by J A Whiting
Lisa gathered her things. “Thanks.”
Angie felt badly that closing the bake shop was probably contributing to Lisa’s distress. She sighed, picked up her notebook, and placed it in her purse.
***
After dinner, Angie and Jenna sat in the living room going over the list of people who had visited the bake shop on the day that Professor Linden was poisoned.
“I talked to Courtney on the phone this afternoon.” Jenna held a piece of paper with names written on it. “What she said matches up with the names you wrote down.”
“That’s everyone then. These are the people who had access to the professor’s drinks.” Angie thought of something. “But what about after the professor left the bake shop. She could have stopped to talk to someone on her way home.”
“Tom said that Davis Williams was talking to the professor on her front porch shortly before she died.” Jenna put her list of names on the coffee table. “She had her take-out latte with her, but I don’t see how Williams could slip poison into her cup. Unless she opened it while she was standing on her porch.”
“Doesn’t seem likely,” Angie said. “The poison couldn’t take effect that fast, could it?”
“I suppose not.” Jenna tapped her pencil against her thigh. “Should we cross off Davis Williams from the suspect list?”
“Did he get near the professor in the shop that morning? I’m just thinking out loud, I know you weren’t there.” Angie stood and started pacing around the room. “I don’t think he did, but I can’t be sure. Wait. He and Josh went into the back room for a while. I guess he could have accessed the professor’s takeout latte as he walked past the counter. We were all busy. We might not have noticed if he tampered with her drink.” Angie ran her hand through her hair. “Let’s keep him on the list for now.”
Jenna picked the list off the coffee table and looked it over again. “What about what you told me that Betty said about the professor going to see that new lawyer. Betty said the professor asked the lawyer something about her father.”
Angie sat down. “Yeah. That’s strange, isn’t it? The professor’s father is long dead. What could she want the lawyer for? How would Ford know anything about Professor Linden’s father?”
“Betty might have gotten it wrong. She can be a scatterbrain.”
“That’s for sure.” Angie rolled her eyes. “Betty hasn’t been any help finding me a new location for the bake shop.”
“If you weren’t going to move the shop here, then you’d have to find a new Realtor.” Jenna stretched. “Let’s go make some hot tea.”
When the girls stood up and headed for the kitchen, Euclid rose from his spot on the sofa and arched his back in a mighty stretch. He jumped down and followed Angie and Jenna. Angie took out mugs and milk and set them on the table. Jenna filled the kettle and placed it on the burner. They sat at the kitchen table while they waited for the water to boil. Euclid leaped up onto the counter and then jumped to the top of the fridge where he perched.
Angie fiddled with her mug. “I don’t have a lot of money saved. I’m nervous about how long it will take to get the money from the estate. When the bake shop closes in a couple of weeks, then I won’t have any income.”
“Oh. I didn’t think of that.” Jenna’s brow furrowed.
“I won’t be able to afford the renovations without the inheritance. It will take two or three months to get that money. Once I get it, it will probably take Tom a few weeks to complete the changes that I need to open the shop. The summer will be over by then. I’ll miss all of that business.”
“You’ll be living here as caretaker until you get the money, so it won’t cost you anything. The estate will pay the utilities and that portion of the taxes. That will save you something,” Jenna said.
“Maybe we can get the bed and breakfast going for the summer months,” Angie said. “Ellie can get a website up and running to advertise and take reservations. I think Ellie and I can get things ready in time to take guests. I just worry about the bake shop being closed so long. My customers might not return when I finally do open.”
The tea kettle whistled and Jenna picked it up and poured the water into the mugs. She said, “We need to make a budget. Then we can figure out what we all need to contribute towards the household costs. There isn’t a mortgage to pay and none of us will have to pay rent anymore. You don’t need to have an income over the summer. It’ll work out with all of us pitching in.”
Angie nodded and raised her mug. “Here’s to helping each other.”
