by Jessica Beck
“Stay strong,” I said as I squeezed Momma’s hand.
* * *
Inside, there was a video camera set up, as well as a microphone attached to a tape recorder. It was all rather intimidating, but I took a deep breath and sat down in the chair that he indicated. After I’d gone over my story three times and answered every question Officer Grant had, he reached over and shut off all of the equipment.
“Thanks,” he said, easing his stern demeanor at last. “Suzanne, don’t take offense by the way I acted.”
I patted his hand. “Don’t worry about me. I know that you’re just doing your job.”
“I appreciate that,” he answered with a smile.
As I stood, I asked, “Who would you like next?”
“Send in George,” he said. “I probably won’t even have to prompt him.”
I did as I was asked, and after George was inside, I sat down beside Emma on the bench in front of the interrogation room.
It was clear that the excitement had worn off and the ramifications of what we had seen were beginning to sink in. “I had to call Dad when I saw the mayor’s body, Suzanne. Don’t be mad at me.”
I patted her hand. “I understand. Just don’t let him stiff you on the fifty bucks.” Ray Blake offered a crime dog reward to anyone who reported a major crime to him.
“Don’t worry, he’ll pay,” she said.
“Listen,” I said gently, “I know your father is going to interview you as soon as you get home, and I understand it’s something you’re going to have to do, but take it easy on Momma, okay?”
Emma looked taken aback by my request. “Suzanne, I don’t think your mother’s involved in this. I would never say anything like that, especially not to my dad.”
I stepped carefully here. “Your father might have a way of bringing it out of you.”
“If he tries to, Mom and I will make sure he never stops regretting it. I’ve got your back on this, trust me.”
I nodded, but I knew Ray Blake, too. By tomorrow morning, all of April Springs might just be under the impression that my mother was a murderer.
I had no choice but to make sure they didn’t believe it very long. Whether Jake worked the case or not, I was going to get Grace and George together, and we were going to find out what really happened to Cam Hamilton.
It was really the only thing that I could do.
CHAPTER 5
Outside of the police station, I looked around for Momma, hoping that she’d stayed close by, but she must have gone off on her own as soon as Officer Grant finished questioning her. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself, but my growling stomach answered the question. It was nearly two and I hadn’t had lunch yet. First things first.
I walked over to the Boxcar and found Trish standing up front at the register. Things had been buzzing inside until I showed up, but they’d suddenly gotten awfully quiet when folks realized that I’d walked in.
“Suzanne, are you all right?” Trish asked. She was a dear friend of mine, second only to Grace, and we’d been pals forever. She still wore the same ponytail she’d had all through school, and had somehow managed to stay fit and trim enough to fit into her prom dress, something that I would never be able to do again.
“I’m fine,” I said, loud enough to give the customers eating at the restaurant a chance to hear. “Everything’s good.”
“It’s just terrible about the mayor, isn’t it?”
I had to agree. I hadn’t been a big fan of the man, but he hadn’t deserved to come to an end that way. “Murder is never an easy thing to take, no matter who the victim is.”
“Do they have any idea who might have done it?” Trish asked.
“Not a clue yet,” I said. I looked around the dining room, and most folks had the decency to at least look like they weren’t watching and listening to us.
“If there’s anything I can do—and I mean anything—all you have to do is ask. I’m on your side.” She said it loud enough so that folks all the way over in Union Square could hear it. It meant a lot to me, having Trish’s very public support.
I smiled at her as I said, “Thanks, but I’m good. Any chance I could get a table?”
“I’ve got one right here,” she said, and seated me close to the register. “Is Grace coming, or is she working today?”
As a corporate sales rep for a cosmetics firm, my best friend’s hours were pretty much her own, so it was a legitimate question. “She’s off today, but she and her boyfriend are antiquing.”
Trish hadn’t had much luck finding someone to date over the past few years, so she said with a wistful air, “Peter’s a real looker, isn’t he? I can’t believe he goes shopping with her, too.”
I decided to let that go with a nod.
Trish got it immediately, dropped it on the spot, and then asked, “What can I get for you?”
I was in the mood for something different. “Let’s shake things up today. How about a turkey sandwich on wheat bread with a side of coleslaw and a glass of sweet tea?”
“You’ve got it,” she said.
I was sitting there, trying not to notice that folks were still staring at me, when my phone rang. I was happy for the distraction, and doubly pleased that it was Jake.
“I wasn’t sure you were going to call me back,” I said with a slight laugh. “I had a feeling you were finished with that particular conversation by the way you ended it.”
“Sorry, my boss was on the line. When he calls, I answer.”
“I didn’t know he intimidated you,” I said with a smile.
“He doesn’t, but if I cross him, he has the power to make me write parking tickets instead of investigating murder.”
I got it. Jake loved the excitement of what he did, and if he had to do something far below his detecting abilities, it would drive him crazy. “Was he asking you for an update on the blackmail case? How is it going, by the way?”
“Actually, he called to congratulate me. I solved it this morning,” Jake said matter-of-factly.
