Honey-Baked Homicide

by Gayle Leeson

  “What about Brendan?” Roger asked. “Can you find out if he’s ever been arrested for behavior like that? Jackie said he was young, but is he still a minor?”

  “I don’t think so,” I said. “Madelyn said he was in college.”

  “And even if he was engaged in stalking or assault as a minor, I should be able to find a record of it,” Ryan said. “I’ll look into it first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “The thing that bothered me most . . . the thing I asked you all to gather here to help me sort out . . . is the fact that Joey and Brendan went to Billy Hancock’s office today to ask him to file a civil suit against me for asking them to leave the café this morning,” I said.

  For a moment, everyone was silent. Then they all started talking at once. What it all boiled down to, basically, was that any threat of a civil suit could be countered by Amy’s and her witnesses’ accounts of the cousins’ boorish behavior. And if that failed, she could threaten to have the boys charged with stalking.

  “But it’s not so much that I’m concerned about their winning a lawsuit against me,” I said, raising my voice to be heard over the din. “I just can’t understand why these boys are targeting me. I didn’t do anything to warrant this behavior.”

  “Some people don’t need a reason,” said Homer. “They’re bullies. And they need to be shown that you won’t be intimidated.”

  Chapter 15

  After dinner, Ryan drove me down to my house. It was a balmy night, so his having the top down on the convertible was heavenly.

  Neither of us wanted to be inside, so we sat on the porch and listened to the crickets and the frogs.

  “They’re talkative tonight,” Ryan said.

  I smiled. “Yes, they are.”

  He took my hand and apologized again for inadvertently bringing Joey Carver’s wrath down on me. “He doesn’t want my wrath coming down on him, though, that’s for sure. And it certainly will if he does anything else to you.”

  “He won’t.” My voice sounded more assured than I truly felt. I changed the subject. “So did you always want to be a police officer?”

  “In a way, I guess. I wanted to be a cowboy.”

  “But your mama didn’t want her baby to grow up to be a cowboy?”

  “I sometimes think she’d have preferred it to my being a police officer. But on the other hand, she’s proud of me. And Dad is too. That means a lot.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  “Did you always want to be a chef and an entrepreneur?” he asked.

  “Goodness, no. I mean, a chef is one of the jobs I wanted to have. But when I was growing up, I wanted to be everything—mainly whatever character I was currently reading about. Nancy Drew was one of my favorites.”

  “So you wanted to be a detective.”

  “In a way.” I giggled. “Jackie and I were always on the lookout for some mystery to solve. We’d even write them down in our notebooks sometimes. The Mystery of the Missing Garden Hose . . . major crimes like that.”

  “Well, that certainly explains a few things.”

  “I suppose it does. In the end, though, being a chef won out. I suppose I could’ve worked in a fancy restaurant in a big city somewhere, but Nana’s illness called me home.” I paused, thinking about everything that had led me to the Down South Café. “And the gift she left me allowed me to make my dream of owning my own café a reality.”

  “I don’t think you’d have been as happy in a big city.”

  “I imagine you’re right. I enjoy smelling freshly mowed grass and honeysuckle too much when I ride down the road with my windows down.”

  “Me too,” he said. “It’s why I have a convertible.”

  He’d leaned over to kiss me when a vehicle sped past. The driver blared the horn.

  Ryan tensed, and I pulled his head back down to mine. “Don’t let anyone spoil this moment.”

  • • •

  On Friday morning, Jackie and I were getting an update on Dilly’s raccoon—who was, by the way, back to normal and “as sassy as ever”—when Madelyn Carver came in.

  I smiled at her. “Good morning, Madelyn. Welcome back to Winter Garden.”

  “I don’t feel very welcome,” she said. “And neither do my brother and my cousin.”

  “Madelyn, I explained all of that to you over the phone yesterday. I think Joey, Brendan, and I have really gotten off on the wrong foot, and I’d like to—”

  “You told me they were acting up. You didn’t tell me you’d kicked the boys out of your café.”

  “I was here, and Amy didn’t kick anybody out of anywhere,” said Dilly. “She politely asked the boys to leave. They were being obnoxious and making us all uncomfortable.”

  “Luis and Shelly could tell you the same thing, but Luis is off today and Shelly won’t be in until lunchtime,” I said. “I tried to accommodate Brendan and Joey, but they were crude and disruptive.”

  “Yeah, well, they’re considering suing you for denying service to them.” Madelyn anchored her hands to her hips.

  “They’d better think twice about going that route,” Jackie said, stepping out from around the counter. “If they try to sue Amy, she’ll have them both charged with stalking. And won’t that be Joey’s second offense?”

  A screech of indignation emerged from the back of Madelyn’s throat.

  “I don’t want anyone to be arrested,” I said. “I just want a truce. I prefer not to cause trouble for Joey and Brendan and that they not cause any trouble for me. I’d like us all to be friends.”

  “I thought we were,” Madelyn said. “But I was obviously wrong.” She stormed out of the café.

  Jackie bit her lip. “Ugh. I’m sorry for bringing up the stalking thing. She made me so angry!”

