by Linda Wiken
She shouldn’t have been surprised when Megan turned up about an hour into her task.
“You really didn’t have to come down,” J.J. said, although she was pleased to have helping hands.
“I can’t let you do this all on your own. We’d committed to helping, but I agree that the others should stay home and not have to dwell on what happened here last night.” She glanced toward the passageway. “Have you heard anything?”
“No. I haven’t spoken to the investigating officer since last night, not that he was likely to share any news. I did go down to the station and make a statement earlier, but nobody told me a thing.”
Megan joined in taking down signs, removing the double-sided tape, and stacking everything. “I still can’t believe what happened.” She shook her head. J.J. noticed the fatigue in her face, even though she was much better put together than Connor had been earlier. “If I’d had any idea, I wouldn’t have even suggested Miranda for the job.”
“Of course you couldn’t have known. You have no responsibility in this. We don’t even know if she was targeted or was just unlucky to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.” And I was the one who asked her.
“You mean, like, there was a psycho on board just waiting to prey on a woman?” She shuddered.
“We have no facts at this point. I know it’s hard but we’re best off not dwelling on it.” J.J. looked around the deck. “The cleanup is going quite quickly. I know the cruise line is anxious to get their ship back and on schedule.”
“The police aren’t ready to allow that, are they?”
“I have no idea,” J.J. admitted, however, she highly doubted the Lady of the Lake would be sailing at all today. She felt bad for the owners and just hoped the stigma of having a murder on board didn’t hurt their future revenue. Of course, she admitted, that was the least of today’s worries.
By four, the ship was back to normal, except for the cop who remained, looking stoic and disinterested. J.J. knew he was taking it all in, though. She was happy to be out of there. She parted with Megan on the dock with the promise she’d be in touch real soon with her final report, and drove over to Skye’s apartment, hoping she’d be home by now. She badly needed to talk things through.
Skype opened the door with a full glass of red wine in one hand, which she handed to J.J. They sat out on the balcony, taking in another mild fall afternoon.
J.J. took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Nick is on call today at the emergency clinic and unfortunately, he did get called out. We got some work done before he had to leave, though.”
J.J. nodded. They sat together in silence for a few minutes until J.J. spoke.
“I feel torn,” J.J. admitted. “A part of me is still in shock about the murder and also feeling some guilt, while the other part is fighting off hysteria about the damage this might do to our reputation. Two murders at two of our events. That’s bad press in anyone’s book.”
“Here, read this before you go off on a panic attack.” Skye handed her a piece of paper with a press release under the Make It Happen logo. J.J. read it two times before sitting back with a sigh.
“Perfect. It’s very professional and yet compassionate. Of course, I don’t know if it will do any good, but I’m impressed.”
“It’s a start. The next thing we have to do is get in touch with all of our current clients tomorrow, especially those next up for events, and explain what’s happened. Maybe taking them out to lunch would be a good idea. Are you up for that?”
“Definitely. I wish we could do something for People and Causes, though. I feel bad for them.”
“If I might be so crass as to point out, they do have the take from the evening. They haven’t lost any money because of this, and by the time next year’s fund-raiser rolls around, very few will remember. Except I doubt they’ll ask us to plan it.”
“I hope you’re right—not about us being cut out, of course. But I guess that would be understandable.” J.J. stood and stretched, then started pacing. “I still can’t believe this has happened.”
Skye gave her a hug. “What about Connor Mac?”
J.J. shook her head. “I told you he and Miranda had been engaged?”
“No. I didn’t know that.”
“I guess I haven’t had a chance to tell you. Everything’s getting muddled in my head. It turns out they were engaged, then broke it off about three years ago. Only thing is, they’ve been dating on and off ever since.”
“Like during the time you’ve been dating him?”
“You make it sound like we’re an item. I keep telling everyone we’re just friends who like to go out together every now and then. I certainly don’t change my plans just to go out with him.”
Skye glanced at her.
“I don’t.”
Skye reached out and patted her arm. “But still, even given that, it must have come as a surprise to hear that news.”
“It did. I’ll admit I had this really tiny, brief moment of being teed off, but when I stopped to think about it, what difference did it make to our friendship? Nothing. We were, and still are, just friends.”
“Good. But you’d better hope the cops don’t think you knew about all this before.”
“You think they’ll take it as a motive?”
Skye shrugged. “You know better than I how they think. But put that all out of your mind for now, because Nick should be here any minute for supper. You’ll stay, of course.”
It sounded more like a command than an invitation. J.J. nodded.
“Good. He’s picking up some Thai takeout on the way over. Help me set the table, please, and we’ll try to enjoy the evening. We’ll have a lot to deal with tomorrow at the office.”
