David took a moment and stared deep into Scott’s eyes before he replied. “You’re free to go. But stay local in case I need to question you again.”
Chapter Six
There was no doubt in my mind that David and I were in for a long day. With a case like this, I felt like we could use all the energy that we could get. There was no better place in town to get a jolt of caffeine than my family’s coffee shop. So before we headed off to question the next suspect on our list, I insisted on getting some espresso in my system.
My only hope was that my mother would be in the back office when David and I got there. Don’t get me wrong. I loved my mom with all of my heart. The problem was that she had very strong opinions when it came to me investigating murder cases, and she was not shy about sharing those opinions with me. With all the stress I was already wrestling with, I was in no mood to get a lecture about how I shouldn’t work on this case. I just wanted to grab my drink and run.
My plan hit a snag as David and I approached Daley Buzz. Despite all the worrying about my mother, it turned out that I should have been concerned about running into Jake Williamson instead. The slick, forty-nine-year-old commercial real estate developer was standing on the sidewalk speaking with Jameson Sullivan, the seventy-two-year-old owner of Sullivan’s Hardware. That sight sent a shiver down my spine.
I turned to David and whispered to him. “Put your head down. I don’t want Jake to see us.”
Jake had grand plans for Main Street which involved buying up every small, family-owned business in downtown Treasure Cove and replacing them with chain stores. He had started with Stewart’s Chocolate Shop. Shortly after purchasing the store from the Stewart family, Jake had brought in Zabrinski’s, which was a national chain that sold inferior-quality chocolates at a much higher price.
Jake had also tried to purchase Daley Buzz, but my grandmother refused to sell the shop. Apparently, Jake had moved on to Sullivan’s Hardware, which was located next to Daley Buzz. Would Jameson Sullivan sell to Jake? I wanted the answer to be no. Main Street had such great character. I hated to see it gutted.
Especially since so much of my hometown was transforming. Jake didn’t just have his sights set on Main Street. I had heard a rumor about Jake offering to buy both Home Away From Home Cooking Restaurant and the building that had housed Ted Anderson’s recently shuttered print shop. It seemed that a buying frenzy was on.
I desperately wanted those rumors not to be true. I couldn’t stand it if one of my favorite restaurants in town was turned into a schlocky chain eatery.
Thankfully, Jake was so busy talking with Jameson Sullivan that he didn’t even notice David and me. I was elated that my boyfriend and I were able to enter Daley Buzz without having to talk to Jake.
At the same time, as much as Jake got under my skin, seeing him right then managed to really put things in perspective. A few months ago, Jake’s attempts to buy up Main Street was one of the biggest concerns on my mind. Now, it was nothing more than a side matter to me. I had deadlier things to worry about. Like catching a killer.
***
As David and I set foot in Daley Buzz, the intoxicating aroma of coffee wafted in the air. But my mind wasn’t able to focus on coffee for long.
My fifty-four-year-old jet-black-haired mother, Elizabeth Daley, was standing behind the counter. She took immediate note—not just of David and me entering, but of the distressed look on my face.
It turned out that my mother wasn’t alone in the shop. My tall, pear-shaped, fifty-six-year-old stepfather, Luke Norton, stood beside my mom. Kelly O’Reilly, my twenty-eight-year-old, wavy-blond-haired friend and employee, was behind the counter as well. And to round things out, my feisty, eighty-year-old grandmother, Betsy Daley, stood beside the register.
So much for just grabbing a cup of coffee to go. The look on my mother’s face made sure of that. She was as concerned as could be as she stared at me.
“Oh dear. Please tell me you’re not investigating another case,” Elizabeth said.
I scrunched my nose. “How did you know that?”
Elizabeth gazed deep into my eyes. “Never underestimate a mother’s instincts.”
Grandma Betsy reached for a small container that was beside the register. “Or a grandmother’s insatiable urge for sweets.”
Elizabeth squinted at Betsy. “Mom, this is serious business I’m talking about. It’s true, isn’t it? There has been another murder.”
“I’m afraid so,” David replied.
Betsy held out the container for me. “Want a caramel?”
It was a little early in the morning for sweets. If I gave in to temptation now, it could turn into a calorie-bomb of a day. “No thanks.”
“Come on. This is why dessert was invented,” Betsy said.
I managed to muster just enough restraint. “What I could really use right now is a large latte.”
“Coming right up,” Kelly said. She then turned her focus to my boyfriend. “How about you, David?”
“I’d love a double espresso,” David replied.
“Sure thing,” Kelly said.
Kelly turned around and fired up the espresso machine.
Betsy shook the container that she was holding to draw my attention back to her. “Nothing goes together quite like coffee and a caramel.”
“I can’t disagree with that,” I said.
Betsy handed me an individually wrapped caramel. “You’re welcome.”
“Thanks, Grandma, but I’m afraid that I’m going to have to pass,” I replied.
Betsy put her hand on my forehead. “Are you feeling all right? You must be running a fever.”
“I’m not sick,” I said.