Just as Jenna smiled and clinked her mug against Angie’s, the front doorbell rang. Euclid startled. He opened his mouth wide and let out a hiss.
Jenna glanced at the clock on the stove. “It’s late. Someone’s ringing the doorbell?”
“Who could it be?” Angie stood and started out of the kitchen with Jenna right behind her.
“Stay here, Euclid.” Jenna shut the kitchen door to keep the cat from following them to the foyer.
Angie opened the front door. Lisa Barrows, Angie’s employee, stood on the porch, clutching a paper bag, her face scrunched with worry.
Chapter 12
“Lisa.” Of all the people who could have been at the door, Lisa was the last person Angie expected to see. “Are you, okay? Come in.”
Lisa’s eyes were red and her shoulders slightly hunched. Her eyes flicked from Angie to Jenna and back. “I….” She clutched the paper bag to her chest.
“Come sit down.” Angie gestured to the living room.
“Can we get you a drink?” Jenna asked.
“No, no.” Lisa pushed the paper bag at Angie. “I’m quitting. Here are my uniform shirts.”
Angie blinked in surprise. “What? Why?”
“I got the job at the resort. I want to start right away.” Lisa shifted her weight from foot to foot. “I’m sorry for the short notice.”
Short notice? This is no notice. “We’re only open for two more weeks. Won’t the resort let you give a two-week notice?” Angie didn’t know how she could run the bake shop without Lisa’s help and she was certain she wouldn’t be able to hire someone for the remaining two weeks. The high school girls who helped out in the shop in the afternoons wouldn’t be able to take up the slack either since it was the end of April and they were still in school.
“The resort would let me give notice, but….” Lisa’s voice shook.
“But, what?” Angie wondered why Lisa was in such a hurry to leave the bake shop.
“I don’t want to work there anymore. I’m sorry.” Lisa’s cheeks were bright red.
“Did I do something to upset you?” Angie asked.
Euclid was howling in the kitchen demanding to be let out.
“Why don’t we sit down?” Jenna hoped that by sitting together they could sort out why Lisa wanted to leave without giving any notice.
Lisa shook her head. “No, you didn’t do anything. I just can’t work there any more. I have to go.” She edged towards the door.
“Lisa, tell me what’s wrong.” Angie gently put her hand on Lisa’s arm.
“You didn’t do anything. I just don’t want to work there. It upsets me. The professor’s death…well, I…it scares me. I don’t want to work in the place where she got poisoned.” Lisa’s eyes started to get all watery.
Angie could almost feel Lisa’s distress, it was so palpable. “Is there something I can do to make it easier? To make you feel less upset? We don’t know for sure that the professor was poisoned in the bake shop.”
Lisa took a step back. She shook her head. “I need a change. I’m sorry, Angie.” She whirled and left the Victorian, shutting the door with a bang.
Jenna stood with her mouth open. Euclid was still wailing.
“What the heck? Now what will I do?” Angie rubbed her neck. “Lisa is so upset. She must be superstitious or something.” She looked down the hall to the kitchen and called out, “Jeez, Euclid, stop that screeching.”
“I’ll let hi
m out.” Jenna walked back to the kitchen. Angie followed. Jenna opened the door and Euclid shot down the hall like he was blown from a cannon.
Angie watched him fly past her. “Sheesh.”
The girls sat at the kitchen table.
Angie said, “Lisa’s mother passed away last year. I wonder if the professor’s death is even harder on Lisa because she suffered a loss not long ago.”
“That could be. Maybe being in the shop is too hard because it brings up sad feelings and reminds her of the loss of her mother.”
“I feel bad for her.” Angie rested her chin in her hand and placed her elbow on the table. “I also feel bad that now I’m without an employee and I can’t run the place alone.”
“I’ll help out at the shop,” Jenna said. “I’ve helped plenty of times. I know what to do. I’m not as quick as Lisa, but I can manage.”
