Murder on Wheels

by Lynn Cahoon

  “If you keep beating me here, I’m going to have to give you your own key.” I unlocked and held the door open for her, flipping on the lights as we crossed the threshold.

  “And take away my reading time? You’d do that to me?” Sasha tapped her purse. “I carry my book with me everywhere, and if I have ten or even five minutes, that’s a few more pages.”

  “So you’re telling me that you like me showing up late because you get to read more?” I laughed as I went to the counter and washed my hands. Then I started the regular pot of coffee as Sasha started the decaf. We’d been working this shift together for over a month now, and we had the chores down to a choreographed dance. Sasha worked a full shift with me on Tuesdays, then on Wednesdays, she worked with Toby and helped Aunt Jackie close. She had Thursdays off, then ran the same schedule for Fridays and Saturdays. We’d carved out full-time hours so we could get her on our health insurance. Toby had benefits with the police department, so Sasha was our only employee with full benefits.

  “What can I say, I’m great at time management.” She held up the list Aunt Jackie had left by the counter on Saturday night. “You want to handle the extra or the ordinary list?”

  “I’ll do the setup and any customers who come in. You handle the queen’s instructions.” I liked to tease my aunt that she tended to overschedule us with activities, but honestly, most of her ideas were gold, especially in the area of marketing. She’d started the book clubs, sponsored a launch for a well-known mystery author at the store, and even set up the last mystery dinner theater. Of course, finding a real dead body meant that hadn’t been in the plan, but the idea was solid.

  We worked in relative silence for a half hour before we got our first rush of commuter customers. After the last one, Bob, ambled out of the store and on his way to his job at the bottling plant down the road, Sasha leaned against the counter and folded her bar towel.

  “Have you heard from Toby?”

  Her question surprised me, and I looked up from cutting a new banana nut coffee cake for the display counter. I set the knife down and ripped a slice in half, giving her the larger piece. My heart sank at the realization. “Crap, something happened with the investigation and he’s not coming in today?” I almost inhaled the bread, not wanting to think about what could happen to Austin, especially since I had the information to free him. “What else did they charge Austin with?”

  Sasha frowned. “I don’t know.”

  Now it was my turn to be confused. “Then why won’t Toby be coming in to work?”

  “Who said Toby wasn’t coming in?” Sasha paused, then laughed. “Oh no. That’s not what I meant. I wondered if you heard how Toby and Elisa’s date had gone on Friday.”

  Relief filled me, and I made a mental promise to go to the station and confess as soon as my shift was over. I went back to checking the prices in the cash register. Aunt Jackie made me do the routine double-check first thing every week, just in case gremlins had come in over the weekend and played with our pricing codes. “I don’t know. I guess fine. I mean, I don’t really hear from Toby unless it’s about work.” Or my sleuthing, I added silently.

  “Oh.” A twinge of disappointment echoing in Sasha’s one-word answer caused me to pause from the verification task again.

  “What’s going on? Anything I need to know about?” This was the second time I’d asked Sasha about her emotional health in less than a week. The girl had me worried.

  She waved away my words. “I’m fine. I was just concerned about Toby, that’s all. A girl doesn’t set up a mandatory dinner for her beau unless she has big news.”

  My mind started racing. “Oh no. You don’t think she’s pregnant, do you?”

  Sasha’s eyes widened. “No. I mean, I don’t know. Do you think she’s pregnant?”

  I thought about Toby’s complaints about Elisa being moody and hard to deal with. “It could explain a lot, especially her mood swings.” I shook my head. “Toby as a daddy, I just can’t see it.”

  Sasha headed toward the back. “I can.” Then she disappeared through the swinging doors.

  I stepped toward the office, but the bell over the front door stopped me. Harrold strolled through the door and set a leather-strapped briefcase on a table near the window. He waved at me, then came up to the counter. “Hey, Jill, is Jackie down yet?”

