Shades of Wrath

by Karen Rose Smith

  “I suppose,” Nikki responded. “But it seems to me as if they’re doing everything backward. Does he think living together is going to be a trial run for marriage? Because it’s not. Living together just means neither of them is sure they want to stay.”

  Nikki and Caprice were on the same page with this line of thinking. To Caprice, living together was like playing house. It wasn’t real life. She didn’t want to pretend to be married when the time came. She actually wanted to be married. Vows were not something she’d ever take lightly.

  “Did Brett set up another date with you since he canceled?”

  Nikki frowned and shook her head. “No, I haven’t heard from him. But then I guess solving this murder is on his mind twenty-four/seven.”

  “It wouldn’t hurt for him to text you or something,” Caprice muttered.

  “We’re not that far yet.”

  “You mean you’re not thinking about each other every hour of the day?”

  “Nope. In my case, I think about him every few hours of the day, but I don’t even think he’s at that point with me. I certainly don’t want to get my hopes up. He could decide dating is just too difficult with his profession. His job interfered in his last relationship.”

  “He told you that?”

  “It was like pulling teeth, but I wanted to know a little bit about his romantic history. I think that’s important.”

  “And?” Caprice prompted.

  “And, he admitted his girlfriend broke off their relationship after about a year because she was tired of canceled dates and his late hours.”

  Caprice thought about Seth Randolph whom she’d dated for a while before she’d made her mind up about Grant. “He’s sort of like a doctor on call, only with law enforcement instead of patients.”

  “Exactly. The thing is, you didn’t break off with Seth because of his profession. You broke it off because you knew you’d never come first.”

  “Among other things. I don’t think Seth was really ready to settle down. He’s still pursuing his dream.”

  “Have you heard from him since you broke up?”

  “He e-mailed me last month to tell me he was extending his stay in Baltimore past the fellowship to fill in for a doctor who was on leave. He just said he’d let me know when he decided where he was going next. I appreciated that.”

  “Do you still have feelings for him?”

  “No, not in the way you mean. But I’ll always be fond of him. I’ll always wish him well.”

  “Just as Grant wishes Naomi well?”

  “Probably. But I see that as a good thing. Don’t you think it’s better to have an amicable relationship with an ex than a bitter one?”

  “I suppose.”

  “That’s why Grant and Naomi saw each other this summer. They worked out a lot of the old stuff, the baggage that was still weighing them both down.”

  “You weren’t okay with it at the time.”

  “No, I wasn’t. But I am now.”

  They’d reached the street and there were residents of Kismet and surrounding communities everywhere. They turned left, passed in front of Vince’s condo building, and stopped to admire the white and cranberry-colored mums in the window display at Cherry on the Top, their favorite ice cream shop.

  “I guess it’s too early in the morning for a sundae,” Caprice teased.

  “It’s never too early for a sundae, but I think I’d rather have chili fries or a burger first. Did you see the sign for fried ice cream in the store window? We could always try that.”

  As they passed by the movie theater, they noticed an Alfred Hitchcock festival was playing. The stands along the side of the street were filled with crafts. They stopped before a beeswax candle-maker booth.

  “I don’t light candles at all anymore,” Caprice said. “Because of the animals. I miss them.”

  “What do you and Grant do for romance?”

  “I have flameless candles now,” Caprice responded reflexively and then was sorry she had.

  Nikki elbowed her. “Have you and Grant taken the romance to the bedroom yet?”

  Caprice shook her head and said seriously, “We both know what a commitment that would be. We’re not in a hurry. We want to make sure our relationship is solid in every way.”

  Nikki studied her. “That’s smart.”

  Caprice leaned close to her sister and whispered, “But that doesn’t mean we don’t make out by flameless candles.”

  They both laughed and moved on to the next stand, which sold beautifully embroidered scarves for dressers and tabletops.

  Lady nosed around at the boxes underneath the stand. Caprice saw she was just sniffing, not doing any harm, so she examined a few of the scarves. “Do you think Nana would like one of these for that table in front of the window? Her birthday’s coming up.”

