Miles and Zoe remained huddled on the step. Until the police arrived, I would try to keep order and find out any clues I could. I got out of my car and closed the door, the sound echoing in the grim quiet of the morning. Zoe and Miles both jumped at the noise.
I rejoined them and said, “The police are on their way.”
Miles vaulted up like he was starting a race. He paced between the cars and the barn, occasionally glancing toward the dead body. He stopped and looked at us, not speaking, and resumed his pacing.
I approached him and he stopped a few feet from me. Tears formed in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Miles.”
He shook his head. “I’m still in shock. I feel like if I go home, he’ll still be there, in bed. Or he’ll be up having his coffee and yelling at me like normal for borrowing his car.”
I joined Miles in his pacing to continue the conversation. “Did you borrow his car a lot?”
He stopped, kicked a dirt clod, and continued walking. “Yeah. He gave me a hard time about it. I mean, I don’t make much money working here, so I can’t afford to fix my clunker that breaks down all the time.”
I peeked at Zoe, who continued to sniffle. “So you lived with Oliver?” A statement of the obvious, but my ploy to keep him talking.
Miles stomped on a few dirt clods with more energy than before. “I didn’t have a choice.”
We continued our route between the car and the barn, walking and talking. I kept my voice soft and gentle. “Do you know why Oliver might have come here?”
Miles breathed in loudly with no response. I let the question stand and pulled another detective move: awkward silence. We approached the cars and made a turn. It worked.
“Not really. I mean, he never gave up on wanting to buy the farm. He would rant on about it at home all the time, trying to figure out an angle to make it happen. Said he had million-dollar ideas. And it was just going to waste how it was.”
I saw out of the corner of my eye that Zoe had stood and was approaching us. Miles picked up his head and we stopped where we were.
Zoe said, “Miles, you know I would never sell the farm, especially to Oliver.” Her tone had migrated from sorrow to determination and borderline anger. “I told him many times it wasn’t going to happen.”
“I know, Zoe. I told him that. But you know how he was. A bully that never stopped until he got his way.” Miles’s chin quivered.
Zoe stepped up and hugged him tight. She looked at me over his shoulder and slightly shook her head. Even if Zoe was convinced Miles had nothing to do with Oliver’s death, I wasn’t so sure. If Miles had built up resentment toward Oliver from being constantly browbeaten, would he snap? Sounds like he could have had a reason. And what would account for how Oliver got to the farm? Miles’s explanation might be legitimate. But having the victim’s car and Miles’s tools strewn next to the body didn’t look good for his innocence.
Zoe held Miles at arm’s length and fixed her gaze on him. “Miles, we’ll figure this out. Chloe’s really good at puzzles and putting clues together.”
She had more confidence in me than I had in myself. “We need to let the police do their job.”
Miles swung his head toward me and stepped away from Zoe. “You guys believe me, don’t you?” His gaze swept between Zoe and me. He took another step back and cleared his throat. “Zoe?”
“I believe you, Miles. I know how hard it has been for you living with Oliver,” Zoe said.
Miles looked at me, questioning my response. “I’m sure things will turn out how they are supposed to. The process just needs to happen.” I stayed as noncommittal as I could. I looked at my watch. It was now only an hour before the festival was scheduled to start. I couldn’t leave before the police arrived because I suspected Miles would escape as well.
Right on cue, gravel crunched and the Emerald Hills PD made their way down the driveway. Miles looked at Zoe and grabbed her arm. “Zoe, you have to vouch for me. I had nothing to do with this.”
She looked at me, then back at Miles and said, “One step at a time.”
We all turned as the officer approached. My stomach jumped to my throat. Miles seemed like a nice enough person. And there were plenty of victims of bullying who didn’t resort to murder. But with what I knew at this point, garnering his innocence might be an uphill battle. With no witnesses and only the circumstances to base the decision on, Miles might be headed for jail. For Zoe’s sake, I hoped that wasn’t the case. She had taken Miles under her wing, almost like a little brother.