  “Down? She doesn’t work until three.” Harrold looked good. Clean jeans, a button-down shirt, and, I sniffed just to make sure, he was also wearing cologne. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him in anything but Tshirts, mostly ones with different railroad insignias. That was the fun of making a hobby into a profession; you could dress the part. Today, Harrold looked like a successful California real estate broker, or maybe one of those dot-com kings.

  “Didn’t she tell you? We have our weekly meeting for the water conservation committee today and she’s hosting. Let me order up coffee for four and a plate of a variety of the different pastries over there. My treat.” He pulled out his wallet and handed me a gold card.

  “Let us handle the coffee, but I’ll take your card for the desserts. Let me know if the rest of the group wants anything else.” I charged him for the order and handed back the plastic. I looked at the clock: ten to nine. “Do you want me to call Aunt Jackie and let her know you’re here?”

  He shook his head. “Nope, I’ve got stuff to keep me busy until the meeting starts.” He smiled and the crinkles around his blue eyes made him look like Robert Redford. “Besides, a guy doesn’t want to look too anxious, right?”

  “I’ll bring everything over to the table then.” As he walked away, my gaze darted to the ceiling. Was Aunt Jackie really into this guy? Could this be my new uncle?

  As I filled the coffee carafe, the bell over the door rang again, and Josh lumbered into the shop. I saw his glare toward Harrold, who in turn smiled and waved him over. Instead, Josh headed toward me and the counter.

  “Where’s Jackie?” Even though the day was just starting, he looked rumpled in his white shirt and black suit.

  I pointed to the ceiling. “She hasn’t come down yet. I guess you all have a meeting? I’m getting coffee for the table, can I get you something else?”

  “Plate up some of those cake things Jackie likes.” Josh waved toward the dessert case. “I’ll treat everyone to breakfast.”

  “Harrold’s already bought enough for the table.” I smiled over at Harrold, who was poring over papers from his briefcase. “Hey, is Amy coming? I need to talk to her.”

  “I am not in charge of Miss Newman’s social calendar. Please let Jackie know I’m here.” Josh pulled his jacket straight and spun around, apparently ready to meet the dragon commonly known as Harrold.

  “Uh-oh, this might not be good,” Sasha whispered as she came to stand beside me. “I’d give the match to Josh, mostly because of the weight-class difference.”

  I shook my head, not taking my gaze off of the black suit moving closer to the unsuspecting Harrold. “I’m going with Train Guy. He’s a few years younger, and a whole lot more in shape.”

  “Who’s in shape?” Aunt Jackie asked from the door leading to the office. My eyes widened, and I stared at Sasha, hoping she’d come up with a convincing lie. Instead, my newest barista curled her lips into a smile worthy of a winning prizefighter and went to clean off the tables in the front dining area, leaving me to face my aunt alone.

  “Toby.” I shrugged. “For as much as he works, he’s really in shape.”

  Aunt Jackie watched Sasha, who was avoiding making eye contact with anyone. “I’ve wondered about Sasha and Toby. She’s way too interested in him. I think she needs to start dating instead of mooning over a guy who’s already involved.”

  I leaned against the counter and stared at her. “You think Sasha’s in love with Toby?”

  She laughed and shook her head and I relaxed—until she said, “Not in love, but she’s got a major crush on the guy.”

  “Really? I haven’t noticed anything.” I put the l
ast of the treats on the tray.

  “You’re oblivious to most things, dear.” My aunt looked at the empty shop and then down at the tray. “I take it those are for my meeting?”

  “Harrold thought it would be nice. Then Josh tried to buy some treats for the table, as well.” I handed her the coffee carafe and four cups. “Is Amy coming?”

  As I asked the question, Amy Newman stepped through the door. She nodded to me, then went to sit in between Josh and Harrold, and handed each a notebook. She put a third in front of the empty chair where my aunt was going to sit.

  “Let’s get these delivered so I can get the meeting started. Time is money, you know.” Aunt Jackie strolled to the table and set cups down in front of each of the members. “Coffee?”

  As they nodded in turn, she filled their cups. I set the treats in the middle of the table with an extra set of plates and forks for the group. Then she handed me the empty carafe. “Fill this, will you?”

