A Caffeine Conundrum

by Angela Ruth Strong

  Well, look at that. Tandy considered Marissa a friend now. If this woman was going to attack her friend, then Tandy was going to defend her.

  Lavella inhaled, her plastic smile slipping for a fraction of a second. “I don’t believe we’ve met.” She extended a hand to shake. “I’m Miss Ohio. And I take it you’re here with Marissa?”

  Tandy shook, careful to avoid the other woman’s claws. “Yes. I have a feeling it’s going to be an exciting evening.”

  “I know it will be.” Lavella retrieved her hand and motioned for a man to join them.

  The man turned, his gaze piercing her first, then Marissa, and it took Tandy a moment to recognize the contractor in a suit. Connor was still rugged, but now in a classy way.

  Marissa gasped.

  Tandy closed her eyes. In Connor’s attempt to protect Marissa, she was going to be destroyed.

  “Ladies, I think you’ve already met my date.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The only thing that kept Marissa smiling was the vision of removing her stilettos to hurl like throwing stars straight at Connor’s heart. He was supposed to be here with her. But instead he’d demanded she give up her sleuthing and…

  Oh. He was here to keep her from sleuthing. She’d tell herself that anyway. It was either that or he wanted to make her jealous. Which she wasn’t. Unjealous people often imagined themselves throwing shoes at their exes when they started dating again, right?

  “Connor.” She stopped there. Anything else she had to say would be best done out of Lavella’s hearing range. Things like, Careful your date doesn’t poison your drink.

  “Marissa.” He nodded cordially. How dare he act cordial? “Tandy.”

  “Connor.” Tandy joined in, and as fun as their little reunion was, Marissa couldn’t help wishing she’d brought an actual date rather than another woman with a possible crush on her ex.

  Lavella wrapped her fingers in the crook of Connor’s elbow. “Now that we’re all caught up, I need to welcome the rest of our guests. If you girls wouldn’t mind moving along…”

  Girls? Sure. She’d be Nancy Drew and Tandy could be George. This was just like the time Ned Nickerson proposed to someone else to find out what she was up to. Connor could still be Ned.

  “No problem.” Tandy pulled on Marissa’s arm. “Thank you for the tickets. It’s an honor to see the genuine Ohio Queen. Oh, and you too, Lavella.”

  Marissa guffawed at the greatness of Tandy’s sass. Okay, even if she could have found an actual date to get back at Connor, this was better.

  Connor coughed into his fist.

  Lavella’s eyes narrowed.

  Marissa pivoted to walk side by side with Tandy toward the cabin. “That was fantastic. Though she might try to kill you for it.”

  Tandy clicked her tongue as they entered a warm dining area buzzing with conversation. “That’s not who I’m worried about.”

  Marissa would have to keep her eye on the beauty queen to protect them both. Plus Connor. Glancing over her shoulder, she found Connor watching her through one of the arched windows that circled the dining area. She shook her head in admonishment.

  He lifted a shoulder in a shrug.

  “There he is.” Tandy pointed down the open walkway. The linen covered tables were situated on either side in a way that gave each passenger a personal view of the homes decorated with lights along the shore.

  “Who?” Marissa asked. Who were they looking for? Who else did they suspect again besides Lavella? Little Lukey? Randon? Mr. Cross?

  Rather than answer, Tandy headed straight for a long table of hors d'oeuvres by the bar where Joseph Cross presided over a good-natured group. For some reason Billie stood next to him dressed in a traditional Chinese gown—red with gold embroidered flowers and gold trim on the keyhole neckline.

  Once they reached Billie, Marissa couldn’t help but slide her fingers over the material of the Asian’s short, satin sleeves. “Billie, you look stunning.”

  Billie gave one of her sweet and humble chuckles. “Thank you. This dress was my mother’s.”

  Tandy frowned. “Are you here with Cross?”

  Billie looked down. “Yes, he invited me when he was at the shop this morning. I figured since he’d been ruled out for blackmail, it was safe.”

