Not a relief was the idea Mr. Cross might have sold the boats in order to pay a blackmail fee.
Tandy scooped Cocoa out of her arms, so Marissa squeezed the armrests instead. Was anybody else thinking what she was thinking?
“Cross might have needed money to pay off Virginia,” Tandy read her mind. “And he might have been angry enough to kill her.”
Yes. Exactly. Could he also have been angry enough to kill Grandmother?
Marissa’s heart thrummed in her ears as she tried to recall the medical examiner’s cause of death. He’d said Grandmother had died from natural causes in her sleep, but how hard had he looked? As hard as the EMTs across the street who’d claimed Virginia died of a heart attack? If they’d known to look deeper, would they have found suspicious signs? Like the evidence Little Lukey was probably going to find in the coffee pot?
Billie tugged at the collar of her blouse. “Girls, we don’t want to accuse Joseph of murder if he’s innocent.”
Marissa’s spine snapped straighter. She wanted Mr. Cross to be guilty. She wanted him to go to jail. Not only for Virginia’s murder but as punishment for the burden he’d heaped on Grandmother’s shoulders. On all their shoulders. It was like Mr. Cross didn’t think her family had what it took to make it on their own, and she wanted to prove him wrong.
She’d do it. She’d visit him and get a confession.
Tandy slid the diary off the counter and held it up. “We should give this to the deputy, so he has the evidence needed to find out for sure if Cross is innocent or not.”
Marissa shot to her feet and reached for the diary. Cocoa growled, and she pulled back, which was silly. Being scared of the tiny dog was like being scared of a mouse. Except she’d once fainted at the sight of a mouse in a corn maze.
She wouldn’t give up. She’d trade Billie’s silver teapot to get the diary from Tandy if necessary. She’d trade Virginia’s whole shop, should her daughter keep it on the market. That journal belonged to Grandmother. Her secrets didn’t need to be revealed if Marissa could get Mr. Cross to take responsibility for Virginia’s death without it.
Marissa had to speak Tandy’s language if she was going to try to reason with her. “Let’s go talk to Mr. Cross first, so the police don’t think we’re attempting to frame him.”
Tandy’s light eyes narrowed to slivers. “I’d rather end up in jail than get myself killed.”
Maybe Tandy was being the reasonable one here. But Marissa knew Joseph Cross from attending Grandmother’s dinner parties when growing up. He was like another grandfather. He’d never suspect her. “You’ll be fine. We’ll take Mr. Cross a piece of Billie’s apple cake and ask him to tell stories about my grandparents.” Did that guarantee her safety? She needed to talk both herself and Tandy into this crazy idea to prevent the diary from becoming public. “Plus, he’s in a retirement center. We’ll be surrounded by other people.”
“Other people stuck in wheelchairs and with forgetful minds.”
“Surely there will be nurses and staff around.”
Billie’s forehead wrinkled in consideration. “I do have some leftover apple cake.” She probably cared more about tarnishing Mr. Cross’s reputation if he was innocent than keeping the diary a secret.
“And…” Marissa would not be deterred. She motioned between the two of them. “If Mr. Cross tries anything, it’s two against one.”
Cocoa yipped.
“Three against one.” There. That would seal the deal.
Tandy smirked. “Nice try.” Apparently, she hadn’t bought Cocoa to be a watchdog.
Billie ducked behind her counter and returned holding a rectangle serving platter decorated with a vintage painting of Santa Claus. “Joseph Cross may not be guilty at all. Virginia could have been blackmailing people we don’t even know about.” She retrieved her sheet cake from the other side of the cash register to scoop large slices onto the dish. She paused and looked up. “To be safe, please promise me you won’t drink any coffee he makes.”
Marissa raised a finger in protest. “I don’t—”
“Or tea,” Billie amended.
Marissa lowered her hand. “I promise.”
Tandy clicked her tongue. She studied Billie, blinked, then studied Marissa. “I’ll go with you if you let me lock the journal in the glove box of my car.”