“But, your jewelry. You can’t take time from your business.” Angie’s face was drawn. She lifted her mug to her lips but it was empty.
“Sure I can. The bake shop is pretty much done by 3pm. I’ll work on the jewelry after I finish at the shop.”
Angie lifted her eyes. “Really? I can help you put your designs together in the evening. We can do it. We’ll run the two businesses together.” She gave an uneasy smile. “That is, if we don’t collapse from exhaustion first.”
Jenna chuckled. “I never thought I’d say this, but thank heavens it’s only two weeks before your shop closes.”
Chapter 13
Every time Angie walked down Elm Street she couldn’t help but admire the beautiful homes that lined both sides of the road. It was an historic district of Sweet Cove and many of the homes were built in the 1600s to 1700s. Some were in the Federal style and others were Georgian Colonial mansions. Mature trees grew along the sidewalks and in the summer the branches and leaves created a canopy over the road.
A small brass plaque on a brick and brownstone house said, “Jack Ford, Attorney at Law.” Angie climbed the stairs, opened the heavy, glossy black door, and entered a small waiting room decorated with period furniture. There was a large wooden reception desk to the left, but no one was there to welcome any clients who might come in. It was after five in the afternoon and Angie wondered if the receptionist might have left for the day.
Angie had made an appointment to have a will drawn up and even though Tom told her not to use Jack Ford, he was the only lawyer in Sweet Cove. She didn’t want to have to go to another town for something that seemed so simple to put together.
Angie sat down on a small, camelback sofa assuming that Mr. Ford would come out from his office when he was free. While leafing through a magazine, she heard Jack Ford’s voice but couldn’t make out what he was saying. She thought he might be calling to her to come into his office, so she walked over to the open door and popped her head in. He wasn’t behind his desk. Angie started to back out when she heard Attorney Ford speaking from a room to the rear of his office. It seemed he was on the phone.
“I told you, I couldn’t find it.” His voice was firm. “She came in while I was up there.”
Angie froze.
“I didn’t have enough time. I had to turn the lights off fast. I couldn’t very well stay there searching in the dark with her in the house.”
A cold chill rushed through her veins. What’s he talking about? Was he the one that broke into the Victorian?
“I told you. I’ll take care of it.”
Angie ran to the sofa and sat. She lifted the magazine in front of her face with trembling fingers. She wanted to run from the building, but she didn’t want to indicate to Ford that she’d heard his conversation.
Footsteps could be heard crossing his office space and he appeared in the doorway. Ford startled when he saw Angie sitting there in the waiting room. Angie lowered her magazine.
“Miss Roseland?” Ford had a questioning look on his face.
“Hello.” Angie tried to keep her voice even and steady.
“I thought your appointment was tomorrow.” He moved to the receptionist’s desk to look at the appointment ledger.
Angie said, “Oh, is it? I thought it was today. I’m sorry.” Here was an excuse for Angie to flee and she made a move to get up.
“Oh,” Jack Ford said. “My mistake. It is today. I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”
“Oh, no. I just arrived a second ago.” Angie didn’t want him to think she’d been in the waiting room long enough for her to hear his phone discussion.
“Well, please, come in.” Ford gestured to his office.
She put the magazine down and stood straight. Turning to pick up her purse, she took a deep breath to steady herself. Angie faced Attorney Ford determined not to show any signs of unease.
She plastered a fake smile on her face and said, “Yes. Thank you. I’m looking forward to working with you,” she lied. She entered his office first and sat in one of the chairs placed in front of his desk. As Ford walked around to take his seat, Angie thought of the saying, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”
Indeed.
“So,” Ford said. “You’d like to have a will drawn up.” He took some papers from a leather folder.
“Yes. I think it’s necessary. Even though I’m young, well, one never knows.” Angie gave Ford a pointed look. “Now that I have assets, I want to make sure that they’re protected.” Why the heck did you break into the Victorian? “I have three sisters and if anything should happen to me, I want them taken care of.”
