Barbecue and Bad News (14 page)

“To balance out Mac’s tasty treats?”

“You’ve sampled the bear claws, I take it.”

“Sampled? No. Inhaled? Maybe.”

“They are good. His son makes amazing cakes too. It’s been nice to have some new young folks come to town. We’re so glad Jenny opened up that yoga studio. We need more young women to move here. Did you know our population is seventy percent men?”

Maybe that was the article she’d write. A town where the odds of finding a man are in the girl’s favor. “Really? Now how many of those are of the available type?”

“I don’t know, but I do know of a few good catches right off the top of my head.”

“Well, it sure seems to be a great town to live in.”

“It is.”

“And a great town to live out your dream. So if you named the shop Timeless Tea, what would the menu look like?”

Daphne took the bait. She was off the subject of men and that perfect son of hers. This was way more fun anyway. Dreaming up ideas to spend someone else’s money was always fun.

“I always thought I could just do a pretty chalkboard with the dailies on it and have the kind of ambiance where my servers share the menu verbally. After a while everyone would know what they wanted, or even better, just always count on me to surprise them.”

“I love that idea.”

Daphne rolled up the drawing and fit it back in the tube. “Sit down. Let me bring you your tea.”

Savannah sat down at the dining room table. “I like the idea of the server bringing the personalized touch. Maybe you could even have local art in the tearoom. I heard someone talking about a painting in the yoga studio. What was it they were saying? I can’t remember.”

“I’m not even sure I’ve been in there yet. I’m a little old for twisting myself up like a pretzel. Once I got on the floor I’d likely never get up.” Daphne placed both of the cups and saucers on the table.

A loud rap at the door was followed by a man’s voice. “Hello, Mom?” The screen door slapped against the frame.

“In here,” Daphne called out. She leaned to Savannah and whispered, “That’s my son.”

Savannah took a sip from her teacup, then lifted her eyes and looked in the direction of the footsteps, then almost choked.

Sheriff Scott Calvin strode toward her, pulling his aviator-style mirrored glasses off as he got closer.

Scott stifled a laugh when he saw Savannah practically spit tea across the room. For a second there he thought he might have to resuscitate her.

She recovered pretty quickly, but not without her teacup clanking against the saucer and her spoon hitting the floor. That blush that was rising on her pretty cheeks was about as bright as the sunset on a summer night.

He’d recognized her little blue Mini Cooper straight off. No one in this town owned one of those. He’d even contemplated just rolling on by, knowing full well Mom was up to no good. Again. Wouldn’t be the first time, and he’d had that feeling on Sunday too.

Poor Savannah had no idea she was playing the starring role in a made-for-Lifetime movie written by none other than Daphne Calvin.

“Daphne is
your
mother?”

Savannah could’ve caught butterflies with her mouth dropped wide like that.

“Hi, Mom.” He then nodded in Savannah’s direction. “Hello to you, again.”

Daphne ran her hand though her hair and practically stuttered. “Y’all ha-have met?” She looked confused.

Savannah stammered. “We have. W-we met by accident. Sort of.”

“It was no accident. You were speeding.”

She slanted her body away from him. “Just seven miles an hour over.”

Daphne tilted her head and gave Savannah one of those shame-on-you looks. “Well, technically that is speeding, Savannah, and it
is
his job.”

Mom took his job as seriously as he did. He’d grown accustomed to that shame-on-you look over the years, but he could see it was affecting Savannah just like it used to affect him back in the day.

His mother’s expression softened, and she stepped closer, placing herself right between the two of them. She reached out to take one of their hands in each of her own, connecting them, and Scott wished he could lock his mom away in one of those jail cells when she got on these obsessions.

“So y’all have met. That’s so wonderful. Scott, did you know that Savannah and her mother used to have tea parties? I can’t believe I’ve met someone who loves tea as much as I do.”

“No one could possibly be as crazy about tea and teapots as you are, Mom.”

“I thought the same thing, but here she is.”

Mom was up to no good. Wasn’t the first time. Wouldn’t be the last. If he was polite, maybe Savannah would take the cue and be on her way. “I know very little about our new visitor except that she seems to be crossing my path at every turn.”