We greeted the detective as he began his inquiry. I walked him to the location of the body, hoping I could get out of here soon and return to the hotel. He didn’t say much as he looked around the body. We rejoined Zoe and Miles, and the detective launched into his questions, both of them repeating the story. One factor I had learned about interrogations was that innocent people didn’t typically vary their account of events much, if any. Both of them provided identical accounts of their previous stories.
“Zoe, I’m going to head out so that I can open the festival. Please join me as soon as you can.” I hugged her tight and whispered, “It will be OK.” With all my heart I hoped so, but my gut was not in agreement.
She released me and tears again filled her eyes. I said my goodbyes and left the detective to do his job.
CHAPTER FOUR
The return drive to the hotel felt like it took hours. In reality it was about thirty minutes. It was unlikely anyone at the hotel would have heard of Oliver’s death. Unfortunately, I was going to be the bearer of bad news. The parking lot was packed, with a line of about fifty people out of the lodge door. Our inaugural festival was already a hit, sans fresh lavender. Perhaps I would be able to return to the farm and get some for our second day of the event.
Max sprinted from the car and began greeting our visitors like he was a celebrity on the red carpet attending the Academy Awards. I passed by everyone, thanking them for coming, and said we would be open shortly. It took three tries to pry Max away from petting hands. Slowly, we traversed the stairs. I was not looking forward to sharing the news. I opened the massive door and felt a whoosh of warm air hit my face. Even though the weather had turned nicer, I couldn’t resist the ambiance of the roaring fire in the lodge. We stepped inside to see the final touches being added to displays before we opened the doors to the public.
My boy had his priorities. He beelined to Caroline’s booth, ready for his gingersnap treats. I followed his path. Caroline beamed. This event was her opportunity to locally showcase her products that had thus far only been available in national competitions. She had worked tirelessly on making the lavender lotions, creams, and treats to bring to market. Few knew the significant financial investment she was on the hook for if these didn’t pan out. With the positive exposure she had received at the national trade shows, her future looked bright.
She must have had a stash of gingersnaps ready for Max on a moment’s notice. She pulled one out of the pocket of her apron and extended her arm. Max sat like a good boy and gently accepted the goody. Caroline looked up at me and her smile washed away from her face. “Chloe,” was all she said. She mindlessly reached into her apron pocket and handed Max another gingersnap. She took a step toward me, not breaking eye contact, and looked at my empty hands. “Where is the lavender? What’s wrong?”
When Caroline and I were planning the event, our vision was to have fresh lavender at every vendor booth and all throughout the lodge. We dreamed about how wonderful it would look and smell. I shook my head.
She looked around to see who may be watching and grabbed my hand. “Chloe,” she repeated. “Never mind the lavender, what else is going on?”
I shook my head again, trying to force the words out. Maybe finding Oliver dead at the lavender farm was all a dream. How could this be happening? I grabbed her elbow and guided her to the other side of her display table, as far away from anyone else as possible.
We were inches apart, and I whispered, “When I arri
ved at Zoe’s farm this morning, she was in tears.”
Caroline grabbed my hand and covertly scanned the room to make sure we weren’t being watched. “Oh no. What happened?”
“Caroline, she found Oliver Stantson dead in the lavender field. Facedown, wearing a suit, garden tools next to him, and a huge gash on his head. She has no idea how he got there.” I released her hands so our behavior wouldn’t call attention to us. I took a step back and to the side so I could see the entire room. “I left Zoe with the police and Miles.” It was now only a few minutes before we opened the doors. I needed to compose myself for an announcement.
I looked at Caroline one last time. She tilted her head and pursed her lips, forcing a smile. “You’ll figure this out,” she encouraged.
