Cupcakes and Celebrities

by Leena Clover

  “I have to get back to the café.”

  Jenny felt flustered as she walked back to the café. Adam had never held her hand before. Spotting an empty bench on the boardwalk, she sat down and stared at the sea. Was Adam beginning to respect her sleuthing abilities or was he just humoring her. Whatever the reason, Jenny decided she liked holding hands with him.

  Chaos reigned back at the café. The two new kids had managed to mix up the orders. Jenny redid a dozen orders while Petunia went around pacifying their regular customers.

  “Are you ready for lunch?” Petunia asked her a couple of hours later. “Better eat something before we prep for tomorrow.”

  “Let’s make scones for breakfast,” Jenny suggested as she speared some grilled chicken on her fork.

  It was the special of the day, made with dried cranberries, strawberries and almonds. Jenny added an orange thyme dressing that was very popular with locals and tourists alike.

  “We haven’t baked any in a while,” Petunia agreed. “Let me ask Betty Sue if she wants a batch at the inn.”

  The phone rang just as Petunia stood up to call Betty Sue.

  “It’s for you,” she told Jenny, handing her the receiver.

  The old fashioned wall phone in the kitchen had a long cord so Jenny could stay seated while she grabbed the handset.

  “Hello?” she said tentatively, raising her eyebrows at Petunia.

  “Hello, Ms. King,” a vaguely familiar voice crackled on the line. “This is Jorge, from Eagle Aviation? You were here a few days ago…”

  “Captain Jorge!”

  “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion.”

  Jenny felt a burst of excitement as the handsome old pilot’s face swam before her eyes. Had Captain Jorge remembered something about Bella?

  “Not at all,” she hastened to assure him. “How can I help you, Captain?”

  “I wonder if you can pass on a message?” he asked hesitantly.

  “Of course. What is it?”

  “A young girl came to meet me here a couple of days ago. She was staying at the Pelican Cove Country Club. She mentioned knowing you.”

  “Who was it?”

  “I can’t recollect the name,” Captain Jorge apologized. “It was something exotic. She was tall and blond with violet eyes, quite attractive if you don’t mind my saying so.”

  Jenny’s chair toppled to the floor as she stood up suddenly.

  “Was it Rainbow? Was that the girl’s name?”

  “That’s it!” Captain Jorge’s relief was palpable. “She came here just as we were winding down for the day.”

  “What did she want?” Jenny asked, holding her breath.

  “She wanted to book a dive,” Captain Jorge explained. “She had a lot of questions. I handed over the FAQs we print out for first timers. Then she said she had safety concerns.”

  “What kind of concerns?”

  “She wanted to know what happened if she brought her own rig. That’s the parachute…would someone still check it out before she went up?”

  “And what was your answer?”

  “We don’t check personal rigs,” Captain Jorge said immediately.

  “But I thought you said you had strict quality checks?” Jenny probed. “Didn’t you mention some kind of guidelines?”

  “We do that for our own gear,” Captain Jorge explained. “We don’t touch your gear. People who bring their own parachutes sign a waiver. We are very meticulous with our paperwork, Ms. King.”

  Jenny figured the company was just making sure they were not liable.

  “I understand,” Jenny said. “What was the message, Captain Jorge?”

  “She booked a dive for tomorrow evening but she didn’t leave any contact information. I just wanted to confirm she’s still coming as scheduled?”

  Jenny swallowed a lump as her fingers tightened around the telephone cord.

  “You should cancel that appointment, Captain Jorge. Something’s come up. Rainbow is not available tomorrow.”

  Jenny plunged into thought as she thanked the pilot and hung up the phone. Why had Rainbow visited the sky diving company? Had she discovered something about Bella’s death?

  Chapter 20

  “You have to come,” Heather pleaded with Jenny. “Crystal especially wants you there.”

  “Look around, Heather,” Jenny waved a hand at the crowded café. “People are lining up here thanks to Mandy and her Instagram. They want to book tables. There’s no way I can get away.”