“Fate.” Daphne smiled. “It could totally be fate. Hmm. Maybe Pearl Clemmons is doing a little angel matchmaking again.”

“Pearl. I heard about Pearl,” Savannah said. “She sounded like quite a lady.”

“She was the best matchmaker this town ever had,” Daphne explained. “You’d have loved Pearl Clemmons. She passed on a while back, but she’s still in our hearts. You met her granddaughter.”

“Jill?”

“Yes, Jill. Sweet girl, and her grandmother was the heart of this town. Still is, really. No one will ever forget that woman.”

“She’s not any more special than you are, Mom.” He shot Savannah a smile.

“Mom, are you ready to go to your doctor appointment?”

“Oh, Scott. I’m so sorry. I forgot to call and let you know that they called and rescheduled my appointment just this morning. Dr. Bostic had some kind of emergency.”

Sure he did. Just how much of a pushover did she think he was? “An eye exam emergency?”

“Well, of course not. Something else. Anyway, I’m so sorry I didn’t call and tell you. But since you’re here . . . I’ve got plenty of tea, and look, I even made your very favorite little ham-and-Swiss quiches.”

His mom was already scurrying around, and it was quite clear that she’d invited him here at this time specifically with a little hookup with the new stranger in town in mind. Pearl wasn’t the only matchmaker in Adams Grove.

Scott popped a baby quiche in his mouth and chewed in silence. His mom was still scurrying, but Savannah wasn’t saying a word and as long as he kept popping quiches, he wouldn’t have to either.

“Your mom is great.”

He nodded, still chewing.

Savannah looked like she wanted to crawl under a table. “I’m sorry about this. I had no idea she was up to—”

“Don’t apologize. I know she was the one behind it. It’s fine. She’s just anxious about grandchildren. I’m getting used to her trying to help me out in that department.”

“It’s sweet.”

“It’s a pain in the ass. Want to swap moms?” Something that looked a bit like panic flickered in Savannah’s eyes. She looked so vulnerable in that fleeting moment that he wanted to pull her into his arms. Hold her. Tell her that whatever that was, it was only a memory. But that look disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. The wall was back up. It was like watching a windshield wiper sweep away the emotion.

“I wish.” She lowered her eyes and her thick lashes seemed to touch her cheeks. He knew that whatever he’d seen a moment ago was something she wasn’t ready to talk about.

“Mom means well. I’ll keep her.”

Savannah smiled. “Did you decide if you’re going to the award ceremony or not?”

He knew she’d change the subject. He was a skilled negotiator—he could take her right back there if wanted to, but somehow he knew that was a painful place for her and he didn’t want to be the one to escort her there. “I’m going. You’re right. It’s a good thing to do in an election year, and in a small town I have to pull from resources across the state all the time. It’ll be good for me to renew some of those connections.”

“Good. I’m glad you’re going.” She pursed her lips.

She was struggling to keep the conversation going and keep it off her. He let her wriggle in the silence for a moment. On a two count she’d be filling the space with words. He silently counted: one . . . two.

She said, “I hear that several of the large papers are going to be there.”

“How did you hear that?”

She paused.

She was scrambling for an excuse. Years of being on this side of the law had sharpened his ability to read people. She was about to lie, or tell a half-truth.

“I did a little peek online. I was curious.”

“Connor said you’re writing a book.”

She tilted her head in a nod but didn’t offer up any details.

Daphne rushed back in with three crystal flutes filled with fresh fruit and whipped cream. “A little sweet something to balance the menu.”

“Mom, I’ve got to run.”

“But—”

“Sorry. Things are hectic down at the station today. I’ll take a rain check.” He grabbed a napkin and stuffed four baby quiches in it before turning and heading out the door.

He could hear his mom apologizing to Savannah as he pulled the door closed behind him.

The summer sun wasn’t the only thing making him hot under the collar. She meant well, but he had a job to attend to. He didn’t have time for this in the middle of the day.

He’d put his money on his mom not taking the matchmaker crown from Pearl Clemmons if this was the match she’d picked. This was a setup if he’d ever seen one, but he and this city girl had zero chance of working out.

