A sweet vanilla scent wafted up from the table, bringing my attention to the miniature cupcakes. I chose one with yellow icing topped with a candied lemon rind and popped it into my mouth whole. The cake was moist, the lemon tangy and refreshing. My stomach rumbled in appreciation, reminding me I hadn’t eaten in several hours. My breakfast had been modest and was now frozen to my father’s lawn.
Ruby said, “I’m glad to see you have an appetite. After a shock like you had this morning, you need to keep having something every few hours, even if it’s just a nibble. And plenty of fluids.” She topped up my cup with more fragrant tea.
I thanked her, and we sat in silence while I made her happy by eating several more miniature cupcakes. She’d been so kind; it was the least I could do.
Her cat charm reminded me of Jeffrey, who was out of surgery by now. I wondered if he would be wearing a cone, and if he would be cross with me for my involvement in the whole ordeal. Then I thought of my father, who still hadn’t called to check in. I felt some guilt for having remembered the cat first, but little Jeffrey didn’t have a cell phone, so somebody had to look out for him. Finnegan Day was very good at fending for himself.
“How is your father?” Ruby asked.
I nearly dropped my tea cup. Ruby seemed to have a secret two-way mirror into my brain.
“He’s missed out on all of today’s excitement so far. He picked a fine time to be in the city getting hip surgery.”
She asked, “Total replacement, or did he get that other thing some of the younger folks go for?”
“Not resurfacing,” I answered. “He liked the idea of the procedure, of simply getting the femur capped, but we both had some concern about the devices, plus his height and age put him outside of the ideal range. He went for the total replacement, and I just found out this morning he gave the surgeon a measuring tape before he went in.” While Ruby laughed, I explained how a friend of his had complained of uneven leg length after the same operation. “The physical therapist helped him stretch the muscles, and it turned out the discrepancy was mostly a feeling due to tightness on the one side, but you know my father. He’s always doing things to keep other people on their toes.”
Ruby wiped away a tear of laughter. “Finnegan never gives you a straight answer if he can have some fun instead.” She sighed. “He won’t be pleased to come home to a murder right next door, but at least he’ll get it solved.”
“Solved?” I’d been reaching for another cupcake but stopped. “He’s retired now, and he needs to recuperate. With any luck, the case will be wrapped up before he gets back.”
“By whom?” She blinked at me.
“By the police, of course. By Tony Milano, probably. He trained with my father, and he knows what he’s doing.”
Ruby shook her head. “I don’t think so, honey. These new cops, they aren’t like the older generation. I know your father was never captain or chief, never officially in charge, but you and I both know he always was. Without him keeping an eye on things, we’re headed to ruin.”
Abruptly, I pushed my chair back to leave. Growing up, I’d learned to avoid discussions with people about whatever opinions they had about the police, whether their opinions involved my father specifically or not.
“Ruby, thank you so much for the pick-me-up. You’re very kind, and I am feeling better.”
“Stop by anytime,” she said sweetly. “I mean it, Stormy. My tea room is always open for a friend in need.”
I thanked her again and started making my way out again. Ruby took the tray of chattering dishes toward some unseen kitchen, and I walked through the small stock room and emerged in the showroom. The carpet had been changed recently and was now a deep blue-green, further enhancing the store’s beach feel.
Up in the corners of the ceiling were the cameras Ruby had mentioned. Two of them were fakes, dummies for deterrent use only. The model was the same as the one I had at the gift store. A third camera, though, looked real enough, albeit older than the fakes. That camera was aimed at the engagement ring section of the display counter. I scanned the rows until I spotted one that looked the like the ring I’d worn until recently. I pulled away and headed to the door, desperate for fresh air.
The outside world felt even wintrier in comparison to the tropical oasis behind me. Ruby’s young employee, Hayley, was also outside, cleaning the big windows with a squeegee and soapy water hot enough to send up billows of steam.