I knew in my head she was right. But my heart was broken. I walked to the podium in the corner, cleared my throat, and prepared for an announcement. Max trotted alongside me for moral support. Before arriving at my destination, the room quieted, everyone ready for our big launch. What would I say to keep that energy and optimism high? It was obvious we were without the fresh lavender as our finishing touch.
I picked up the microphone and bowed my head for a second. I took a deep breath and pasted a smile on my face, panning the crowd. “May I have your attention, please?” The remaining sound in the room disappeared. The only noise came from the growing crowd just outside the doors. “First, I want to welcome you all and thank you for participating. From the number of people outside right now, I can tell this will be a big success.” Huge grins, a small smattering of claps, and positive vibes responded. “I’m just about to open the doors.” I looked at Max, sitting regally next to my side. Gazing back at the gathering, I said, “But I need to let you know there was an issue with getting the fresh lavender from the farm this morning.”
A round of groans and chatter began, people asking, “what happened?” and “why?” I held up a hand to quiet the murmurs. “I know we are all disappointed. It couldn’t be helped. I’ll do everything I can to get it here for our second day of the event.”
A forgiving group gave me a round of applause. I smiled, relieved that I got away with an evasive explanation. But I knew it wouldn’t take long for the rumor mill to spin with the news of Oliver’s mysterious death.
“Best of luck, everyone. I’m opening the doors.” The buzz in the room returned to its previous level, anticipation high. I stepped away from the podium, head held tall, shoulders back, forcing more confidence than I felt. Max and I opened the lodge door and the throngs quickly filled the room. I let the crowd carry us around to the different booths, our first stop at Andrew’s. I needed to see firsthand how he was competing with Caroline.
“Hi Chloe, this is awesome!” Andrew reached out to shake hands. Even above the crowd noise I heard Max growl. Andrew bent over and patted Max. He looked at me and tipped his head. I got it, buddy.
“What have you got, Andrew?” I asked, looking over all of his haphazardly organized products. I picked up a jar of cream that looked almost identical to Caroline’s. If I didn’t know better I would say it was the same thing with a different label.
He quickly returned to the other side of his table, cheeks flushed. “I’ve got it all.” He swept his arm across the table. “Even some treats for the pooches,” he said in a baby-talk voice.
That earned me a stern look from Max. He did not like it when people baby-talked to dogs. Because, of course, they were much more sophisticated than that. I shrugged, and Max shook his head.
Andrew put a couple of dog treats in front of Max on the floor. He sniffed them and looked at me. Not so much for permission, but more in the way of do I have to eat these to be polite?
“Go ahead,” I said and Max nibbled a small bite.
“It looks like you have some similar products to Caroline. Creams, lotions, teas.” I let my statement of fact stand to see where he went with it.
“Yeah. I’ve been working really hard experimenting on different formulas. I think I’m finally getting it. My goal is to win the national competition next year. I’m confident I’m on my way.”
“Well, good luck,” I said. If I didn’t know better, I would say he had some insider knowledge to help him along. But Caroline was vigilant about her trade secrets. How could Andrew create products so close to hers without somehow being in the know?
A strange but familiar sound caught my ear. Just as I realized the source of it, I saw Max hurling. Andrew’s product must have made him sick. Oh boy.
Andrew quickly appeared with a wad of paper towels to sop up the mess. He glanced around for any onlookers. It wouldn’t be good for business if customers saw a dog puking in front of your table.
I took the pile from Andrew and headed to the trashcan. “Sorry about that,” I said over my shoulder. Max trotted alongside me as though he didn’t miss a beat, proud of the message he sent.
Well, day one of the festival was off to an inauspicious start. A death, a vendor rivaling Caroline’s products, Max puking—what else could go wrong?
“Magnificent work, Chloe,” a voice bellowed from behind me as I neared the trashcan. I turned to see a guy that couldn’t have looked more out of place. A tall, thin man with short hair, a well-groomed beard, and a suit and tie.
