The Begonia Bribe

by Alyse Carlson

  Thankfully, Lauren and Lizzie, in their respective groups, seemed to be fine. Lauren was reading and taking notes like a much older child. Lizzie was brandishing a thick green marker on poster board. Her idea was already obvious—instead of pesticides, she was recommending toads. For seven, Cam thought the idea had a lot of merit as a green solution. In fact, if cute-factor played in, she had Cam’s vote.

  Cam talked in vague terms to the group leaders and to Nell about the mom having some trouble and not to release Lauren or Lizzie to anybody but her until they had a definitive answer. They all agreed, but Cam felt her edges unraveling. She called Rob and asked him to come for lunch.

  “I’m meeting Jake, Cam. I’m sorry.”

  Cam sighed and went up to stare out the front library window onto the park. Dylan was watching things, a ridiculous fan contraption hat on his head.

  She laughed and, without thinking, went out to give him the morning’s news.

  He tilted his head as he saw her coming, the umbrella that topped the contraption bobbing.

  “You look lovely today, Miss Harris.”

  Cam rolled her eyes. She wasn’t in the mood for sucking up. “Did you see a woman yelling or arguing with Telly Stevens?”

  Dylan frowned. “’bout three of them. I got the impression he was sort of a pig.”

  That cheered her.

  “Somebody was taken in today.”

  “So I’m off the hook?”

  “I doubt it. I think the woman’s being framed.”

  “Who would frame her?”

  “Two options. The ex-husband who wants custody, or the person who really did it. But if it isn’t personal, then the person had to see the argument to know she was worth framing.”

  Cam wiped her brow. The heat hadn’t been willing to be forgotten for long.

  “Here.” Dylan pulled her close and she realized between the shade of the little umbrella and the fan, it really was about ten degrees cooler under his laughable hat. The trouble was, being closer to Dylan made her skin burn for other reasons.

  She compromised, stepping back a step but to the side, so she was at least in the umbrella’s shade.

  “Who else was around when they argued?” She had to describe Mindy before Dylan was sure which argument she was asking about.

  “Geez, I don’t know. Maybe a half-dozen people. It was when the people were getting there to set up your tents, but the truck with the stuff was late. Lot of loitering while they waited.”

  “Were there any people from the pageant?”

  “Sure, a couple.”

  Cam pulled a press packet from her shoulder bag. “Would you recognize them?”

  “Probably, if their pictures look like them.”

  That was a fair caveat. A lot of people sent photos that were more glamorous than their everyday appearances.

  When they’d gone through the packet to look at pictures, Cam’s shoulder was on fire from standing so near to Dylan. He identified Clancy Huggins and Judith Towers-Stevens. He insisted there were still four or five more people who weren’t in the promotional materials—probably from the rental company. Apparently Mindy’s fight had had quite an audience.

  * * *

  After lunch, the groups of girls swapped stations. Cam positioned herself in the entry of the Arts Commission and pulled out her laptop to get her afternoon tasks accomplished. She wanted to make sure nothing unusual happened and, at least until she got a call from Mindy’s lawyer, make sure nobody took the girls.

  CHAPTER 10

  After talking to Dylan, Cam had a half-dozen tasks to confirm and finalize. It was the second night they would be televised, and it seemed it ought to run more smoothly than the first, but apparently that was only a novice’s expectation.

  When Annie arrived at three, Cam felt like throwing a party. She’d been nearly ready to throw in the towel, but the mocha fudge cupcake thrust in front of her face washed a lot of that away.

  As so often happened with their friendship, Annie’s arrival opened a spigot and Cam let the details and worries of the last eighteen hours spill out. Annie, as best friends are reputed to do, nodded, gasped, hugged, and swore at all the expected places.

  “So I need you to help me solve this thing!” Cam ended. “. . . Dylan, and now Mindy . . .”

  “Are you forgetting the last time I tried this I got accused of murder?”