The girl didn’t see me at first, but once she did, she squeaked like a mouse. Ruby was right about her being skittish.
“Have you been working here long?” I asked.
She shrugged, eyed me with suspicion, and continued washing the windows.
“Ruby Sparkes is a nice lady,” I said. “I’m sure once you learn the ropes, she’ll go easier on you.”
“Sure,” Hayley answered, spitting the word.
I was about to turn and leave, but she tilted her chin up, telegraphing the desire to say something else. I waited calmly, taking the moment to stand up straight. My father always told me people love to talk to a good listener, and there’s nothing quite like good posture to show someone you have the self-control to keep your mouth shut and use your ears in a conversation.
After a moment, Hayley said, “You knew him? The guy who got killed and buried in the snow?”
“He was my neighbor when I was growing up. I can’t say I knew him well. Did you?”
“Of course not,” she said, visibly annoyed in that specific, insulted manner only a teenager can pull off. “I’m not from around here.”
“Where are you from?”
Her jaw moved, but no sound came out. She hunched over and tipped the bucket, sending a cascade of hot water across the frosty sidewalk. She grabbed the empty bucket and headed for the door, muttering, “Less talking, more cleaning.”
“Good luck with your training,” I called after her.
I pulled out my phone to see if my father had called yet. I’d missed a number of calls, thanks to it being on silent and being buried deep in my purse. As I scrolled through, the phone buzzed with an incoming call.
The caller identification read MISTY FALLS POLICE.
Chapter 12
I answered my phone, and Tony replied with, “I’m sorry.”
“Your new rookie isn’t so bad,” I said. “It was a bit rude for you to foist me onto her like that, but I know you’re busy.”
With a gravelly voice that scratched into my ear, he said, “Not about that. This is a personal call.”
The surprising intimacy of his voice got me moving. I’d been standing at the corner in front of Ruby’s store, but now I started toward the veterinary clinic, walking quickly, with the phone tight against my ear.
“What is it?” I asked.
Again, he said, “I’m sorry.”
“Tony, don’t be sorry about the other stuff. It was ten years ago. That ship sailed. I’m happy for you and your growing family. Honestly, I am.”
“Good,” he said, sounding a little confused.
“And I don’t need your pity, but just between us, I could use your help with the gossip situation here in town. If you catch people telling lies about the billions of dollars I supposedly walked away from, take out your gun and shoot them.”
He didn’t respond.
“Not fatally,” I said. “Just shoot off a toenail or something. You always were good at target practice.”
He didn’t laugh. “Stop talking for a minute. I have something to tell you.”
I’d neared the vet clinic but didn’t want to conclude the conversation inside. I brushed the snow off a bench and took a seat.
“Hit me,” I said.
“Have you spoken to Finn recently?”
My blood ran cold as my thoughts raced to the worst possible scenario. Something could have gone wrong during surgery, explaining why he hadn’t called.
My voice barely a whisper, I said, “No. Why?”
Silent seconds stretched out
painfully. Finally, talking fast, he said, “I have eyewitness reports that your father and Mr. Michaels had a number of altercations, some of them recent.”
I leaned back on the cold bench, sighing with relief.
“That’s all? Thanks for testing my heart valves, Tony Baloney. For a minute, I thought something had gone wrong with Dad’s surgery. I still have to check up on him.” With a snort, I added, “And I need to inform him and Pam that they can’t tell a girl cat from a boy.”
“You’re not listening,” Tony growled. “Finnegan was overheard threatening to choke Michaels. This happened on multiple occasions.”
“Says who?” I asked.
“Witnesses.”
“Oh, hell. If those two weren’t arguing over whose tree was dropping leaves onto whose lawn, it was about someone’s safety lights shining into the other one’s window. Those two liked giving each other a hard time.”
“A threat is still a threat,” Tony said gravely.