  Heather turned to Petunia.

  “It’s just a couple of hours. And it’s at sunset. The café is closed by then.”

  “I don’t mind,” Petunia told her. “I can take care of the prep for one day. Maybe Star can come and keep me company.”

  Heather went for the jugular.

  “It’s a chance to say goodbye to Rainbow.”

  Jenny couldn’t say no to that.

  A small group of people assembled at the Pelican Cove Country Club later that evening. The gazebo was covered in small bouquets of tulips and roses. Someone whispered they were Rainbow’s favorite flowers. A priest had arrived from the mainland. In deference to Rainbow’s wishes, no one wore black.

  Crystal sniffled and Wayne looked solemn. Kathy Mars dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief. One of the girls gave a violin recital. Wayne asked if anyone wanted to say something. Almost all the girls had something nice to say about Rainbow.

  “She’s going to be missed,” Heather whispered to Jenny.

  Jenny’s eyes misted over. She felt helpless. All her efforts had been futile. She wasn’t any closer to finding out what happened, either to Bella or Rainbow.

  “One of these people is a killer,” she hissed at Heather. “Maybe it’s one of these girls…just waiting to step into her role on the show.”

  “You think so?” Heather was skeptical.

  “She was on to something,” Jenny mumbled. “I’m sure about it.”

  The sun set over the ocean, painting the sky orange and mauve. Rainbow wasn’t around to see it, but Jenny admitted she had been given a good farewell. Ray Fox caught her eye as they walked back to the club house.

  “I didn’t know you were coming.”

  “Rainbow and Bella were like sisters,” he said. “Bella would have wanted me here.”

  “Do you think she would take her own life?”

  “Never,” Ray said, shaking his head. “She was ambitious. She had her kid to think about.”

  “So you believe she was murdered?”

  Ray said nothing but his grim expression was answer enough.

  Someone had ordered a sumptuous buffet of Rainbow’s favorite dishes. Jenny guessed Wayne had something to do with it. He wasn’t hiding his grief from anyone.

  Jenny overheard the girls talking about the show. Everyone wanted to know who was going to replace Rainbow. The girls seemed excited but Jenny assumed that was natural. She peered at each of their faces as she bit into a slider. Had one of them deliberately poisoned Rainbow?

  “Stop staring, Jenny!” Heather hissed in her ear. “Wayne wants to talk to you.”

  Wayne stood at one end of the long passage, gazing out at the dunes.

  “I miss her,” he told Jenny. “We were really close.”

  Wasn’t he close to all the women in his life, Jenny mused. A sudden giggle erupted, making her feel mortified.

  “I don’t mean that way,” Wayne clucked. “Rainbow was my best friend. We could talk for hours. She really knew me, you know. Knew Wayne Newman the person, not Wayne Newman the country music star.”

  “Shouldn’t you have that with Crystal?”

  Wayne shrugged.

  “Crystal and I have an understanding. Getting married now will give a big boost to our careers, and we both understand that.”

  “What if Crystal wasn’t in the picture?” Jenny asked. “Would you have married Rainbow?”

  Wayne hesitated. Then he shook his head.

  “Rainbow didn’t ha
ve that kind of fan base.”

  “But you did. Surely you could have elevated her career if you wanted to.”

  “It’s too late now,” Wayne shrugged.

  “What’s next for you, Wayne?”

  “We are going back to Los Angeles in a couple of days. We are shooting the pilot episode next week. We are all going to be pretty busy, I guess.”

  Kathy Mars spotted them from a distance and walked over.

  “Thank you for coming,” she told Jenny. “Rainbow would have wanted you here.”

  “When did you talk to her last?”

  “Crystal and I were having tea out here. She seemed to be in a hurry.”

  “Was she going out?”

  “She must be. She was twirling a set of car keys in her hand.”

  “Do you know when she got back?”

  Kathy thought for a moment.

  “She didn’t turn up for dinner. I figured she must have met someone.”

  “But she didn’t know anyone in town, did she?”

