, she pushed the blackberry crumble to the side. “Now that you’re here, you can save me the trouble. What was the purpose of your lunch with Jim Sanderson on July first?”

  Keith blinked in surprise. He moved as though to stand. “I’m not going to be interrogated by you,” he said. “Richard may have tripped over himself to share my personal life with you, but I have no motivation to do so. I came here to tell you to back off.” He stopped mid-threat, and Sadie noticed the slightest lowering of his eyebrows as though he’d just realized something. “You’re here about Jim?”

  Ah, he didn’t know as much as he thought he did. “What? You think I’m with Jepson?” Sadie said, remembering how Richard had jumped to that same conclusion.

  Keith said nothing, which was as good as an agreement for Sadie.

  She leaned forward and took the upper hand. “I’m not with Jepson. I’ve been hired to look into the death of Jim Sanderson, and your name came up. Richard is helping me, yes, but he’s not my only source of information.” She was, of course, referring to his website and other public databases, but she hoped her ambiguity about what kind of sources she had used would unnerve Keith.

  “What do you mean you’re looking into Jim’s death?” Keith said, totally thrown off. “He died of a heart attack.”

  “Not everyone thinks that heart attack was natural,” Sadie said.

  “And my name came up?”

  “You wanted his atomizer,” Sadie said simply. “And he wouldn’t sell it to you.”

  Keith blinked, and Sadie watched in fascination as first shock and then anger lit his face. “You think I would . . . kill him?” He pointed his finger at her and clenched his teeth together as he spoke. “That’s slander, and I’m calling my attorney.”

  “The same attorney who drafted up the letter of intent to be sent to Jim’s heirs after the funeral? The letter in which you suggested that they sell you the entire business?” Sadie’s knees were shaking. This man was powerful, and even if she wasn’t showing it, he scared her.

  Keith was once again taken aback, and Sadie, once again, used his surprise as her way in. She realized that she really didn’t believe Keith had anything to do with Jim’s death. But he might be the only other person alive who knew what that lunch was about, and the reason behind the meeting might very well lead her to the real killer.

  “If you weren’t desperate for the atomizer, then perhaps you can explain to me why events happened the way they did. Why did Jim Sanderson invite you to lunch for the first time in ten years, two weeks before he died?”

  Keith took several deep breaths. He didn’t seem to be a man who got thrown off his game like this very often.

  “Look,” Sadie said, anxious to get to the meat of the conversation. “I’m not out to get you; I’m out to discover the truth. If you can help me, then I don’t have to ask Richard questions, and you don’t have to worry about what I believe. You’re not the only person I’m looking into, but I will tell you that your history with Jim makes you a very interesting person. Help me or don’t, it doesn’t really matter, because I’ll find the answers. If you had nothing to do with Jim’s death, then save me, Richard, and you the trouble of us having to entertain the possibilities.”

  “Richard thinks I could have done something to Jim?” Keith said quietly after several seconds.

  “Not really,” Sadie said. “But he didn’t know anything about the lunch.” However, Sadie remembered that Keith’s secretary had noted the lunch on his calendar, which meant it wasn’t entirely secret. She quickly threw that detail into her approach. “And while I realize you weren’t hiding the meeting, Richard was surprised to know nothing about it. I would be thrilled to tell Richard that he has nothing to worry about and that his father is as trustworthy as ever.” Based on results, however, Keith had never been all that upstanding in the trust department, but Sadie wasn’t going
to get very far with a comment like that.

  After Keith digested what she’d said, he nodded. “Jim asked me to lunch. It wasn’t my idea.”

  Sadie did a little victory dance in her head, but tried to look impressed with the information. “Why?”

  Keith took a breath and exhaled slowly. “He wanted to sell.”