  I’d been dismissed. I went back to the coffee bar, filled the carafe, and walked it back over to the table where they were all talking at once, except for Amy, who was staring down into her notebook, ignoring my presence.

  Well, fine. Two could play that game. I returned to the coffee counter, poured myself a cup of hazelnut and took a book over to the couch. Sasha could handle any more random customers. When Sasha finished cleaning the tables, no other customers had arrived, so she joined me with a book on the couch. I thought about my aunt’s statement. Was Sasha fascinated with the reformed playboy barista? I knew they liked to tease each other, but I didn’t think Sasha was one to poach in someone else’s backyard, so to speak.

  By the time Toby arrived, the water committee was still in session over at the window table. I stood and stretched, joining him at the counter while he prepped for his shift. “How is everything?”

  Toby didn’t meet my eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “Are you and Elisa talking yet?” I leaned closer, dropping the volume in my voice so Sasha wouldn’t hear. I glanced toward the couch and caught her watching us. When she saw me watching her, she returned to her reading.

  Toby shrugged. “Not much.” He slipped on his apron. “Hey, Greg wanted me to tell you he’s heading in to Bakerstown this afternoon and may not be able to stop by tonight.”

  I jumped off the stool. “Crap, what time is he leaving?”

  “He had a few things to finish up, why?” Toby leaned over the counter watching me.

  I raced around the counter and snatched my purse out of the back room. “Nothing much, I just need to talk to him.”

  Halfway to the station, I realized what Toby had done. He’d distracted me from asking about his relationship. Whatever the couple had discussed on Friday, he didn’t want to tell me. I’d just have to be sneakier in how I asked the next time. Toby might be tricky, but I could be devious.

  The brisk sea air had me chilled by the time I arrived at the station. I’d left my jacket at the shop, thinking it looked warmer than it really was. I rubbed my arms and walked even faster to catch Greg, if he was even planning on leaving town today.

  Esmeralda was on the phone at the reception desk when I arrived, and she waved me into his office. Still, I knocked before going through the open door. Greg glanced up at me, his blue eyes crinkling in a welcome surprise. At least he was happy to see me now. Who knew how he’d feel in a few minutes when I unloaded my findings? “Hey, you.” His voice softened and made my insides all gooey.

  “Hey, yourself. Toby said you were heading to Bakerstown.” I looked around his office. It didn’t appear Greg was on his way anywhere. I was going to kick Toby the next time I saw him.

  Greg looked at the clock on the wall. “I am, just not right now. I don’t have time for lunch, but I can spare you a few minutes. What’s on your mind?”

  “Can’t a girl just come in to see her beau?” I drawled as I sank into one of the chairs across from him.

  Greg leaned back and put his arms behind his head. “Come on, spill. I know that look. What did you find out? Is the mayor head of the crack cocaine mafia? Or does Amy have a secret boyfriend Justin doesn’t know about?”

  I frowned. “Neither. Why would you think Amy would cheat on Justin?”

  “Just throwing out ideas, since you’re not very chatty yet.” He looked at the clock again, my clue to get talking or get out.

  “Okay, so Aunt Jackie and I went in to Bakerstown yesterday.”

  He groaned. “I should have known.”

  “What, can’t we go into town?” I knew I was bluffing, but hey, he didn’t have to suspect me all the time. Even if he was usually right.

  He raised his eyebrows. “Continue.”

  “Fine. We went to Resting Acres and there’s this woman there, MJ, but we think her name is Mary Jane and she’s the one Austin is protecting from the Feds and why he changed his name.” I stopped for breath, then added, “And he’s been sending her flowers for years.”

  “What?” He put his head in his hands. “You’re giving me a headache. Who’s been sending flowers for years?”

  “Austin. He’s been visiting this woman in the nursing home and sending her flowers. Sadie thinks she’s the reason he went underground in the first place.” I paused, watching Greg’s face to see if he believed anything I was saying. After I explained Aunt Jackie’s and my trip into Bakerstown, Greg took out a pad and wrote down something. “The florist’s name is Allison?”