Mom had good taste. Savannah was cute. Pretty, in fact, but that wasn’t going to turn that city girl into a country girl, and he had no intention of ever leaving Adams Grove. This was his home.

CHAPTER SIX

A
fter the visit with Daphne, Savannah couldn’t wait to spend more time with her. Yet even though her heart was full of nostalgia, her head was telling her to run for the hills. She didn’t need that kind of connection with someone she’d never see again after she left. It was a nice trek down memory lane, but getting lost in that kind of feeling again wasn’t in the plan. It was a recipe for disaster, and yet she’d already agreed to help out on Friday. She couldn’t back out on that.

Savannah couldn’t stop thinking about Scott. He’d spoken softly, and darned if he didn’t look sincere, talking to his mother. And taking her to her doctor’s appointment. How sweet was that? Momma’s voice echoed advice from long ago:
If he treats his momma right, he’ll treat you right
.

Her impression of the sheriff softened by the day, and she wasn’t sure if it was because she’d been wrong about him, or if meeting Daphne and feeling so at home with her had also had an impact on her opinion of him. That had been right tricky of Daphne to try to set them up. Not effective, but tricky. It sounded just like something Momma would’ve tried. In fact, that was how she’d met Tripp. Her mom played Bunco with his mom and she just knew they’d be a perfect match, because he seemed like the best catch in Belles Corner to her.

Good-looking. Good job. Scott was apparently pretty good at his job if he was getting an award, and his momma was an absolute sweetheart.

Everyone in Adams Grove seemed to think Sheriff Scott Calvin was the big catch in this town. And it really annoyed her that she couldn’t deny that she was beginning to think so too.

She swung her car into an empty space behind the bank building. No sense driving to the newspaper when she could walk off the savory treats Daphne had served up. Besides, whenever she got all stirred up like this, it was best to burn off the anxiety with some exercise.

She must have put well over a thousand miles on her treadmill the year she lost her parents. If she hadn’t, she might have had a heart attack from all the stress or died from her sadness. Something she prayed for some days, because Lord knows it would have been easier than dealing with that emptiness, but then who would make sure there were flowers on their graves?

She hopped out of her car and cut through the building to get out on Main Street. A bright-turquoise-colored flyer fluttered in the breeze on the lamppost just outside the law office. The two tacks at the top were working overtime to hang on to the piece of paper since the summer breeze had ripped it from the bottom two. The whole pole was full of old staples and tacks hammered so deep into the soft pine that you’d never get them out.

She stopped to read the flyer. New classes at the yoga studio. They were adding a meditation hour and a smoothie bar Scrabble night. She used to be a kick-butt Scrabble player.

The police blotter entry that Scott was so adamant about nagged at her. Maybe an hour of yoga would do her good, and just a little peek at that painting wouldn’t hurt.

She tore one of the tabs with the phone number and details from the flyer and tucked it in her pocket, looking forward to stopping in the yoga studio to check things out. The first class started this afternoon.

Yoga had been on her to-do list for years, but she’d never tried it. If she gave it a whirl here, instead of at her gym at home, at least no one would know her if she looked like a fool trying it. Or maybe she’d be better off sticking to the smoothie night. She couldn’t screw that up. When she stopped in the
County
Gazette
office, Jack was just sinking his teeth into a huge slice of pizza. The whole room reeked of tomato sauce and pepperoni.

He ran his sleeve across his mouth and just nodded since his mouth was full.

“That pizza smells great!” She tossed the report folder on his desk. “All done.”

“Hey. That was fast,” he mumbled through that mouthful of pizza. “We have the best pizza joint around. You’ll have to try it.” He pushed the half-open box toward her. “Have a piece.”

“Thanks, but I’m good.” She grabbed the latest entries from the police blotter file for good measure. She figured it wasn’t worth hurting his or his sister’s feelings by telling him that she was getting the electronic version daily from Scott.

“You are fast!”

“We’re all squared away, but I have some news for you about Scott Calvin.”

“What’s up?” He swallowed the mouthful of pizza and then took a slug from a glass of sweet tea that had sweated a pool of water on the desk. “Big bust or something?”