“Of course.” Ford pulled a silver pen from his draw.
Angie said, “One can never be too careful, can one?” I’ll get to the bottom of this. I’m watching you, Ford.
“A will is really a simple legal matter. I’ll go over some questions with you and then I’ll draw it up and have you return next week to sign it. I’ll keep it here in the safe. Just let your loved ones know that I prepared it. Should they ever need it, they’ll know to contact me.”
“I’d like two originals prepared,” Angie told him. “You may keep one here on file. I’ll keep the other one.” Her voice showed no sign of weakness.
Something passed fleetingly over Ford’s face and he hesitated for a beat. Then he said, “Of course. Whatever, you wish.”
***
When Angie finished with Ford, she couldn’t race home fast enough to tell Jenna what she overheard him saying on the phone.
They sat at the dining room table. Jenna’s face was flushed. “Him? Ford? The attorney? He was in here? How dare he?” She stood up and started pacing. “Why? What does he want?”
“Well, I can’t be sure he was the one who broke in, but he said on the phone that he didn’t have time to find it. Whatever ‘it’ is. So if he was the one who was in here, then it must still be in the house.”
“He’ll be back then,” Jenna said. “Should we tell the police what you heard him say?”
“I don’t know.” Angie crossed her arms and leaned on the tabletop. “What I heard doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t implicate Ford. He could just brush off what I heard. He could say he was talking about something else. There’s no evidence. I just overheard a conversation.”
“Ugh.” Jenna groaned. “I guess you’re right. There really isn’t anything to take to the police. But we better be careful of him.”
Chapter 14
After closing the bake shop for the day, Angie walked the two miles to Betty Hayes’ real estate office. It was a hectic morning without Lisa Barrows to help, but Jenna rose to the occasion and they fell into a rhythm of baking and serving the customers.
Angie and Jenna were both worn out when they locked the shop’s door for the day. Jenna headed back to the Victorian to take a shower and a nap and then she would begin working on new designs and assembling jewelry for her internet orders. Angie was going to stop at the grocery store after her meeting with Betty Hayes, and would make dinner later in the day so that Jenna could continue working. Angie planned to help Jenna with
jewelry assembly in the evening. They had long days ahead of them, but they were determined to get through the next two weeks successfully.
Betty’s office was a two-room wing attached to her main house. The areas around the structures were beautifully landscaped with different plants blooming throughout the seasons. Even in winter, the grounds looked striking with various greens and red berries adding color to the cold, quiet landscape. Angie followed the brick pathway to ring the office’s doorbell and she noticed forsythia and crocuses and tulips in bloom around the yard.
Betty opened the door before Angie reached the steps.
“Hello, Angie. You’re right on time.” Betty held the door open for Angie to enter. They sat at an old, round, oak table tucked in the corner of the room next to floor to ceiling windows that looked out over the gardens.
“I love spring,” Angie said. “Your garden is coming to life.”
“It’s a bit later this year,” Betty noted. “It was a harsh winter.”
“You must enjoy seeing all the plants blooming.” Angie gazed out the window at the flowers.
“Oh yes. I learned to garden from my grandmother. We’d spend hours together tending the plants. I have a small greenhouse in back. Otherwise, I’d go crazy during the winter without flowers and plants.” Betty opened a folder and pulled out some papers. “Here is the agreement. It covers the next sixty days. I’m confident I’ll be able to find you a location for your shop in that time. You just have to sign here.” Betty handed Angie a pen and pointed to the line where she was to sign her name.
“I’ve decided not to renew our agreement.” Angie put the pen on the table.
Betty’s lips puckered in a pout. “No? Why on earth not? You need to find a place for your business.”
“I might move the shop to the Victorian. The necessary remodel wouldn’t be done until after the summer, but I think it’s the best option.”
“I don’t know, Angie. Is that wise? You’re putting all your eggs in one basket.”