  “She’d like that pink and green one with the lace edge,” Nikki decided.

  In no time at all, they’d bought the larger scarf and two smaller ones in case Nana would like to spread them under a vase or a picture frame.

  “Have you spoken to Bella lately?” Caprice asked.

  “She’s so busy, between All About You, her online business, and the kids. She hardly has time to breathe.”

  “She seems to like it that way, though. And Joe’s helping her a lot more with the kids.”

  “I guess the old adage that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks isn’t true,” Caprice mused. “Counseling with Father Gregory has really seemed to help them. Joe’s attitude has made a hundred-and-eighty-degree shift since a year ago. I think Bella’s loving the house, and Joe doesn’t complain too much about having to traipse down the yard to the garage.”

  Joe and Bella had needed room for their family to grow. They’d given up a one-floor ranch house for a two-and-a-half story older home near their mom and dad’s. It had beautiful old woodwork, a refurbished kitchen, and the four bedrooms they needed. For the time being, Bella used her sewing machine in the nursery. But Joe intended to finish off the basement so Bella could run her kids’ costume-making business from down there. It had its own outside entrance and would even be accessible for clients who wanted to explain what they preferred in the design of costumes or christening outfits.

  Lady stopped at the curb as they came to the intersection of Sixth Avenue and White Rose Way, the main thoroughfare.

  “Should we stay on this side of the street?” Nikki asked her. “Or cross over?”

  “Let’s stay on this side for now. I can peek in the window of Secrets of the Past.” It was one of Caprice’s favorite dress shops where she found many of her vintage-style clothes. Today with her fringed sweater poncho reminiscent of the ’60s, she’d worn deep purple flannel slacks that flared at the ankles. Her purple pin-striped blouse with its Peter Pan collar picked up the color of purple in the poncho. Her fringed purse jangled with its peace sign charms. She made her own fashion statement.

  Before they window-shopped at Secrets of the Past, both she and Nikki were distracted by the aromas emanating from the chili vendor that Lady had caught the scent of early on. Caprice was about to ask Nikki if she wanted to sample a small cup when she spotted Alicia Donnehy walking up the street. At first Caprice thought Alicia was just going to pass her right by and avoid making eye contact altogether. But then as if she knew that would be rude, and Caprice would probably confront her about it at some point, Alicia stopped, crouched down, and patted Lady. Lady licked her hand and rubbed against her leg.

  “She remembers me,” Alicia said.

  “I think she remembers everybody she meets. But you actually sat with her for a while on the sofa during the reunion meeting. I’m sure she remembers you.”

  There were people milling all about and Alicia rose to her feet.

  “I saw you at the shelter,” Caprice said in a low voice while Nikki wandered on to the next stand that happened to be selling baked goods.

  Alicia took Caprice’s elbow and led her to a quiet spot near the side of the Se
crets of the Past building. Nikki saw where they’d gone and she waved that she’d just be looking at the baked goods until Caprice was finished.

  Lady sat at Caprice’s feet and looked up at her, imploringly.

  As usual, Caprice took a treat from her fanny pack and said to Lady, “Sit.” Lady sat and Caprice gave her the treat. Then she gave her full attention to Alicia.

  “Lizbeth told me you’re going to investigate Wendy’s murder,” Alicia said in a low voice.

  “That’s not precisely true. I told her I’d see what information I could find out, and I’d give it to the police. She wants their investigation to move along and I don’t blame her. But I’m not going to interfere in what they’re doing.”

  After a few moments hesitation, Alicia nodded. “We should talk somewhere privately. I have to pick up my kids now. They’re at my sister’s. But how about tomorrow after church?”

  “Sure. Why don’t you come over to my place?”

  “It probably won’t be until about noon.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll go to early Mass, and then I’ll make something for lunch. You’ll join me, won’t you?”