Marissa’s blood sprinted through her veins. She needed the diary back, but at least the glove box was safer than the police station. One step at a time. “Okay.”
Tandy nodded slowly before facing Billie again. “If anything happens to us, you can tell the deputy where to look.”
Marissa’s pulse pounded like her heart was playing Carol of the Bells. What was she getting them into?
Tandy eyed Marissa while moving Cocoa’s pet car seat to the back of her Volkswagen, then she stuffed the old journal in her glove compartment and locked it. She got the feeling the beauty queen wanted to keep the family skeletons hidden in her closet. Tandy could totally relate to such a sentiment, but not to the point of going to jail.
Marissa positioned the platter of apple cake on her lap and buckled in. “You drive a Beetle and own a Pomeranian. You really aren’t that tough, are you?”
Tandy climbed into the driver’s seat with a groan. Were people going to assume she was tough because she was from the city? She’d let them. Safer that way. Though it might require not letting on what a softie she really was when it came to animals. Like how she’d rescued Cocoa from an abusive owner and slept on the floor with him for a week before she could get him to snuggle in bed with her. “My apartment complex didn’t allow big dogs,” she said instead. Which was also true.
Marissa flipped down her visor to check her reflection in the tiny mirror and put on lip gloss that matched her beanie. “As for the slug bug, you bought it as an excuse to punch people?”
Tandy huffed then started the engine. “If I punch somebody, there’s a good reason for it.” She’d actually bought the little black car when her last boyfriend broke up with her to go work for an auto company in Toledo. Since he’d claimed America made the best cars, she’d bought a German design out of spite.
Marissa returned her lip gloss to her purse and looked up, wariness darkening her eyes. She didn’t ask, but she was obviously questioning whether Tandy would also kill someone if she had a good reason. Maybe Tandy shouldn’t try to come across as too tough after all.
She shifted, stepped lightly on the gas, then tensed in preparation of pumping the brakes if the car started to slide. Visiting a suspected murderer might not be the most dangerous part of their evening. She would have been better off buying a Jeep with four-wheel drive even if the company employed her old boyfriend.
“You shouldn’t stereotype people, you know.” Tandy slowed to a stop at a red light and adjusted the heat as the blast warmed her cheeks. “I mean, look at you. You’re a beauty queen with a stolen crown.”
Marissa sat up even straighter, which was quite a feat considering her already perfect posture. “First of all, my grandmother did not steal the crown. Someone else rigged the competition, probably without her knowledge. And in case you forgot, she was planning to come clean.”
That was true. Tandy gave an understanding nod then looked both ways when the light turned green. All clear. And quiet. Who would ever have thought a killer was on the loose in this picturesque setting? Was he really an old man in a retirement center or was he a stranger watching them from behind the giant Christmas tree next to the gazebo? She shivered.
“Second, I did not steal any crown. I’m a contestant without a crown.”
Tandy inched between the town square and an old brick church, heading toward the river.
“Third, the only reason I don’t have a crown is because Miss Sassy Cincinnati tripped me.” Marissa adjusted her beanie as if imagining it were a tiara. “Nothing good ever comes out of Cincin-nasty.”
Whoa now. Tandy pressed her lips together and tightened her grip on the steering wheel. This wa
s what she should have expected, wasn’t it? As if worrying about finding a murderer wasn’t enough, she now had an enemy right there in the car with her?
Tandy really wanted to punch the other woman. And that very woman had actually given her the excuse needed to do so. She balled her right fist and jammed it against Marissa’s left arm. “Slug bug.”
“Hey.” Marissa rubbed at the spot with a gloved hand. Her rubbing slowed. Her eyes darted up. Awareness dawned. “You’re from Cincinnati, aren’t you?”
Tandy might as well admit it. If the police were to investigate her, they’d find out anyway. “I am.”
Marissa froze except for a crease marring her perfect forehead. “Oh, I’m sorry, Tandy. I didn’t mean anything by that.” Her hands came back to life, flying up in a shrug. “It’s been a super emotional day.”