  “That’s all right. Maybe it’ll keep Brendan and Joey in line . . . and stop them from filing a civil suit against me,” I said. “I know I’d win the case, but hiring Billy Hancock would be costly, and having to take off work to deal with a court case would be a major hassle.”

  “Do you think those goons will try to do something underhanded to get back at you?” Dilly asked.

  “I hope not, Dilly. I pray that this matter is behind us.”

  “I do too,” she said.

  • • •

  Roger arrived about an hour and a half later, gave Jackie a kiss hello, and then sauntered over to the counter.

  “Hey there, Flowerpot. I bought some security cameras for the outside of your café and for your home too.”

  I felt my eyes nearly bug out. “You did what?”

  “Don’t worry. I can return them if it isn’t all right with you.”

  “Roger, this isn’t necessary.”

  “I believe it’s absolutely necessary, and I’m sorry I neglected outside security when I renovated the café for you in the first place,” he said. “But with everything else on the list and your desire to get the Down South Café open before Independence Day, security monitoring got shoved to the bottom of the to-do list. Now I’m moving it to the top.”

  “Did Jackie call you?”

  “Jackie calls me often. She’s my girlfriend, you know. Or if you prefer, significant other, partner, lady love . . .”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Yes, I called him,” Jackie piped up from behind me. She brushed past me with a coffeepot in her hand. “Be right back. You can yell at me then.” She went and refreshed the coffee of two diners sitting at a table on the patio.

  “Even if she hadn’t, I’ve had this on my mind since dinner last night,” he said. “I really dropped the ball on you with regard to security, and I’m truly sorry for that.”

  “Roger, you didn’t.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “No one could have ever guessed that Stu Landon Carver would end up dead in my parking lot.”

  “It’s not Stu th
at concerns me at the moment,” he said. “Although if you’d had security, it would’ve deterred the killer from either doing the deed or dumping the body here—whichever one it was. What I’m worried about is that those two jerks will try to get back at you somehow . . . like by setting fire to the café.”

  I gasped. “You don’t really think they’d do something like that . . . do you?”

  He looked away from me. “No. But the security cameras will make sure of that. If they try anything, these cameras will catch them. They’re as clear as if you were watching them on TV.”

  Jackie came back with the coffeepot. She put it back on the burner and came to join our conversation. “Did you tell Amy she can check on the café from wherever she’s at?”

  “No. I was getting to that. The camera feeds are sent off-site. That way, you can use your computer to check on the café remotely.” He looked at Jackie for approval. “And if anything does happen to the café, no one can destroy the video.”

  “That’s good,” I said. “I guess.”

  “It is good. And once I get these installed here at the café, I’m installing cameras outside your house too.”

  I sighed and looked at Jackie.

  “I know you might think we’re being overprotective right now,” she said. “But we just want to make sure you’re safe.”

  “I’m all for that,” Homer said, joining us at the counter and taking his usual seat. “I feel like I missed something, though.”

  “You did, buddy,” said Roger. “I hope I’m getting ready to install some security cameras here at the café and at Amy’s house. Want to give me a hand after you have your breakfast?”

  “I’ll be happy to.” Homer beamed, obviously happy to feel included and needed. “It appears I chose an appropriate hero for the day—General George S. Patton.”

  I gave him a tight smile. I didn’t realize General Patton was known for installing security cameras or how the two could possibly be related, but if they were to Homer, I guessed that was fine.

  “One of my favorite Patton quotes is, ‘If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.’ I’m glad we weren’t thinking alike, Roger, because I hadn’t considered security cameras.”

  Homer was—as Aunt Bess would’ve said—grinning like a mule eating briars. I went into the kitchen to prepare his sausage biscuit.

  Jackie passed through the kitchen. “I’ll take Homer his coffee.”

  “Thanks.” I lowered my voice. “Roger has made his day.”

  “Hasn’t he, though? He’s a pretty special guy.” She placed her hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t know he was bringing the security system—honest. I called and told him what had happened with Madelyn and what Dilly had said, and Roger told me that he’d see me in a little bit. I thought that just meant that he had to get back to work.”

  I nodded. I knew Roger’s heart had been in the right place, and I realized he was absolutely right about my needing a security system. I only wished that he’d discussed it with me first. Roger had insinuated himself into the role of my big brother back when we were still kids, but even big brothers should respect the fact that their sisters are grown and fully capable of making their own decisions. I intended to tell Roger that as soon as I’d taken Homer his sausage biscuit.

  After I’d taken the biscuit to Homer and heard another of Patton’s quotes—this one about success being how high you bounce when you hit bottom—I asked Jackie to hold down the fort while I stepped outside for a minute.

  She drew her brows together, but I shook my head slightly. I wasn’t defending my position to my cousin. I was going to have a talk with Roger, and that was that.

  Jackie nodded slightly to let me know she’d take care of everything inside the café.

  I went outside and found Roger standing on a ladder at the far corner of the café.

  “Did you come to hold the ladder until Homer gets finished?”