“Nope. The sheriff is being honored up in Arlington tomorrow night. They’re presenting him with a pretty impressive award. He said it was for a recent case.”

“Isn’t that where you’re from?”

“It is.”

“Is that how you heard about it?”

“No. Actually, I overheard the sheriff on the phone talking about it while I was over there getting answers to some questions for the police blotter. It sounds like a very big deal.”

“Ohhhh.” Jack’s eyes went wide. “I’m not surprised. He captured the Goto Hell murderer. You had to hear about that one. Made national news.” He leaned forward. “We tried to keep it real hush-hush, but some things get out anyway. The town is still in shock about it. It was pretty terrifying to know that a killer like that was making himself at home in our community. Walking right down our streets every day.” He dropped his pizza like he’d just lost his appetite. “Sick man.” The old man’s eyes narrowed. “Frank Gotorow killed at least two women eight years ago. Rumor was there were more, but they couldn’t prove it. They called it the Goto Hell Murders. Isn’t it weird how some of those sickos just thrive on being famous for those awful things? Anyway, Scott helped catch him. Right here in Adams Grove.”

Savannah tried for an over-the-top facial expression so that he’d think he was telling her something she didn’t know, and to encourage him to keep filling in the blanks. Everyone had heard about the recapture of that crazy lunatic. Maybe he’d give her some details that hadn’t been in the news.

“Mike Hartman and another guy from Virginia Beach had both lost their wives to that sorry excuse of a human. That Gotorow guy came back for revenge. He almost got it too. Mike’s girlfriend was the target. With Scott’s help, they took the guy down before he could succeed.”

“Wow.”

Jack’s breathing got faster. “Yeah. That guy tried to cause trouble in the wrong town. Mike Hartman had just moved here after getting out of the Marines and his girlfriend had just transferred in as our new extension agent. Nice girl. She used to live in Virginia Beach. It was huge news. Just think. If it had happened somewhere else it could have ended so differently.”

“I guess it could have. I can’t imagine going through something like that.”

Jack nodded toward the pizza box. “It wasn’t without loss. I’m not talking about them killing him. That crazy guy deserved to die for all he did, but Goto killed one of the young guys who worked at the pizza joint.” He pointed to his pizza. “Made it look like a fire and planted his information on him, so people would think it was him. Neighbors said that Goto had been staying in that boy’s apartment for weeks. Heartless.”

“No surprise they’re recognizing your sheriff for that. If he hadn’t stopped that madman, it could’ve been another string of murders.”

“You got that right.”

She chased a shiver, only this time she wasn’t acting. It really did give her chills to think that someone that crazy had lived among these nice people, with the intent to do them harm. She needed to meet this girlfriend of her neighbor’s. “Well, I figured you’d want to send someone to cover the story. So I wanted to get over here and let you know. Glad I did. It’s an even bigger deal than I’d thought.” She turned to leave, but before she could get to the door he was hollering her way.

“Wait! I don’t have anyone to send.” He gulped from his glass of tea. “You’ve got to do this for me.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I can’t go. I have to cover things here. Plus you’re from up that way. You’ll know how to get around in that town and act right around all that pomp and circumstance.”

She laughed. “Look, I don’t mind helping out with the police blotter. I can even watch things here at the office for you, but I have things I have to do. Plus, I’m not so sure my editor is going to like the idea of me covering actual stories.” She put her hand on the doorknob.

“Please! Wait.”

There was nothing worse than a man begging. But seriously, how do you say no to an old man? He looked so desperate. She was a marshmallow when it came to saying no.

“You have to help me out. I’ll owe you one. I’ll give you the full byline on the story and photo credits. You know how to take a picture, don’t ya?”

“Of course I know how to take a . . . No . . . I’m not going to that award ceremony. I don’t have a hotel reservation or anything.”

“Well, then you may as well have not told me.” He shoved the rest of the pizza straight into the trash can. Poor guy looked like she’d just about stabbed him in the heart by saying no. That pizza was the symbolic blood of her doings.

“Fine. Fine. I’ll do it. If you pick up the cost of the room.” She was sure that would be a deal breaker for the low-budget paper.

“Done! It’ll be great. I’ll call the sheriff and get all the details and make the reservations. The paper will pick up your room. Savannah, you really are saving the day.”