Tandy checked on Cocoa over her shoulder. He could always bring her comfort in the midst of chaos. And he certainly seemed comfortable, head resting on his paws, eyes closed. She’d snuggle with him later.
Marissa twisted toward her. “I’m sure Cincinnati has plenty of nice things too. We went there for Christmas one time and saw the lights at the zoo and went ice skating at Fountain Square and…and…there was that really cool parade with all the horse drawn carriages. We don’t have a whole parade of them here—just one that brings up the rear of the Santa Claus fun run on the morning of Christmas Eve.”
Memories tugged at Tandy’s heart. She’d enjoyed those events as a child, and like Marissa, she’d also almost forgotten them. “It’s okay. There’s a reason I left.”
Marissa leaned forward as if expecting her to continue, but Tandy wasn’t going there today. She had enough problems to deal with in their current situation.
“I’d hoped Grace Springs would be warm and friendly like I remembered it.” So much for that idea.
Marissa sank back, and they watched the snow swirl around them as businesses were replaced with houses then fields. “You’ve been here before?”
Tandy exhaled. She’d been trying to skip over this subject as well, but Marissa read between the lines. “I visited a few times as a kid.” She downshifted to a stop at a T in the road. A good distraction. “Which way?”
Marissa pointed, her eyes sliding Tandy’s direction, apparently still fascinated with the idea that Tandy had been to her town before. Perhaps she thought that maybe they’d met in the past. They hadn’t. Tandy would have remembered meeting Marissa. Even in elementary school. Someone that beautiful and charmingly clumsy would be hard to forget.
“Do you have relatives or friends here in town?” Marissa pressed.
Tandy eased into the turn, using the excuse of focus for time to consider a response. She’d be as honest and vague as possible. “I knew people from when my family visited, but I’m not sure if they’re still in the area.”
“They” being Greg’s family. She wasn’t going to look them up because that could seem stalkerish. And it could also set her up for more disappointment. The kid she used to catch fireflies with probably wasn’t anything like how she remembered him. It was best to savor those memories and use them as motivation for returning to the simple life.
“What’s their last name?” Marissa broke into her thoughts.
Huh-uh. There was no way Tandy would answer that question. It was a small town. Greg probably went to school with Marissa. Could have taken her to prom or worse—been turned down when he’d asked her out. Tandy didn’t want to get that personal with a stranger. It wasn’t like Marissa opened up about her former fiancé. “What’s Connor’s last name?” she asked in return.
Marissa’s eyes widened in what might be considered alarm then she tossed her hair like she wanted to convey the message it had been a false alarm. “His last name is Thomas. You…uh…you know Connor’s family?”
If Tandy had been trying to get out of the line of fire, then she’d hit the bullseye. She bit her lip to hide a smile. “There was a boy I used to play with who would now be around Connor’s age, but the name Thomas doesn’t ring any bells.”
“Oh.” Marissa shifted in her seat and looked out the passenger window.
The silence invited Tandy to ask more questions. Or perhaps it was Marissa’s discomfort. “How long have you known Connor?”
“My whole life.” Marissa shivered then reached to fidget with the knobs on the dashboard. “I’m still cold. Is it cold in here to you?”
Tandy shrugged. She was on the warmer side, but if Marissa was cold, she didn’t mind her adjusting the heat.
“I think we should listen to music.” Marissa flipped the radio on, and the melody to All I Want for Christmas floated around them.
This wasn’t the Christmas Tandy had wanted. She’d begun the day with plans to start a business, and now she was only hoping to not be accused of murder. Plus, she was on her way to meet the very person who might have committed such a crime, giving him a motive to want to kill her also. Not to mention she was partnered with an overdramatic tea drinker. Whatever she’d done to deserve this, she would have preferred the standard punishment of coal in her stocking.
She slowed for another curve then stared in awe at the view said curve revealed. Beyond the gently falling snow stood a massive brick structure with steep rooflines, multiple chimneys and balconies, black shutters, and white dormer windows. The place made retirement living look glamorous.
“Cross can’t be too worried about money if he’s staying here.” Another dead end?