“Really? That’s great. Whodunnit?”
“It wasn’t that hard to figure out that it was his mistress,” Jake said. “When the man refused to leave his wife, she decided to give him a little incentive. It wasn’t the crime of the century; the local cops here would have solved it soon enough.”
“Are you getting any time off?” I asked, perhaps a little too eagerly. Having Jake as close as he was and not being able to see him at least for one date would be torture. “I probably don’t even have to say it, but if you have a spare hour or two, I’d love to see you.”
“Be careful what you wish for, Suzanne,” he said, his voice solemn.
“What does that mean?”
I heard Jake take a deep breath on the other end of the line, and then he said, “You got what you were hoping for. I’ve been officially assigned to Cam Hamilton’s murder investigation.”
“That’s just great,” I said, a little louder than I’d intended. “I can’t believe it.”
Jake sounded less than enthusiastic as he explained, “Suzanne, I tried to talk my boss out of the assignment, but he wouldn’t budge. The mayor’s murder is bound to get headlines, and he wants it solved quickly. ‘Hard and fast’ were his exact words. I’m afraid this is going to get intense.”
“I’m not worried. I know that you’ll do a good job,” I said.
“I always give it my all, but we need to talk. It’s important that we get one thing straight up front. I can’t play favorites for you, your mother, or any of your friends. This is going to be strictly by the book. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” I replied.
After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Are you being sarcastic?”
I knew better. As much as I liked to joke around, this was not the time for it. “Not a chance. I know you have a job to do, and there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re going to find the killer.”
Jake paused long enough so that I wondered if he was still on the
line. When he did speak, he said, “Suzanne, you’re not digging into this yourself.”
When I didn’t respond, he asked, “Aren’t you going to answer me?”
“Funny, I didn’t hear a question,” I replied.
“I mean it. This is serious. I won’t have you meddling in something I’ve been ordered to investigate.”
Again, I didn’t answer.
He finally sighed and said, “You’re going to do what you think is best no matter what I say, aren’t you?”
“Finally, a real question. Yes, I am. Jake, there are folks who will talk to me who wouldn’t dream of saying a word to you. I’ll do my best not to get in your way, but I won’t stay out of this. It’s too important to me.”
I could hear a weary edge to his voice as he said, “You could have just lied to me, you know.”
I laughed. “I won’t do that, so be careful about what questions you ask.”
“Got it. Just be careful, okay? You’re too important to me to lose you.”
How sweet was that? There was a reason I loved this man. “When will you be here? Would you like to have dinner with us?”
“I wish I could, but until this case is over, I’m not going to be able to socialize with you or your mother. Trust me, I don’t want it to be that way, but there can’t be the slightest hint that I’m being unduly influenced. I love you, and I want to spend every minute I can with you, but I’m afraid it’s not going to happen this time.”
“You’re forgiven,” I said, “only because I understand what you’re saying, and you added that you loved me. I love you, too, by the way.”
“It’s not going to be easy, is it?” he asked, and I could almost hear the grin as he said it.
“No, but what fun would that be?” Getting serious again for a moment, I said, “Jake, do whatever you have to do, and when this is all over, we’ll be a couple again.”
“No matter what?”
“No matter what,” I said, trying my best not to think about just how much ground that statement covered.
* * *
By the time I got home, I was feeling kind of blue. Having Jake in April Springs and not being able to see him was going to be tough, and I knew it. Every point he made was a good one, though, and I knew in my heart that he was right. We’d find a way to get through this.
I knew my mother couldn’t be feeling all that great, so I did my best to put on a smile when I walked into the cottage.
I found her on the couch, crying.
I moved to her quickly and put my arms around her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, all evidence to the contrary. “This has turned into a horrible nightmare, and I keep hoping that I’m going to wake up and find it was all in my imagination. Seeing Cam dead like that was just so surreal.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” I said. “Just because you filed to run against him doesn’t mean that you had anything to do with his murder.”
“I’m dropping out, of course,” she said as she dabbed at her cheeks with a tissue.
I had to walk softly here. “Momma, you’re a grown woman, and I can’t tell you what you should do,” I said softly, “but think about it for a second. If you quit, who’s going to be our next mayor?”
“Evelyn Martin,” Momma said, a hint of distaste in her voice. “I don’t care. If she wants the job, she can have it.”
“I understand your reaction, but there’s no need to make a decision right now. Let’s take a few days and think about it.”
“Suzanne,” she said, looking hard at me, “I’m not going to change my mind.”
“The filing deadline has already passed,” I said, “so there’s nothing to be gained by quitting now. Just don’t say anything to anyone about what you’re going to do. Would you do that as a favor to me?”
“I don’t see the point, but very well,” Momma said. “Everyone in town must think I killed him. Why did it have to happen in my building?”
“I didn’t even know you owned it until today,” I said as I settled down on the couch beside her. “Who else knew?”
