by Vickie Fee
“Come to Papa.”
She giggled like a schoolgirl and I heard a door close. I peeked in tentatively before tiptoe running across the room to Clifford’s desk. I tapped the space bar on his computer and a story in progress popped up on the screen. Unfortunately, it was a story about a new pet grooming business opening in town.
I wonder if Eartha would abide a grooming session? Probably not.
I scanned the desk hoping for a printout of the murder story to no avail, but then I hit the jackpot. His notebook was beside the keyboard with the computer mouse sitting on top of it. I picked it up and started flipping through pages. I thought about snapping photos with my phone, but his handwriting was barely legible and I was afraid Susie and Cliffie might hear the camera clicks.
I kept flipping pages and until I saw Dalton’s name. I decided to just quickly scan through and see if I could get the gist of it. Vince had been working in Little Rock as a private investigator before he moved here. He had also had his P.I. license suspended, something about misrepresentation and possible misdemeanor. But his license had recently been reinstated.
That’s as far as I got when I heard an eruption of giggles. I took that as my exit cue, fearing Susie and Clifford would emerge from the closet at any moment. I sucked in a deep breath before tiptoe racing out of the room. Fortunately, the front office was still empty, so I walked briskly out the front door, hoping no one had seen me. My subscription to The Utopia Sentinel would have to wait for another day.
CHAPTER 20
George dropped by to deliver some leftovers at Trudy’s behest. I texted Kendra to let her know I’d be bringing dinner for us. It was a safe bet Kendra wasn’t planning to cook. She texted back with a jazz hands emoji. Or maybe it was supposed to be a hug.
At eight thirty sharp, I showed up at Kendra’s door with an offering of homemade enchiladas and rice. Kendra heated the leftovers in the microwave, set out the nice plates—meaning not paper—and poured us some red wine.
I didn’t want to spoil our appetites, so I decided not to mention the love scene I’d overheard between Clifford and Susie.
After supper, continuing our conversation from that morning I briefly recapped my first encounter with Trey, starting with his unwelcome attention and slobbery hand kiss. And how Nick had come to my aid by pretending he and I had prearranged to meet. Ending with Nick putting his foot in his mouth and putting me on the defensive, which seems to be a habit of his.
“Anyway, Marco and Nick, and even Trey, aren’t really the problem. The men who are causing me real grief right now are Detective Stedman, who is still lingering on me as a suspect, and Vince Dalton, who I didn’t even know.”
Kendra shot to her feet and said, “Aarrgh! These guys are getting on my last nerve. Grab the wine glasses and follow me. We need some air.”
Instead of heading downstairs and out the back door as I expected, she stepped onto a stool and pulled down access stairs from her ceiling. Once in the attic, she tugged on a cord, dimly illuminating the space with a single bare bulb. She continued to a wall and up a metal ladder where she pushed open a hatch to the roof. I wordlessly climbed up right behind her.
“Hold this, please,” she said, handing me the wine bottle.
Kendra grabbed a couple of lawn chairs tucked under the eaves of a little utility shed, unfolded them and took a seat in one. I handed her the bottle and sat down in the chair beside hers. She poured wine into both our glasses.
The view was spectacular. Colorfully lighted shop signs up and down the streets, porch lights on houses dotting the hillside and stars twinkling overhead against a black sky.
“Let’s stop thinking about mean old Detective Stedman and, for that matter, let’s try not to think about the late, not-so-great, Vince Dalton. Let’s talk about some men actually worth talking about for a change,” Kendra said.
“If you’re going to start matchmaking, forget it. I’ve told you—”
“Nope. No matchmaking. The men worthy of conversation I had in mind are Bart and Josh.”
I smiled at the thought of Josh, but the very next instant a lump formed in my throat.
“For example,” Kendra continued, “what’s something you and your brother loved to do together? I’ll start. Whenever Bart and I are in the car, we sing show tunes. He can really belt out ‘Cabaret’ along with Liza Minnelli on the stereo. But my favorite Broadway tune for us to sing together is ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade.’ We don’t sound anything like Barbra Streisand, of course, but I think we sound pretty good. We never sing when Simon’s in the car, though. Sweet guy, but he can’t carry a tune.”
