by Nancy Basile
“The only thing is,” Jenn pinned her with a look, “I didn’t hear the total.” She bit her bottom lip. “It has to cost a fortune to get it done on time.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Robin briefly touched Jenn’s arm and smiled. “Consider it a maid of honor gift to you and Deb.”
Jenn hugged Robin again. Robin let out a deep breath. What good was making a bunch of money at a big-city job if she couldn’t use it to help her sister? The smile on Jenn’s face nearly brought her to tears. It was all the payment she needed.
“Wait.” Jenn sucked in her cheeks and pursed her lips. “Are you saying that I lost out on a different gift with this cake business?”
“Ha ha.” Robin shoved Jenn in the shoulder before scooping up her bag and standing. Jenn stood up, too. They strode into the house and into the kitchen where their mother was busy spooning jam into the centers of thumbprint cookies.
“How did it go making favors today?” Their mother kept her eyes on her cookies.
“Great, until the bakery called, but you know all about that.” Jenn got two glasses down from a cabinet and poured Robin and herself cold iced tea from the fridge. “We packed up all the favors. They’re back at Deb’s parents’ house.” Jenn sat and turned to Robin. “How did it go with Chris?” Robin looked up from her drink in time to see Jenn’s eyebrows waggle.
“It went well, but not in a good way. When I left, Chris was going to pick up Jodi, in an official capacity.”
“Oh, no.” The corners of Jenn’s mouth turned down. “That can’t be right. She’s the sweetest girl. I know something was going on with her and Roy—”
“We know nothing for sure. That was a rumor.” Robin raised her eyebrows and pressed her lips together.
“ — but I don’t see her as the killer. It doesn’t make sense.”
“I agree.” Robin tapped her finger against her lips. “But Chris and I watched a video of her car pulling into Roy’s driveway, and leaving again, right before he was killed.”
“Oh. That doesn’t look good.” Jenn took a swig of tea.
“No, it doesn’t.” Robin drank, too. “But there has to be something we’re missing. I even went to the library to find anyone else who had some kind of association with Roy, to see if Chris could go another way in his investigation.”
“Anything?”
“Nope.” Robin used her mother’s tablecloth, a cheerful yellow and white gingham, decorated with daisies, to wipe condensation off her glass. “Hey, where’s Dad?”
“He went to pick up some last-minute things for the wedding, but I bet he’s up in his blind, scoping out deer trails.”
“Hunting season isn’t for months.” Robin glanced out the kitchen window, hoping to see him walking home. His deer blind was in an open field up the hill behind the barn. He had walked there so many times he’d worn a winding path through the woods.
Their mother set aside her spoon and put on oven mitts. “He probably just needed some peace and quiet. This has all been a bit much for him.” She popped a sheet of cookies into the oven.
Robin had to agree. Picturing her dad watching a ball game while a gaggle of women chirped and cackled in the kitchen was enough to send her to the woods, too.
“I better get going.” Robin drained her glass, then placed it in the dishwasher.
Her mother pulled off her oven mitts and reached for a cup of tea. “Where are you off to now?”
Jenn smiled and clapped. “Do you have a date with Chris?”
“Don’t be silly.” Just the thought of a date with Chris turned her legs into wobbly gelatin. “No, Pasture wants me to come in and sign the invoice and credit card receipt for the cake.” She picked up her bag and headed to the front door. Jenn followed.
“I’d come with, but Deb will be here soon for dinner.”
Robin shrugged. “No biggie. It won’t take but a minute. I’ll be there and back in no time.”
Jenn gathered Robin into a bear hug. “Thank you so much for saving the day. See,” she pulled back, holding Robin at arm’s length, as if inspecting her, “This is why you need to live here, and not Cleveland. So we can be there for each other.”
Robin’s stomach twisted in a pretzel knot. Her career in Cleveland consumed her, but at what cost? “Do you think about this a lot?”