  “Yeah, but that was personal.”

  “Might have been, but who knew about it at the time? I’d never met the guy.”

  That was true. Cam couldn’t deny the grudge had caught them all by surprise.

  “You have no real connection here.”

  “I didn’t there, either,” Annie said. “And Mindy resents me at least as much. Probably more.”

  “Speaking of Mindy . . .”

  “Do we have to?”

  “Can you dig up some dirt on this husband—strictly internet gossip-column stuff?”

  Annie’s shoulders fell. Cam knew it meant she’d given in and would help, against her better judgment, or at least her inclinations.

  “How long do the munchkins still have in rehearsal?”

  “Ninety minutes.”

  “I’ll get some pictures now.”

  “Get some of Nell at the library, too. I’d like to supply a special-interest piece for her project.”

  “Got it. Then, while they’re showering for tonight, I can look up some stuff, because, as my clean, fresh scent should tell you, I showered after I closed the shop.”

  Cam raised an eyebrow. Annie didn’t look quite as fresh as she implied.

  “Okay, so Jake stopped by and the shower wasn’t . . . strictly about getting clean . . .”

  That meshed better with Cam’s observations, though it also brought up a new question.

  “You’d think he had a murder to solve.”

  “He does! He is! It’s just . . . twelve-hour days get long . . .”

  “So you were providing a public service?”

  Annie punched her in the arm and walked away, though her posture told Cam that Annie was laughing. Cam laughed behind her. There was definitely only one Annie.

  Cam headed to the library. The girls were a hive of activity, most of them on a bank of computers. Some seemed thrilled at the project; others were just going through the motions. A few were at tables with press board and markers, having already decided on their direction. Nell had been right about the creativity of children. Cam wondered how she hadn’t encountered more gardening projects for kids and made a note that maybe the Roanoke Garden Society should pursue some activities to draw in young gardeners. She was reminded of Lizzie’s toad project and thought it was still a winner.

  After checking in with Nell and Celeste that things were going smoothly, she headed back to the Arts Commission.

  She was barely in the door when Todd found her.

  “Ma’am, it’s . . . well . . . I knew you were interested in this guy, so I thought you might want to see . . .”

  He led Cam to his tiny little security room and pressed a button. Cam watched the television monitor for several seconds. It was the front door. Finally something interesting appeared—the man—Barry Blankenship. He was tugging a woman by the arm; on closer inspection, Cam recognized her as Deputy Quinn.

  “They’re seeing each other?” Cam asked.

  “I don’t know about seeing. But saw?” Todd laughed.

  Barry was unbuttoning Deputy Quinn’s shirt when Cam looked back.

  “In the hall?”

  “No. There’s a little more in the elevator, but all P.G. Still . . . is this the kind of thing you were looking for?”

  “Absolutely! Thank you! Make sure that doesn’t get erased. The police might even want to see it.”

  Cam asked him to email her the footage, then rushed out. As soon as she cleared the outer door of the building, she called Jake.

  “Cam?” Jake’s voice was dubious when he answered.

  “Your Deputy Quinn is cavor
ting with a suspect. In fact, I think she planted the plant at Mindy’s.”

  “Cavorting? Suspect? That’s a pretty serious accusation. What are you basing it on?” he asked.

  “She and Barry Blankenship getting it on on-camera at the Arts Commission. Meet me there and I’ll show you.”

  Jake sighed, but Cam thought she had him. He agreed to come, though he said it was because he needed to be there anyway. She sat on the steps to wait.

  Unfortunately, sitting was a deed that never went unpunished. Cam’s phone buzzed against her leg. She might have skipped answering, but it was Evangeline, so she felt it might be important.

  “This is Cam.”

  “Scene! Restaurant at the Patrick Henry! Hurry!”