“Taking a car trip with you and Bart sounds fun.”
“How about you and Josh, any favorite pastimes?”
“I’m sure this will come as a big surprise, but we enjoyed watching old movies together. Everything from old horror films with Bela Lugosi to Bogie and Bacall movies—and we both loved to rattle off snappy bits of dialogue. One of Josh’s favorites to fire at me whenever I started dishing dirt on someone was that Joan Crawford character’s line from The Women. ‘There’s a name for you women, but it isn’t used in high society outside of a kennel.’”
“Ooh, great line. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that movie. We’ll have to watch it together sometime. My glass seems to be empty, how about yours?”
I nodded and held my glass out for a refill.
“My turn. What was the angriest Bart ever got at you?”
“That’s easy. He still brings it up sometimes. My junior year in high school I took off to Florida with two senior girls for spring break. My parents never would’ve given me permission to go, so I lied and told them I was visiting Bart for a few days. Big brother was not in on my deception, by the way—he was even more protective than Mom and Dad. I thought I’d gotten away with it, but a few weeks later my mom happened to casually mention to Bart something about my spring break visit with him, the visit he knew never happened. Fortunately, he didn’t give me up to Mom, but he gave me plenty of grief later. Wanted to know exactly where I went, with whom and what we got up to, and warned me I’d better never pull a stunt like that again. The truth is I had a miserable time on that trip. It rained half the time. I wanted to feel all grown up, but the older girls made me feel left out. I’d never admit to Bart, even now, that I had anything less than a fabulous time that spring break—not after the way he raked me over the coals about it. What about you? Did Josh ever rain fire and brimstone on you about anything?”
“Hmm, honestly the maddest I ever remember him was back in school when I told a girl he had a crush on that he liked her. She was this cute little redhead and I could tell she liked him, too, so I thought I was helping him out, you know? After I told her, she started paying attention to him. He got so mad, he didn’t speak to me for days.”
“Why? If she liked him, too, it sounds like a good thing,” Kendra said.
“I don’t know. He was completely embarrassed. I could tell because his ears turned bright red. Of course, he was only in the third grade at the time.”
“Oh, that’s great,” Kendra said, laughing. “Clearly, the little man wasn’t ready for commitment, big sister.”
Kendra and I both went quiet, taking in the view. I don’t know if it was the wine or the sultry night air, but a warm feeling washed over me.
I slept well. Maybe it was the generous amount of wine I’d enjoyed at Kendra’s the night before.
I walked down to the Donut Dealer and picked up a baker’s dozen of cake, glazed and jelly-filled doughnuts. It took all of my less than considerable willpower to make it back to the theater before plucking one out to sample. I arranged six on one cake stand and six on another. I dispatched the extra doughnut to my mouth, telling myself an even number made for a more pleasing display.
I was beginning to think neither Kendra nor Trudy would show up this morning. I had just unlock
ed the door for coffee service when Kendra strolled in.
“Thought I’d check and see if you had a hangover this morning.”
“No. But I didn’t have any trouble sleeping.”
“Same here,” she said.
Trudy walked in and tossed her hands in the air.
“I dearly love George, but this morning he started tap dancing on my last nerve before I’d even had a cup of coffee.”
“I’m not qualified to offer relationship advice. But how about some coffee? Would that help?”
“It can’t hurt. Let me have the pretty kind with the design on top.”
“Coming right up.”
“What’s up with George?” Kendra asked.
“Sometimes he just feels this need to release his inner curmudgeon. It’s never a good sign when he puts on his cranky britches so early in the day. Please distract me by talking about anything else.”
“Well,” I started, “if you haven’t eaten yet, please help yourselves to a doughnut. What I’m about to tell you may cause you to lose your appetite.”
They looked at each other and then back to me.
“I had a granola bar,” Trudy said.