Marissa leaned forward to get a better look. “Or maybe he’s worried about money because he’s staying here.”
Only one way to find out. Tandy took her eyes off the gorgeous building to find a parking place. On their way inside, Cocoa growled at the snowmen wearing Santa hats that someone’s grandkids must have built. She hushed him then wiped snowflakes from his fur as the automatic front doors slid open with a whoosh.
The luxurious lobby was decorated for the season with garland around pillars, white lights up the curved staircase, and a Christmas “tree” made out of poinsettias pointing toward the center of a soaring ceiling. Marissa didn’t even pause to take it in, but she was probably accustomed to such elegance. She marched across the marble floor toward a man in a gray suit behind a counter. Was he a businessman or were all employees of Riverwood Estates required to dress like Cary Grant?
“Hello. We’re here to see Mr. Cross.” Marissa wobbled for absolutely no reason at all, and the dish of cake landed with a clank on the granite counter before she stepped wide and caught herself.
The Cary Grant impersonator arched an eyebrow before lifting his disdainful gaze to rest on Tandy and Cocoa. “Is Mr. Cross expecting you?”
Tandy grimaced. If this had been Cincinnati, she would have asked Marissa to call first, but with Grace Springs being such a small town, she’d figured they might be more personable here. Rather, this retirement center employed bouncers.
“No, but I brought him some cake.” Marissa flashed a stunning smile that said she was used to getting her way.
The man’s lips pinched into an attempt at a grin as he picked up the phone. “I will tell Mr. Cross you are here, Miss…”
“Alexander.”
Recognition dawned in the man’s expression. Marissa might as well have said, “Miss Grace Springs.” If Virginia’s daughter had known her as the beauty contestant who fell off the stage, she apparently had a reputation that preceded her. Not good.
They all listened to the tinny ring of a phone that could be heard on the other end of the line. What if Mr. Cross wasn’t here? What if he’d stayed in town after tampering with Virginia’s coffee grinds to make sure his scheme had been successful?
Voices, footsteps, and laughter broke the silence from behind them. Tandy glanced over her shoulder to find a group dressed in ugly Christmas sweaters and reindeer antlers holding sheet music and filing into the lobby. Carolers?
The man set the receiver back in its cradle. “Mr. Cross must still be at lunch. I can
tell him you stopped by and give him the cake.”
Marissa frowned and pulled the plate along the counter protectively. “No, I’d like to—”
“Come on.” Tandy gripped her sleeve and tugged. They weren’t going to get anywhere with this guy.
“Wait, Tandy.” Marissa tugged back. “I have to talk to Mr. Cross.”
“I know,” Tandy hissed out the side of her mouth then raised her voice to address the man who wanted to stop them. “Thank you, sir. Please give Cross the cake for us and wish him a Merry Christmas.”
“Certainly.” The guy smirked.
Marissa glared then twisted to focus her rebellion on Tandy. “What are you doing?”
Tandy practically dragged her out the automatic doors into the chilly air. “The question you should ask is what are we doing?”
“Fine.” Marissa yanked her arm away hard enough to send herself stumbling sideways, which probably wasn’t that hard. She regained her balance. “What are we doing?”
Tandy snagged the Santa hats from the snowmen with her free hand. She tossed one to Marissa then stuffed the other one over her own head, its icy temperature sending a blizzard of goosebumps down her body.
“We’re Christmas caroling.” She nodded toward the last of the group headed inside. “Hurry so we can blend in.”
Chapter Six
Back in the warmth of the building, Marissa switched out her beanie for the stocking hat then ducked behind a big man in an elf costume to keep from being spotted by the snooty front desk attendant. “With a little more time, I could have sweet-talked our way past him.”
Tandy tucked Cocoa inside her jacket. “Now you don’t have to.”
Not exactly a vote of confidence, but Marissa would let it go. She was on her way to find Mr. Cross, which had been their goal. What Tandy lacked in the art of small-town charm, she made up for in resourcefulness.
A Caffeine Conundrum Page 5