“I don’t believe it. What other reason could you have for turning down a treat?” Betsy asked.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to have a caramel. But if I gave in to my sweet tooth every time I found myself in a stressful situation, I’d have to spend the rest of my life on a treadmill,” I joked.
“I think you’re being a little dramatic. We’re just talking about one caramel here,” Betsy replied.
“That’s the problem. You can’t just have one caramel. They are way too deliciously addictive for that,” I said.
“You’re right. I think I’ll have two,” Betsy replied.
David cleared his throat. “Can we please stop talking about caramels?”
Betsy held her pointer finger out. “David, if I may, I have a piece of life advice for you. Never come between a woman and sweets.”
My stepfather spoke up. “I learned that lesson the hard way. Don’t make the same mistake that I did.”
“I will keep that in mind. In the meantime, Sabrina and I have a case to get back to,” David replied.
My mother stared at me with a pained expression on her face. “Actually, I have something to say first.”
“Mom, don’t worry about us—” I started saying.
“What a ridiculous thing to say. I’m your mother. I can’t help but worry about you,” Elizabeth replied.
“It’s true,” Luke said. “We both worry about you.”
“Well, try not to worry too much,” I said.
“Too late,” Elizabeth replied.
“What I meant was, we’ll be fine,” I said.
“I don’t suppose there’s anything I can say to get you to stay here, is there?” Elizabeth asked.
I shook my head.
David gave my mother a heartfelt look. “Mrs. Daley, I promise to take good care of your daughter.”
“I know,” Elizabeth replied. “The problem is, there’s a limit to what you can do. The rest is up to fate.”
Kelly stepped away from the espresso machine and rejoined the conversation. “That’s not necessarily true.”
Elizabeth’s forehead wrinkled. “What are you talking about?”
“Just that it might be time for Sabrina to get her aura cleansed,” Kelly said.
Betsy rolled her eyes. “Oh dear. Here comes the hocus pocus
mumbo jumbo.”
“The crystal shop also offers a circle of spiritual protection enchantment,” Kelly said.
Betsy’s eyebrows rose. “Is there anything they don’t offer?”
“They do not deal in the dark arts,” Kelly replied.
“Good. There are already enough people in this town who seem to specialize in dubious activities,” I said.
“Tell me about it. If all this trouble keeps up, they may have to change the town’s name to Deadly Cove,” Betsy replied.
Elizabeth tensed up as she stared at Betsy. “Mom, you’re not helping.”
“The enlightened way is to surround each situation with positivity and light,” Kelly said.
“Did they tell you that at the crystal shop, too?” Betsy asked.
Kelly nodded. “They certainly did. There’s a reason they are so wise.”
“That’s debatable,” Betsy deadpanned.
“If you don’t believe me, you are welcome to see for yourself. You all have an open invitation to come with me anytime you want,” Kelly said.
This conversation served as a strange reminder of how much my life had changed over the course of the last few months. Not too long ago, I would have been just as dismissive as my grandmother was being.
A lot had changed since then. This town seemed to be going nuts. So perhaps it was time to take some unorthodox actions. Maybe a little thinking outside the box was exactly what I needed. For example, I never used to believe in the power of psychics until I visited Miss Terri, and the reading she gave me proved to be an eye-opening experience.
It was not out of the realm of possibility that an aura cleanse or a circle of protection enchantment could help me.
I would certainly think about it. Although, I was in no position to make a stop at the crystal shop that day. The murder investigation took top priority.
I put my hand on Kelly’s shoulder. “Thank you for the suggestion.”
Kelly’s eyes widened. “Really?”
I nodded. “Absolutely. It means a lot to me that you’re looking out for my well-being.”
“Of course. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Unfortunately, David and I really need to get back to the case. Can I get a rain check on going to the crystal shop?” I asked.
Kelly tensed up. “If you’re not interested, you can just tell me.”
“This isn’t about my interest level. I just really need to get back to the investigation. But let me know the next time you’re going to the crystal shop. Okay?” I replied.
Kelly nodded. “All right.”
David cleared his throat. “I hate to break up all this talk about auras and circles of protection, but these suspects aren’t going to question themselves.”
I waved at Kelly, my mother, my stepfather, and my grandmother as I headed toward the exit.
“I really have to go,” I said.
“Sure you don’t want a caramel for the road?” Betsy asked.
“You are relentless, Grandma,” I said.
“Just grab a caramel and thank me later,” Betsy said.
Finally, I was unable to resist any longer. I grabbed one caramel then headed out with David.
Chapter Seven
David and I headed over to Cindy Morton’s house to interview her. Cindy was Gregory’s wife. That distinction sent her screaming to the top of our suspect list. We couldn’t help it. That was just standard practice in the investigative world. Mostly because it was striking how often murder was committed by a jaded significant other. Whether that would prove to be true this time as well was yet to be determined. I just knew that David and I wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t get Cindy’s side of the story.
Cindy lived in a green Victorian-style house in a tree-lined section of Oak Street. Thankfully, she opened her front door after the first set of knocks.
David flashed Cindy his police badge as she stood in the doorway.