“Every. Day.” Jenn looked at Robin like she was a few apples shy of a bushel. “You’re my best friend. Except for Deb. But she doesn’t count because when I want to complain about her, I need you.”
“I don’t know what to say. You know — ”
“I know your job is in Cleveland and you won’t look for one in Pittsburgh because it’s too far and your company is so great and blah blah blah.” She turned to Robin and led her through the front door. “I know all that. It’s just, sometimes, I wish it didn’t matter, and you’d just move home.” They stopped in the driveway. The late afternoon sun tinted the trees a soft gold. “My life is just getting started. I’m getting married, someday we’ll have kids.” Jenn bit her lip. “I want you to be there for all of it.”
Robin could only nod. A lump the size of a golf ball blocked the back of her throat. Finally, she swallowed hard. “Maybe someday.”
The sisters held each other’s gaze for a moment. Then Robin stirred. “I better get going before Pasture changes their mind.”
Jenn turned and walked back into the house, while Robin got into her car. Even though it was hotter than blazes inside her car, she sat for a moment, staring at the woods beyond her windshield. She pictured what it would be like to live in River Sutton, with Jenn and her family. And Chris. The AC kicked on. She shook her head, then turned her car toward the casino.
“One problem at a time, Robin.”
Chapter 17
Robin entered the casino through the side entrance, under a marquee that read, “Welcome to the Winner’s Zone.” She heard the swish of the automatic doors closing, and immediately, the noise and smell of the casino bombarded her. The ringing bells and the acrid odor of stale cigarette smoke filled her senses. She took a moment to let her eyes adjust to the dim lighting and spotted the sign pointing to Pasture.
She wound her way through the maze of hallways until she reached the restaurant. The hostess stand was empty and servers were placing crisp, white tablecloths and napkins, and shiny silverware on tabletops, preparing for the dinner crowd.
“Hello, Robin.” She recognized the voice behind her. Why were people always sneaking up on her? She was not in the mood to deal with Troy Harris. “Fancy meeting you here. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were stalking me.”
She turned to face him, and he leaned in too close. Then he smiled, no doubt thinking he looked charming. To Robin, he looked like a bobcat baring its teeth.
“Hardly.” Robin narrowed her eyes.
A man dressed in black pants, white shirt, black vest, and bow tie bustled up to the restaurant entrance. “Mr. Harris, how nice to see you. Two for dinner?”
“Oh, no, no, no.” Robin waved her pointer finger back and forth. “I’m here about a cake.” The server looked confused.
“I suppose we could have dinner, if you have time, Robin.” Troy slid his hands into his pockets, still smiling. To the server, he said, “We were friends in high school.”
She glanced at him sideways. “We went to high school together. But I wouldn’t say we were friends.” Robin crossed her arms. His smile didn’t falter, and Robin figured that his smarmy confidence had helped him become such a successful business owner. That and the money his parents gave him. “And I don’t have time. I need to get back to have dinner with my family.” Not that she would have dinner with him, anyway.
The server’s eyes bounced between Robin and Troy, landing on Robin. “You mentioned something about a cake?” Robin explained why she was there. The server nodded and said, “I see. Let me check with the manager. She’ll have the receipt and the invoice.” He scooted away, which left Robin standing with Troy. She wondered
why he wasn’t in his office working, rather than standing in the hallway annoying her.
“Actually, I’m glad I have a minute alone with you.” Troy’s smile disappeared and he looked serious. Robin’s eyes widened slightly, and her stomach knotted. This didn’t sound good.
He rocked on his heels, looking contrite. She realized that if she didn’t know him, she would probably think he was good-looking in his expensive suit. But she did know him, which made him look slick instead of handsome. “I know I wasn’t the nicest guy in high school, especially to you.”
“Can confirm.”
“Like I said, I know.” He nodded. “But you have to understand, I was just a dumb teenager. That’s not an excuse, but it’s true.”