  “No. I want you to come down off the ladder and talk with me,” I said.

  He paused, cordless screwdriver in hand, and looked down at me. “Now, Amy, you’re not going to try to talk me out of this, are you?”

  “Come down from there.”

  “Can I finish installing this camera first, or are you going to make me take it down?” he asked.

  “Install it.”

  He gave me a nod, and I could see him hide a smile.

  “And then come down from there and hear me out,” I said.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I waited not terribly patiently for him to finish installing the camera and climb down from the ladder.

  “Spill it,” he said when he was standing in front of me.

  “I’m not a little girl—or more specifically, your baby sister. When you make decisions that affect me financially or in any other way, you need to consult with me first. Before you ever went out and bought the first”—I waved my arm in the direction of the camera he’d finished installing—“security camera there, you should’ve come to me and said, ‘Amy, I have an idea.’ I’d have heard you out. I’d have been reasonable.”

  “I know that. But you should know me well enough to know that I had the idea, weighed the pros and cons of talking with you about it first, and then I did it,” he said. “I figured time was of the essence. I wanted to get everything installed here at the café and at your house before nightfall just in case those punks try anything. As for the financial side, I found the best value for the best quality. If you don’t have the money right now, you can pay me back.”

  “I have the money. That’s not the issue, and you know it.”

  “The issue is that I treated you like I would a sister.” He dropped his head. “I’m sorry I cared too much.”

  I let out a growl and pushed him, making him burst out laughing.

  “Do you forgive me?” he asked.

  “Yes. But don’t do it again.”

  “I won’t. Tell Homer to get a move on, would you?”

  Before I could get back inside, I met Homer coming out to help Roger.

  “General Patton always said that courage is fear holding on a minute longer,” Homer told me.

  “All righty.” I strode back into the café.

  “Everything all right?” Jackie asked as I passed her going back into the kitchen.

  “Finer than frog hair split three ways.” I was still a little miffed, but I did want those security cameras up before nightfall.

  • • •

  Roger and Homer were finishing up the security cameras outside the café when Mr. Dougherty came in for lunch.

  “Wow, what’s going on out there?” he asked, hooking a thumb over his right shoulder.

  “We’re putting up some much-needed security cameras.”

  “Oh, yeah . . . I heard about your finding that dead guy in the parking lot. It was Mr. Landon, the beekeeper, wasn’t it?”

  “It was,” I said.

  “Yeah. I’d talked with him a time or two. He seemed like a nice man.”

  “He was.”

  “Would you mind if I push two tables together?” He motioned toward the far right side of the café. “Maybe a couple of those over there?”

  “That’ll be fine. You must be expecting a larger group than normal today.” I smiled. “I hope that means good things are in store for some of the residents of Winter Garden.”

  “I hope it does too, Ms. Flowers.” He went over and pushed together the two tables he’d indicated.

  “I’ll get Shelly to bring you some menus. How many do you think you’ll need?”

  He looked up at the ceiling as he counted. “Me, the two boys, the woman, maybe two others. Bring me six to be on the safe side.”

  He sat down at one table, positioned where he could watch the door.

  I wondered who could be joining him. It mus
t be a family. Had he found something promising on their property? He must have, if the entire family was having lunch with him.

  I went back to the counter and asked Shelly to take five glasses of water and five menus over to Mr. Dougherty’s table.

  Just then, Madelyn Carver stomped into the café. With her nose in the air, she went straight to Mr. Dougherty’s table.

  He stood to greet her. “Hi. I take it you’re Madelyn?” He reached out his hand. “I’m Calvin Dougherty.”

  She shook his hand. “Mr. Dougherty, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard nice things about you from Brendan and Joey. However, I’d prefer it if we could have our lunch at the pizza parlor.” She glared at me. “My family isn’t welcome in this establishment.”

  “That’s—”

  Jackie put her hand on my arm. When I looked over at her, she shook her head slightly and mouthed, Let it go.

  She was right. I’d been going to protest that, of course, Madelyn and her family were welcome at the Down South Café. But did I really want Joey and Brendan there? No, I didn’t.

  “Um . . . all right,” said Mr. Dougherty, moving the tables back the way they’d been when he’d arrived. “The pizza parlor will be fine.”

  I noticed, however, that he cast a longing glance at the desserts in the display case as he left.

  Chapter 16

  As Mr. Dougherty and Madelyn left the café, Jackie came over to me and asked, “What do you suppose that means?”

  “That Madelyn came in and asked Mr. Dougherty to have the meeting at the pizza parlor?” I asked.

  She scoffed. “No. That the entire Carver clan—Joey included—is meeting with Mr. Dougherty.”

  “I guess it means that either Madelyn changed her mind about allowing testing to be done on the property, or Brendan had it tested while she was away.”

  “Wait—Madelyn was opposed to the testing?” Jackie asked.

  “Well, what she actually told me was that her dad was opposed to the testing because he thought it would disturb the bees. From that, I gathered that she wouldn’t want to bother the bees either and that she’d respect her father’s wishes.” I shrugged. “I suppose I could’ve been wrong.”