“Bagel with cream cheese here. Go on,” Kendra said.
“I went by the newspaper office midday yesterday to buy a subscription to the local rag and generally make nice with Clifford.”
“Just how nice?” Kendra said with a Cheshire grin.
“Only nice enough that he might let some information slip about the murder investigation.”
I explained how I’d overheard him talking at Jade Garden about a big update story.
“When I arrived no one was up front so I walked toward the room labeled ‘newsroom.’ As I approached I overheard Clifford and Susie talking all lovey dovey to each other.”
“Do tell,” Trudy said as she and Kendra both leaned forward slightly, eager for details.
“Susie wanted to make serious kissy face and Clifford suggested they step into the utility closet for privacy.”
Trudy said, “Oh, my” and Kendra added, “Eeew.”
“I quietly raced to Cliffie’s computer hoping to see the story on his screen. Long story short, I flipped through his notebook quickly and caught a few details. Vince was a private investigator in Little Rock before he came here. His license had been suspended, but it had been reinstated shortly before he died. That was as far as I got before giggles from the closet made me think I should make my exit before they made theirs.”
“His private investigator background would explain why Vince was so good at digging up dirt on people,” Trudy offered. “Did Clifford’s notes say why his license was suspended?”
“I ran out of time—and Clifford’s penmanship could be better. But it’s also possible that someone he dug up dirt on in Little Rock could’ve followed him here. In fact, maybe he came here to get away from trouble there.”
“Perhaps the person or persons who reported him for whatever got his license suspended weren’t happy to hear his license was going to be reinstated. Could be they considered him a problem that needed to be dealt with,” Trudy said.
“You’re being awful quiet,” I said to Kendra, who had a perplexed expression.
“Was it just Clifford giggling or did you hear Susie giggle, too?” she asked.
“Believe me, it was a stomach-turning duet.”
“I’m having a hard time imagining Susie giggling.”
“Count yourself lucky.”
“Hah,” Trudy said. “Halley, I hope you sell lots of coffee and doughnuts today. Kendra, you should go lock people up in escape rooms. I’m going to check on my sourpuss.”
CHAPTER 21
It had been a good, but quiet day. Then, just after ten o’clock, Kendra called me, hysterical.
“Halley, I just locked up behind my last customers. I need to talk to you. Is it all right if I come over?”
“Of course, I’ll come down and let you in the front—”
Before I could finish my sentence she had hung up. She was gently rattling the front door by the time I got to it. I locked the door behind her and when I turned around, she was nervously pacing back and forth in the lobby.
“What’s wrong?”
When she stopped and looked at me, I could tell she’d been crying.
“Ling dashed down to the escape rooms a little while ago. You remember her, the hostess at Jade Garden? Anyway, she wanted me to know that the police had taken Joe in for questioning earlier this evening after arriving with a warrant and searching his car. And she had just overheard his mother say they were keeping Joe overnight at the jail.”
Kendra broke down crying. I gave her a hug and suggested we go up to the apartment. I didn’t want people passing by on the sidewalk to view her emotional state. Inside my apartment she collapsed onto the sofa sobbing. I grabbed us two beers from the fridge.
“Would you prefer if I made you some tea?” I asked as I started to hand her the beer.
“No, this is good.”
“Did Ling know if Joe or his parents have called an attorney or if Joe has been charged with anything?”
Kendra wiped her face with her sleeve. I didn’t have any Kleenex, so I grabbed a roll of toilet paper from the bathroom cabinet and sat it on the coffee table in front of her. After she’d blown her nose, she nodded.
“Yeah, I did ask her about the lawyer and she said yes. She didn’t know if Joe had actually been charged with anything. But if they’ve locked him up, it can’t be good.”
Kendra paused and pressed a length of tissue over her eyes.
“Joe’s parents are very private people. Ling hurried away, saying she had to get back to the restaurant and asked me not to let Joe’s folks know she had told me about a personal family matter. I wanted to know more, of course, but Ling didn’t feel it was her place to ask. I’m grateful she at least let me know what was going on. I’d been a little concerned because I hadn’t heard from Joe today and had tried to call a few times. But he’s constantly forgetting to charge his cell phone, so I wasn’t too worried—until now.”