“Hi, Patrick, fancy meeting you here.” It wasn’t a total surprise to see him. Wherever there was money, you would find Patrick. “We’ve got a great turnout, don’t you think?” I put on my best smile, not quite feeling it.
“Not bad, Chloe. I came to check out our newest acquisition. Caroline’s got it going on. But it looks like Andrew is gaining some steam. I might have to see if there’s a deal he and I can make.” He hastily strutted away. I felt like I needed to wash my hands. Ugh.
The crowd just kept coming. We were almost wall-to-wall with bodies. In my wildest dreams I never expected to be this busy. We were almost outgrowing the lodge we just had built. Thankfully, the day ended on a much more positive note than it started. Let’s hope for no drama on day two.
CHAPTER FIVE
Max and I slept soundly in the Buttercup Bungalow treehouse, exhausted from our long day. I had moved in here when I first got back to Cedarbrook to help Mom with the hotel. It was a compromise to my return that I wouldn’t move into her house. I needed my space. And a good decision it was. I didn’t expect to be here forever. But the peace we had in the evenings was unparalleled. We needed the rest to prepare for day two of the lavender festival. If we could wrap this up with as many customers as yesterday, and nothing dramatic, I would count that as highly successful.
We strolled down the path, past the large open campfire area, to the lodge. The springtime thaw had begun and the breathtaking rainbow of wildflowers adorned the edges of the walkway. It was almost an hour before we opened to customers. But as we neared the parking lot, I spotted people already lining up. That was a good sign. Max picked up his pace and trotted to greet everyone. I breathed in the fresh, clean air, feeling energized. Oliver’s death still weighed heavily on my mind, especially since it remained a mystery. And my dear, sweet sister was smack in the middle of it.
I stepped into the opening of the parking lot and spotted Zoe’s farm truck near the front door of the lodge. She had the back of it heaped high with a harvest of lavender. I placed my hand on my heart. I adored that lady. She was hauling bunches of it inside. I jogged over to help.
“Zoe,” I said. She turned, and tears immediately appeared. “You didn’t have to do this. We would have been fine.” I grabbed several bunches, and she followed me inside. A few VIP customers were already inside, getting first choice at the products. My mom actually came up with that marketing tactic, and it looked like it was a hit.
“I know. But I needed something to keep me busy. Where would you like this?” she asked. “Wow, this place is jammed. I’m so sorry I missed it yesterday.”
I pointed to empty pots interspersed throughout the lodge. “We’ve got pots everywhere. You can start filling th
em over by the fireplace. Thank you, Zoe.”
It was already a better day. The lavender had arrived and I got to see my sister. I took my lavender bunches to Caroline’s table to check in with her. She looked up and raised her eyebrows. Uh oh.
“Chloe, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Her voice cracked.
What in the world now? She looked over my shoulder at something on the other side of the room. I turned to see the object of her gaze but wasn’t sure what I was looking for. “What is it?”
Max whimpered, not getting his usual attention and treats from Caroline.
“I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve worked so hard. And I’m so close to breaking through.” She plopped into the chair behind her table, arms hanging at her sides, head down. I’d never known that woman to give in to defeat so easily.
“Caroline, it’s just one day. Let’s see what happens today. From the looks of it, we’ll have an even bigger crowd.”
She lifted her head. “I don’t know.”
Max sidled up to her and put his chin on her knee—his go-to move for making people feel better. She put a hand on his back and he smiled. Not able to resist his charm, she chuckled. “OK, boy. I think you just want your usual.” Either way, that did the trick. She perked up and got Max his prize.
“It’s hard to be optimistic when Andrew seems to be getting more business than I am. I checked out his stuff and it’s actually getting better, and people are buying it because it’s cheaper.” Her voice raised and several people turned toward us to see what was happening.
“If his stuff isn’t as good, people will figure that out soon. Hang in there.”
Lavender and Larceny (Treehouse Hotel Mysteries Book 6) Page 2