“Of course it is, Officer Milano.” I pronounced his name icily, transferring the coldness of the bench seat to my voice. “Speaking of threats, I’ve got a new one. Grab a pen, will you?” I paused, imagining him rolling his eyes. “Ready? Here’s the deal. Finnegan Day is going to kick your skinny half-Italian butt halfway to Washington State if he finds out that for even one minute you considered him a suspect.”
Tony said flatly, “I’m doing my job.”
“Then keep doing your job and investigate this thing properly. Did you know Mr. Michaels was shoplifting all over town?”
He answered cagily, “What have you heard?”
“I’ve heard he wasn’t very popular with the Broad Avenue merchants. You might want to drop into Masquerade and get a look at the mugshot Leo Jenkins has on his corkboard. Don’t go now. He’s closed early for the day. Oh, and stop in to the Treasure Trove. Ruby’s got at least one security camera running in there, so maybe she has footage of him in action. She says she hasn’t had shoplifting trouble, but if some of the other merchants have, I bet she’d be able to tell you. Plus she seems to know stuff about people.”
“What? Ruby’s Treasure Trove? What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about leads in the case. This is all information I got by canvassing the local businesses, and it didn’t take much more than an hour. You could have done it yourself while you were eating your poppy seed bagel. You’re welcome, by the way.”
He was quiet, but I could see him in my mind, rubbing his temples. “You can’t be getting involved in this,” he said. “This isn’t a donut shop robbery. It’s a murder investigation. If you go around asking too many questions, you’ll get yourself hurt.”
I replied, “Not to mention, I could make you look bad by cracking the case myself.”
He snorted. “Right.”
I raised my voice. “Fine. Take care of everything. I don’t care what you do, as long as you do something, and leave my father out of it.”
Before he could respond, I ended the call. My throat felt tight, as though I’d been yelling the entire time, or straining not to. I glanced around to see if anyone had heard me, but the sidewalks were quiet on that street.
The door to the vet’s office squeaked open, and an elderly woman with a Pekingese came out, giving me a friendly look as she and the fluffy dog walked my way.
She stopped in front of my bench. “Are you okay, dear? Do you need a ride somewhere? I think you live in my neighborhood. Quite the day we’re all having, isn’t it? First it was snowing so nicely, but now have you heard about Murray Michaels? Puts a damper on the weather, and I don’t think anyone will be making a snowman for a while, at least not until the memory fades. Where are you headed? Are you dressed warmly enough? You should have a hat. Would you like to borrow mine?” She patted the white and gray knitted hat on her own head. The yarn matched her white and gray hair, coming out in curly wisps under the cap.
I smiled and got to my feet. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got my car here, and I’m picking up a cat.”
At the mention of a cat, the Pekingese, who was as fluffy as any I’d ever seen, barked sharply. The woman said, “We don’t mention the C-A-T word in front of Miss Molly. She’s usually a good girl, but some things tend to set her off.”
“I know how she feels,” I said.
We said goodbye, and the woman gave me a wave with one gloved hand before walking away.
I blinked up at the sky, which was growing darker now that another short winter day in the Pacific Northwest was coming to an end. Standing, I could feel the shakiness in my legs, the adrenaline from talking to Tony. I’d almost forgotten how angry I used to get, all those times I couldn’t avoid defending my father. I avoided debates about the role of law enforcement in Misty Falls, and specifically about my father, but that didn’t stop trouble from seeking me out.
What was Tony thinking, suggesting my father might have harmed his neighbor?
If anyone knew my father’s true character, it was Tony. They’d worked closely together for years. Tony had to know my father was as passionate about justice and fairness as anyone. Sometimes the other cops would rough people up but not my father. He left the judge and jury work to the judge and jury, as it should be. He rarely used force, preferring to get people talking, or better yet, laughing. If he’d said anything to his neighbor about choking, it had to have been a joke.
I shivered. The idea that Finnegan Day could be a suspect was absurd, but Tony must have told me for a reason. What was he up to? He probably expected me to call my father and give him the news.