  Marissa arched her eyebrows. Had the pair once had a relationship? They were both widowed now, so they were free to date. It would be like if she and Connor found each other again in their 80s, and he finally admitted he’d been wrong to tear down Grandmother’s home. She scanned the room to see if he’d entered yet.

  “Billie,” Tandy’s voice lowered. “Cross lied to us. He may not be innocent after all.”

  Billie waved her napkin. “I think it must have been a simple misunderstanding.”

  Marissa’s pulse picked up speed. Had Cross asked Billie out because he thought she still might have the diary? Maybe Lukey had confiscated it, and the person after it didn’t even know. “We’ll stick with you,” she whispered then gave one of her pageant laughs to get Billie’s date’s attention. “Mr. Cross, even though I’m not your guest beauty queen this year, I still couldn’t miss your cruise. I even brought Tandy since she’s never been on a sternwheeler. Would you like to give her the grand tour?”

  Mr. Cross glanced Marissa’s way for the first time and a cloud of wariness shadowed his eyes before they lit up with their regular brilliance. “I gave tours earlier, but I suppose I could give one more. Let’s start out on the deck for the boat launch.”

  A horn blared to signal they were set for departure, and the crowd funneled through the exits. Tandy fell in step beside Marissa. “Good thinking. Now we can get Cross alone to ask him questions.” She nodded her head toward the Asian woman ahead of them and lowered her voice. “You’re not still suspicious of Billie are you?”

  Marissa pursed her lips to convey deep thought.

  Tandy narrowed her eyes. “You never really were suspicious, were you? You were simply trying to keep me from the police station, huh?”

  Marissa admitted her attempt at manipulation with a sheepish grin.

  Tandy rolled her eyes then reached for the door to hold it open so they could step back into the icy air.

  Marissa reached to hang onto Tandy’s arm in case the deck was as slippery as before. Yeah, it was completely the deck’s fault she’d almost fallen on her face when getting on the boat in front of Lavella. Though the beauty queen had sure gotten a good laugh at her expense.

  She peeked toward the bow to see if Connor was still with her. Nope. Lavella was surrounded by other men, none of which had Connor’s broad shoulders and sandy hair. So where was…

  Wait. Her eyes zipped back to the circle of men. The littlest guy in pinstripes looked familiar. She couldn’t make out his face, but he had big dark circles in his earlobes. “Randon’s here.”

  Tandy’s bicep flexed under her grip. “Where?”

  “Schmoozing Lavella, where else?”

  Tandy steadied Marissa until she could grip the damp railing. “Don’t look now, but Deputy Griffin and Jenn Pierce are on the balcony above us.”

  Marissa didn’t have to fight the urge to look. She really didn’t want to see the kid she once babysat using murder as an excuse to get back together with his ex. Some people would use any situation to try to work their way back into someone else’s life.

  Speaking of which, Connor appeared by her side. “I need to talk to you.”

  Her heart squeezed at the idea he “needed” to be with her and not her replacement, even if this wasn’t the best time to talk.

  The horn blared again. The gangplank lifted, still attached to the boat so that it was a walkway from the bow to nowhere. The ship shifted under Tandy’s feet and the crowd cheered.

  Marissa didn’t bump into her at the movement, which was an improvement. Was she also craning her neck to watch Joseph Cross woo Billie? “Do you think his attention is genuine or is he after something?”

  No response. Ta
ndy turned to repeat her question, but Marissa was gone.

  “Marissa?” Her heartbeat tripped, and she leaned forward to look into the inky water below for signs of a splash. Not a ripple except for the surging wave in her blood pressure. She whipped around, ready to yell for Griffin above even though she didn’t completely trust him.

  Wait. Something red flashed in the crowd towards the gangplank. Marissa’s skirt. And Connor was with her. Tandy wanted to be upset that her partner was off being romanced while she was left to interrogate Cross, but at least the other woman was safe. Connor would take better care of her than the deputy.

  The mass thinned out as passengers made their way back inside the protection of the dining room.

  Joseph Cross appeared in front of her. “Did you want a tour, my dear?”