CHAPTER 6
J.J. checked her smartphone while standing in line at the Cups ’n’ Roses coffee shop on her way to the office the next morning. She’d decided to walk to work, partly because it promised to be a beautiful day, but mainly because she had some thinking to do. She had tried hard to shake the feeling of guilt that had crept into her psyche over the weekend. She knew it was irrational. She wasn’t to blame for Miranda’s death even though she had done the hiring, which had placed Miranda in that location, at that time. One part of J.J.’s mind knew that if it was a targeted killing, the time and place didn’t matter. But what if it was a loony who did it, a random killing, and Miranda died only because she had been there? Ugh. She shook her head and then remembered where she was.
She reached the counter and waited until Beth had finished plating a blueberry scone for the customer who’d just paid. Beth’s face lit up when she saw J.J.
“How are you, J.J.? I tried phoning you last night. I heard the news of course, and I was worried about you.” Beth ran the back of her hand across her forehead, messing up her bangs, highlighted gray to offset her recently dyed dark auburn hair.
“I know, I got your message. Thanks, Beth. I appreciate it. But it’s been even harder on Connor. Has he been by this morning?”
“No, which is unusual. He’s usually my first customer on his way to the radio station. How well did he know her? I guess being in broadcasting, they’ve run into each other a lot.”
“They were engaged at one point.” J.J. wasn’t sure if she should be sharing that information, but Beth was part of the club. They were close friends who shared and cared.
Beth gasped. “I didn’t know that. Well, I guess we don’t know much about Connor’s personal life, when you think about it. The only reason we know you two are dating is because you talk about it.”
“Not much.”
Beth rang in J.J.’s usual large latte. “No, but it’s not a secret. Do you think he’ll be okay?”
“Connor? I’m sure he will, but while he’s getting there, we’re all here for him.”
“So true.”
J.J. looked around her. “I’d better move along. Your lineup is getting longer by the minute.”
“Listen, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about, although it’s probably really poor timing what with all that’s happened. But do you think you could stop by later? Latte on the house.”
“Sure.” J.J. nodded and moved to the end of the counter where the barista had just placed her order. Walking along the first block after leaving the shop, J.J. wondered what was on Beth’s mind. During the second block, she was thinking about Evan Thornton and wondering if he had heard the news. He’d admitted that sometimes he and Michael, his partner, didn’t turn on any radio or TV all weekend. They had one of the largest CD collections she’d seen, and that seemed to be all they needed.
She walked up the front steps to the white clapboard house that had started life in the 1920s as a post office. Evan had purchased it and transformed the place into a showroom with his interior design office on the main floor. The upper floor was divided in half with lawyer Tansy Paine occupying one half and Make It Happen, the other. J.J. looked through the glass door to his office and spotted Evan sitting at his desk. She knocked and entered after he looked up and waved her in. She could tell by the stricken look on his face that he’d already heard the news.
He leapt up and scurried toward her. “J.J., OMG, what a weekend you’ve had. Are you all right?” He did the same “hand on shoulders” routine that Skye had done and then pulled her close for a hug. “What a shock that must have been.”
J.J. gently removed herself from his arm. “It was, but you know, it’s even harder on Connor. She was his ex.”
“His ex?”
“I mean, his ex-fiancée.”
“Really? I didn’t know that. Did you know that?”
“He told me yesterday.”
“Yesterday? You mean you’ve been dating him all this time and you didn’t know he’d been engaged before?” He escorted her over to the white leather club chair and then pulled up a stool for himself from where it had been shoved under his worktable. “What did you talk about? Sorry, scratch that. None of my business.”
“Correction, Connor and I have been friends all this time, and we occasionally go out together. Everyone is so determined this is a big romance but it’s not. Really, Evan. We’re just friends.”
Evan stiffened, and J.J. worried she’d sounded too brusque.
“I know that, but still,” he reassured her, “I also know how hard you take the bad things that happen to your friends.”
J.J. smiled. “Thanks for your concern, but really, I’m all right.” Except for a major case of the guilts. “Have you heard any details about the murder?” She really didn’t expect him to have any news, but he was so well connected in Half Moon Bay, there was little that slipped past his curious ears.
“Nada. None of the facts. Of course the gossipers are out and at it. I did hear something about Connor having murdered her in a fit of passion. That after doing the event with her, he made a pass but she turned him down. So he did whatever. What did he, er, I mean, the murderer do?”
J.J. groaned. “I don’t know. The police haven’t said. However, I was worried about the stories starting up. Why do people do that? Why not just wait for the police to catch the killer instead of starting all these rumors?”
“They can’t wait, that’s why. Besides, tomorrow there may be another murder or scandal taking place and they’ll have to move on to it, so they’re milking this one for all it’s worth while it’s still front and center.”
“That’s cynical.”
“But true. You think too kindly of people, J.J. You can’t relate to their mean, ugly tendencies.” He made such a grotesque face that it got a laugh out of her.
“Maybe not, but how unfair to Connor. We’ve got to do something to help him.”
“Like investigate?” Evan looked eager, but J.J. shook her head.
“No. I mean, like take him out to dinner tonight. We don’t want him to sit alone at home feeling miserable.”