“Oh, Kendra, I’m so sorry. Assuming this is about Vince’s murder, we know Joe had nothing to do with that. The cops will figure that out, too. I think Detective Stedman is just grasping at straws at this point because he hasn’t made much progress on this case.”
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. I’m worried the cops are feeling pressure to make an arrest. And somebody could be trying to frame Joe—maybe even the cops.”
“I suppose someone could’ve put something in Joe’s car, but I don’t think it’s the police. He may not have much experience investigating homicides, but I think Detective Stedman is a by-the-book, upright kind of guy. And as much as I dislike Susie Stoneface, I don’t think she’d stoop to planting evidence,” I said. “Hey, it looks like we could both use another beer, you want one? Or I could run downstairs and grab a bottle of wine.”
“No, I’ll stick to beer. It should give me less of a hangover. Line ’em up right here,” she said, pointing to the coffee table.
“In that case, I think you’d better spend the night. You take the sofa and I’ll sleep in the recliner. Derek can stand guard.”
“I hope somebody up there,” Kendra said rolling her eyes upward, “is watching over Joe tonight.”
“Don’t worry. I think Joe’s perfectly safe in the Utopia Springs jail. He’ll probably sleep better tonight than you or his parents. Anyway, let’s hold good thoughts. I have a feeling they’ll release him tomorrow morning. Here’s to Joe,” I said, raising my bottle and chinking it against Kendra’s.
“I hope you’re right. Bart is driving over in the morning to help me. I guess I was pretty emotional on the phone.”
“Understandably so. I’m glad he’s coming down.”
“Me, too.
Oh, by the way, I saw you’d changed the title on the marquee to the new old movie you’re showing this week, the first one since My Fair Lady. I forgot the name?”
“Charade. It’s another Aubrey Hepburn film, but not a musical and with a very different leading man—Cary Grant.”
“Mmm, Cary Grant is my favorite old movie dude. He was dreamy,” Kendra said.
“He still is—on the big screen. That’s the magic of movies. Anyway, I just hope we have a good crowd, and more importantly, that they buy lots of wine and coffee. And that Delores shows up on time and handles ticket sales. She’s a character. Do you know the deal with her? George didn’t tell me much, and I haven’t really had a chance to talk to her one-on-one.”
“I don’t know much. I know she’s involved with one of the live theater groups in town. I think she mostly does seamstress work, but she’s also done some acting. I saw her appear in a small role in one of their productions last year.”
“What was her part?”
“She was basically the crazy cat lady neighbor. She didn’t have a lot of lines, but she got a lot of laughs,” Kendra said with a faint smile. She got up and grabbed two more beers from the refrigerator. Predictably, the conversation drifted back to Joe.
“I hope this crazy police mix-up doesn’t cause trouble between Joe and his dad,” Kendra said.
“Why would it, if Joe hasn’t done anything wrong? And we know he hasn’t.”
“Mr. Chang is a very proud man. After he had a heart attack last year, he officially turned management of the restaurant over to Joe, but had a really hard time letting go. Joe had been pushing for a while to turn the restaurant into a buffet. His dad wouldn’t hear of it, he still thought of the Jade Garden as serving fine Chinese cuisine, with prices to match. But in a place like Utopia Springs, the tourists want food served quickly, and there aren’t enough locals to support it as a special occasion kind of place, more like their Fayetteville location.
“Joe changed the lunch hours to a buffet, which upset his dad. And it seemed to add insult to injury for his dad when profits soared. Joe and his mom tried to get his dad onboard with changing the dinner hours to a buffet as well, but he wouldn’t budge. Six months later Joe made the change to dinner buffet as well, and his dad has been distant ever since. He tries not to show it, but it really bothers Joe. Both of them feel like they’ve lost respect in the other’s eyes, you know?”