  She would have preferred to have Marissa beside her, but with Billie there, she wasn’t alone. And she’d have a chance to ask her questions. “Sure.”

  He led her first to the back of the boat where a huge round paddle churned against the water. She’d planned to ask her questions right away, but the white noise of water lapping, and the peacefulness of the stars above practically put her in a trance. Maybe if Cross relaxed along with her, she’d be able to get more information out of him.

  “We have a paddle like this on display in Cincinnati,” she said. “But I’ve never seen one at work this closely before.”

  “You’re talking about the monument to steamboats. That paddle actually came off the American Queen.” He nodded, offering Billie his jacket. “Come on. Let’s go inside the steam room. It’s warmer there.”

  The tour continued with stories about the worst maritime disaster in the United States history when the Sultana exploded in the 1800s, killing almost twelve hundred people. There were other explosions as well that eventually led to steamboat races being outlawed. In order to win, captains had started tying their safety valves closed to get the steam to heat hotter and propel the boats faster.

  Lives had been lost so one person could receive glory. Kind of like how Virginia’s life had been lost.

  Mr. Cross pointed out the safety valves on his ship. “Here’s one of those vents on The Ohio Queen. Most paddle wheelers are run on electricity now, but I like to do things the good old-fashioned way.”

  As in killing, like how Cain killed Abel? “Sounds dangerous.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “We have to pass modern codes now, of course, so even if the valve gets stuck, it’ll only cause a small explosion. Nothing to worry about.” He led them toward the helm where the captain piloted them down the river. “Would you like to try steering?” he asked.

  “I would,” Billie chirped.

  Mr. Cross motioned her forward. The captain stood by her side, giving instructions.

  Tandy stayed behind with Mr. Cross. This was why she’d come. “I found the record for the sale of your boats.”

  Cross faced forward, rather than look her in the eye. “I told you I sold them.”

  He hadn’t told the whole story. “Yeah, to yourself.”

  Cross turned toward her, his eyes clear. “I do own the majority share of stock in the corporation that bought me out, but I didn’t during the sale. I purchased it later after Ettabell Alexander passed away. Even if Virginia had blackmailed me, it wouldn’t have been a threat to this company because, like I told you, I sold it.”

  Tandy studied him. He was either innocent or a good actor. They’d already played this game before. But now she had more theories and questions. “Who else owns stock in the corporation? Anyone I know?”

  Cross’s brow wrinkled. “Quite a few people on this boat right now are stockholders, but I’m not at liberty to name names. Why does it matter?”

  The boat shifted under their feet. Tandy lifted a hand to steady herself on a wall.

  “Oops. Sorry,” Billie called back to them. Could she overhear their conversation? Was she trying to interrupt, or was that an accident? A nervous twitch perhaps? Man, Tandy was getting as paranoid as Marissa.

  Cross chuckled. “You’re doing good, Billie.” He sighed and glanced at his watch before looking at Tandy again. “I’ve got other guests to entertain. Do you have any more questions for me?”

  Yes. A ton. But she’d probably need a warrant to find the answers. She’d settle for the one that was bugging her the most. Thanks to Marissa. “Does Lavella know about the diary, and would she use it to try to destroy Marissa’s reputation? Or yours?”

  Cross’s gray eyes hardened to granite. “Why do you think Lavella knows about it?”

  Apparently Marissa wasn’t the only person afraid of the beauty queen. How much should Tandy reveal to Cross? If this was going to be her last chance to speak with him, she might as well go for the gold. “Someone knows about it because it was stolen from my glove compartment when in the police impound. Besides you, Lavella is the only other person we can think of who might want that documentation.”

  Cross lifted his chin, his eyes darting toward the main deck below, though it was hard to see in the dark. “If she got her hands on it, I’m sure I’ll know soon. Though rather than destroy me, she’s more likely to try to get me to rig the Miss USA pageant for her. Even if I had the power to do that again, I never would.” He lifted an arm to motion to everyone on the boat. “I mean look at the mess that’s come from doing it once forty years ago.”