  “Just Bella’s husband,” Kathy quipped.

  Jenny tried to read Kathy’s expression. Was she implying Ray Fox had harmed Rainbow?

  “You must be looking forward to getting back home.”

  Kathy’s handbag buzzed just as she opened her mouth to answer Jenny.

  “Who’s calling me now?” she muttered, struggling with the clasp.

  “Let me help,” Wayne said just then.

  Kathy and Wayne both pulled at the bag at the same instant. The bag sprang open and its contents scattered on the floor.

  “Look what you’ve done now!” Kathy exclaimed angrily.

  Wayne bent down to pick everything up off the floor. A bottle of pills rolled down and came to rest by Jenny’s foot.

  She picked it up and quickly read the label before handing it back to Kathy.

  “You’re not sick, are you?” Heather asked solicitously.

  “Oh no!” Kathy said, looking flustered. “Those are just my anxiety pills. Almost everyone in the business takes them. Right Wayne?”

  “Huh?” Wayne asked.

  Jenny couldn’t wait to get away. She said goodbye and grabbed Heather’s arm.

  “What’s the rush, Jenny?” Heather scowled, jerking her arm away.

  “Did you see those pills?” Jenny asked as she backed out of the parking lot.

  “Kathy’s anxiety pills?”

  “They can double as sleeping pills. I need to talk to Adam right now.”

  They rushed into the police station. Adam Hopkins stood at the front desk, ready to go home for the day.

  “What’s the matter now, Jenny?” he asked, correctly reading her expression. “Let’s go into my office.”

  “What’s the drug Rainbow took? Quick, tell me.”

  “We are waiting for a full tox screen,” Adam told her patiently. “But if you must know, it was a cocktail of a popular anxiety drug mixed with something else.”

  “Aha!” Jenny banged her fist on the table.

  She quickly told Adam about Kathy’s pill bottle.

  “It’s a very common medicine, Jenny,” Adam sighed. “Anybody could have a prescription for it.”

  “But get this,” Jenny said with relish. “The bottle was almost empty.”

  “We don’t know when the prescription was filled.”

  “But you can find out?”

  “I’ll look into it,” Adam promised. “But it may not be that easy,” he warned. “We will probably need a warrant.”

  “Do what you think is best.”

  Heather and Jenny lingered outside while Adam made a few calls. He came out just as they were saying goodbye to the desk clerk.

  “How about going to Ethan’s?” Adam asked. “I could use a bite to eat. I skipped lunch today.”

  Jenny looked at her watch reluctantly.

  “Sorry. I’m meeting Jason in five minutes.”

  Adam turned around and walked to his car without a word.

  “Did you have to blow him off?” Heather grumbled.

  “I really have an appointment with Jason,” Jenny stressed. “It’s important.”

  “Are you just playing hard to get?”

  “No, Heather! I need to talk to Jason about a business matter.”

  Jenny crossed the street and walked two doors down to Jason’s office.

  “Come on in,” he called out to her.

  Jenny grabbed a soda from the small refrigerator in Jason’s office. She sat down heavily and took a few sips of the cold drink.

  “What do you have for me?”

  “It looks tough.”

  “Do I have enough funds in my account? That’s all I want to know.”

  “You do, Jenny. But if you spend this, you won’t have a cushion until next year. You’ll have barely enough for any incidental expenses.”

  “I don’t need much,” she shrugged. “Living in Pelican Cove is really cheap.”

  “What about Nick’s college fees?”

  “His father is paying those. They don’t come out of my account.”

  “I still wouldn’t advise it, Jenny.”

  “Is it going to solve our problems?”

  “You know there will always be something else.”

  “Of course, but I am just talking about the contest. I love this town, Jason. And if there’s even a slight chance we could be the Prettiest Town in America, I don’t want to stand in the way.”

  “How do you know Petunia wants this?”

  “Are you kidding? She’s lived here almost all her life. She wants to win too.”

  “So when are you giving her the good news?”