“Whoa. No need to call the sheriff. I’ve got the details right there on that sheet with the police blotter stuff. I’ll do it if you don’t tell him I’ll be the one there covering it.”

He paled. “Why not?”

“He’s kind of nervous about the whole thing and we don’t want to freak him out.” Besides that, the last thing she wanted was for him to think she was interested enough to make that kind of effort. She’d zip in, get the pictures and the story, and be done with it.

“Deal. Oh, wait.” He dug around in the drawer and pulled out a huge antiquated digital camera. “Here. For the pictures.”

She took the camera, but there wasn’t any way on earth she planned on using that doggone thing. It had to be one of the first digital cameras ever manufactured. It was huge. She flipped it over and popped out the memory card. That sucker was, like, two inches square. Darn near a floppy disk! She’d use her phone before she’d pull that thing out in public.

“Savannah, I owe you for this. You’ve been a godsend.”

“You’re welcome.”
Just don’t throw me a doggone parade
, she thought. Now to break it to Evelyn, and keep it from Scott. No sense in him getting the wrong idea, like she was interested or something. That’s all she needed.

She walked out of the
County
Gazette
feeling good about helping Jack out . . . again. The good deeds were making her feel like part of the community, and that made her a little sad that she would be leaving in just a short while.

Savannah did a bicep curl with the camera. It had a neck strap, and needed one, as heavy as it was. She lifted it in the air over her head. It might weigh more than her laptop.

How had she let herself be talked into doing another favor for this town? What was it about these people that she got sucked into their issues so easily?

All the way back to the apartment she tried to figure out how she’d swing an outfit for the award ceremony. It was black tie, but her little black dress was a little too sexy for press credentials.

She’d have to shop or go home and change there. She had plenty to choose from in her closet, and then she could pick up some casual clothes for the rest of her semi-vacation. She could probably drop off the letters she’d selected for the Van column to Evelyn while she was there too. That would please Evelyn to no end.

She’d insisted Jack pay for a hotel to try to get him to back off, but she could easily have stayed in her apartment. It wasn’t but a forty-five-minute drive. The joke was on her . . . again. When would she learn that every time she tried to outwit someone, it backfired on her?

Her phone sounded off with that familiar ring of flying typewriter keys. “Hi, Evelyn. I was just thinking about you.”

“Good. You getting ready to send me another story?”

“Soon. Actually, I think I’m going to come back up to the city, just for one night tomorrow.”

“You’re already bored in that little town? You haven’t even given it a chance.”

“No. That’s not it. Well, maybe a little, but that’s not why I’m coming back.”

“What’s up?”

Savannah tried to sound nonchalant. “Remember that big award ceremony in Arlington tomorrow night?”

“Where your cute sheriff is the guest of honor?”

Savannah felt her stomach flip. Why was she nervous all of a sudden? “The paper here wants me to cover the awards. Do you mind? I mean, I know you want me to write those stories on the sheriff, so I could use it for that too, but I also know it could be a conflict. I’d never—”

“That’s fine with me, Savannah. Just be sure to use the time toward those other stories we talked about.”

“I can do that. I’ll send you a copy of my story too. Just so you know what I’m submitting.”

“Good. Either way. I have Franklin covering that event for us. You sound good. Are you getting a chance to relax down there in Adams Grove?”

I would if everybody would quit adding to my to-do list.
“A little.”

“Chomping at the bit to get back yet?”

“
No. Not yet, but I’m going to have to stop by my apartment to get something to wear. There’s nowhere to shop for something like that here, and I’d only packed for the wedding. I need a few things for while I’m here anyway.”

“Want to get together for dinner?”

“No.”
Think fast . . . why not?
She sure couldn’t tell her it was because she knew she was going to be frazzled about seeing Scott again. That would get Evelyn started for sure. She was always saying Savannah was too young to be single. The last thing Savannah needed was another cheerleader rooting for Scott Calvin. Daphne was enough to handle on that front. Nothing was going to come of it anyway. Plus, she was a little mad that Evelyn hadn’t offered her the story for GINN. “We’ll just talk about work if we do.”