  Tandy’s eyebrows arched. That was a motive she hadn’t considered yet. Could Lavella have heard about the journal from Virginia and come looking for it, not in an attempt to destroy Marissa, but to persuade Cross to help her win a national title? Could she have killed Virginia to keep her quiet?

  Tandy didn’t know, but at least she knew Cross hadn’t made any deals with her yet. Or so he claimed.

  Billie padded over in her flats, having either grown tired of steering or intrigued by their conversation. “I almost wish I hadn’t said anything about the silly diary at all.”

  Cross’s eyes widened, and he turned toward her in slow motion. “You are the one who told them about the diary?”

  Billie set a hand on his forearm. “That’s why I kept turning you down when you asked me out.”

  His chin jutted forward. “That’s why.”

  “Yes. Once I learned that you were sorry for your mistake, I felt like I could trust you.” She nodded toward Tandy. “And it was good to hear you explain yourself tonight. Good to know you wouldn’t repeat your mistake again by helping Lavella.”

  Tandy rubbed a hand down her face. She didn’t know anything of the sort. She only had Cross’s word for it. Though apparently that’s what Billie wanted to believe. Why she’d probably given them the diary to begin with.

  Cross covered Billie’s hand with his own. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

  “I was afraid you might not have changed.”

  Tandy couldn’t get away from romance. Not even when she was surrounded by people old enough to be her grandparents. Not even when one of them was a possible murderer.

  She needed to regroup. She also needed to make sure Billie wasn’t thrown overboard as soon as Cross got her alone. “Are you two going back to the party?”

  “Shall we?” Cross held out his hand with a bow.

  Billie smiled softly in acceptance.

  Cross tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and led the way.

  Tandy slid her fingers against her scalp and squeezed the roots of her hair with frustration. So much for finding another lead. So much for her “super” good hair.

  She followed after the couple but paused at the stairs. They were obviously heading down into the melee. She might as well duck into the bathroom for a moment of peace on Earth. It’s not like anyone would miss her anyway.

  Marissa crossed her arms to face off with the guy who somehow thought dating her archrival to keep an eye on her made him a hero. “I’m supposed to thank you for being seen in public with the woman who tripped me off stage at the Miss Ohio pageant?”

  He
hung his hands on his waist and looked away in disbelief. “Nobody saw her trip you.”

  What? He was calling her a liar now? He’d been all compassion when she returned home from the competition. Had he voiced his doubts earlier, they wouldn’t have even made it to the point in their relationship where he demolished Grandmother’s house. “Well nobody saw her overdose Virginia either, but Virginia certainly died.”

  “All right.” He turned back to face her and dipped his head. Was he lowering his voice to keep from being overheard, or was it an excuse to step closer to her? If that was his plan, she’d shove him away exactly like she had at Grandma’s Attic. “Virginia’s dead, and you’re helping Tandy because she’s afraid if you don’t find the real killer then one of you will be accused of murder. But what if Tandy did it?”

  Marissa’s hands dropped to her sides and even more goosebumps popped up on her skin…if that was possible. Despite the chills, she suddenly felt a little warm. She’d started to like Tandy. Trusted her more than anyone else in the town even though she’d known her the shortest amount of time. Even if the woman was gruff, she was also real. “Tandy doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not. Unlike other women you fake date.”

  Connor looked over his shoulder then moved even closer. “I honestly don’t think it’s Tandy. I just want you to be careful until we know for sure.”

  Okay. Was he saying that only to get back at her for questioning the person he’d arrived with? “You didn’t seem reserved with her last night.”

  Connor blew out his cheeks. “I know. We had a good talk, but this afternoon after she tried to get rid of me—”

  “Get rid of you?” Marissa spread her hands wide. When did Tandy try to get rid of him? What did that even mean? “She tried to kill you?”

  Connor held a finger to his lips to hush her then glanced around as if worried someone was listening.

  Marissa scanned the area too. Deputy Griffin did appear to be watching them from above. Could he hear her from there?