“I was a teenager.” Robin lifted her chin and held his eyes, even though he was a good bit taller. “I didn’t treat anyone like you treated me. I knew better. Plenty of kids knew better.”
“I said I was a dumb teenager.” He rested a hand on his breastbone. “The last thing you’d ever be is dumb, so I know you didn’t treat anyone like that.” He got a pained expression on his face. “Remember how I used to try to cheat off your tests? You always covered them so I couldn’t.”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Why did Troy bother to apologize after so many years? Did growing up give him a more mature perspective on his past behavior? Or had something happened to him that shed a new light on his career as a bully? She had moved on from her awkward teenage years a long time ago. She didn’t need his apology. “You’re sorry. Duly noted. Anything else?”
“Wow.” Troy laughed. “Dismissed by Professor Robin.” He grimaced. “I know you don’t want to be friends. I just needed to tell you I’m sorry.”
He turned to leave, but a thought crossed her mind. “Hey, there is one thing you can help me with.”
“Name it.” He adjusted his waistband. “Is it about the cake?” He thumbed in the server's direction.
“No, nothing to do with the casino. It’s about Roy.”
“Oh.” His eyebrows came together. “What about Roy?”
“I was working with Chris this morning —”
“Chris Payne? The sheriff?”
Robin nodded. “Yes. I was helping him with some stuff on the computer and we were talking about suspects.”
“Who were you talking about?” He ran a hand through his hair, tousling it, then smoothing it back into place.
“I don’t know if I can say, really. I know you were here, at work, when Roy died.”
“That’s right.”.
“Well, I was wondering, who else is still around that would have been friends — or enemies — with Roy back in the day? Chris said there isn’t anyone left.” She thought back to the picture of Mark Jenkins, Roy, and Troy.
“He’s right.” Troy slipped his hands into his pockets again. “In school, Mark and I were Roy’s only friends, and you know what happened to Mark, I’m guessing.”
“I do. Such a shame.”
“A real tragedy.” He heaved a sigh. “Not a day goes by that I don’t miss him. And now Roy’s gone, too.”
“Do you know where Roy was or what he was doing all those years he disappeared?”
“Far as I know, he was in North Carolina doing some construction work.”
“That’s what I heard, too. Do you know if he made any friends down there that would have followed him here?” Something niggled at her. “Maybe that’s why he came back, to get away from whoever was in North Carolina. Maybe he was in trouble.”
Troy looked down the hall, shifting on his feet. “I really don’t know. I only saw Roy a couple of times when he was in the casino. We didn’t talk much.” He stepped back. “How about this, if I think of anyone, I’ll let you know? I need to get back to work.” He shot her with finger guns. “I am the boss around here.” Another wide smile split his face. His teeth were too white to be natural.
“You can call Chris if you think of anyone.” The thought of Troy calling her turned her stomach.
He waved and disappeared back into the casino. Another dead end. The case was looking worse and worse for Jodi. Maybe Bruce was the killer and had taken Jodi’s car that day. Unless Chris could get one of them to confess, she did not know how he was going to arrest either of them based on the little evidence he had. She’d love to know if they found anything when they searched Roy’s place. The next time she saw Chris, she would ask. When would that be? The wedding? Her head tingled thinking about Chris at the wedding.
The server reappeared with the invoice and the receipt for the cake. She checked the details on the invoice — heaven forbid she ordered the wrong flavor of icing or something. Jenn would serve Robin’s head on a platter. The server cleared his throat. “So, you and Troy went to high school together? What was he like back then?”
The server was about her age, but she didn’t recognize him. “You’re not from around here?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I moved here with my partner a couple of years ago. He trains horses.”
“Ah. Well, Troy was a lot different back then. Let me just say that.”
“Gotcha.” To Robin’s dismay, the server winked. “I don’t know much about him, other than he’s here all the time. I guess I would be, too, if I owned the place.”
“Right.” Robin was only half-listening to him, trying to focus on the number of cake layers and the flavor of filling that the invoice listed.