  The phone clicked off, and Cam removed her shoes and jogged between the Blue Cross building and the Social Security building, the fastest route between the two. She never went this way without wishing the city would give her a free hand to introduce a little more greenery. There were small trees, but it really could use a little floral infusion. She debated calling Jake as she ran, but Evangeline definitely sounded like the situation was urgent. She just hoped it wouldn’t take long.

  When she reached the restaurant, it was easy to figure out where the commotion was. Cam rushed toward the shouting and touched Evangeline’s shoulder, causing the woman to practically jump out of her skin.

  “Sorry! What do we do?”

  “Thank heavens!” Evangeline said, clutching Cam’s arm. “I think we should divide and conquer! I’ll take Clancy, you take Judith.”

  They hesitated to catch their breath before they approached the argument. Cam had enough spare attention to notice the audience wasn’t huge. The restaurant was only a quarter full. It was the lead-in to happy hour, but most of the nearby businesses hadn’t closed for the day.

  Cam stepped in front of Judith, facing her. She put a hand on each shoulder. “Judith? I don’t think you want to do this. Certainly not here.”

  Judith glared and tried to go around her, but Cam held firm. Cam suspected she only maintained control because she was more sober.

  “Judith?” Cam said more firmly. “Come with me.”

  Cam moved sideways with Judith until her glare at Clancy finally broke. Judith shook her shoulders out of Cam’s grasp angrily. “This is none of your business!”

  “On the contrary. As public relations manager for this contest, this is exactly my business. You are making us look bad,” Cam whispered.

  “Me? Clancy’s the one who keeps dragging that tramp, Jessica, everywhere!”

  “And why would you care who Clancy spends his time with? I would think you’d be glad he was filling her time.”

  “And what is that supposed to mean?”

  “That I saw your scene at the party, too. I happen to think you are actually angry with your husband. And while you’re at it, keep in mind you are why your husband was part of this contest. You insisted. If you hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been exposed to any of this.” She felt cruel for a moment, like she’d blamed Judith for her husband’s death, but she quickly changed her mind.

  “Hmph!”

  Judith stormed away. Cam couldn’t deny she was glad to see the woman leave, even if it might make her harder to deal with at the show. She just hoped she wouldn’t drive anywhere in her current condition. Cam couldn’t hang around to worry about it, though. She worried she’d already missed Jake. She waved to Evangeline, who was still talking to Clancy, and left.

  * * *

  When Cam finally got back to the Arts Commission, she had to run after Jake’s retreating form. “Jake!” she shouted, waving her arms. He’d obviously been waiting awhile and had given up.

  He finally heard her and turned around; he looked annoyed.

  “I’m sorry!” she gasped, trying to catch her breath and talk at the same time. “I had to go break up World War III. Our television producer versus one of our judges.”

  Jake frowned for a moment, but then turned back and walked with Cam.

  She steered him toward the Patrick Henry. They had a water cooler and coffeepot. What she wanted was iced coffee, but cold water in one hand and coffee in the other would have to do at the moment.

  They took the elevator to the second floor and he followed her into the office. Evangeline waved as they passed, and Cam took Jake to the office she’d been using earlier and hooked her laptop up.

  “Okay, you remember I called you before the police arrived at Mindy’s . . .”

  “Cam, I can’t talk to you about this.”

  “Fine. Just listen. Somebody knew the plant was there—before Mindy knew. As soon as she knew, she called me, though probably only because her daughter’s dress had been ruined the day before. She thought the two things were related and suggested it might have happened at her hotel instead of at the library, as she’d thought originally. The police were almost on top of me getting there—with a search warrant. Explain to me how they might have gotten that hint unless somebody already knew it was there? She found it. Called me. And I called you. An hour, tops. How long does it take you to get a warrant?”

  “Depends.”

  “And what was the warrant based on?”

  “It was an anonymous tip,” Jake said.

  “From the person who planted it. My money is on your Officer Quinn. Just . . . check with the hotel—did anybody demand access to the room when Mindy and the girls weren’t there?”

  “I’m the police officer here.”