I looked down at my phone and scrolled through the missed calls and text messages. They were all from Pam, which worried me, until I opened the most recent message.
Pam Bochenek: I spoke to your father ten minutes ago. He says the surgery went well but he still needs to measure his legs. His biggest complaint is that the coffee at the hospital is terrible. Are you okay? I heard the news. I’m so deeply sorry that it was you who found that mess. It should have been me. How is the cat?
I composed a message back: I’m fine. Just picking the cat up now. See you soon.
My message was short, yet difficult to write. I stumbled, as I had been doing lately, over what to call the house. I wanted to call it home because I’d grown up there, and it had been my home for years, but I didn’t live there anymore, whereas Pam did. Simply calling it home felt untrue at best, antagonistic and territorial at worst. Calling it Dad’s house didn’t feel right either, yet I couldn’t bring myself to say it was her house, as in “see you at your house soon.” Those words wouldn’t come out of my mouth or off my fingertips.
I finished and sent the short message.
What I didn’t include was any hint about my father being a suspect. Tony had leaked that information to me for a reason. He wanted me to shake the hornet’s nest for him, but he was in for a surprise. I wasn’t going to do his bidding.
I dropped my phone into my purse and strode up to the door of the Calico Veterinary Clinic, bracing myself for the place’s particular canned-stew aroma.
Chapter 13
“How’s the patient?” I asked.
“Who?” Natasha, the veterinary assistant whose hair resembled the vibrant skin of a Red Delicious apple, blinked at me with comically wide eyes.
“The Russian Blue cat,” I said. “He came in here for the full spa treatment, if you know what I mean. Did everything go well?”
“Yes, of course. I’ll get him for you.” She walked backward, keeping her eyes on me.
Natasha must have been talking to the woman with the Pekingese, learning of what I’d discovered that morning. My suspicions were confirmed by the not-quite-hushed-enough tones of her discussing the murder with someone else in the back room.
While Natasha and her coworker debated whether I should get a discount on the neutering simply because they felt sorry for me, I searched for something to read while I waited. There wasn’t much for magazines, and since I already kne
w more than anyone should about the life cycle of fleas, I pulled out my phone.
There was a message from my real estate agent, who either hadn’t heard the day’s big news or was trying hard to be a professional and not ask.
Samantha Sweet: Everything’s set up for me to show the rental tonight. His name is Logan Sanderson, and he’s moved here to work at a law firm. Is there anything specific you’d like me to ask him?
I looked at the waiting room chair where Logan had been sitting when I met him that morning. My first impression of the tall, bearded man was not favorable. First he’d laughed at me for not knowing Jeffrey was a male, and then he’d made lewd comments about winning the favor of his uptight landlady. Those were two strikes against him. But then, when Tony Milano had come to haul me off to the station, Logan had sprung into action, literally jumping to his feet to offer me assistance. I tried not to be pessimistic about the future, but I could imagine there coming a time, someday, when I might need a lawyer. Having one next door could prove handy.
I wrote back to the real estate agent: I trust you. If you vouch for this guy, you can make the deal and give him the keys tonight.
As I tapped the screen to send the message, I knew I’d made the right decision. No tenant or employee or partner comes without flaws, and it’s better to know which ones you’re dealing with ahead of time.
Natasha returned with a sleepy-eyed Jeffrey, snuggled inside his pet carrier.
“Is it all true?” Natasha asked me.
Because she had the decency to ask me directly, I told her it was, and that Jeffrey was the real hero because he’d led me right to the body.
“Cats know things,” she said. “They have special senses for danger, which is why they’re so curious.”
I added, “And why they need those nine lives.”
Natasha frowned. “That’s just a myth. They don’t come back from the dead.” She went on to give me Jeffrey’s after-care instructions, warning me to call them if anything alarming happened since the truth was he only had one life.
Stormy Day Mysteries 5-Book Cozy Murder Mystery Series Bundle Page 8