  “Yep. So is this important?” I leaned forward, trying to read what he’d written, but he snapped the notebook closed before I could see much more than the name of the nursing home.

  He looked at the clock a third time. “Sorry, honey, I’ve got to run. I’ll try to stop by this evening. If you’re lucky, I’ll bring by pizza from Godfather’s.”

  “And if you’re lucky, I’ll have a few cold beers in the fridge.” I let him pull me from my seat and we walked out into the lobby together. “Are you going to tell me where you’re going?”

  He kissed me, letting his lips linger a bit on mine, then swatted me on the butt. “Nope.”

  I watched him disappear through the station’s back door, where he typically parked his truck. As I turned toward the other exit, Esmeralda laughed. “You two are so cute together. He’s all business and you’re always messing with his karma.”

  I paused at her desk. “I don’t mess with his karma, do I?” I wasn’t quite sure what messing with karma meant, so I didn’t want to totally deny the charge if it was true.

  “Girl, you are at the center of all the important stuff going on here in South Cove. I would think the mayor should be paying you big bucks for everything you do instead of that measly salary for running the business committee.” She filed her nails, not looking at me.

  “You know how much I make?”

  She shrugged. “The city budgets may cross my e-mail from time to time.” Now she leaned forward and squinted at me. “Have you been on a treasure hunt?”

  “No. Why do you ask?”

  “Something in your aura.” She considered me closely. “You need to be careful when you go out alone to seek the treasure. There’s something guarding it and it’s not friendly.”

  “Seriously, I’m not going on any treasure hunts.” I smiled at my neighbor. “Hey, your lawn looks terrific. What kind of seed do you use? Is it drought-resistant?”

  Esmeralda smiled as the phone rang. “The grass is always greener when it’s been watered.” She picked up the phone, spun her chair so her back was to me, and answered, “South Cove Police Department, how may I help you?”

  CHAPTER 14

  When I returned home, a letter was taped on my door. The envelope’s printed return address was for South Cove City Hall. Maybe Amy had come by after the meeting and left me a note. I ripped it off the door, and waited to open it until I’d unlocked the door and let Emma out. I dumped my purse on the table and sank into a chair, opening the letter. Instead of a handwritten note from my friend, though, telling m
e she’d forgiven me for slighting her about Esmeralda, there was a printed letter from the South Cove Water Commission.

  I read down to the important part. I was being fined a hundred dollars for watering my lawn. A lawn I hadn’t watered in months. Sue me, I wasn’t the best landscaper. Greg mowed my lawn more often than I did. I didn’t like getting my hands dirty. The way it caked on my hands creeped me out, so I didn’t do anything without donning a pair of gardening gloves.

  Scanning the letter, I knew they’d made a big mistake. Esmeralda was watering, she’d told me so, and I got fined? Amy must really be mad. But when I saw the signature, I knew the problem.

  Josh Thomas had signed the letter. This was retaliation for Aunt Jackie and Harrold. I put the letter on the counter. I’d take it to work tomorrow and have Aunt Jackie take care of it. She caused the issues; she could handle the fallout.

  I went upstairs and changed into my running clothes. I needed a taste of the sea air and to run off this bad energy.

  When Emma and I returned, there was a message on my answering machine. I punched the button and Greg’s voice filled the small kitchen. Emma barked and looked around to see where her friend was hiding.

  “Hey, you’re in luck. I’ll be there just after five with two large pies, so chill the beer.” I looked at my dog sitting at attention, waiting for Greg to appear out of the small machine.

  “He’ll be here soon.” I opened the fridge and pulled out lettuce, tomatoes, and what was left of my deli turkey meat to make a salad. Even with the second run, if I didn’t make up for the calories I’d be consuming tonight, I’d feel bloated in the morning. Emma sniffed the air and, realizing I wasn’t cooking anything on her top-ten list of begging menus, crossed the kitchen to her bed, where she circled three times before lying down with her head on her newest stuffed raccoon.