The bespectacled, short, thin forty-three-year-old had long blond hair. A quizzical look was on her angular face as she stared at the police badge.
“Cindy Morton?” David said.
Cindy’s forehead wrinkled. “Yes. What’s going on?”
“Mrs. Morton, I have some bad news for you,” David said.
“What kind of bad news?” she asked.
“It’s about your husband,” David said. “I hate to be the one to have to tell you this, but he has been murdered.”
David intentionally paused after finishing that sentence. He expected Cindy to start crying. That was certainly what I believed would happen.
Cindy surprised both David and me by staying completely dry-eyed. Not only did she avoid shedding a single tear, but she didn’t even get a little bit misty-eyed. Instead, she looked utterly remorseless.
I had to admit. It was rather jaw dropping to see.
Cindy folded her arms. “So his shady behavior finally caught up with him, huh?”
“You don’t sound surprised to hear that he was killed,” David replied.
“Or look the least bit broken up,” I added.
“I’m not,” Cindy replied.
David squinted. “I can’t help but wonder why.”
“Gregory got on a lot of people’s bad sides,” Cindy replied.
“Are you one of those people?” David asked.
She nodded. “I sure am.”
What a stunning admission. Rarely did a murder suspect respond with such candor.
David had to take a moment to let that brutal honesty sink in before he continued. “What did he do to you?”
Cindy narrowed her eyes. “He betrayed me.”
“Would you care to elaborate?” David asked.
“My good-for-nothing husband was cheating on me. That scumbag threw away twelve years of marriage for some bleached-blond hussy in a short skirt,” Cindy replied.
“Are you talking about Kayla Green?” David asked.
“You know about her, then, huh?” Cindy said.
David nodded. “Yeah.”
“Then why did you ask me the question in the first place?” Cindy replied.
“Because I wanted to see if you knew that your husband was having an affair,” David said.
Cindy threw her arms out. “Of course I did. That sleaze ball couldn’t keep a secret like that from me.”
David’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “I’m surprised—”
“Why? A wife has an instinct about things like this.”
“I meant that I’m surprised how willing you are to share your negative opinions about your husband.”
“Why shouldn’t I be? I have nothing to hide,” Cindy said.
“In that case, didn’t you find it a bit odd that your husband never came home last night?” David asked.
Cindy shook her head. “No.”
David scrunched his nose. “Why?”
“Because I kicked him out of the house.”
“Because he was cheating on you?” David asked.
Cindy nodded.
“How long ago?” David asked.
“About a week ago,” Cindy replied.
“Do you know where he has been staying since then?” David asked.
Cindy shrugged. “With that hussy of his. Or on the couch in his office. Or a hotel, maybe. Honestly, I don’t know and I don’t care.”
I stepped in. “You should care.”
“Why?” Cindy asked.
“Because you have killer motive,” I said.
Cindy shrugged. “I guess I do.”
I scrunched my nose. “You’re not going to deny it?”
“Why would I?” Cindy asked.
“Because it casts suspicion on you,” I said.
“If you say so,” Cindy replied.
I had been a part of a number of interviews in my life, but never one that was quite so perplexing. She was completely unfazed. As if she was discussing something as mundane as the weather.
“I have to ask. How could you possibly
be so nonchalant right now?” I said.
“Because I didn’t kill him,” Cindy replied. “Now are we done here?”
Cindy looked like she thought the conversation should end right there. What she failed to realize was that things were just heating up.
“Not quite,” David said.
A confused look came to Cindy’s face. “Why not?”
“You don’t really expect us to just take your word for it, do you?” David asked.
“Of course I do,” Cindy said.
“I’m afraid that’s not how it works. The last thing I’m going to do is take a murder suspect at their word,” David replied.
“I’m not a suspect,” Cindy said.
“Every suspect says that,” David replied.
“Just like every suspect says they are innocent,” I added.
“I’ll bet not every suspect can prove it,” Cindy said. “Gregory was killed last night, right?”
David nodded.
“Well, there you go. I couldn’t have done it,” Cindy said.
“Why not?” David asked.
“I was eating at Antonio’s Restaurant with my friend Lucy. Check it out.”
“We will,” David said.
David asked Cindy for Lucy’s number. When she gave it to him, he scribbled down the information on a pad of paper and then walked away for a few moments to check on Cindy’s supposed alibi.
While he did that, I had a question of my own for Cindy.
I ran my tongue over my teeth. “Do you happen to have a toothpick?”
Cindy shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid that I don’t.”
“That’s a shame.”
“I do have some dental floss, though.”
“I’ll pass. I think I can get it out with my tongue,” I said.
“Suit yourself,” Cindy replied.
A few moments later, David returned.
“Lucy confirmed my alibi, didn’t she?” Cindy asked.
David nodded. “She sure did. I even called the restaurant, too. They said you were there from six until nine.”
“See. I told you. Lucy and I were eating at Antonio’s last night. That means I couldn’t have killed my husband,” Cindy said.
Daley Buzz Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Page 46