  Alicia thought about it and then nodded again. “Okay. Thank you. I’ll be there around noon.”

  As Caprice watched her high school classmate walk away, she wondered what Alicia had to tell her. There was no point dwelling on that for today. She and Lady wandered back over to Nikki.

  “Let’s cross over,” Nikki said. “The Blue Moon Grille has a stand with some of their crab and cheese pretzel bits as samples. They advertised online this morning. It was posted on the same site where Helen told me to buy an ad.”

  A few months ago, another high school classmate had offered to check into the best social media positioning for Nikki’s business. “Have you gotten any new clients since you posted there?” Caprice and Lady waited at the curb until the light turned, then she crossed the street with Nikki.

  “Three new calls for catering gigs for October and November: an engagement party, a baby shower, and a luncheon. All new faces that could lead to more new faces.”

  As they strolled up the street in front of the arts and crafts mall, they spotted the Blue Moon Grille’s stand. The Grille was located on top of the mall and had an outside deck that was already filled to capacity. As Nikki snatched a crab and cheese pretzel sample, Caprice noticed Sunrise Tomorrow had a booth of its own. That was a good idea to get the word out. Rena was manning it and was occupied in earnest conversation with a woman who held a pamphlet in her hand.

  Nikki came closer to Caprice. After she finished her bit of crab pretzel, she said, “The murder came up when I was having my hair done at Curls R Us yesterday.”

  “Did you hear anything interesting?”

  “No one was speaking from personal experience. Everything seems to be hush-hush about the facility. But I heard snippets about the main players, how Wendy and Lizbeth made such a great team. Lizbeth only came onboard about four years ago, but Rena has been working there since it opened. One thing interesting—my hair stylist said she’d heard there were hard feelings between Lizbeth and Rena, but nobody knows why.”

  “Lizbeth and Rena, not Wendy and Rena?”

  “That’s what she said.”

  Caprice was so engrossed in thought watching Rena and the woman having a serious discussion that she almost didn’t notice the tug on Lady’s leash. Lady barked and Caprice jumped as somebody’s arm snaked around her waist.

  She turned to find Grant staring down at her, Patches on a leash close at hand.

  “I didn’t even have to text you,” Grant said with a smile.

  Caprice leaned into his shoulder for a moment as their dogs sniffed recognition of each other.

  “Didn’t you have an appointment this morning?”

  “Actually, I had two, but I brought Patches into the office and met with my clients there. Both were cut-and-dried wills, living wills, and powers of attorney.”

  “And Patches settled in okay?”

  “I took him on a long walk before I brought him in with me. He was good.”

  Patches, Lady’s sibling, was a cutie. His heritage must have come from his father. Caprice had rescued his pregnant mother, who Lady resembled, and then found her owner. Ace’s daughter Trista had adopted another of the pups. One had gone along with her mom, and the fifth had been adopted by a house painter Caprice knew.

  Nikki said to Caprice, “Now that you have company, I’m going to check out the leather jackets on sale.” She pointed up the street to a small leather boutique.

  “You don’t want my opinion?” Caprice asked.

  “I think I can find a bomber jacket on my own. I’m not as colorful as you are. Will Grant give you a ride home?”

  Always going out of his way to include her family when they were together, Grant said, “I’ll see that she and Lady get home safely. Are you sure you don’t want to have lunch with us? I passed a pulled pork sandwich stand. It smelled delicious.”

  “No, I’m good,” Nikki said. “I might grab chili fries. But I have a catering gig tomorrow, and I need to whip up a carrot cake. You two have fun.” She gave Caprice a hug and Grant a smile and then walked up the street.

  “I didn’t mean to run her off,” Grant said.

  “You didn’t. She knows she can hang with us if she wants. Do you really want pulled pork sandwiches for lunch?”

  “Why don’t we get them to go and walk to the dog park? We can eat in the picnic area there.”

  “Sounds good. What about something to drink?” Caprice asked.

  “While you buy the pulled pork, I’ll stop at the fresh lemonade stand.”