  “Then you already thought of that and the proper response is, ‘I’ve already checked, Cam.’ Besides, watch this.” Cam turned her computer to Jake and ran the clip of Barry and Officer Quinn groping. “This man is married to the accused woman. All over your officer there.”

  Jake looked up and then at Cam. “Okay. You have a knack for thinking like a cop, but you do not act like a cop. One mistake and suddenly evidence is inadmissible.”

  “And a delay and it looks like an innocent woman is guilty.”

  “You want to manage me?” Jake asked.

  Cam tilted her head. “How long have we been friends? A couple years now? And how was that other murder case? Have you ever seen me encounter anything I didn’t prefer to manage?”

  Jake finally laughed. It was good to have the tension broken. Things had grown a little awkward when Jake, Rob’s friend, had started dating Annie, Cam’s friend. Rob was a cool observer and Annie, a divine distracter, but Cam and Jake both felt the need to control more of situations than they should. Yet they approached control in very different ways. Jake was slow and methodical; Cam, impulsive, intuitive, and if she was honest, a little reckless in her controlling. Their methods clashed when things were too serious to joke about.

  “So if my instinct is good, can you look at it a little?”

  “Yes and no.” Jake stared straight at Cam. She felt uncomfortable. “I will strongly consider the angles you suggest, but you need to understand that, short of a legitimate lead—legitimate meaning fairly overheard, honestly found, or formally investigated—my hands are tied and you’re to stay out of it.”

  Cam doubted she could keep that promise but she promised anyway. She figured when the time came ’round again, she could find a reasonable argument to break the rule and ask for forgiveness later.

  Jake sighed and left, but she thought she’d convinced him to at least check with hotel security.

  * * *

  Cam went into the Arts Commission and collected Lauren and Lizzie, explaining that their mom had something big to take care of. It was only then that Cam remembered. It was the woman on the tape questioning Mindy. Jake had been tight-lipped about that, but he must have known. Cam suggested they all go to her house to get cleaned up before the pageant. She called Annie for a ride and ran to pick up the girls’ bags on the way.

  “Where’s Mom?” Lauren asked when Cam got back to the car with the suitcases.

  “The police are asking her some questions about something she saw,
but I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” Annie said.

  Lauren looked dubious.

  When they got to Cam’s, Annie led Lizzie in easily. Cam stopped Lauren and looked at her.

  “I know this isn’t fair. Your mama’s having a little trouble. But we could really use your help so Lizzie doesn’t get scared. Can you do that?”

  Lauren frowned but nodded.

  “Can you help her get ready?”

  Lauren looked down and stuck her lower lip out, looking her age for a change. When she let out her breath, she stood tall and nodded. “Yeah, I can help the kid.”

  Cam had to bite her cheek. It was a little self-important and pretentious, especially after her brief display of vulnerability, but it was also cute, and the big sister in her identified with it. Sometimes you had to suck it up for your little sister, even if it stunk.

  Cam was glad the pageant had a buffet supper, but these girls would wonder more seriously about their mom very soon. She hoped maybe if Annie were formally standing in, it might help. And she really hoped the questioning would end soon. It would be a shame for Mindy to miss her daughters performing their talents.

  * * *

  Once Cam was dressed, she helped the girls into their outfits. Lauren’s replacement dress was very pretty, though Lauren pointed out a number of times while dressing that it wasn’t nearly as good as the specially made one had been.

  Lizzie wore a mermaid costume, and it was only as Cam examined her miserable face that the question occurred to her.

  “How did you two both win if this is all the county winners?”

  “Mom entered Lizzie in Campbell County,” Lauren said.

  “Can you do that?”

  “Gram lives there. She used that address.”

  Cam looked at Lizzie again. The poor girl was examining her tail fin. Cam thought Lizzie would like nothing better than to be disqualified, and Cam now had the grounds to do it, but she only knew because she’d done something that wasn’t strictly within the rules herself.