“It’s not like he keeps regular hours. He’s in and out all the time. Heck, sometimes he’s in his office and we don’t even know it.” He raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice. “He’s sneaky that way.”
“Wait, what do you mean, sneaky?” Now he had her full attention.
“We all joke that he comes in through his private entrance without letting anyone know he’s here so he can spy on us, you know, to see if we’re doing our jobs or stealing or whatever.” He laughed and shrugged his shoulders. “It’s smart. A great way to — ” he wiggled his fingers in the air “ — keep us on our toes.”
Robin held up a hand. “Wait, you’re saying he can come and go from the casino and no one knows?”
“Uh huh.” The server pointed down the hall in the direction Troy took when he left. “I always say, with as big as the hotel is, he might as well have an apartment here.”
“Interesting.” Robin also looked down the hallway, frowning. Troy had said he was at the casino when Roy died. But if he could come and go without being seen, it was possible he left the casino, shot Roy, and returned with no one the wiser.
Robin signed the invoice and receipt, then handed them back to the server. “Have a good day, and I hope the wedding is a smash.”
“Thanks, me too.” Robin left the casino, so focused on piecing together clues that she got lost in the parking lot and had to backtrack to find her car.
She turned on the air conditioning and thought some more, then realized it didn’t matter if Troy could come and go without being seen. What motive could he have had for killing Roy? It couldn’t be bad blood; they hadn’t seen each other in years. Even if Roy flashed a lot of cash, he couldn’t have had as much as Troy. He owned the casino, for Pete’s sake.
She also couldn’t forget that the video recorded Jodi’s car in Roy’s driveway that morning, not Troy’s. She mentally crossed off Troy from the suspect list.
The old photo of Roy, Troy, and Mark haunted her. What a tragedy that, of the three boys, only Troy still lived.
Then she thought about Jenn. This is why you need to live here, and not Cleveland. So we can be there for each other. Maybe she was taking her relationship with her sister for granted. She needed to do something about that.
The setting sun painted the horizon with the same desert colors as the casino. Robin slipped on her sunglasses and headed for home.
Chapter 18
“Are Jenn and Deb going to light a candle at that point? Or pour sand into a glass vase?” Reverend Lucy Littrell peered at Robin through thick lenses, gi
ving her the look of a goldfish in a bowl.
“I believe they’ll be lighting a candle. Less mess.” The next morning, after settling details with the cake, Robin was at the United Methodist Church finalizing details for the ceremony. Robin remembered Rev. Littrell from her childhood, from vacation bible school through confirmation and attending during the summers of her college years. The petite, soft-spoken woman had aged well, looking like the cartoon version of a grandmother.
Rev. Littrell made a note in a white binder marked with tabs and sticky notes of all shades and sizes. The two of them were sitting in the front pew of the United Methodist Church, where Jenn and Deb would be married soon. The small sanctuary was old school, with blood red carpeting, dark wood pews, pulpit and railings, and tall stained glass windows.
Pushing her round frames up the bridge of her nose, Rev. Littrell looked up from her binder. “I’m so happy Jenn and Deb are getting married here. So many couples have destination weddings nowadays. Jenn grew up here, so it’s only fitting that she wed here.” Rev. Littrell beamed. “Now, as for parking, our lot is small so the overflow can park in the field next to the fellowship hall.”
They continued to iron out wedding details until Rev. Littrell checked every box on her list. She used her pen to scan through the pages to see if they missed anything. Then she shut the binder and hugged it to her chest. “I’m truly looking forward to this ceremony. Those two are just glowing with love.” She glanced around the sanctuary, but they were alone. Then she leaned close to Robin. “I know I shouldn’t tell you this, but I can always tell when a couple shouldn’t marry. I just dread those wedding days.” She sat back, shaking her head. “But this wedding will make up for a lot of those rotten days.” She raised her shoulders and giggled. She behaved more like a schoolgirl than an elderly minister.