  And that’s what they did. The dog park was about a quarter of a mile away, but the sandwiches were wrapped in foil and the lemonade cups held plenty of ice.

  They walked through the crowd at a good pace, slowed down to view an artist’s corner where paintings were on display, and then continued to the dog park.

  As they left the Harvest Festival behind, Caprice told Grant, “Sunrise Tomorrow had a booth back there. Did you see it?”

  “I did. It’s a good way to spread contact information if anyone needs help. I asked a friend I have in the D.A.’s office about Wendy, and if the investigation was making any progress. She was murdered, by the way. The autopsy confirmed it. She was struck by something long and cylindrical, most likely one or two of those shades, and she fell into the banister and down to the first floor.”

  “That’s just horrible.” Caprice really didn’t want to think about exactly how it had happened.

  Grant bumped her arm with his. “Are you okay?”

  “Just thinking about Wendy a lot. It wasn’t as if I knew her that well, but something about this murder just really gets under my skin.”

  “Because you sympathize with the women who were abused and the work she did?”

  “Possibly. It’s not as if I ever experienced domestic violence, thank goodness. It’s difficult to even imagine staying with someone who would hurt me.”

  “You have a strong sense of identity and good self-esteem.”

  “From what I learned of Wendy’s background, she did too. Wendy mentioned that Warren Shaeffer has a Jekyll-Hyde personality. I wonder how many people that’s true of?” Caprice asked rhetorically.

  “It seems whatever Wendy’s experience was didn’t keep her from trusting. She and Sebastian seemed to have a life together.”

  “That’s true.”

  “My friend at the D.A.’s office said Wendy was instrumental in helping many women acquire protective orders,” Grant said. “She also helped with relocations. She even rented storage units for women to store their belongings until they could find a safe place to stay.”

  “Alicia Donnehy’s coming for lunch tomorrow. I ran into her earlier, and she said she thought we should talk.”

  Suddenly Grant stopped walking, and Patches looked up at him inquiringly, as did Caprice and Lady.

  “Whether you say
you’re just gathering information for Detective Carstead or not, I know you’re going to get involved in this investigation. This one worries me more than all the others did. Wendy Newcomb interfered in marriages, and that could be dangerous.”

  She could tell Grant again she’d be careful, but he’d heard that before. He also knew what had happened before. After all, he’d saved her life once.

  When she remained silent, he gently clasped her arm. “I don’t want you to make promises you can’t keep. But I do want you to promise to depend on me to help you this time.”

  Gazing straight into his eyes, she nodded. “That’s a promise I can make and keep. I will depend on you.”

  “Are you free for dinner tomorrow night? I’ll cook,” he offered.

  “I’ll bring dessert,” she said.

  “It’s a date.”

  * * *

  When Alicia arrived Sunday at noon, Caprice broke any awkward ice by saying, “Come on into the kitchen. The timer just went off on the casserole.”

  Mirabelle meowed from the lowest shelf of the cat tree, saying hello in her own way. Sophia looked down from the top shelf, blinked her eyes, and swished her magnificent tail.

  Lady looked up at Alicia as if she expected attention.

  With a smile, Alicia stooped to give Lady a couple of pats, then went over to Mirabelle and said, “Aren’t you pretty?” Turning to Caprice, she remembered. “You were still keeping her separated upstairs the last time I was here.”

  That was true. The animals hadn’t yet been acclimated to each other. Now they were for the most part, but Caprice knew their relationships, just like interactions between humans, would take time to develop.

  In the kitchen, Caprice slipped one hand into an oven mitt and picked up a pot holder with the other. Then she opened the oven and took out the casserole she’d made in a lasagna pan.

  “Oh, my gosh,” Alicia said. “That’s a lot for two people.”

  Caprice laughed. “I’ll have leftovers for the week. I never know who will stop by. It’s a beef and sausage base with tomato sauce and then a shredded potato concoction that I spread on the top.”