“Excellent idea. I’ll bring Michael along, too, if I may.”
“Of course. He’s an ex officio member of the Culinary Capers. I’ll phone the others this morning and hope it works for everyone. Where should we go?”
“How about Bella Luna, or is it too soon?”
She shrugged. “Nope. That would work fine. I’m always happy to treat myself to their delicious food.”
“Good. Leave the reservations to me. Now, scat. I have a client coming any minute now.”
He walked her to the door and held it for her. “Hang in there.”
J.J. heard the front door opening as she reached the top step to the second floor. Probably his client. She glanced at Tansy Paine’s law office, but it looked dark. When she turned to the Make It Happen side, it also looked dark. She fumbled for her keys, hiding in the bottom of her purse, and unlocked the door, switching on the light with her left elbow. Only nine A.M. and already stuffy inside. Of course, the office had been locked up all weekend. She deposited her clutter on her desk, switched her computer on, and opened the windows. Then she plopped in her chair and sipped her latte. She’d finished it by the time Skye walked in.
“You’re looking much perkier this morning,” Skye said as she dropped her purse on her desk, opposite J.J.’s.
“Since when do I look perky? I am, however, feeling a bit more chipper.”
“Chipper, perky. Potatoes, tomatoes, etc. Anything new?”
“If you mean about the murder, no. If you mean about anything else, same answer. I haven’t done much more than turn on my computer.”
“But I see you stopped in at the Cups ’n’ Roses. No news from there?”
“Nothing. Beth was concerned about me, and Connor, who didn’t show up for his usual early-morning coffee. As is Evan. I stopped by his office, too.” She leaned forward and clicked on her e-mail icon. “Oh cripes.”
“What?”
“Over five hundred e-mails. What am I going to do?”
“Time for your organizational skills. Flip through them and eliminate any names you don’t know, without opening them—I’ll bet a lot are from curious outsiders—then there’s your usual spam, and finally, the important ones from clients.”
J.J. saluted. “So clever.” She watched while Skye turned her computer on and pulled up her own e-mail.
“Oh man,” Skye said. “Looks like I’ll need to take my own advice. Good thing I don’t have any appointments until later this morning. How about you?”
“Nope. I’m planning to prepare my final report on the casino night and will also spend a day or so on the Stantons’ fiftieth wedding anniversary party coming up in November, to make sure it’s on track. Then I’m looking forward to getting back to work on the conference for the Vermont Primary Teachers Association happening next spring.”
“I’ll bet you’ll have fun with that one.”
J.J. grinned. “Right up my alley. But first, I need to make some personal phone calls. I’ll get to the client ones we talked about a bit later.”
She punched in Alison Manovich’s home phone number. It went to the message mode, and J.J. left details of the dinner in case Alison could join them. J.J. had no idea what Alison’s shifts were these days. It seemed like they hadn’t had time to just sit and talk in a while. Then she tried Connor’s cell phone. She knew he always kept it on vibrate, even when on the air, and could usually manage a quick text in acknowledgment. She left a message for him and next tried his home in case he’d taken the day off. Of course he has. He needs some time. Still no answer, so either he wasn’t at home or he’d opted not to answer calls. Another message.
She decided to leave Beth for an in-person invitation. She’d head over after the lunch crowd eased off and at the same time find out what Beth wanted to talk to her about. She pulled out the blue binder she’d used as the bible for the casino night. She’d already printed out the notes she’d made on Saturday during the setup and on Sunday, after everything had been tucked away. She reread it all and then went to work on a report for People and Causes with an added post
mortem section on how to do it better next time. She cringed at that word and the thought that struck her—next time, no murder.
By the time she’d finished, Skye was heading out the door to her appointment. J.J. saved the report, wanting to read it over yet one more time before printing out their own copy and e-mailing it to Megan. She hadn’t promised to have it done by any particular date, so one more day wouldn’t matter. She did know the group had to have their own report in to the licensing authorities within thirty days, though.
She checked her watch. Two P.M. She tried Connor’s cell one more time. Still no answer. She was starving and Beth wanted to talk. Now was the time.
• • •
J.J. placed her order for a black bean and avocado salad and made her way to her favorite table, latte in hand. She sat staring out the window until Beth joined her a few minutes later. She placed the salad in front of J.J. and sat across from her, her own coffee mug in hand.
“You go first,” Beth ordered after watching J.J. enjoying her first mouthful of salad.
“This is delicious. My compliments to the chef.”
Beth grinned and bowed her head. “The chef thanks you. Now, what’s up?”
“I was talking to Evan, and we’ve decided to see who can get together tonight for dinner at Bella Luna, six thirty or whenever you can get there. I’m hoping Connor can make it, because we’re doing it for him, but so far I’ve not been able to reach him. Has he shown up at all today?”
“No, and I’m a bit worried. That’s a lot for him to be going through on his own. I think dinner is a great idea, even if he doesn’t show. Maybe we can come up with a casserole chain or something.”