“It’s a matter of public record for anyone who wants to dig through the county books, but offhand I’d probably say that just Hannah knew for sure, since I bought it from her. Anyone else is strictly a matter of speculation.” Momma stood and began pacing. “Suzanne, you know I don’t usually approve of you meddling into police investigations, but I’m afraid you don’t have any choice this time. You need to find out who killed the mayor.”
“I will, but there’s some good news, too: Jake’s coming to town,” I said. “He’s been assigned the case.”
“How does that affect the two of you?” she asked. Leave it to Momma to worry more about my personal relationship than any of her own difficulties.
“We aren’t going to see each other while he’s investigating,” I explained. “It’s going to be tough, but there’s really nothing we can do about. I trust him, Momma.”
“As do I, but we both know full well that many of our fellow citizens won’t cooperate with his investigation. You need to get Grace and George and start poking around behind the scenes. Folks around here will talk to you.”
“Even if you’re a suspect in their minds?” I hated to say it like that, but I didn’t really have any choice. Momma and I weren’t big on tiptoeing around things, and it wasn’t the time to start now.
“Don’t you see? Because of that, you’ll have an easier time asking questions. You have a stake in the matter, after all.”
“I can’t believe you’re suggesting it, but I like it. What do you think Chief Martin is going to say about it?”
“It’s not his investigation anymore, is it? You worry about Jake and leave Phillip to me.”
“With pleasure,” I said. I shook my head and added, “I’ll tell you the truth: I really don’t want to see Evelyn Martin running April Springs. I’m not sure how you could do that to all of us. Let’s face it, she’d make a lousy mayor, and you know it. You could do better just by showing up once in a while.”
Momma nodded. “Perhaps you’re right, but if I do keep my name on the ballot, I won’t campaign. That means no signs, no badges, no ads. If folks want me, they’ll have to decide for themselves.”
It was a concession on her part, and I knew how hard it must have been for her to say it, but I couldn’t let it go at that. “Even Evelyn might beat you if she campaigns and you don’t. Folks have to know that you’re running, and you need to remind them that they have a choice.”
“That’s final, Suzanne. If you agree to no campaigning, then I won’t withdraw from the election. But if I see one flyer, one poster, or one yard sign with my name on it, I’m dropping out. Is that clear?”
“Hang on. I can’t stop other folks from campaigning for you if they decide to. It would be impossible to police all of April Springs looking for unauthorized campaign materials.” She was being unreasonable, but I could only push her so far.
“Perhaps, but I’m putting you in charge of it.” She touched my cheek gently and said, “Thank you. I wasn’t sure I could feel better, but you’ve managed to cheer me up a little. What do you say to some lemon chicken for dinner?”
“Do you really feel like cooking?” I asked as I got off the couch and moved over by the fireplace.
“What’s the alternative? Can you imagine me going anywhere out to eat without someone whispering behind my back?”
“You’ve got a point,” I said.
“Besides, cooking might help me take my mind off my troubles. You can … Never mind.”
“What were you going to say?” I asked.
“I was about to add that you could invite Jake, but that’s not within the rules, is it?”
“Don’t worry. We’ll have fun with just the two of us,” I said. “Do you need any help in the kitchen?”
“I’m fine. Why don’t you grab a quick nap if you can, and I’ll wake you when dinner is ready.”
“What makes you think
I’m sleepy?” I asked as I fought off a yawn.
“Dear daughter, with your working hours, how can you not be? Now, go on and leave dinner to me.”
I wasn’t about to fight her, especially since I knew that if I kept talking, I might find a way to make it worse instead of better. I stretched out on the couch, and the next thing I realized, someone was knocking on our front door. For a split second I hoped that it was Jake, but I knew that he wouldn’t be paying me any surprise visits until this case was solved.
“I’ll get it,” I said as I stood and stretched for a second.
“That woke you, didn’t it?” Momma asked, coming out of the kitchen wearing her favorite apron.
“I needed to get up anyway,” I said.
She stayed long enough to see who it was, but the second she saw that it was Grace on the porch, she waved and then headed back into the kitchen.
When I motioned Grace inside, she asked, “Hey, got a second?” Grace clearly realized that I’d been taking a nap, most likely from my disheveled hair. “I woke you, didn’t I?”
“No, it’s fine. I had to get up anyway. What’s up? I thought you and Peter were spending the day together.”
“He left,” she said, looking sad as she admitted it.
“For good?” I asked.
“No, of course not. He was supposed to be on vacation, but his boss called him in to work. There’s some kind of business emergency and he’ll be gone at least a week, maybe more.”
I did my best not to smile too broadly at the news. “His loss is my gain, then.” I stepped aside and invited her in. “Would you like to stay for dinner?”
She took a deep breath, and I knew she was taking in the enticing aroma of Momma’s famous lemon chicken. “I shouldn’t,” she said.
Ignoring her, I yelled out, “Momma, can Grace stay for dinner?”
“Suzanne,” she said reprovingly as Momma came out.
“Of course she can. How are you, dear?” Momma asked.
“I’m fine. Sorry about what happened today.”
“As are we all,” Momma said. “Wash up, ladies. We’ll be eating in three minutes.”