  “I’m not,” Jenny said. “You are.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “The Boardwalk Café is going to get a silent partner. It will be just enough to cover the cost of refurbishment.”

  “Jenny, you’re investing almost a year’s income in this. Are you sure you don’t want credit for it?”

  “I’m sure, Jason. I have to work side by side with Petunia every day. I don’t want her to feel beholden to me.”

  “Jenny King,” Jason said, his eyes shining with admiration. “You’re something else.”

  “Stop flattering me,” Jenny blushed, slapping Jason on the arm. “Now what about that other matter?”

  “I have good news,” Jason exulted. “Our offer has been accepted.”

  Jenny felt her heart speed up.

  “What does that mean?” she asked, leaning forward in her seat.

  “We are in escrow, Jenny!”

  “We are?”

  “You are now the owner of a charming sea facing three storied Victorian.”

  “Seaview,” Jenny whispered lovingly. “Is it really mine?”

  “Congratulations, Jenny! This is a big leap for you. You are a home owner in Pelican Cove.”

  “It’s like a dream come true.”

  “Who do you want to tell first?”

  “I’m calling Nick,” Jenny said, laughing and crying at the same time.

  She fished her cell phone out of her purse and waved it around for a signal. Jason picked up his desk phone and placed it in front of Jenny.

  “Call him from this. I can add it to your bill.”

  They both laughed at that.

  Jenny spent the next few minutes talking to her son while Jason looked on indulgently.

  “What about fixing up Seaview?” Jenny asked after she hung up. “Do I have to wait until next year?”

  “I already factored it in,” Jason told her. “You have a nice chunk of money set aside for repairs at Seaview.”

  “Oh Jason, I am so happy!”

  “Ready to share the news with everyone?”

  “You remember our promise?” she asked Jason. “No one can know about my involvement in the café. No one.”

  “I’m your lawyer, Jenny. You can trust me with your life.”

  He took her hand and kissed it gently.

  “You can trust me, period.”
>
  Jenny sprang up and danced a little jig. She couldn’t have imagined this outcome in her wildest dreams. Just a few months ago, she had come to Pelican Cove with just the clothes on her back. A good divorce lawyer had made sure her cheating husband treated her fairly. It was the least she deserved after twenty years of marriage.

  “Let’s go out and celebrate,” Jason said. “There’s this great seafood place on the boardwalk at Virginia Beach. They have oysters on the half shell and wood fire grilled fish.”

  “Can I change first?” Jenny asked. “We can take Star with us, can’t we?”

  “Of course we can,” Jason smiled. “What’s a celebration without family?”

  Chapter 21

  Jenny chatted with Captain Silver early the next morning. The old salt had appeared on the steps of the Boardwalk Café at 6 AM sharp.

  “How about a hot scone?” he asked. “Petunia’s been talking them up a lot.”

  “Coming right up,” Jenny smiled. “I made strawberry jam to go with them.”

  The phone rang at 8 AM. Petunia’s face broke into a big smile after she answered it. Jenny acted surprised.

  “Someone wants to invest in the café,” Petunia said, her eyes saucer like in wonder. “He’s ready to pay for all the repairs the town committee wants us to do.”

  “That’s great news,” Jenny said, giving her a hug. “You said yes, right?”

  “Of course I did. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

  “You’re not a beggar, Petunia. The Boardwalk Café is a landmark. Any investor should be proud to invest in such a well loved place.”

  “All that is fine, dear, but anyone who’s putting up a big chunk of money is entitled to think what they want.”

  “When do we meet this Santa Claus?”

  Petunia’s expression said she wasn’t too happy with Jenny’s flippant tone.

  “We don’t. That’s the condition.”

  “Doesn’t matter to us,” Jenny shrugged. “Why don’t you call Barb and Mandy and rub it in their face?”

  “What’s got into you, Jenny?” Petunia groaned but she giggled like a naughty girl.

  “Call the contractor too while you’re at it.”

  “One thing at a time,” Petunia said, pressing the buttons on the phone.

  “Hola!” a deep voice came from the counter.